Hotwire question...

[angeleyes]

Hotwire tells me that they have a 4* available for $90/night during my stay and yet they are also offering 3*s for $120. Should I be suspicious? I've never used Hotwire before so I'm not entirely confident with it yet. One more thing...is either Hotwire or Priceline favorable (one over the other) in terms of the quality of hotel they offer? Thanks!

EDIT: One more thing...those of you with experience with Hotwire, do you recommend booking a month in advance? Or is it generally worthwhile to "wait to the last minute" in the hope that something great will pop up?

 

[bond_james_bond]

I've read great stuff about Priceline and have had good personal experiences with Priceline.

I've read a lot of horror stories about Hotwire. Granted, I read them on biddingfortravel.com, which is biased towards Priceline. But given my personal success with Priceline so far, I'm more likely to believe the bad press about Hotwire. If it's too good to be true, it probably is.

I don't think I've read anything good about Hotwire yet. The general complaint seems to be that they over-rate hotels in order to claim lower nightly rates. For example, what Hotwire says is a 3 star is actually a 2 star in a baaad neighborhood.

 

[Gotsome]

Hotwire vs Priceline

I've used both in my trip to Mtl.
Priceline gives way better deals than hotwire from my experience.
A 3 star rating for hotwire would mean you will probably get "Days Inn", whereas on priceline the same hotel would be rated as a 2.5 star which can be had for much less. (for me, I paid $72 American for a supposedly 3 star hotel on hotwire and it turned out to be Day's Inn, a week later I bid $55 on priceline for a 2.5 star hotel and got acepted. It was Day's Inn, almost the same hotel room)

Generally speaking the bids you make on Priceline shouldn't be made later than a week before coming. If you bid too early no-one will accept your offer simply because the hotels haven't put out their rooms up for bidding yet.

I usually try bidding for the 4 star rooms as you get better deals.
I've used biddingfortravel.com before and it does help to give you an idea where to start your bidding.

 

[Just-ass-weet]

Go with priceline

I would stick with priceline. Visit biddingfortravel.com for an idea of the bids being accepted at this time and to know the area hotels being offered. If you want to have some security, book a hotel directly at a local hotel (or contact me, I have a spare room!)

xoxox
Anik

 

[Esco!]

Can Canadians sign up with priceline????

 

[EagerBeaver]

Can Canadians sign up with priceline????

Yes. Read the nonresident FAQ on www.biddingfortravel.com

 

[NHBrat]

I have used them both and find that PL's prices are better, although, you can sometimes quess which hotels Hotwire is using based on the icons they show. Their prices also change a couple of times a day for the same hotels. If you see the hotel with the Childrens play blocks in the icon, it is usually the Delta on President Kennedy. The last time I took the 4 star on Hotwire for $90, it was the Intercontinental Hotel. This hotel is one of my favorites during the summer. Hotwire also gives you a list of the potential brands they use. I would only go for a 4 star on Hotwire but as low as a 3 star on PL.

 

[angeleyes]

Thanks to everyone who responded. I came across the Hotel de la Montagne being offered for $127/night (Canadian) through expedia.ca, so I think I just might take it. I would rather pay a little more than risk getting stuck in a hotel I don't like.

 

[Esco!]

I came across the Hotel de la Montagne being offered for $127/night (Canadian) through expedia.ca,

Does expedia offer cheaper hotel rates and is it similar to priceline????

 

[Special K]

Does expedia offer cheaper hotel rates and is it similar to priceline????

Not usually, and you can usually get much better deals on priceline. For instance on expedia the Hyatt sometimes goes for as much as $200+ but can also be had on PL for between $70-$100.

 

[Esco!]

Yes. Read the nonresident FAQ on www.biddingfortravel.com

Beaver, I cant find nonresident FAQ on their site, do you have a direct link????

 

[EagerBeaver]

Esco,

Click on "Hotels" and then click on "Non US resident FAQ" under FAQ

Direct link:

http://p070.ezboard.com/fpricelineandexpediabiddinghotels.showMessage?topicID=6.topic

 

[Esco!]

