Tips For Using Hotwirecom To Book Cheap Hotels
If you are looking to cut the costs on hotels when you're traveling, Hotwire.com is a great place to start. I use the hotel booking site frequently when I'm on the road and have received some great deals: InterContinental in Tampa, $99 over New Year's Eve; Westin Jersey City, $129, at the end of January (neither price includes tax)
I like Hotwire better than Priceline because you don't have to guess on what price to set. Even though the site is "opaque" - meaning that you commit to buying your room without knowing exactly what hotel it is - I find it easier to decipher what I'm getting with Hotwire. Plus you don't have to go through the machinations of Priceline's bidding process, which can take a while if your original offer is rejected.
If you want to use Hotwire for your next trip, here are a few tips:
1. Figure out what hotel you are getting before you buy. Hotwire has clues that makes this easy to do. First, check out the hotel's amenity list - a group of icons that appear under the hotel's location. Open up another window in your brower to BetterBidding.com, a forum where frequent Priceline and Hotwire users post lists of what the different hotels offer, as well as their recent buys.
Let's use my Tampa trip as an example. The hotel that I was considering had an airport shuttle service icon on Hotwire. BetterBidding told me that of the 4-star Tampa hotels listed on Hotwire, only the InterContinental had shuttle service. So I knew that I was going to end up there.
If you are like me and you want to know where you are staying, this extra step is worth it.
2. Don't forget tax. Both Priceline and Hotwire show prices without tax, which can easily add another $20-$30 to your per night rate. Factor this in to your budgeting.
3. Use it for car rentals too. I've found prices on Hotwire for as low as $15 a day. Hotwire's car rental is more flexible than their hotel purchases, as they don't charge you until you pick up the car. (In contract, hotel purchases are non-refundable and must be paid immediately).
4. Be realistic about the kind of hotel you are getting. Hotwire (and Priceline) specialize in getting rid of unused inventory - the rooms that hotels haven't sold. And generally, these hotels are going to be the larger chains such as Marriott, Hyatt and Hilton that often appeal to business travelers (which is why weekend rates can be so low). So you aren't going to find many boutique or independent hotels through the service. If your goal is to stay at the hippest hotel in town, you will be unhappy with Hotwire. Five star properties such as the Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental are usually not listed either.
But if you are simply looking for a good deal on a city hotel that has basic four-star amenities, give Hotwire a try. My favorite Hotwire deal came last year when I was able to book my sister a room at the Wynn Las Vegas for $89. She was thrilled with both the hotel and the price
