Is Priceline the Cheapest Alternative for Paris Hotels?
Paris, like most European cities, can be expensive, particularly when it comes to hotel accommodations. Paris is, after all, the most visited city in the world with over 40 million visitors annually. This drives up accommodation prices.
Fortunately for travelers who are prepared to do a bit of research, there are some options to get a great accommodation in a spectacular location at a great price.
Travelers should be aware of the hotel tradeoff triangle. Price, location, and hotel quality. For example, if you want a cheap hotel in a great location, you may have to compromise on hotel quality. Similarly, if you want a nice hotel and a great location, expect to pay more per night in Paris.
Aside from the regular hotel booking engines, there are some great alternatives when booking a hotel in Paris.
Priceline Paris
Priceline is a great alternative for travelers booking a hotel in Paris where the exact hotel does not matter. That’s because with Priceline’s Name Your Own Price, you bid on a hotel by specifying your hotel criteria: travel dates, vicinity, and hotel star rating. However, you do not know the exact location of your hotel until after you place a bid. If your bid is accepted, you then find out which hotel you received. Note that reservations on Priceline are non-refundable and cannot be changed or cancelled.
Although Priceline has some risks (unknown hotel, non-refundable), it very often the cheapest method for booking Paris hotels. The reason it is the cheapest is because hotels generally do not like to advertise ultra low rates. On the other hand, they have excess inventory and would rather fill a room at a low price than have it go vacant. Priceline lets then sell off their excess rooms without diluting their brand.
When you bid on a Priceline Paris hotel, there is no minimum you must bid. Therefore, it is possible to put in a low ball bid and see if it gets accepted or not. If not, there are secret ways to rebid, allowing you to inch your way up in price.
Alternatives to Priceline Paris Hotels
Hotwire Paris: Hotwire works in much the same way as Priceline. You do not find out the name of your hotel until after you book. You know the area of the hotel and the hotel rating. The main difference between Priceline and Hotwire is that with Hotwire, there is no bidding involved. The price is published.
Hotwire also has another advantage over Priceline. Hotwire tells you the hotel amenities. For example, if you are looking with a hotel with a swimming pool, there is no way to guarantee this on Priceline. Here is more information on how Hotwire works.
AirBnB: AirBnB is a website where vacationers can find non-hotel Paris accommodations. The majority of accommodations listed on AirBnB are apartments for rent by owner.
Although many people swear by it, I have never had any luck with AirBnB. I typically find prices too expensive now that the website has caught on and many travellers are using it hoping to find a deal. In response, property owners have jacked up their prices and they are no longer a bargain. Paris is no exception. While it is still possible to find a gem on AirBnB, they are becoming fewer and farther between.
VRBO (Vacation Rental By Owner): VRBO is another website that allows property owners to list their rental accommodation. While not as popular as AirBnB, it has been around for a lot longer and the inventory is just as good. Personally, I think you will be better off to use VRBO over AirBnB, if not for selection than for price.
However, even rental accommodations are tough to beat Priceline. I would only recommend AirBnB or VRBO when you need a full apartment or flat.
Priceline Paris Bidding Tips
Rebid if your first bid is rejected: There is a technique that allows you to re-bid without having to wait the normal 24 hours on Priceline. The trick is to add a hotel zone that only has hotels rated lower than the class of hotel your bidding on. For example, it is safe to add a zone that only has 3 stars if you are bidding on a 4-star hotel and if you do so, Priceline will let you re-bid right away. Using this technique, you can start low and work your way up through a series of rebids. This rebidding technique is explained here.
Use the plethora of Priceline Paris bidding zones for free rebids. Start low and work your way up in price to avoid over paying.
Revealing your Paris hotel: Actual Priceline customers are often willing to share their winning bids on this site. The result is a collection of hotels known to be on Priceline in Paris. While there is not guarantee you will get any of the hotels on the Paris Priceline hotel list, there is a good chance you will. Worst case, it will give you a feel for the calibre of hotel you are likely to get. I always recommend not bidding on a hotel unless you are ok with whatever hotel you get. Do not expect a particular hotel and then be disappointed when it does not pan out.
Asking for help: The Hotwire & Priceline Forum is a great place to ask for help using Priceline. Whether you are trying to reveal your hotel, or figure out how much to bid, tens of thousands of forum members (and Priceline customers) are always willing to help a fellow traveler.
Travelers looking for a hotel deal in Paris should check out multiple sources to compare prices. Aside from the regular online booking websites, travelers have two choices: Booking unknown hotels on websites like Hotwire and Priceline; or owner-operated vacation rentals. Travelers who are flexible on their location and are probably best off booking their Paris hotel on Priceline. Using a strategy of bidding low on the initial bid, and inching your way up through rebids will ensure that you avoid overpaying too much.