Dear Fodorites, please tell me all the Hotels cannot already be fully booked for second week of December 2007?

I tried to book on Venere.com because there is an option for December 2007 but only 2 or 3 Hotels have rooms available. I do not want to stay in any of them! Can it be that the Hotels only accept bookings 6 months or so in advance - or can they really be fully booked?

I've stayed in hotels in most parts of France in December, and have never had a problem finding a room on the spot. Most hotels are very quiet at that time of year. However, hotels in Strasbourg may be booked because of the European Parliament which is sitting on 10-13 December (www.europarl.europa.eu); tghe hotels would be busy during the session with journalists, lobbyists, etc.

I think Strasbourg is booked far ahead b/c of Christmas markets.

I was able to get a room in Hotel de Rohan just a month or so ahead in 2005 (trip was cancelled, alas), but not the type of room I wanted; only the "standard" room was left. I would try booking with individual hotels rather than Venere at this point in time.

Thank you so much for responding! Is it my luck to be in Strasbourg when the European Parliamant sits? Bad planning! Unfortunately my dates are fixed.

I am desperatelt trying to book with individual Hotels but no luck so far.

If I am not successful in Strasbourg will it be wise to stay in Colmar - with good access to Christmas markets and also a trip or two over the German border to small villages and towns?

We will have to rely on public transport.

Thanks in advance. In the meantime I keep on searching and will book immediately when I find anything in Strasbourg or Colmar.

Take a look on the www.accorhotels.com site -- it will inform you of anything available in the region. The same goes for www.envergure.fr.

I highly recommend www.hotel-rohan.com

It's right across the pedestrian street from the cathedral, resonably priced, charming hotel.

Thank you kerouac and Grandmere. When I last tried to book at Hotel Rohan there was no rooms available but I am trying now to change my dates slightly (turning our itinerary around and end in Strasbourg instead of starting there) and I might be successful.

Thanks for informing me about the European Parliament GeoffHamer!

I spent this Christmas in Strasbourg and booked our hotel at the Sofitel. We made the reservation about 2 weeks in advance with no problems and stayed from about the 21st-24th.