Hotel Deals - $40 Off $75 Expedia Hotel Stay

CBS Deals is offering (http://offers.cbslocal.com/coupon/4169)a $75 hotel card for only $35. These vouchers can be redeemed at any of the 50,000 hotels in the Expedia affiliate network.

Things to note:
1) You probably won’t earn points/stays on reservations booked through this program (though $40 in savings should outweigh the value of any points you would have earned)
2) It looks like they will email you the voucher within 24 hours, so if you need to use it ASAP, you may have to wait
3) You can only use one voucher per night. Edit and it looks like a 2 night minimum
4) Voucher expires March 30, 2012
5) No blackout dates

FAQ (https://www.thehotelcard.com/faq.php)

Q: Is there a minimum night stay?

A: Cards with denominations under $75 can require a two night stay, and most cards $75 and higher require a minimum two night stay. To see your specific minimum nights, click on the My Account link, and enter in your email, login, and card number.

Edit- I had misread that 1 night stays were eligible. I will change in the OP

Did I read the T/Cs correctly in that redemption for these $75 cards are valid for 2 night stay minimum or does this work like the expedia vouchers for a 1 night stay?

I guess Channa beat me to the punch with that question.

I got the email this morning as well.

Q: Is there a minimum night stay?

A: Cards with denominations under $75 can require a two night stay, and most cards $75 and higher require a minimum two night stay. To see your specific minimum nights, click on the My Account link, and enter in your email, login, and card number.




It appears to be pretty obvious that this card will require a 2 night stay. It's unfortunate that they make you buy the card first. I don't want to be the guinea pig here. "Can" and "most"? Give me a break! Where's John Stossel when you need him?

Looks like US hotels only, so not all expedia hotels are bookable.
Hotel booking date is limited to 4 months ahead.

I'm trying to look for hotels in Bangkok but it does not work...
Is it only valid for US hotels?

Minimum of two nights.. Can the hotel cost lower than 70$ per night?
Let's say it's 50$ a night, I spend two nights... I have to pay 25$ after using the voucher?

I'm trying to look for hotels in Bangkok but it does not work...
Is it only valid for US hotels?

Minimum of two nights.. Can the hotel cost lower than 70$ per night?
Let's say it's 50$ a night, I spend two nights... I have to pay 25$ after using the voucher?

I just checked and was able to find hotels for Bangkok and numerous other international destinations. It may be a browser issue, the search function wasn't working for me in Google Chrome but was in Firefox.

Does anyone have any prior experience with thehotelcard.com?

This is dead. The server is unable to process orders.

Doesn't seem so good after all if it requires 2 nights min. Even one night is just okay deal

Doesn't seem so good after all if it requires 2 nights min. Even one night is just okay deal

Agree its not great, but if you have to go somewhere without many good points hotels (like Vegas), saving $40 on a 2 night stay is still better than nothing.

Agree its not great, but if you have to go somewhere without many good points hotels (like Vegas), saving $40 on a 2 night stay is still better than nothing.

Better to do a BRG.

Agree its not great, but if you have to go somewhere without many good points hotels (like Vegas), saving $40 on a 2 night stay is still better than nothing.

Agree too! Forgot to thanks for keeping us posted with deals!:)^ It is only me that if it is not at least 70% + off I rather do a BRG!:)

duplicated

BRG yes if you don't mind to hang on the phone!:)

What if I use the thehotecard and then do the BRG? Do you think expedia let me do both?

What if use the thehotecard and then do the BRG? Do you think expedia let me do both?

why would you want to do two together?

why would you want to do two together?

Why not, use the $75 and then brg, saving $40+price diff

Why not, use the $75 and then brg, saving $40+price diff

so you saving the $50 coupon exepdia will give you for next trip? why not make a whatever booking and brg, cancel and use the $50 coupon?

The terms of the CBS offer state:

# Promotional value expires 3/30/2012
# Limit 1 card per reservation
# No blackout dates
# Cards are redeemable for stays of 1 night or more

The hotelcard website says:

Q: Is there a minimum night stay?

A: Some cards $75 or higher may require a two night stay unless otherwise stipulated on your offer. To see your specific minimum nights, click on the My Account link, and enter in your email, login, and card number.

