Hotwire

1. Hotwire Flights
2. Hotwire Customer Service

Do NOT use HOTWIRE here is proof: https:/hotwirecom.htmlClassic BAIT and SWITCH operation.I am currently trying to cancel a booking an hour after making it due to the fact that it is in an unsafe area. I am traveling with my 8 year old daughter.I was unable to verify the area as this was advertised as a HOT deal and the hotel that would be selected for me would be on par with the likes of the Marriot and the Hilton.As soon as I could read the reviews I called them and asked them to move me, I was happy to book another hotel through them but I received generic replies and no one cares to listen. If you had concerns about safety for you and your child maybe it would have been better to research a suitable hotel and book it directly on the hotels website, or on another booking site where you could see what you were booking.Those blind bookings where the hotels name and location is revealed after booking are probably best for people who are flexible and don't have any concerns about where they stay.

Was there a specific reason you booked one of those hidden hotel deals and not just chose and booked your hotel after careful research?Can't see how it's 'bait and switch'. You booked a hidden deal so knew you would not find out the hotel name or exact location until after booking.

Hotwire Flights

Thank you for your reply and advice it is much appreciated.HOTWIRE is part of Expedia and I should have reasonable assurance of them trading ethically and in their customers best interest.Reading all the bad reports of HOTWIRE -now after the fact is just proof that I am not the only one. They have a 1 star rating on most websites and I am one of thousands. I found it hard to find 1 good feedback report on them.This was my first booking (and obviously last) so not familiar with their 'system' which is obviously to reveal as little as possible about the Identity of these 'Hot' deals.You are right the vicinity of the hotel is shown on the map, not the exact address however. With this being my families first trip to the USA I am obviously not familiar with the all the areas and would rely on the feedback from the previous guests. Which I could only do after I received my booking confirmation. I immediately called to cancel after seeing the bad reports from most the guests.Perhaps you could have a look at their site and see how clever they are at disguising the facts.

It is shameful that a company has to rely on such tactics to sell their product.On the site it shows the information like this:Hotels in our 3-star collection include:SHERATON, HOLIDAY IN, DOUBLE TREE,HILTON with their logos.(This is all very clearly visible.)And below that in VERY SML PRINT and in a lighter grey print it says:'Plus, other brands and independents'I must say I don't understand how you can say that these deals are 'for people who are flexible and don't have any concerns about where they stay'?Who does not care about their safety? Everyone cares, especially if you have children with you.Would you put your children at risk? As with the others, I concur that Hotwire have not done anything wrong and it is you that has failed to understand what you were buying. And judging by your comment I don't understand how you can say that these deals are 'for people who are flexible and don't have any concerns about where they stay'? It's never fun to find one has been a sucker. Everyone has been there at least once. But very, very few of these online operators are fraudulent.

Hotwire Customer Service

Rather, they are what I would call sly. Their business model depends on people not reading everything, which is little different from sly insurance companies, sly dealers, sly loan makers, and sly cell phone companies. If you buy any of those service without carefully reading the 'fine print,' you're going to feel cheated from time to time. Reasonably good critical thinking skills should lead us to ask why that insurance company is offering something others do not, why that cell phone company claims they can sell you the same service for half the price, or why that online travel site seems to be able to book hotels more cheaply than I can when their income depends on taking a part of the price for themselves. These hot deals or some sites which offer them call them mystery deals. People can make huge cost savings, but do take a risk because you don't get to find out exactly what and where the hotel is until after you have booked and paid. I said those kind of deals are best for people who are flexible and aren't hugely concerned which hotel they get as those people don't mind which location they get, or all they want or need is a bed for the night at a cheap price, or they are often familiar with the city and it's hotels so have had a good guess which hotel they may end up with.

For those people they may happily use Hotwire and save themselves $40-80 a night. That cost saving is their top priority. Using Hotwire suits those type of people.Obviously it didn't suit you as you were unfamiliar with that US city, you didn't know the hotels there or the city areas.

If it had been me I would have researched hotels a lot before booking, and maybe used a site like booking.com or Agoda or Hotels.com and booked a hotel I could see and choose for myself. Or I could have booked on the website of a hotel chain I knew and trusted and booked the exact hotel I really wanted. That would allow you to read its reviews first, check its location on Google maps. Then you would be sure its right for you and your family.So, Hot deals or mystery or hidden deals can be good if you know how the site works and can wait till after you paid to find out what hotel it is. But if you want certainty, and have other priorities then book your hotel rooms on another site. You can still find good prices and deals on these sites. You just need to compare prices, read all the Terms and Conditions, read the hotel reviews and then book whichever hotel suits your needs best.