Using priceline for Montreal Hotels

[bigguyinpasadena]

OK friends,on the advice of a poster on this site I checked out bidingfortravel.com-a great site if you want to learn the ins and outs of using priceline.com.

Now,another hotel bidding site has been discussed here before-but I have forgotten the name of it!

If anyone here knows the site I am reffering to please help.Also-do they have a companion advice site?

Has anyone here ever used priceline and gotten royally screwed(and not the good way either)?

Thanks in advance for you help.

Oh I just cannot wait till May 17th!:9

[J-Man]

Do you mean Hotwire? (http://www.hotwire.com) It's similar to Priceline, except that you don't bid. If you use Priceline and bid carefully (after using Bidding For Travel), you can almost always do much better than Hotwire.

 

I've never had a problem with Priceline, and you won't if you lower your expectations. For example, you might end up with the worst (smallest, most poorly located) place in the joint. And you might get a smoking room when you want non-smoking, or a double bed when you want a king. But you can't beat the prices-- I just spent five nights in Chicago at a 3* Four Points for $22/night!

 

I've found Priceline to be pretty much useless recently for rental cars, however. I can usually do as well or better with discount coupons from Hertz, and there's no risk of forfeiting your entire prepayment as there is with Priceline.

 

Let me know if you have any other questions about Priceline. I've used it for several years and many, many times.

 

-- Your neighbor to the east (just down the 210 from you)

[Guest NakedTony]

I have not used Priceline but I have used Hotels.com. I found that they had excellents rates but I was very familiar with the area and had a specific hotel in mind.

 

The down side is that you have to pay in advance via credit card.

 

I do have a friend that prepaid using Hotels.com. He called the hotel directly to ensure guaranteed late arrival. He was assured that he had a room since it was prepaid. He arrived to find out his room was given to someone else. x( He was on his own to find other accomodations.

 

Hotels.com was no help and he's still waiting for return of his prepaid room (over $350).

[jack]

bigguy, Montreal is easy. Just stay at the Hotel Goveneur. Excellent facility. Fantastic in door secure Parking. Within minutes of Campus, Adonis, Stock, Taboo. And, friendly to friedly visitors.

[bigguyinpasadena]

Dear Jack,I have stayed at the Gouverneur a few times.I find it a total ripoff.They have no respect for return visitors.It is a crapshoot as to what kind of room you will get.Their restaurant is terrible,and room service has a wierd schedule.Housekeeping is below par.

I know of three VIP customers(who engage either a one or two bedroom suite for stays of four days to two weeks)who have been so mistreared by the rude management of the Gouverneur chain that they will stey there only as a last resort.When you piss off a high-roller like these guys it indicates a total disrespect for ALL of your guest.

They are overpricing this property because of its location-and because the clientel,for the most part,is willing to pay the price and not ask"geez-can't I do better than this for my money"

Well I am asking!

Thanks for your response.

PS,The rate they charge Canadian Govermebt employees and Canadian tour groups is about 1/3 less than what they quote tourist.and I never pay rack rates if I can help it.

[Karl-G]

Sorry, but I disagree about the Gouverneur and rate it very highly. I am a return customer, and they treat me very well. Check in is very quick, and they have all my preferences in the computer. I have always received exactly the kind of room I wanted, and it is always large, clean, pleasant, with a great view. They greet me by name at the desk and are always extremely pleasant. The night before I leave, my bill is slipped under my door at 3:00 a.m. so I do not have to stop by the desk at all when I leave. If I have a late flight back home, There is never a problem with using the room past the usual check-in time. And escorts never have a problem finding me or getting to me.

 

The breakfast is free and quite adequate for me, ultra convenient since it is in the same building. Large windows let in sun, and newspapers are free. I don't eat other meals there simply because there are so many interesting restaurants all over the place.

 

There is a "frequest guest" plan, so periodically I get a free night's accommodation. On the ground floor there is a superb French patisserie where I can treat myself every day, a fine grocery store if I want something, and a large drugstore with everything I might need. There is an ATM machine downstairs in the bank on the corner which has no charge and a very good rate of exchange. I can go directly downstairs and into the subway system. I can go downstairs, walk through the undergroud city to the university across the square and visit the bookstore, exhibits, library. I can do all these things without ever putting a coat on, and in the winter time, that is especially nice.

 

We can certainly disagree about our experiences, but I for one have had nothing but good experiences at the Gouverneur for years, and I would rate them very highly, particularly in view of their location within a few minutes of walking to five male stripper bars.

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

I have stayed at the Gouverneur three or four times and my experience is as positive as Karl's. However, I share bigguy's view that it is overpriced.