So maybe only one night stay is required after all.

Shiiiit it is only valid for US residents I think...
When trying to make the payment, the postal address has to be a US one... :mad:

It doesn't say if it is specifically an electronic code or a physical card. If a code, no problem for non-US buyers. Unfortunately the Offers office is closed now, but I will call tomorrow if they haven't sold out by then.

I'm pretty sure it is a code.
However, an address is needed to confirm the payment.

I'm checking is there is a way to get a prepaid US visa card electronically. :p

worked just now.
This is dead. The server is unable to process orders.

I'm pretty sure it is a code.
However, an address is needed to confirm the payment.

I'm checking is there is a way to get a prepaid US visa card electronically. :p

It worked with a German billing adress and a German CC.

Thanks to the OP for posting this offer.

How did you deal with selecting the US state, at the payment section?

I used the old US-priceline trick and selected Delaware as US-state. That results in a zip code like DE-12345 and I never had authorizations refused with that form.

I am not getting it. Is this website showing only expensive hotels, and inflates the price as opposed to other expedia affilate hotels.com? www.thehotelcard.com seems to be way too expensive, I see no reason one would want this $40 off those prices, when you can find better rates elsewhere with no commitment... Any thoughts? Am I missing something?

Delaware... lol

Well I used the same trick... California for CA. However, the postal code in Canada includes letters... So instead of X1Y2Z3 I used the postal code 123000. There is a good chance that the payment won't go through but at least I tried... :rolleyes:

Actually, as the order was accepted with the information on this credit card, and the status says 'authorized', maybe it's gonna be ok.. :rolleyes:

I am not getting it. Is this website showing only expensive hotels, and inflates the price as opposed to other expedia affilate hotels.com? www.thehotelcard.com seems to be way too expensive, I see no reason one would want this $40 off those prices, when you can find better rates elsewhere with no commitment... Any thoughts? Am I missing something?

I just checked Bangkok hotels. Prices are similar or lower than Hotelclub, where I usually book my hotels (but Hotelclub gives money back for each booking...)

However you are right, cheap hotels are not listed.

Edit: I canceled my order for 3 vouchers because they are not offering the kind of hotels that I like and hotels around 75-100$ in BKK are not well located. I know good hotels at that price that I would love to book but they are just not listed...

I am not getting it. Is this website showing only expensive hotels, and inflates the price as opposed to other expedia affilate hotels.com? www.thehotelcard.com seems to be way too expensive, I see no reason one would want this $40 off those prices, when you can find better rates elsewhere with no commitment... Any thoughts? Am I missing something?

No - you are not missing a thing.
I skipped this deal because of exactly what you posted.

No - you are not missing a thing.
I skipped this deal because of exactly what you posted.

+1 ^

Hi everyone...this is my first post but let me say thanks to everyone who posts great deals and advice on FT, it really is SO great to save some $$ where we can.

I just checked rates on a couple of hotels in CA that I'm considering staying at and the rates are the same as all the other websites I've checked out. So this deal is, therefore, a good one for me :) Saves me $40 over two nights what more could I ask? The only catch is the reservations are NR and so is the card if I apply it and then don't use it. So I guess you need to make sure you're going to keep your reservation or it's $35 lost.

Still debating whether or not to buy though ;)

Q: Is there a minimum night stay?

A: Cards with denominations under $75 can require a two night stay, and most cards $75 and higher require a minimum two night stay. To see your specific minimum nights, click on the My Account link, and enter in your email, login, and card number.

The FAQ have changed. It now says:
Q: Is there a minimum night stay?

A: Some cards $75 or higher may require a two night stay unless otherwise stipulated on your offer. To see your specific minimum nights, click on the My Account link, and enter in your email, login, and card number.

It's the "unless otherwise stipulated on your offer" part that interests me. On the opening offer page (the page with the timer), it now says under the Details section "Cards are redeemable for stays of 1 night or more". This line was not on the page yesterday (I have a screenshot of the page from yesterday). I suspect these changes are meant to clarify that this $75 card can be applied to even stays of one night.

I might be able to use this offer, but I can't seem to find a way to check whether a specific hotel has a 1 or 2 night restriction. Has anyone found a way to look that up without buying the voucher first?

