Hotwire.com: Discount prices on flights, hotel reservations & car rentals for flexible travelers, no haggling
Written: May 26 '02 (Updated Jun 20 '04)
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I check Hotwire.com for travel deals regularly when my travel plans are flexible, but it usually doesn't turn out to be the best alternative for me. Hotwire.com, like Priceline.com, offers budget rates on airline flights, hotel reservations and car rentals where you don't know your exact itinerary until after you have paid for it. However, unlike Priceline, you don't bid, you select from a price list.
Preferences
To purchase a flight, you enter the destination and arrival cities, dates of departure and arrival, and the number of tickets you wish to purchase in the "Hot Fare Finder." Next, you choose your flight preferences. What is the maximum number of connections you are willing to make 0-1, 2 or 3? You cannot exclude making at least one connection, but you may end up with a direct flight. Are you willing to fly on a jet, or a jet or turboprop? You may or may not be allowed to exclude red-eye flights, those that start after 10 PM and before 6 AM local time. On my international flight search between Phoenix, AZ, and Lima, Peru, I cannot exclude red-eye flights. For most US flights, you can.
To begin making a hotel reservation, you chose the US city you want to stay in, the arrival and departure dates and the number of rooms. You can then select up to four city areas in which to search.
To make car rental reservations, you specify the location (airport code or city), Pick-up Date and Time, and Drop-off Date and Time. You then specify the age of the driver and select up to three car types. You must be at least 21 to rent a car and an underage surcharge is applied if you are under 25.
Purchase Restrictions
For Hotwire.com to return a price to you, you must log in or register. Hotwire.com tracks your searches. You have one hour to decide if you want to buy from a particular search result and you cannot do the same search within 48 hours.
Flight searches return one prices. Flight reservations will be made with one of Hotwire.com's airline partners, http://www.hotwire.com/travel-information/partners/international-airline-partners.jsp?v=1, or codeshare partners, http://www.hotwire.com/travel-information/partners/international-codeshare.jsp?v=1. I was able to purchase a roundtrip ticket between Phoenix, AZ, and Lima, Peru, last February for $470. Post September 11, the prices dropped dramatically, but I was able to save even more using Hotwire.com, over $100.
Hotel searches return a number of listings that can be sorted by city area, star rating or price. Each listing tells you the price per night, start rating of the hotel, and the hotel's amenities. Amenities may include Condominium, Beach Access, Pool(s), Fitness Center, Kitchenette, Tennis Nearby, or Self-Service Laundry Facilities. Hotwire's hotel partners are listed at http://www.hotwire.com/travel-information/partners/hotel-partners.jsp?v=2. On hotel reservations, Hotwire.com offers a "Double the Difference Price Guarantee." If you find a lower price for the same reservation within 48 hours, Hotwire.com will give you double the difference between the two prices.
Car rental listings return the class of car and the price per day. You won't know the exact company you are renting from until you purchase the reservation. My father recently made full-sized car reservations through Hotwire.com for $16 per day.
Reservation Restrictions
Before you accept a reservation at Hotwire.com, make sure you understand the restrictions. Most people that have a bad experience with discount travel do so because they were not fully aware that they have accepted very restrictive terms, e.g., no changes or refunds. Read and understand all of the restrictions that apply to your reservation and don't assume that you will be allowed to change anything in your reservation based on what you perceive to be important or an emergency. The full Hotwire.com reservation restrictions for flights, hotel reservations and car rentals are available at http://www.hotwire.com/travel-information/travel-discounts-rules.jsp?v=1. Read them very carefully! If you have any questions, read the Customer care FAQs (Fequently Asked Questions), http://www.hotwire.com/customer-care/index.jsp?v=1, call their Customer Care Associates at 1-877-HOTWIRE (468-9473), or send them an email at http://www.hotwire.com/customer-care/contact.jsp?v=1.
Billing
Purchasing reservations is a simple online process. Enter the names of the travelers or primary guest, credit card information, contact information, a delivery address for flights in case a paper ticket must be issued, and a claim code if applicable. Major credit cards, Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express, are accepted. Finally, you review your information and accept the terms and conditions to purchase your reservation.
Bottom Line
Hotwire.com is great if you are flexible on when and how you are willing to travel. The advantage of this site is that you know the price before you purchase. However, be sure to check competing travel sites as well. I usually check Hotwire.com prices before I make a travel reservation, but I rarely make a reservation there because it's usually worth $10 per day to me to know where I'm staying or my exact itinerary. I recommend that you try Hotwire.com if your plans are flexible.
Copyright Janine White 2002
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Flights
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jiwhite
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Member: Janine White
Location: Chandler, AZ
Reviews written: 194
Trusted by: 143 members
About Me:
Criminologist turned Software Engineer
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