My Usual Hotels Are Booked! Any Alternative Searching Suggestions?

[Gotsome]

Priceline and hotwire

Got desperate after not getting a decent price on priceline for a 3 star June 6-9 and jumped to hotwire and paid $72 American for a supposedly "3 star" hotel. To my disapointment I discovered that the hotel name is "Day's Inn".
Which from other posts is a crappy hotel. I'm hoping it isn't so bad...
Hope the sp's won't encounter any problems with the staff when they (sp's) come to visit me.
Moral of the story: Don't use Hotwire

Later on I tried priceline again for June 16-18 and bid $75 American for a 4 star hotel. Got accepted, yea! I'll be checking in at the Hotel Intercontinental!

 

[EagerBeaver]

Gotsome,

Thanks for posting the info on your bids, it is very helpful to all of us here.

It seems like Hotel Intercontinental has been more active lately in accepting Priceline 4 star bids.

My last two trips, I bid on the PL 4 stars. I got the Omni for $72 at the end of April, then bid all the way up to $107 (14 bids!!!!) and finally got the Omni Memorial Day weekend.

The Intercontinental at $75 or less has to be considered a good deal at this time, in this new age we are now in. The honeymoon days of getting 3 star hotels for less than $50 and 4 stars for less than $70 are over. The Days Inn for $72 is nowhere near the value of the Intercontinental at $75.

 

[EagerBeaver]

I have been rejected bidding $80 on the Priceline 3 stars on assorted dates during the Jazz Festival.

In past years, I always got the Hyatt during Jazz Festival and never paid more than $55 bidding on Priceline.

The hotel situation in Montreal is completely out of control, and these price increases are WAY OUT OF PROPOPORTION to any drop in value of the US dollar.

I want some explanations! Don't tell me about the $US dollar being devalued. That may cause some price inflation, but the increases we are seeing are way out of proportion to that.

 

[picasso]

EB,

If you're still looking for hotel rooms thru PL at this time for the Jazz Fest, you're unlikely to get a 3* for even $100. As far as getting the Hyatt which is ground zero for the Jazz Fest., that unfortunately is a pipedream. I started bidding on PL six weeks ago for a 4* during the Jazz Festival. The last rejection was at $100 for a 3*. Then I went up to $105 and ended up with an "upgrade" to a 4* which turned out to be the Hilton Bonaventure. Hardly an upgrade IMO as the place feels more like a 2.5*. It's also out of the way for the Jazz Fest.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Picasso,

Thanks for the info, which is discouraging to say the least. At this point I am extremely frustrated and upset because I have been to the Jazz Fest 4 straight years, and always got the Hyatt on PL and never paid more than $55. These price increases are fucking outrageous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At this point I am going to take a shot at bidding $105 on the 3 stars as you suggested. I am not a big fan of the Hilton Bonaventure, a/k/a "The Maze", either, but the alternative choices on Hotwire are unsavory, to say the least.

Also, as Special K previously warned, please note that Hotwire is offering the Days Inn on Guy as a 3 star, which is a 2.5 star on PL. This hotel has been the subject of a veritable avalanche of complaints on BFT, and is to be avoided.

 

[The Teacher]

You are right!

Eager...

I am also wondering why the hotels have shot up in price so much...one would think there are more hotels right and the price would go dow? Strip club drinks and specials are also disappearing...maybe Montreal business owners have figured out that there fine city is becoming more and more popular? But, I see deals on SP's all the time so the price increases aren't effecting them...hmmmm More girls so lower price? I have no clue about the hotels and SP's
Sean

 

[EagerBeaver]

Maxima,

When you bid, you pay Priceline, not the hotel. Priceline then pays the hotel.

What the deals are between Priceline and the participating hotels I don't know, but I suppose it is possible that the deals have changed and Priceline is realizing or seeking a bigger cut.

However, it is not just Priceline, as the prices have increased dramatically on Hotwire and the other sites as well.

 

[picasso]

Picasso,

Thanks for the info, which is discouraging to say the least. At this point I am extremely frustrated and upset because I have been to the Jazz Fest 4 straight years, Iand always got the Hyatt on PL and never paid more than $55. These price increases are fucking outrageous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At this point I am going to take a shot at bidding $105 on the 3 stars as you suggested. I am not a big fan of the Hilton Bonaventure, a/k/a "The Maze", either, but the alternative choices on Hotwire are unsavory, to say the least.

Also, as Special K previously warned, please note that Hotwire is offering the Days Inn on Guy as a 3 star, which is a 2.5 star on PL. This hotel has been the subject of a veritable avalance of complaints on BFT, and is to be avoided.

EB,

Good luck... Yes, I also have serious misgivings about the star rating system at Hotwire. At this late stage, as a last resort, what I'd suggest is to try the HI Express on Rene Levesque or the HI on Sherbrooke next the Delta Mtl and pay the Internet rates. You're probably looking at $150-$160 a night but at least, you know what you're getting and you're still within easy walking distance to the Jazz Fest.

 

[Special K]

Then I went up to $105 and ended up with an "upgrade" to a 4* which turned out to be the Hilton Bonaventure. Hardly an upgrade IMO as the place feels more like a 2.5*.

Ahhh...the Hilton Bonaventure, I've said this previously but I would regularly get this hotel between 2-4 years ago for $35/night USD when it was considered a 3*. A $105 now is quite excessive but when you look at the overall picture and rates at this time this isn't too, too bad.