Esco,

Click on "Hotels" and then click on "Non US resident FAQ" under FAQ

Direct link:

http://p070.ezboard.com/fpricelineandexpediabiddinghotels.showMessage?topicID=6.topic

Hey Beaver thanks a lot, if I run into you in Montreal I'll buy you a beer

One more question, on the FAQ page it says:

We have had reports that Priceline will not accept a Visa or Mastercard from a non-U.S. bidder, but they will accept an American Express card.

I dont own an Amex card, I only have MC and Visa, will it still work with those cards????

 

[Gotsome]

I am a non American resident credit card holder and my mastercard got me through priceline with no problem whatsoever. The Priceline website has recently updated thier website to allow Canadian credit card holders.

 

[Esco!]

Its too bad you cant fly out of Toronto with priceline, I already tried it.
They only offer flights out of the U.S

QUESTION: If priceline offers the Omni at $160 what should I counter-offer?????

 

[bond_james_bond]

Its too bad you cant fly out of Toronto with priceline, I already tried it.
They only offer flights out of the U.S

QUESTION: If priceline offers the Omni at $160 what should I counter-offer?????

Esco, I'm in the US and I haven't had much luck with Priceline on flights.

For flights, you may want to try itasoftware.com, which I have found finds good fares and allows non-US departures.

Did Priceline come back with that Omni rate as a result of your bid?

It sounds like that's just the quote part of Priceline, which is no different from Expedia, Orbitz, etc.

I think you need to choose the Name Your Own Price option and go with that. But be careful, you have to give payment information when you bid, and when your bid is accepted, your credit card is charged right away. So when you bid, you should be sure that you're actually going to go on the trip.

Start with Downtown Montreal, 4 stars, $75 (if that's ok with you). It will probably reject you. Go down to 3 stars and according to BiddingForTravel, you have a pretty good chance of being accepted. If you really want 4 star, you'll probably have to bid $100 or higher, IMHO.

 

[Esco!]

Esco, I'm in the US and I haven't had much luck with Priceline on flights.

For flights, you may want to try itasoftware.com, which I have found finds good fares and allows non-US departures.

Did Priceline come back with that Omni rate as a result of your bid?

It sounds like that's just the quote part of Priceline, which is no different from Expedia, Orbitz, etc.

I think you need to choose the Name Your Own Price option and go with that. But be careful, you have to give payment information when you bid, and when your bid is accepted, your credit card is charged right away. So when you bid, you should be sure that you're actually going to go on the trip.

Start with Downtown Montreal, 4 stars, $75 (if that's ok with you). It will probably reject you. Go down to 3 stars and according to BiddingForTravel, you have a pretty good chance of being accepted. If you really want 4 star, you'll probably have to bid $100 or higher, IMHO.

Interesting thanks JB.
And once the deal is made with priceline do I just go to the hotel and get my room???? What I mean is does priceline contact the hotel for me????

 

[bond_james_bond]

Interesting thanks JB.
And once the deal is made with priceline do I just go to the hotel and get my room???? What I mean is does priceline contact the hotel for me????

Yup. After your bid is accepted, you should get a receipt from Priceline, in your e-mail and/or in your Priceline account. That receipt will have a confirmation number. I would print that out. I wouldn't worry about Priceline contacting the hotel; leave it up to them.

Then, you just show your beautiful face at the front desk of the hotel, and the chick at the front desk drops down and gives you a wet sloppy BJ. (just kidding ...)

But she will want a credit card from you for incidentals. And then you get your room key and you're all set.

Generally with Priceline, you will not get your room preferences and you will NOT earn any hotel rewards points. But you can talk to the front desk chick and if you're hot enough, she'll give you a better room. Or if the hotel is half-empty, she'll give you your room preferences.

 

[Esco!]

Then, you just show your beautiful face at the front desk of the hotel, and the chick at the front desk drops down and gives you a wet sloppy BJ. (just kidding ...)

Hey its Montreal, that may just happen

 

[EagerBeaver]

QUESTION: If priceline offers the Omni at $160 what should I counter-offer?????

If using the bid rather than quote method, you don't know what hotel is being counteroffered so you are obviously not using the bid method. You can get the Omni for FAR less than $160 using the BID Method. Trouble is you don't know if it will be the Omni, the Hilton Bonaventure or the Intercontintental until the bid is accepted.

Click on the button that says "name your price."

Esco you have to read the website and BFT, it does not sound like you have.