Posted on: 21-01-05 15:10:01
Hi, we are visiting GTA for a 10-day holiday in March-April. Would appreciate if anyone can point out a good site for booking discounts on hotels.
Alternately, can anybody recommend any good hotels anywhere in the GTA area? Typically we leave the hotel in the morning and return back late at night to sleep, so we dont need hotel with major frills. We do prefer hotels with free breakfast, and microwave (for heating baby stuff).
On a related note, can one do a booking from priceline.com here in Canada? I have used priceline.com extensively in the US and have always secured a very good hotel room at about 40-50% of the regular rate. I checked out their site and they do have hotels available in TO but their site says visitors from US will not be charged GST. Hence, I am not sure if we can book as Canadian residents (not visitors from US).
hi why dont you try a website called http://www.wotif.com" rel="nofollow">LINK
hope it helps... i have used it many times.
AFAIK, you can book on Priceline from Canada.
It is slightly tricky to use a Canadian credit card because of the postal code format, but there is an FAQ somewhere on the site that tell you how to do so.
You will be charged GST for any transaction if you are a Canadian resident.
Keep in mind that the bid amount on the website is in USD 
Other than Priceline, you can check out hotels.ca destina.ca and Travelocity.ca
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"Mah deah, there is much more money to be made in the destruction of civilization than in building it up."
-- Rhett Butler in "Gone with the Wind"
Oh, BTW, if you go with Priceline, keep in mind that you may not get a room with the microwave and the breakfast.
Their policy clearly states that all they gurantee is a double room, non-smoking and late arrival.
I have also found that sometimes hotels do not provide Priceline guests with other preferences like a particular view, kind size bed, etc.
Some hotels do, and some don't.
So if the microwave and breakfast is important to you, I think you should book through a website that shows the hotel details or book directly with the hotel.
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"Mah deah, there is much more money to be made in the destruction of civilization than in building it up."
-- Rhett Butler in "Gone with the Wind"
Hi pratickm, thanks for the links and clarifying re priceline.
BTW I have booked on priceline and got a hotel in Missisuaga at one-third of its published rate and about 40% cheaper than any other places I was finding on the net. Since we are staying for 10 days, a $35 difference in rate per day translates to $350 in total.
I know the limitations of booking on priceline but the price differential is really too high to ignore. It pisses me off no end that hotels will accept a rate through priceline that they dont offer on their own website (no third party commissions).
Quote:Good for you !
Orginally posted by Canadian Dream
BTW I have booked on priceline and got a hotel in Missisuaga at one-third of its published rate and about 40% cheaper than any other places I was finding on the net. Since we are staying for 10 days, a $35 difference in rate per day translates to $350 in total.
Do you mind telling which hotel it is and how much you got it for?
Also, did you use a US credit card or a Canadian one?
Quote:More than that, it pisses me off that the travel sites like Travelocity and Expedia have such huge markups on their hotel rates.
I know the limitations of booking on priceline but the price differential is really too high to ignore. It pisses me off no end that hotels will accept a rate through priceline that they dont offer on their own website (no third party commissions).
Especially Expedia.
Their system is so messed up that sometimes they will show no availability for a particular hotel, but if you call the hotel directly, it is empty and sometimes they will show availablity but the hotel will be fully booked up.
Their rating system is also faulty - sometimes they rate a 2* hotel as 4* and sometimes vice versa.
Travelocity is relatively better off.
BTW, regarding your need for a microwave, I can suggest one of those single electric burners.
You can get one at Wal*Mart and they look exactly like an electric stove top.
You can use it to warm food items.
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"Mah deah, there is much more money to be made in the destruction of civilization than in building it up."
-- Rhett Butler in "Gone with the Wind"
I booked my hotel Holiday Inn near Aiport for 1 week in April for $ 39 a night before taxes about $ 45 after tax. You may want to check them out.
http://www.hotwire.com" rel="nofollow">LINK
