On occasion I've seen references to "we were able to negotiate a better price" or "they agreed to give us breakfast too" and wonder if this is commonly done?

I like to plan ahead, so am not interested in "last minute" deals, but am willing to prepay.

Looking at the Hotel College de France near the Sorbonne and on their "internet special" web page, all I see is standard pricing.

If anyone has done better, I'd be very interested in hearing about it!
Thanks for your time--

Yes, I've been successful in doing this. I simply said that I would love to stay in their wonderful hotel but that, unfortunately, their prices were above my budget. They came back to me with a better rate. I've also had good luck on Venere, which offered me a much better rate than the hotel was able to offer.

Lousia,
did you ask Venere for a better rate, or did they just have a better rate?

Venere just had the better rate. I had never used them before so actually called the hotel to see if they would match it. They said they could not but that they would honor my reservation through Venere, which they did.

We negotiated free breakfast when we mentioned that it was our second time staying there and we were staying for 10 whole days.

right now it should be easy...

Lots of high-end hotels are offering stay 4 nights get the 5th free.

Lots will throw in breakfast.

We even got a discount on spa services plus a free night and breakfast when we stayed at the Prague Mandarin.

Just say, "Is that the best price you can offer? It is a bit above my budget." Do this over the phone for best results.

Hotels are suffering too and need your business.

gruezi

I don't think it's commonly done and I would never do it in a city like Paris, but if you like haggling with hotels, you have nothing to lose unless a place takes a dislike to you and then won't offer you a room (and you really really wanted to stay there).

nyse, three people (including me) have just posted that they were successful in doing this, especially now. Christina, since you view this as "haggling" go ahead and continue to pay full price. Writing a polite email to the hotel explaining that I would like to stay there but it was above my budget is not haggling.

By the way, this was not Paris (Madrid), but I found a price on venere, and not only did my hotel match the lower price in response to a polite email, but they did so very graciously.

nyse,

I've always asked for a discount or a lower rate when booking hotels and see no problem doing this, whether in Paris or elsewhere. I usually ask for a discount if I pay in cash, rather than using a credit card. Hotels have responded positively by giving me a lower rate. Sometimes they don't and that's fine. It never hurts to ask.

I don't see how a hotel can takee a dislike to anyone if they are polite and appreciative. I don't ask for a reduction in price that would insult the owner of a place. Just have common sense when communicating with hotels.

By the way, du College is very nice hotel. I checked it out a couple of years ago and met the owner. I was going to stay there but ended up renting an apartment.

Monica

Also, try contacting the hotel directly via email & ask about its rate for the type of room & dates you require. I have found that the rate quoted is sometimes less than the price stated on the hotel's website.

Good luck!

2010

My hotel was in Paris and they were very nice about it.

The Hotel College du France is indeed an excellent hotel, imho. I spent a week there last April. It was also cheaper than lesser accomodations I'd stayed in elsewhere in the city.

You never know unless you ask. I remember several years ago (ouch don't really want to think about it) Monica recommended a hotel to me in Paris, we got a great rate. When she went back later that year they'd raised the price so she mentioned her friend (i) had paid $XX and they gave her the same rate I'd paid.

Generally I know when I'm getting a good price. Shoot, when we were traveling w/o reservations in Provence in October '06, we stopped at someone's "mas" and she offered us a greatly discounted rate and choice of any room/suite as she was "empty" otherwise! Also, in-person, if the person at the desk has that kind of authority (and most do) you can always say, "That's a bit above my budget" and if they want to fill the room they'll give you a better price.

Travel is going to be down a LOT this coming year. Expect to be able to deal. And do offer to pay in cash as that helps the hotel's bottom line so they may have room to bargain a bit.

Its not about haggling as you would with a market vendor.

I very politely ask ONCE if there is a better rate based on either length of time I am staying, number of times I have stayed in the past, gold card status or I just sometimes say, "Do you have any offers other than what I see on your website?"

What possible harm or ill will could that cause? The worst they can say is no, and then you either accept that and go ahead and book or keep searching.

Oh, and when I check in, I use length of stay or return guest to ask for best possible room. Very often works.

And, BTW, I never push after the first request.

That's right: one very polite request, hopefully with a bargaining chip such as length of stay or return guest. It has worked for me a few times. We had breakfast added for a longer stay in Paris, got a small discount for a return to a Malpensa hotel, and had a guide and driver agree to lower his price for cash. It seems alright to me. If a good client asks me for a discount, and my margin allows it, I am happy to make them happy. Why not?

Thanks very much for above replies -- I had never thought about "cash" as incentive.

Just to update, I emailed the hotel today to see if prepayment OR cash would induce a little better price and will post their reply when received.

Thanks again for the benefit of your experience!

Final followup:
Received a most courteous and immediate reply:
<i>
Bonjour and thank you for your request.
This reservation is possible ...
... all taxes included. Sorry we don't make discounts at all.</i>

So this time it didn't work but I appreciate the insight as well as the affirmation re hotel choice!

Well, at least you tried!

In re-reading the other comments, I remembered my hotel in Rome gave me a discount because I'm a repeat customer.

Monica