Hi everyone...this is my first post but let me say thanks to everyone who posts great deals and advice on FT, it really is SO great to save some $$ where we can.

I just checked rates on a couple of hotels in CA that I'm considering staying at and the rates are the same as all the other websites I've checked out. So this deal is, therefore, a good one for me :) Saves me $40 over two nights what more could I ask? The only catch is the reservations are NR and so is the card if I apply it and then don't use it. So I guess you need to make sure you're going to keep your reservation or it's $35 lost.

Still debating whether or not to buy though ;)

If you are booking an expensive hotel for two nights, it might make sense just do it over expedia or hotels.com and apply their 10% code.

Anyone receive their coupon in email yet?

Anyone receive their coupon in email yet?
No one will be receiving their coupon until after the sale ends. I made a purchase for one cert over 24 hours ago. All I've received so far is an email confirming my purchase and stating "After the sale ends you will receive a certificate that you can use to redeem your offer." In addition the webpage shows the announcement that "Your purchase of this deal is pending until the sale ends. After the sale ends you will receive a certificate that you can use to redeem your offer."

However you are right, cheap hotels are not listed.
I can't find any hotels for under $75 a night in the various locations and dates I searched. It's as if a magic line were drawn at $75 and anything under that line is left off the search results...

I can't find any hotels for under $75 a night in the various locations and dates I searched. It's as if a magic line were drawn at $75 and anything under that line is left off the search results...

Exactly

My coupon has arrived. There is no minimum night stay restriction. In addition, I see the FAQs have once again been updated:
Q: Is there a minimum night stay?

A: Some cards $75 or higher may require a two night stay unless otherwise stipulated on your offer. To see your specific minimum nights, click on the My Account link, and enter in your email, login, and card number. Note: The CBS offer has no minimum night stay requirements.[bolding theirs]

My coupon has arrived. There is no minimum night stay restriction. In addition, I see the FAQs have once again been updated:

So good but I haven't bought one, haha!

got mine too and glad i got in with 10 as my last 10 vouchers for escapio bought through groupon were used up already... should've probably gotten 20 now that it is confirmed that they are valid for one night bookings as they enable for great stays in seoul at heavily discounted rates.

oh, and someone above mentioned that these rates would not earn you points - they do as long as you make sure your rates match those offered by the hotel.

found a way to book all properties that you can view at the same rate on hotels.com:

- open thehotelcard.com
- at the very bottom of thehotelcard.com click 'review/cancel reservation'
- on the next page, click 'Book Your Trip'
- the next page opening up will offer a search form, the result will display the same availability as on hotels.com, coupon redemption works as described here: http://www.thehotelcard.com/promocode.php

knowing this beforehand, i would have bought 30 or 50...

I can't get my coupon to work. There are some recovery and taxes that are added on top of whatever price you see.

Many thanks to the OP and everyone who posted this awesome deal!! It worked flawlessly for me! Booked a 1 night stay at the Marriott Cebu, and this deal saved me 33% over the current Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Hotels.com rate, taxes and recovery fees included.

This deal was annoying. Had the Ts&Cs been clearer I would certainly have bought many certs.

This deal was annoying. Had the Ts&Cs been clearer I would certainly have bought many certs.

Usually If something is not more than 70%+ off, I would not buy it!:D

Come to think of it, this system is like a Groupon system of buying things.

Yes it would be so nice if everything will come under the groupon-like system then many things will become so much cheaper!:) Just only for this deal I can find or wait for a better one that fit my 70% + off standard!:D

I tired to use it but unfortunately I couldn't get it to work

I tired to use it but unfortunately I couldn't get it to work

Just successfully made a one-night reservation using one of the certs, so I can confirm that these are good for one-night stays. If you are having trouble getting the voucher to work, it may be that you did not first activate the card number. I was a little confused at first, myself.

And a heads up for those that took part in this promo. The coupon you receive says that it expires March 30, 2012. I found after making a reservation, on the confirmation page under Cancellation Policy, it states:

This coupon must be used before 11:59 pm US CST on December 31, 2011, and may only be applied toward travel completed by March 31, 2012.

So while it appears the cert is "good" until the end of March 2012, it may be a good idea to make any reservations by the end of 2011.