Hotel?

[HonestAbe]

Hilton

The Hilton in Vancouver (Burnaby) has a keyboard attached to the TV which has high-speed internet. Thats what I'm looking for.

I only have a desktop at home and no laptop

The Hilton Bonaventure in Montreal has the same internet keyboard/TV feature plus the underground parking you desire. Convenient to everywhere, Metro station in the basement along with underground city access. Mid-week rates are approximately $140 depending on whats going on, more on weekends and during big events. Not convinced yet? Outdoor rooftop heated year-round pool with a patio bar, how about now?

All the stuff I've heard about whether its 3 star or 4 star is overblown. Its clean, comfortable, convenient, and has all the features a business/leisure traveller could want at a reasonable price. Sorry if the sheets aren't 300 thread count Egyptian Cotton, the Ritz is right up the road if thats really important, kind of like turning your nose up at a juicy delicious steak because the fork isn't shiny enough.

 

[BigPickle]

What's with the high rates in Sept/Oct?

Last week I was looking at Priceline's median rates for Sept/Oct. When I look today, the median rates are about $80 higher across the board!

What times of year are most expensive to lodge in Montreal and what times are least expensive?

 

[EagerBeaver]

Big Pickle,

Hotel rates are directly influenced by what is going on the particular weekend you are looking at. Prices for Montreal spike at the end of June during Grand Prix week, and in early July during Jazz Festival. BFT shows a clear downward trend in prices which will pick up after Labor Day weekend, the last spike of the summer. Last week I got the Delta Montreal for $65/night on my first bid, and that was for a 4 night stay. Probably could have gotten it for $55 or less. When I come back in September I won't pay more than $55 for a PL 3 star. You can book that, dude. And when I go in October I will also not pay more than $55.

 

[BigPickle]

Big Pickle,

Hotel rates are directly influenced by what is going on the particular weekend you are looking at. Prices for Montreal spike at the end of June during Grand Prix week, and in early July during Jazz Festival. BFT shows a clear downward trend in prices which will pick up after Labor Day weekend, the last spike of the summer. Last week I got the Delta Montreal for $65/night on my first bid, and that was for a 4 night stay. Probably could have gotten it for $55 or less. When I come back in September I won't pay more than $55 for a PL 3 star. You can book that, dude. And when I go in October I will also not pay more than $55.

This is definitely good information.

BTW do the priceline rates include taxes and fees or is that separate?

 

[crunchyfrog]

Try again?

Hi Eager Beaver,

Before I saw your post I bid $75 for four nights near the end of Sept in the Montreal area. The bid was rejected - should I just try again tomorrow?

thanks,
crunchyfrog

 

[EagerBeaver]

CF,

Keep trying every 24 hours, but if you have access to another computer, set up another account with a different credit card, that way you can make 2 bids every 24 hours until you get an acceptance.

Are you bidding on 3 or 4 stars? Also, why aren't you breaking up the 4 night bid into two 2 night bids? You will not be paying so much if you do that, unless you picked the wrong dates.

 

[Esco!]

QUESTION: what are the chances after I've booked a hotel with priceline, that when I get there there will be no hotel room booked????

In other words a screwup on the behalf of priceline

 

[Rex Kramer]

QUESTION: what are the chances after I've booked a hotel with priceline, that when I get there there will be no hotel room booked????

In other words a screwup on the behalf of priceline

I would say almost nil based on my own experience in the past few years.

It is a pre-paid reservation and set up without any human intervention. Not to say that computers/SW cannot make mistakes, but all the reservation systems at Priceline and the hotels are linked together and mistakes are highly unlikely. If you worry about it, bring the Priceline reservation number and their phone number just in case they are needed, and I would ask the hotel to call Priceline should there be any problem.

 

[Esco!]

bring the Priceline reservation number and their phone number just in case they are needed

OK I'll do that

Thanx everyone for your information

 

[EagerBeaver]

QUESTION: what are the chances after I've booked a hotel with priceline, that when I get there there will be no hotel room booked????

In other words a screwup on the behalf of priceline

Esco!,

I agree with Rex, it's never happened to me. I always print out and bring the PL reservation with me. If the hotel is confronted with that, they have to give you a room.

I do recall one time the Holiday Inn Select had all their standard rooms booked, but because I had the PL reservation, they were forced to give me a suite for my PL reservation price of $60. And a huge suite it was, with 2 bathrooms (one of which was enormous), living room and a large bedroom with a king size bed.

 

[Hellbound]

I just tried $55 for 3-stars, 3 nights, 08/30 through 09/02.
No deal.

I'll try another card, aonther computer at $65 next.

 

[EagerBeaver]

I just tried $55 for 3-stars, 3 nights, 08/30 through 09/02.
No deal.

I'll try another card, aonther computer at $65 next.

That is Labor Day weekend.

You guys have to think about these things when you make your bids. You ain't getting a 3 star on Labor Day weekend for $55. Take a look at BFT and adjust your bid according to what you see, and common sense. There are no hard and fast rules, just the law of supply and demand.

I strongly recommend you break up your bids, 2 nights and 1 night, for a holiday weekend. However you may need to bid up to as high as $85. A lot of out of towners will be in Montreal Labor Day weekend.

 

[Hellbound]

Solid advice.

Bid for Wednesday and Thursday night separately, got $65 a night.
Got in with $85 for Friday night.

Great thing is, they ended up both being at the Hyatt Regency Montreal, so I don't have to switch hotels.

<offtopic>Tips for travelers says U.S. residents need a passport (or other birth cert, etc.), but not until 2008. I don't have my passport with me. Since it's off topic, can anyone PM me and tell me if I need to have my passport overnighted to me in order to drive up to Montreal?</offtopic>

 

[EagerBeaver]

Solid advice.

Bid for Wednesday and Thursday night separately, got $65 a night.
Got in with $85 for Friday night.

Great thing is, they ended up both being at the Hyatt Regency Montreal, so I don't have to switch hotels.

Hellbound,

Great strategy. I was going to suggest bidding Wednesday/Thursday and then Friday in separate bids, knowing Friday would be much higher due to the start of Labor Day weekend.

The good news for you is that the Hyatt is not only the best 3 star in Montreal, it is also a very short walk from the Hyatt to Cleo's (2 blocks or so)!

 

[crunchyfrog]

Thanks for the advice EagerBeaver. I'm a newcomer as you can see, but thanks to you, I'll be able to pass the savings along to the (reportedly excellent) SPs of Montreal.

My meagre contribution is that if you're trying to bid twice in the same day, you don't need a second computer - only a second web browser. (That is, you could use Firefox and IE, but not two copies of IE.)

- cf

 

[Hellbound]

I guess it follows that you could use another credit card, clear your cookies, and use the same web browser... not tested, but seems logical.