Hotwire vs. Priceline???
 

I'm new to this type of travel, seems it is just pure luck. I researched so many hotels in Washington DC and took a shot at Priceline (after reviewing Fodors, BiddingforTravel, etc). I got no luck so took a Hotwire offer for a 4* hotel in Dupont Circle and felt ok with the ones people had said they got. It was $105/night in 4/07. Well according to "everyone" except Hotwire, it is a 3* hotel and I knew it from my researching and it wasn't a good one, actually pretty bad. I called and complained but they could care less and all the people I spoke with seemed to just keep reading me back their policy and "there is nothing we can do because according to Hotwire, since this facility put in a new fitness room, they feel it is a 4*. It is not and I'm stuck with it. I'll never use them again and was unaware that this kind trade-off could happen. Live and learn. I'm dreading this part of my vacation and am anxious but I'm stuck. The "customer favorite" that was displayed was surely a lie. I'll give a follow-up and try to stick it out with Priceline next time. Anyone have this experience?

What hotel is it? Is it listed on betterbidding.com? Did you review the possible choices on betterbidding?

I'm sorry you ended up with a hotel you did not want.

Hotwire uses its own rating system. You'll find that Hotwire generally rates hotels one star higher than other sites. I believe biddingfortravel discusses Hotwire's rating system.

I've had some good deals from Hotwire and from Priceline. You can usually tell which hotel you'll end up with after researching biddingfortravel.

I always use Priceline and never been disappointed. One time only I used Hotwire. I wanted at least a 3 star but by the airport. I ended up with a very rundown Holiday Inn 3/4 hour from the airport. I will not use them again.

If you don't read biddingfortravel.com (for Priceline) or betterbidding.com for Hotwire & Priceline, you're uninformed. They give you a list of hotels for each star level/area and people also post what hotels they're getting. Betterbidding will also try to help you identify a hotel if you can't figure it out.

If you did as much research as you said, you'd know that Hotwire hotels are rated higher than priceline hotels. For example Priceline would rate a Hampton Inn a 2 1/2 star while Hotwire would give it a 3 star.

Ratings don't have anything to do with how nice a hotel is but the number of amenities. Again, you would have picked this up by reading.

What is the name of the hotel?

Sorry you had a bad experience. This is exactly why people need to spend several hours studying www.BiddingForTravel.com and www.BetterBidding.com before they bid.

Thanks everyone. I got familiar with so many hotels and did spend time on Bidding for Travel and obviously not enough. It isn't the easiest site to find everything you want to know. I never picked up on that rating system and how Hotwire works it. Live and learn. I got Hilton Washington and Towers for $105/night. I'm not reading any more reviews on this hotel because I have read enough--just going and hope the bed bugs I heard about don't bite. If anyone has gone recently and found it to be ok, I'd love some encourgement. Everyone on this site is so nice and helpful.

- It is a 4* hotel
- It is listed on betterbidding.com

You have to do the research on betterbidding before using Hotwire.

Anyways, it's probably not as bad as the reviews say. Have a lowered expectation, and I think you'll be happy.