PARIS: BOOKING ON-LINE. Does it work out? And which service do you use?
 

Hello,
We'll be staying in Paris, and there seems to be a wide difference in rates between what I've received in e-mails from hotels, and the rates I see on the various web sites, such as hotels.com. What services are the best ones, as I have read horror stories of people who booked on-line and when they arrived at their hotel, there was no room for them.

I have never booked on line and I admit, I'm nervous. Thank you all so much.

Book the cheapest rate, then call or e-mail the hotel directly to check they have your reservation and all its particulars in order.

I have used sveral on-line booking services including expedia, hotels.com and destina - Have not had a problem - I always make sure that i take a print out of the confirmation with me.

There are a large number of such sites out there so why not find out theh one that gives you the best rate for what you want - Then post again asking for people's experience with that site.

I've used hotels.com as well as individual hotel's own web sites. Never a problem but always read the fine print (is tax included?, breakfast, what's the cancelation policy?).

We almost always book our hotels online and have never had a problem. In France, most of the hotels we stay at are affiliated with the Accor group (in Paris, for example, we stay at the Sofitel Le Parc). We always print out the confirmation as we book it, instead of depending solely on the email confirmation (there have been times when the email didn't arrive).
However, the drawback of Accor's online booking is that it defaults into booking a regular room. We have to call the hotel if we want to upgrade for something beyond the usual--for example, at our hotel in Bourges, we wanted to upgrade to a suite. Couldn't do that from the hotel's online site, we had to call them to arrange it.
Good point by the poster above about reading the hotel's cancellation policy carefully when you book online, esp. if you're getting a discounted rate.

Thank you all, I feel better about booking on-line. Now I must find "the" hotel!

Hi unn,

As M_K says

>Book the cheapest rate, then call or e-mail the hotel directly to check they have your reservation and all its particulars in order.<

And make sure you get a Fax or eml confirmation from the hotel.