Hot Wire Questions-Please help!

[seashell724]

Hi Everyone,
I have never used hotwire before and am confused!
So, you pick where you want your hotel, book it and THEN Find out which hotel it is? I am just nervous that I will get stuck with a really poor hotel, even if it is a 3 star Best Value.

Is it better to book with hotwire far away from the date we will be staying (like say 9 months) or wait until say one month before? Since it is a site that gives you hotels rooms at a cheap price if they are not full, even if you book as far ahead as you are able are you guaranteed a room at the hotel they give you after booking? Or do you show up and hope that they are not full and that you will get a room?

Has anyone used this before? Can anyone tell me how it went for them?

Please help me out!

 

[SiClone]

I only use hotwire if its less than 2 weeks or so from my travel date. You do not know which hotel it will be until after you purchase, but they do list the chains that fall under that star rating. So you won't be completely surprised. I like hotwire a lot!!

 

[seashell724]

I know others must have used HotWire too.
Can you please help me?
Thanks!

 

[Darcy03231]

I use Hotwire all the time. I always pick at least a 3* and have never been disappointed. In the past I've gotten:

3* - Wyndham, Sheraton, Doubletree, Hilton

3.5* -Grand Hyatt, Hilton

I just make sure I pick the area that I wanted. Last summer when we were in Orlando I picked just the Universal area as we wanted something close to US/IOA. I got the Sheraton Studio City for $52/night and its half a mile from US/IOA.

 

[mikehn]

There is a website dedicated to Hotwire strategies tips and tricks, but the URL escapes me. Maybe someone else knows.

 

[ashef]

There are two websites for folks bidding on Priceline and/or Hotwire. One is www.biddingfortravel.com (my preference) & the other is www.betterbidding.com. The sites are incredibly helpful and the moderators usually can tell folks which hotel they would be bidding on for Hotwire.

 

[SB in KY]

I love the Better Bidding site listed above....it will help you identify which hotel you are picking on Howire, although it is not perfect it can really be a help. A word of caution... Hotwire tends to over rate hotels in my opinion. Expect about a 1/2 to 1 star elevation in their ratings from the ratings posted by most travel sites.

The good thing about Hotwire is you can indicate the number of adults and children in your party and then the hotel you select will provide a room to accomodate that number. (on Priceline you cannot guarentee a room with 2 beds but if you book for a family of 4 on Hotwire you will get a room with 2 beds).

And yes, once you book the room through Hotwire, it is a prepaid guarenteed room. They will not move you to another hotel or refuse to give you a room when you arrive. However, once made the reservation cannot be changed or cancelled.