Hotwire

I just had my worst experience with Hotwire. The company's hotel class ratings have deteriorated and their customer service was just plain rude. We supposedly booked a "4 Star" Hotel in NY which turned out to be the Sheraton Towers. This the same place that we left a day early back in February, due to sanitary issues (mold all over the bathroom and "socks on" carpet). It is a "3 Star" rated hotel on Travelocity and Orbitz (3.5 star on hotwire's sister company's rating system). We called customer service right away to see if they would let us book another hotel and they abruptly refused. Spoke to several supervisors and they were just as rude. We were long time users and will not ever book again on the site.

I went on Hotwire.com to get a hotel room in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico (zip code 00745). They called up two hotels with two prices, both in Rio Grande. I got a hotel room 15 miles away in Farado, Puerto, Rico (zip code 00738).


TA DA! My credit card has just been 'hotwired' and I got nothing but boilerplate babble from their customer service people.

When I called to resolve this, their response is that they sell 'neighborhoods.' Yeah, right--15 miles away from San Francisco is the 'neighborhood' of Oakland. If you were booking a room in San Francisco and got Oakland, would you be happy? Neither am I!

The thing that makes me furious is that when I went back through the search pages on Hotwire, thinking I must have bought the wrong city, sure enough, I had selected Rio Grande. Then, when my reservation was paid for, with no changes or refunds of course, I got a totally different city, 15 miles away, with a different zip code! And, to make it worse, Hotwire calls this 'in the area.'

BUYER BEWARE WITH HOTWIRE!

Terrible. We made a reservation in Montreal at a 2 star hotel. According to Hotwire a 2 star is similar to a Comfort Inn or La Quinta. This hotel was less than a Motel 6.

The room was small (about 9 x 12) and dirty, the carpet stained, the furniture old and decrepit. The air conditioning was non existant. The only window looked out on the bottom os a light shaft which was loaded with debris. The bed was small (a double) and uncomfortable. The carpet in the hallways was filthy and patched with duct tape. It was so bad that although we had paid for 7 days, we left the next morning.

When I complained to Hotwire, their only response was "NO REFUNDS"

So beware. Although most Hotwire experiences may be pleasant, they may stick you with a piece of garbage in order to get your money. I would rather pay a few dollars more to know what I am getting.

Something is wrong, people! Hotwire has CHANGED!!! I have used Hotwire extensively in the Milwaukee area. No problems. Nice hotels and a great savings. Downtown meant truly downtown. Not any more.

I just booked a hotel from Hotwire for Kansas City, MO and was totally robbed. It was described as being in a certain location, Crown Center and the hotel description included that it could be "the Hyatt...blah, blah." Okay, it wasn't the Hyatt. I got the "blah." And it is officially two miles away from the area that I was told I was booking in. Two miles in the dead of winter in MO might was well be twenty. I am so disgusted.

A call to the service representative and then manager did not help out. They informed me that I should have investigated their map more thoroughly. I guess. But in all my past bookings, I had not been deceived by them. Downtown meant downtown. Crown Center should mean Crown Center.

The inconvenience that I will have to overcome to enjoy my vacation leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Buyer beware. Hotwire is not what it used to be.

Hotwire promised me a beachfront resort with a spa on the premisis for a visit to Cancun. Hotwire gave me the Hyatt Regency Cancun. The facility does not have a spa on the premisis and the beachfront hotel has no beach to walk on...they have to shuttle you to the beach to another Hyatt hotel. My hotel was a dump. At the Hyatt Regency Cancun, the wooden hotel hangers did not work, the mattress was hard, there was a loud fan we could hear on the 11th floor and we payed extra for the Regency Club Level and twice got sour fruit and milk. Hotwire gave this hotel four and a half stars because of it's name, not because of its services. Hotwire admits to being wrong and gave me hotwire dollars to use on a future trip. I told them I did not want hotwire dollars but a refund. Why would I want to use a company that is deceptive. I have contacted the Better Business Bureau.

I absolutely DO NOT recommend using Hotwire. I just paid the same amount as I would have if I had a non-stop flight connection ordered directly with the air line and actually picking my flight options. Instead... because their promise is low rates, I trusted that it was a good deal - DO NOT TRUST THAT - because I will now spend 2 days flying way out of my way to NOT save any money. Their customer service is NOT understanding about this either.

I am paying the same price to fly from St Louis to Charlotte NC to Phoenix, stay 4 nights in a hotel and leave on a RED EYE flight with a 5:15 am 2 hour lay over, again in NC as I would to have a simple flight from St Louis to Phoenix (and stay in that same hotel for 4 nights). Which you are NOT allowed to see until after you pay - but they guarantee to make life simpler and offer a cheaper vacation if you book these things together. I paid the same price. Period. And have a terribly INconvenient flight.

