Following the advice I have read here, I thought I'd try to book a room asap for our Feb. 2002 trip to Paris. I thought I found the perfect hotel, but after contacting them, they told me that I would have to wait until December to make a reservation. Is this a standard practice for this time of the year? I'm a little concerned about waiting that long for a popular hotel. Should I start the search again for another hotel or just wait? I know it's not the most popular time of the year in Paris, but, it IS Paris, after all.

Minny: You may have encountered a remnant of the end of an era. Before faxes and computers, Paris hotel personnel wrote their bookings in notebooks that were essentially large calendars. New ones didn't come out in the stationery stores until the end of the year; hence, hotels were reluctant to take reservations for the following year before the year ended. Maybe the hotel you are trying to get a room at is still using this system - it wouldn't be unthinkable. At any rate, I doubt you'll have a problem getting a room in February if you call in December.

I don't really know if that is std practice but I find it odd. It may have something to do with them not knowing their room rates for next year, also, who knows--I'm just thinking that legally when you reserve it's for a specific rate in writing and maybe they don't want to do that. Or it could just be them. If it were me, I would make a reservation at my second choice if they would let me (and then you'll find out if it's std practice) as long as that won't cost you anything, because Feb. is one of the heaviest Paris hotel-booking months, I have read, due to business reasons (I think there are fashion shows that month).

oh, to complete my thought (which is perhaps obvious), I meant to make a 2nd reservation as backup, and then if I did get my first choice in Dec, cancel the other one

Thanks! I have actually contacted 4 hotels in Paris - 2 told me to call back in December, 1 gave me a quote and I have yet to hear from the 4th. I think I'll start looking again - just in case - and then try to contact them again in December.

Sometimes they don't know what next years rates will be, but that shouldn't be a problem. Last year when we went to Paris I booked in October for the next April with no problem. I like the idea of booking else where and then cancel if you can't get the hotel you want in December.

Some hotels don't like taking reservations too long in advance. Seems they think that reservations made long in advance will ultimately be cancelled, thereby causing them a lot of overhead and grief. The practice of double-booking is known to them, too, and it is unfair to both the hotel and other tourists who may be struggling to get a room.

In my experience, it is quite common that hotels do not wish to book rooms more than several months ahead, especially the smaller ones. Others, though, are fully booked up to two years ahead for popular months. If you're determined to stay at one of the "popular" hotels (of Rick Steves fame or in lots of tour guides), your best bet is to try again at the designated time. There are so many fabulous choices, you might want to book elsewhere if you'd feel more situated having a confirmed reservation now.