So, frustrated by the lack of cheap hotels in Paris that were available later this week, I turned to Priceline...I started off strong, a $100 bid for a 5 star. No go, but it threw me a counter-offer of 190.

190? 5* in the Champs Elyses? Perhaps this is worth playing...

So I started bidding up (using the Ebay 15 bucks back promo), and eventually got the PDG for 161 USD!!! (i.e. 140 euros = what a 3* was costing off the rack!) Splitting with a friend, thats 80.50/night, tax included, for a 5* hotel in Paris. Quite a deal, in my book -- and the splurge for the trip. Thanks to a UA bump on the way over, it's paid for

I wonder what checkin will say when 2 college students -- Gold SPG cards in hand -- show up next week (straight off the overnight train from Nice....). "la porte, MONSIEUR, est de cette façon"