Horrible experience!! 8 pages of terms of use, buried- their inflexible policy. Our flight and hotel plans had to be changed. We tried to change our rental car dates through Hot wire. Nope. They keep our $670 and we can't get our car if we are not there on the original date. BEWARE!!
All bookings made on Hotwire are final and cannot be cancelled, refunded, changed, exchanged or transferred. Change fees are not an option. If our travel partners can be absolutely confident that the products they sell through Hotwire will be used in the exact way they were sold, they can offer deeply discounted airline tickets, hotel reservations and car rental reservations. These restrictions enable our partners to better manage their unsold seats, rooms and cars and it is a big reason why we can offer you great deals. Credit cannot be given for any unused tickets or reservations. Once you agree to make a booking on our site, your credit card will be charged for the total price shown -- regardless of whether the tickets or reservations are used. In order to make a booking on our site, you must agree to Hotwire's Terms of Use.

Booking car rentals from hotwire is the biggest mistake anyone can make. They are really misleading. They promise the car names that all have 4WD when you are looking for options and then after booking (which is non-refundable) state that you would be getting a smaller 2WD vehicle. The customer support at hotwire is very rude. This is the worst place to rent cars and companies like these that ditch people during a well planned holiday should be banned.

I have been using Hotwire now for over a year. WOW, I have checked other services and other discount packages and none have compared to Hotwire. I must say, the first time I used it I was a little nervous, but I really felt the need to write this review after using it for so long now. You must first get over the fear of the unknown, and that was my rub at first. But now after at least 8 times using it for me and members of my family I can say , I have absolutely not been disappointed . The savings are great, the accommodations have been great, and the travel plans went smoothly. This is all you can ask of a discount program. I recommend Hotwire to everyone I know that needs to make travel plans now, and all have thanked me. Give them a try, you will too

Back on December 7, 2007 I had purchased a ticket to fly to New York due to a death in my family. No sooner had I purchased the ticket when I received a call from one of my family members stating that it would not be conducive to come because of unforeseen circumstances. Needless to say that caused a little stress on my part. I made a few phone calls to your customer care department explaining my plight, and they gave me the necessary information that I needed to pass along for a review for refund. My wife sent the information on 12/27/07 and I had a favorable response in the form of a full refund on 12/28/07. I can't tell you how much my family and I are impressed with your understanding,and professionalism in this regard. Many blessings to all concerned. I'm sure we'll be doing business in the future. Word of mouth advertising is still the best advertising. Thank you very much. Joseph Folsom

I booked a room for a week in Memphis through Hotwire.com. I was offered a $90 hotel room for $42 so I made the reservations and paid. I received a $54 extended stay room that not only comes with just weekly housekeeping for the 7 days, but they didn't even have someone to send up to unclog the toilet. So much for my $90 hotel room. What a scam.

We are going to Indy for my husband's surgery on Monday so needed a room for Sunday night. Used Hotwire and chose to go for a 3 star hotel for a good nights sleep. Imagine our surprise when we found out our hotel is a Holiday Inn with a water park attached under cover.

Never, ever would I have chosen such a place! Noise, kids, etc. and NOT a 3 star hotel, has horrible reviews.

Who decided these ridiculous rating scales. Would you send your mother to this hotel and tell her it was a three star hotel?

We wanted a nice 3 star hotel with a good night's sleep before surgery. This is not what we are getting and is totally misrepresented. I feel we were taken.Doesn't anyone regulate this kind of business practice? Who can I report this to?

What a rip off this whole affair has become. I would never recommend HotWire to anyone, ever!

I will NOT use hotwire again!

The worst ever reservation that I made in my life time. I booked a Minivan for $58.00 and I found out that the same was available for 46.00 at www.cheaptickets.com, Both were at the same BDl location, same date and time.

I called Hotwire customer service to adjust the difference, but I spoke to a BRICK. The more I pleaded, the worse was the response. WORST POSSIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. He even advised me not to buy over the internet, because you could end up being fooled. NO refunds and cancellations...what's up with that? Go to AVIS or any other travel firm and they would be pleased to negotiate the price and also cancel the reservation. I have not read the policy completely, but this was totally un expected. i feel sorry for myself for having to use the same reservation and get my work done. But I will feel stupid for the rest of my life.

HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE!!! I was very disappointed with Hotwire.com. The hotel they sold me in to was NO WHERE NEAR the star rating they had said I would get. The rooms are incredibly small shoeboxes, with a rude and unprofessional staff, and "queen size beds" that are actually doubles. Not to mention the non-functional Climate control.

The rude customer service staff at Hotwire would not admit that it misrepresented the hotel they sold me with an inflated star rating. They refused any compensation at all even though they LIED!

AVOID HOTWIRE, THEY ARE A TOTAL RIP OFF!!! THEIR HOTELS SUCK!!!

I have issues with booking a hotel with hotwire.  I am stuck with a 2-star hotel room while hotwire insists its 3-star claim.  AA.com is a more honest website with competitive price.  I've stayed in the exact same hotel through AA.com.  I paid the same price as with hotwire but knowing it's a 2-star.  Hotwire's misleading trick got me to book with them this time.  But not any more!!