Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - No longer a Hotwire Virgin

Normally, I stick to my programs, but I needed an inexpensive room in an unfamiliar market (Dothan AL) - one with quite a few dodgy properties and nothing nicer than a Hampton Inn or Courtyard by Marriott. I couldn't pay the $109-124 rates there so I looked at Hotwire. There were 3 choices and the 3* choice had me convinced it was the Courtyard - smokefree, pool, business center, fitness center - no free breakfast listed. So, I took the gamble at $65 and ended up with the La Quinta Inn & Suites. It was OK, but not that much cheaper than the $81 AAA or AARP rate.

I feel a little misled. Smoke free meant no smoking floors, not a no smoking property and there was a free breakfast served. I got no guidance from reading betterbidding or biddingfor travel because it's such a small market and I didn't bother following their process. Have things changed or would it always been difficult to identify this property in advance?

If you set up a dummy flight/hotel package for Dothan (I tried SEA as the starting point), then you see a list of hotels in Dothan. The La Quinta Suites Dothan is listed as a choice and is 2.5*, and the Marriott Courtyard is 3*. However, Hotwire is doing something I hadn't seen before, which is pulling the hotel info from Expedia. Usually the rating on Expedia matches Hotwire, but it's possible there was an exception. Did you definitely choose a 3* option?

If you set up a dummy flight/hotel package for Dothan (I tried SEA as the starting point), then you see a list of hotels in Dothan. The La Quinta Suites Dothan is listed as a choice and is 2.5*, and the Marriott Courtyard is 3*. However, Hotwire is doing something I hadn't seen before, which is pulling the hotel info from Expedia. Usually the rating on Expedia matches Hotwire, but it's possible there was an exception. Did you definitely choose a 3* option?

Yes. There were 3 choices; 2.0 @ $48, 2.5 @ $102 & 3.0 @ $65. The 2.0 with free breakfast and a pool was probably HoJo's or EconoLodge with a "best available" rate of $59-60. The 3.0 was La Quinta and the 2.5 with pool, laundry and hi speed internet makes no sense at $102.

I would have been disappointed too! La Quinta shows up in there codes as a 2* not a 3. The description from their site- 3 star hotel in Dothan
This hotel features the following amenities:

Smoke Free Rooms
Guest rooms at this hotel are always smoke-free.

This is contrary to what you say about a non-smoking floor.
***********************************************
This is also from their site:

Quality 3-star hotels

These quality establishments make comfort and personalized service their priority. These full-service properties usually feature:

An inviting, relaxed lobby
On-site dining (I doubt this was the case in a La Quinta)
Room service
Family-style rooms

I would think you have legitimate complaints about your purchase. You sure starting out on the wrong foot with Hotwire didn't you!

I would have been disappointed too! La Quinta shows up in there codes as a 2* not a 3. The description from their site- 3 star hotel in Dothan
This hotel features the following amenities:

Smoke Free Rooms
Guest rooms at this hotel are always smoke-free.

This is contrary to what you say about a non-smoking floor.
***********************************************
This is also from their site:

Quality 3-star hotels

These quality establishments make comfort and personalized service their priority. These full-service properties usually feature:

An inviting, relaxed lobby
On-site dining (I doubt this was the case in a La Quinta)
Room service
Family-style rooms

I would think you have legitimate complaints about your purchase. You sure starting out on the wrong foot with Hotwire didn't you!

It was a La Quinta Inn & Suites, if that makes any difference, although I was in the lowest priced room with 2 queens - not a suite.

My room was smoke-free and I didn't get a hint of smoke, fresh or stale, anywhere in the building. But 2 floors were clearly marked on the elevator map as smoking.

Does fresh chocolate chip cookies count as on-site dining? They served warm Otis Spunkmeyer cookies at 7:00 PM.

Yeah, I'm starting to think I was scammed, but bottom line I had a room in a clean, decent property for $10-15 less than I could have gotten anywhere else. So, I'll probably give it another go. My next 2 stays are client booked and paid, so no choice. But, I'm going to try for a city weekend with Mrs BV - my ex-boss had really good luck with suburban ATL properties on weekends.

I think you should at least complain to Hotwire for providing you a hotel that does not meet their own requirements. When I have complained, they have responded to my satisfaction. You need to be able to trust their information... and when it is wrong, you have a right to be unhappy.

I find that Hotwire is usually only good for discounts of about 15-20%. The occasional property (perhaps the good value ones) may come up at a better discount.

I feel a little misled. ...
I got no guidance from reading betterbidding or biddingfor travel because it's such a small market and I didn't bother following their process.




Maybe that's your problem?

It takes a little bit of effort to get a good value hotel on Hotwire. :)