 

I have Priceline/Bidding for travel April accomodations at the 3* Delta for less than $31 US per day, including taxes. THis is my 3rd time at the Delta and it is as nice as the Gouv. if not as convenient. However, it is not inconvenient in that there is a clean safe subway stop at the end of the block, a week pass is $14 CD, and Gov. is two stops way and Taboo is four. The only issue for me is that the subway stops running before the clubs close so I need a taxi to return -- $7-8 CD. Not a deal breaker.

 

A additional $50 US per day for limited additional convenience seems overpriced to me. That is $75 CD I can use at Taboo or Campus. }(

[Guest Kenny021]

I completely agree with Karl's experience with Hotel des Gouverneur. I've stayed there at least 8 or 9 times and of course, like all such establishments, there are times when something goes wrong (housekeeping not working correctly) etc. but for the most part, it is a good hotel. Location is extremely important and that hotel is THE MOST CONVENIENT. As Karl stated, you can get to almost everywhere without stepping outside. If, as some have said, you are not getting the cheapest rate possible, their rate for me is acceptable and the convenience more than makes up for it. Great rooms,great views,friendly staff, and I've found the restaurant adequate. Again, each to his own taste but I like it and will stay there again.

[bigguyinpasadena]

Thanks to all who responded-more input regarding priceline in montreal would be great(hint)For those of you who don't mind the Gouverneur-hey great for you.It is convienent as mentioned.

I will be staying mid may and the weather is usually nice,therfore having access to the underground shopping center is not important.And I do not mind the subway one bit-additional cruising oppertunities for me!

As a "bone" to those who thought my evaluation of the Gouverneur harsh I would like to reccomend the pattiserie kitty corner to the Gouvernour on St.Catherine called Pain D'or.It makes the place in the basement look like a little debbies outlet-great pastries and wonderful bread-and a wonderful staff(unlike poivre et sel-the place in the basement)and everything is half price after 5!

[Paul Revere]

I am also a regular client of the Gouvenour, and am relatively satisfied. I think the location is the best selling point. I do agree with some of the criticsms though. The housekeeping isn't always great, and the "free" breakfast is the worst I have ever seen. It is funny that when you call to make reservations, the rate with breakfast included is less than the rate without the breakfast. That is very strange and should tell you something about the quality of the breakfast. The best bet is to walk down the block a bit to Cora's. It has great breakfast and great people watching. There is almost always one table with a gentleman accompanied by his over night dancing boy. It always makes me chuckle, especially when the dancer is someone I know, and they stop by my table to say "hi". Those French Canadians can be soooo charming.

 

As for other hotels, I have also used the Crown Plaza up on Rue Sherbrooke. The price is about the same as the Gouv, and the quality is about the same. The Crowne Plaza in Montreal is gay friendly, and it is only about a three block walk down to Ste. Catherine. It is an uphill walk going home later, but there is a Metro stop there and cabs, so no big deal. Actually I like walking up and down Rue St. Denis. Its mostly a college age crowd, but it is lively and fun.

 

I don't complain about the hotel rates in Montreal, becuase I often stay in New York City. At the Gouv or the Crown Plaza, I can stay for three or four nights in Montreal for what one night in New York would cost. So I always see Montreal as a great bargain

[Guest alanm]

Funny how we all have different priorities. I use the low prices as an excuse to stay at a really nice hotel, all for way, way less than Manhatten prices.

[Guest Kenny021]

The best bet is to walk down the block a bit to Cora's. It has great breakfast and great people watching. There is almost always one table with a gentleman accompanied by his over night dancing boy.

 

ABSOLUTELY....great selection...food as well as people watching.

[firecat]

I have stayed at the Governeur about 8 times because I didn't know any better. Although it is conveinent, the price is almost always a lot more then you can get on Priceline.

 

The last 4 trips I have stayed at 3 star Hoterls such as Crowne Plaza or Delta for $38-$45 US and at 4 Star such as Bonaventure or Rennaisance for $65 US. the best price I ever get at Governeur is $109 C which is about $74 US.

 

The Hotels I have stayed at have all been as nice to much nicer then the Governeur as well as letting you stay in a part of the city with many more good restaurants, shoping etc..

 

True you might have to take the Metro but this is easy enough to do and take a cab home with all the money you saved, you can certainly afford to splurge on other things such as boys.

 

By the way none of these Hotels have presented any problen for bringing friends back to room.