 

[spin]

Looking for a place to stay during GP weekend. Not interested in blowing a grand for two nights in downtown Mtl. Different options i'm looking at are Laval, Pointe-Claire or Anjou. What would be my best option if i decide to drive back & forth to the downtown area each day? Are there any subway stations close by? What would you guys chose? I know the downtown area (and the south shore), but i don't know much of Laval and Pointe Claire.

There are no Metro (subway) stations in Laval but you can drive just over the bridge into Montreal and there are a few stations where you can park close by and then continue into downtown - The stations that come to mind being with a 10/15 minute drive from Laval are Henri Bourasse (Orange Line) Cote Vertu (Orange Line) - Just remember the subway isn't open 24 hours here (not even open as long as the bars are)

Point Claire is on the western part of the island of Montreal (aka West Island, aka the suburbs), no subway here either but there is a commuter train that brings you right downtown, not sure about the schedule on weekends though.

Not much going on out here and probably a little further than Laval in terms of reaching the closest subway - I would stay in Laval if I was choosing, there is Sheraton right beside Carrefour Laval (large very nice shopping mall) only a 5 minute drive from Montreal, a friend of mine stayed here once a few years ago and I remeber it as being fairly nice.

Guys I haven't taken the Metro in a long time so please correct me if the info I provided in no longer valid.

 

[picasso]

There are no Metro (subway) stations in Laval but you can drive just over the bridge into Montreal and there are a few stations where you can park close by and then continue into downtown - The stations that come to mind being with a 10/15 minute drive from Laval are Henri Bourasse (Orange Line) Cote Vertu (Orange Line) - Just remember the subway isn't open 24 hours here (not even open as long as the bars are)


Not much going on out here and probably a little further than Laval in terms of reaching the closest subway - I would stay in Laval if I was choosing, there is Sheraton right beside Carrefour Laval (large very nice shopping mall) only a 5 minute drive from Montreal, a friend of mine stayed here once a few years ago and I remeber it as being fairly nice.

Guys I haven't taken the Metro in a long time so please correct me if the info I provided in no longer valid.

The Metro only operates until 1:00AM. I agree with Spin about staying in Laval, although I don't know about the Carrefour being only 5 min. from Montreal unless you're driving at more than 100mph! The fastest I've done, and I'm a fast driver, between the Hilton Laval which is across the freeway from the Carrefour is 20 minutes to downtown and that was on a Sunday morning with little or no traffic. By the way, if you're thinking of Pointe Claire, why not Dorval and the airport area where there are plenty of decent hotel options. Plus you can take the Via Rail line into town.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Doc,

Don't do it, this is a flat out recipe for disaster. I can only handle so much drama, and I have had more than my share lately.

Don't do Laval or one of these other places from which you will need to commute, I am certain you'll be sorry and encounter numerous unanticipated problems.

 

[Sox.at.six]

This situation is getting pretty crazy. I too am planning to come up to Montreal during the week of the 4th of July. I see this is also Jazz Fest, though I was not planning to come for that particualr reason.

Prices are much higher than what I am used to paying. I still can't find a decent room for Staurday the 1st that is in my price range. I also probably screwed myself a bit as I did get a room for the 2nd - 5th finally. Now I know trying to book just a Saturady night is going to be pretty difficult.

What's up with this huge increase?

If anyone cares to know, I got the Marriot Chateau Champlain on Priceline for the 3 nights mentioned above. Not so bad, but it cost me $95 a night.

 

[spin]

although I don't know about the Carrefour being only 5 min. from Montreal unless you're driving at more than 100mph! The fastest I've done, and I'm a fast driver, between the Hilton Laval which is across the freeway from the Carrefour is 20 minutes to downtown and that was on a Sunday morning with little or no traffic.

5 minutes to Montreal (across the bridge only) 10 minutes to closest Metro (about) but yes picasso is right about it being a 20 min drive to downtown.

 

[EagerBeaver]

So what do you recommend? Paying close to $1000 to get a room downtown? Sleeping in my car? Beg a nice lady to let me sleep on a tanning bed? Bring my sleeping bag and sleep in a park? Get into trouble on purpose in order to sleep in a jail cell?

I recommend you stay at home that weekend, if you are not prepared to pay the piper either monetarily, or the equivalent in inconvenience, headaches, aggravation, frustration, annoyance, irritation, disappointment, impatience, and misery, if you act upon your other plan. If you plan to go last minute, it's going to be one or the other. There is no avoiding it. That's why Captain Renault and many others plan their GP weekend 1 year in advance.

 

[Joe.t]

Did you ever consider a motel like the chablis, reasonably priced, clean and as a added bonus you get to see all the gorgeous sp's come and go, i always stay at the chablis when i visit montreal.

 

[spin]

Did you ever consider a motel like the chablis, reasonably priced, clean and as a added bonus you get to see all the gorgeous sp's come and go, i always stay at the chablis when i visit montreal.

Joe.T makes a pretty good point, if you're just looking for a place to sleep a motel like the Chablis is not a bad option for overbooked/overpriced weekends.

 

[New to the board]

Chablis during GP weekend

Does anyone know if the Chablis will be holding some rooms for the 4 hour rentals? Are they kicking the price up for that weekend?

 

[Hondo]

Hôtel Les Suites Labelle

http://www.quebecweb.com/lessuiteslabelle/xhome_en.html

Does anyone know anything about this recently opened in June 2005, hotel Les Suites Labelle?

 

[The Teacher]

Updates?

Merbite Brothas....
Not many responses here so I though I'd post....I bid yesterday on 4 star for july 7 and 8....bid from $65-$77....I know it was way to low...lol Anyway, I am looking for those dates...any news on those dates or whatever?
Sean