MilesBuzz! - Saving Money on Hotels in Europe this Summer

Hello all,
I am travelling to Europe on the 15th of August for 3 weeks with my family of 3. Looking at the rates of some of the
"better" hotels (4, 5 stars... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif), I find that while two people can stay without breaking the bank, when you add in a teenager (16), the rates go sky high. I am a member of the Six Continents Club (Executive) so I use those when possible because the suite upgrade allows for the extra person. We will be in Switzerland mostly, and have been looking at hotels in Schuls, Wengen, Zermatt, Davos, Saanen and Gstaad.

-Are there any special family offers I should be aware off?
-Are there any good discounts from major chains? From individual hotels?
-Any other hints?

Thanks!!!!!!
747-400

[This message has been edited by 747-400 (edited 07-16-2001).]

For major capital cities of Europe you can try Travelscape.com or the UK division of Priceline at www.Priceline.co.uk. (http://www.Priceline.co.uk.)

Also Radisson and SAS hotels often have good internet specials for many cities around Europe as does Holiday Inn.

They're not up to 6cc standards but we sometimes use the Minotel association throughout Europe. They're family-friendly (the third bed is fairly priced) and the properties we've stayed at have been pleasant. Typically 3* properties that deserve the rating.

Gotten some good prices in the past from:

http://www.hrs.de

I've had some incredible luck with www.hotelbook.com, (http://www.hotelbook.com,) and calling the hotels, not the reservation 800 numbers directly.

I've used priceline.com extensively for US hotels, but never known that there're European site. Is there any priceline.co.uk bidding forum such as biddingfortravel.com by Sheryl?

Yes, there is. http://pub31.ezboard.com/bpricelineeuropediscussions

That board is still in its early days, but there have been a few more posts recently since Priceline UK started offering £20 bonus vouchers. Some of the prices for London are excellent!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by cordelli:
I've had some incredible luck with www.hotelbook.com, (http://www.hotelbook.com,) and calling the hotels, not the reservation 800 numbers directly.</font>

That link doesn't seem to work now.



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Middle_Seat

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Middle_Seat:
That link doesn't seem to work now.
</font>

Just another UBB feature. Try:

http://www.hotelbook.com

i've also had good luck with hotelbook, but you need to be diligent and check basically every day up until departure. i was in amsterdam twice over a two week per a few weeks ago. i stayed at the grand krasnapolsky on both occasions. the first trip, i started looking a week out, the price droppped from 200 euros on monday, to 135 euros by my departure for ams on friday. by wednesday, they had also eliminated ams's dreaded two day minimum stay on wknds. the second trip a week later, the price had dropped again (i guess because it was midweek stay) to 100 euros. not bad for 5* in the middle of town!

grand k is part of golden tulip hotel chain. you can get miles on aa and nw as far as i know.

[This message has been edited by lonman (edited 07-15-2001).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Middle_Seat:
I've had some incredible luck with www.hotelbook.com, (http://www.hotelbook.com,) and calling the hotels, not the reservation 800 numbers directly.
</font>

I often read this in books and articles that give travel tips. But I find it's about 50/50. Quite often the hotel chain's 800 number will give me a lower rate. In fact, I've even gotten rooms through the 800 numbers when the individual hotels tell me they are sold out.

I have used Expedia extensively and find the results very good.

Finding any room during a Frankfurt Messe is trouble, but Expedia has found good hotels at reasonable prices.

A couple of weeks ago a booked via Expedia and got a rate of 165dm at a Novotel. As I was checking in a gentleman next to me was asking about a late checkout [1500 local] the next day and was quoted 188dm. Eight hours after I checked out on a thursday I found that I needed to stay an extra day. The best that I could do by phoning the hotel direct was 235dm.

The replies have not addressed the central point of the original poster; triple occupancy rooms.

I have only seen such deals advertised by the US companies such as Holiday Inn for their european hotels.

Most european hotels are doubles. You can find triples, but the on-line services are mostly not programmed to show them.

Try searching for residential hotels and family rooms in hostels.

1) Book a double room with two big beds, say nothing and improvise on the sleeping arrangements.
2)Alternatively, ask for a single King bed and after having checked in ask for a bunk bed. I would go for the first option.

In some cases, here the problem is what/how you ask. This reminds me of the story of the guy who asked the bus driver if he could smoke. The driver pointed to a sign saying No Smoking. The sorry guy asked "what about all those guys in the back that are smoking?". The reply: "they didnt ask"

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The trouble with resisting temptation is...that you may not get another chance :-)

We went through a 3 week trip last year with 2 children (8 & 10 years old ). I ended up staying at mostly Holiday Inns. It was easy to book or change in US or in Europe and though the rates were OK for Europe peak travel. Priority club points were earned. The best deal was in Geneva ( Crown Plaza property )for apx $90/night.It was a big hit with the kids. During the planning stage, I encountered the same problems of unfriendly family policy of most "European" chains