OT-Priceline or Hotwire?

[Sydnoahmom]

We are going to Chicago for a weekend in June with friends and want to stay downtown. This is the 4th year we have done this and each year the hotel prices get higher and higher. Anyone have a preference over Priceline or Hotwire? I have never used either and am a little leary.

We are taking the kids overnight in March and thought I might "test the waters" then and give it a try.

Location is probably the most important thing for us, next to a nice, clean room.

TIA!

 

[La2kw]

I find better prices on Priceline.

 

[KibbyCat]

I find better prices on Priceline.

I agree. Plus, now they offer "no booking fees" on certain things.

 

[keholder]

Might want to try the hotel web sights directly they have a lot of good deals (packages) recently.

 

[caribear]

I have used both in the past. I have found that Hotwire can change their pricing hourly on hotels. I use betterbidding.com and biddingfortravel.com to see what others have been receiving using both Priceline and Hotwire. You need to be informed when using these sites to purchase hotel rooms, etc... I just got back from Boca Raton, FL and won a bid on Priceline for the Renaissance for $65 (plus fees/taxes) and on Hotwire I believe the same hotel was $109 (plus fees/taxes)....while the online rate through the hotel was $199.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Yes, you'll likely get a better deal booking through one of those. But I'd suggest checking out the 2 sites the pp posted. Read, read, read through everything and be sure you understand how both sites work and that once you bid or buy that's it. Also be aware that while it's fairly easy to predict the likelihood of a particular hotel (especially on Hotwire) it's NOT a guarantee. So you want to research ALL the hotels that have been previously won in a location and * class you're interested in. If there are any you absolutely do NOT want then don't bid that location/class.

Having said all that; I've used both Hotwire and Priceline after having done my homework and have never been disappointed. Even when I've used them for NYC.

Good luck!

 

[Kimkimba]

I find better prices on Priceline.

ITA. I always do my research on the 2 sites mentioned, and am always very happy with my results.

 

[Kae]

Might want to try the hotel web sights directly they have a lot of good deals (packages) recently.

and if you call direct ask about shoppers package, alots times we would get good deals that way.

Kae

 

[robb01]

I like priceline, theres just something about Hotwire and not knowing the exact hotel that I dont like

 

[Donnainnj]

Use the sites mentioned and also know that Hotwire has somewhere to include your kids on the reservation so you will get 2 beds in the room. While most of our priceline reservations worked out fine and we were able to get 2 beds, in LA we had a king with just a chair. Not fun sleeping with a wiggle worm 10 year old, and the 6 year old on the chair (which she still insists was very comfy). Luckily it was only for 1 night.

Another thing to note, in the past I have noticed the * ratings were a little stricter on priceline. I don't think I would try to get a hotel less then 3 1/2 stars on hotwire, on priceline I would be willing to get 3 stars.
Donna

 

[Bren's Mom]

Also FYI there is alot of info on those boards mentioned above about deals other than for Hotwire/Priceline. For example, someone on betterbidding posted about a downtown Chicago Sheraton that they were able to book through Orbitz for $99 per night, plus additional off with an Orbitz code and $1 parking at the hotel.

 

[NotUrsula]

Most places, no difference at all except that the prices are often better on Priceline. However, downtown Chicago is an exception (as are also the downtown areas of DC, NYC, SanFran, LA, New Orleans and Boston.) Those central cities tend to have quite a few older hotels with small rooms that will only hold one bed. Priceline's guarantee is only that the room will accomodate two people; there is no guarantee that you will get more than one bed, or that the bed will be any larger than a double. If I am traveling with my children to those areas and plan to use Priceline, I feel that I have to bid two rooms, which kind of defeats the purpose. (While most of the time you can pay the hotel directly to get a rollaway to take care of this problem, in these locations you take the chance that the room won't be large enough to accomodate one.)

Hotwire will allow you to specifiy the number of people in the party and the number of beds needed. For that reason I go with Hotwire in what I call the "exception" cities.

An excellent Chicago-only hotel consolidator is Hotrooms,com. Also, when planning a weekend trip to Chicago on a budget, check the Convention Calendar (http://www.chicagotraveler.com/chicago-conventions-trade-shows-conferences.htm) before choosing your dates. Hotel prices skyrocket on weekends when there is a big convention in town (and restaurant reservations are harder to get then, too.)