[bigguyinpasadena]

Hello Firecat,and a great big thank you for your input-I knew someone on this board would relly come through!And that $109 rack rate(club rate)is long gone methinks-haven't found anything below $129(or $139 for a remodeled(?)room)for over a year which is $85-$89 USD-toooooo much for the gouverneur IMO)

I am goingto priceline to put in some bids.

Thank you all so much for you valuable input.

PS,yes CHEZ CORA does put out a wonderful breakfast-love the chickens-and if you are wheat intolerant they will make your pancakes with buckwheat flour!

[bigguyinpasadena]

Hey guys THANK YOU!!!just got off priceline and got a room at the renaisance for $57 a night !!!I am soooooo happy.That is less than I was going to pay at a less desirable (but ok)budget place on St.Dennis,and it is supposed to be a really nice hotel!I am a beliver in Priceline now.

[+ Lucky]

For me the convenience of the GOuverneur's is worth the extra money. I have stayed at the Crowne Plaza but checked out because of the dilapidated room they gave me, and that walk uphill is no fun. I have also stayed at the Westin when it was the Four Seasons. Le Meridien was horrible.

One test of a hotel is to get sick! I became very ill when shopping and went to the Gouv front desk, said "I need a doctor." They came twice to the room to check up on me, but the doctor would only deal with me over the phone. I spent 21 miserable hours in that room, but the room service was prompt.

The breakfast isn't the worst, have you ever eaten at Circus Circus in Reno or Vegas?

As for the prices, I did have problems as different clerks gave different quotes. Not nice.

[bigguyinpasadena]

Oh Lucky---the buffet at Circus Circus?Yes I have eaten at the one in Vegas once-when I lived there.It has to be the worst buffet=no I take that back,the buffet at terribles is worse-but the name warns you in advance.

Beside the Breakfast buffet,the rest of the food served at the gouverneur was horrid-and,as pointed out here,the breakfast buffet was not so great.

Now have you stayed at the Circus Circus in Reno-talk about HORRID!

[Steven_Draker]

I was wondering if Priceline.com can be used by people living outside the US like me. I tried several times to book a room, but their server simply doesn't accept a phone number with no US area code. Same thing for the "State" field ...

 

Any input from International users would be appreciated.

 

Steven Draker

[Guest VanBCGuy]

>I was wondering if Priceline.com can be used by people living

>outside the US like me. I tried several times to book a room,

>but their server simply doesn't accept a phone number with no

>US area code. Same thing for the "State" field ...

>

>Any input from International users would be appreciated.

>

>Steven Draker

 

I live in Canada (Vancouver) and use Priceline all the time, but I have a US Credit Card. If you can wrangle it - having a US credit card makes buying a lot of things so much easier. Easy for me, I lived in Arizona for a few years and was able to establish a credit rating and get a US credit card. I have a sister living in CA, so I have a US address to use as well.

 

Have you checked hotels.com? - maybe they don't require a US credit card.

 

Now, if we could only establish Trader Joe's up here.....

[Steven_Draker]

>Have you checked hotels.com? - maybe they don't require a US

>credit card.

 

Yes, I use Hotels.com all the time. My question was about Priceline ... Any input ?

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

No phone required when I book online, just a credit card and an email address.

[bigguyinpasadena]

Hi Steven,nice avatar.If you go to BIDDINGFORTRAVEL.COM this issue is discussed in length.There is a way around it(something about entering all zeros)BFT is a really useful site for those wanting help with priceline(thank you to posters on this board for turning me onto it)

[Steven_Draker]

Thanks for the clue !

http://www.biddingfortravel.com has a special FAQ section for Non-U.S. resident willing to use Priceline.com (very tricky when it comes to fill out their online form ...)

Really helpfull :-)

 

Steven Draker

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

Priceline

 

I have listed Hot Wire on this site (recommended to me by three well reviewed escorts on thissite, one who travels a lot) and I have had both clients and escort recommend Hotels dot com to me as well. However, especially if you take the time to read and understand the tricks used which are suggested in biddingfortravel, I have had the best luck with Price Line and am very comfortable with it.

 

I do agree with Naked Tony, how well you may know an area and the establishments there is helpful on any site. I also often use Hot Wire (you only need an e-mail address to join, just make sure to not sign up for any e-mail to be sent to you when you register) to see what prices are for three and four star hotels where I want to go and then decide.

[bigguyinpasadena]

RE: Priceline

 

NOW THIS IS TOOOOOO MUCH,first Steven(a very cute man from Europe)post a crotch shot in his tidy whiteys,and now we get a very cute "drop trou'"ass shot from Franco-bet the don't post this kinda thing on BIDDINGFORTRAVEL.COM,thanks guys !