Paris hotels- Priceline - which zone should I bid on?
 

Hi,
I am looking to priceline a 3* hotel room in Paris. I like being in a safe area close to restuarants and shopping and sights.

where should I try to get a room??:
1) Opera quarter east - Les Halles
2) Champs Elysses - Opera Qtr West
3) Eiffel Tower Qtr- Genelle
4) St. Germain - Latin Qtr
5) Batignolles - montmarte
6) Bastille - Bercy
7) La Defense - Neuilly

thank you! this is a last minute trip and i don't know too much about locations in Paris.

I would suggest St Germain and the Latin Quarter. Its lively, right across the street from Notre Damn. We had a wonderful time, within walking distance of the Louvre, Ste Chappelle, Notre Damn, Toulieries gardens, Luxembourg gardens etc

I have to second the Latin Quarter/St. Germain. It is located in a good area with easy metro access and many restaurants, as well as the other sites mentioned.

We stayed at the Hotel Sully-St. Germain on Rue des Ecoles, near the Sorbonne. We had a room in the front, not too small and a good value that included a decent breakfast.

I would say St. Germain and Eiffel Tower qtr. I think the latter will be the 7th. All the others I would consider iffy and out of the way. Les Halles is not an area I would care to stay in although "central".

I think Priceline is not really a good idea for Paris, particularly at the 3* level.

There are no 3*s in Opera west (your #2)
The #3 Eiffel Tower area is really Montparnasse.
Montmartre not terribly central
There are no 3*s in Bastille area
La Defense is not really IN Paris proper.
So what you're left with is #4 St Germain. (The hotels listed there are La Tour Notre Dame, Villa Lutece Port Royal and Hotel de Paris Montparnasse. I'm not familiar with these but maybe someone else is.) or #1 Les Halles with not good choices IMO.

You should read biddingfortravel.com carefully including reviews of the hotels you're likely to get. I think you'd be much better off posting your budget & looking for a hotel on your own.

Hi kare,

I agree with McLaurie.

The 4th - 7th districts are the most popular for tourists.

We just came back from Paris on 6/8/03-and stayed in the 5th district..Latin Qtr. at the Hotel des Carmes. It was a small hotel w/small rooms but friendly and helpful and a great location for walking, restaurants and for the subway. You could get a small breakfast there but we chose to go to a cafe down the street. But I would say #4 on your list.

check out biddingfortravel.com to see what hotels may be offered in what area and what the going bids have been....

I agree with the advice that Biddingfortravel should tell you more specifically.

In particular, I believe the Eiffel Tower area on Priceline is usually the 15th--I know it is for 4*, not sure about 3*. Probably it says Grenelle (not Genelle) and that was what someone referred to as Montparnasse. It's just west of the tower, I think -- not really what people think of as Montparnasse, either.

I'd choose from 1-4 in general (I would pick 6 if it were Bastille and not Bercy), but from what others say you might get, that would narrow it.

You can't go too far wrong with (4), although they may be using loose terms there, also (ie, calling the 13th Latin Qtr, who knows).

From looking at Biddingfortravel, this is not a great resource for 3* hotels in central paris. Most of the Priceline hotels in Paris are large modern chain hotels, 4* (ie, Meridiens) or at CDG or La Defense. Some of the bids are not that great and appear to be normal rack rate in some other places. You have very little selection. Opera East seems to have the most and that area isn't so bad.

karebear,

When you return please come here and top this thread to let us know what your found.

My favorite Paris Arrondissment are the 1, 5 and 6...I used to stay quite often at the Hotel Ducs de Bourgogne, first Arr. nice clean establishment,very close to the Louvre..This year I am going to the Bonaparte instead.

Hi kismetchimera

When you get to the Hotel Bonaparte, please say "Hello" to Madame from the Blocks for us.

Priceline is a bad idea for Paris. The areas that Priceline has drawn are far too big, and the hotels that you're likely to get in the "St Germain/Latin Quarter" sections will, in fact, be well outside the traditional boundaries for those areas. All of the Priceline hotels that I've seen reported in biddingfortravel are poorly located. Sure, it's likely to cost you a few dollars/night more if you book directly with the hotel or with a reputable internet agent (such as hrs.com), but to me it's certainly worth it. By avoidi8ng Priceline, you can choose exactly where you'll stay, and you have the flexibility to change your reservation if your plans change or if you'd rather switch hotels after you've been there for a night or two.

I agree with rizutto. The only zone I would consider bidding with them is Opera East/Les Halles. All the other zones have edges that go way too far out of the city.

I stayed in the 9th this May and tried Priceline. Nothing 3* ever hit for the same price as the 2* Hotel Chopin I had booked in Passage Jouffroy. I stuck with my 2* deal.

I will do that Ira...