It's lasted a full week so far with hundreds of thousands of sign ups (a rough estimate)
You think that few? Geez, with people getting months at a time in tropical locales, I can't wait to see somebody post:
"Thanks Hotel Club, I got a thirteen months of free rent at Days Inn. All it took was 395 separate email accounts and 395 separate transactions at $49 before my $50 credit... I just hope they don't make me check out every day. Can I change my drivers license address to the Days? What if Orbitz goes bankrupt? Will I be kicked out? Can I dispute the (non-)charge if they do? This is a great deal. When do you think they'll bring it back?"
Programs: AA Gold, DL Silver, BMI Gold, PC Gold, HHonors, SPG
Posts: 1,780
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheapskate Travels
You think that few? Geez, with people getting months at a time in tropical locales, I can't wait to see somebody post:
"Thanks Hotel Club, I got a thirteen months of free rent at Days Inn. All it took was 395 separate email accounts and 395 separate transactions at $49 before my $50 credit... I just hope they don't make me check out every day. Can I change my drivers license address to the Days? What if Orbitz goes bankrupt? Will I be kicked out? Can I dispute the (non-)charge if they do? This is a great deal. When do you think they'll bring it back?"
Hahah, that's not that farfetched. I'm sure it will happen (and is happening).
From 150K bookings, I'm estimating the amount from this thread and my blog combined, aside from the Slickdeals effect. I've done 6 so far, I guess I'm just conservative. I need to find a place to go.
__________________ The Best Rate Guarantee Blog is back and better than ever. Recently named one of the top Travel Blogs by Priceline.com.
Hahah, that's not that farfetched. I'm sure it will happen (and is happening).
From 150K bookings, I'm estimating the amount from this thread and my blog combined, aside from the Slickdeals effect. I've done 6 so far, I guess I'm just conservative. I need to find a place to go.
We've done a couple, but won't do it just for the sake of doing it. Some people are probably booking $45 rooms just as throwaways, if they show up they show up, no big deal (to them)... There will be thousands of empty rooms paid for by orbitz and unbookable by others over the next year. Or others might just book the local HI every weekend so they can party with their friends (and claim they paid for it).
Programs: AA Gold, DL Silver, BMI Gold, PC Gold, HHonors, SPG
Posts: 1,780
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheapskate Travels
We've done a couple, but won't do it just for the sake of doing it. Some people are probably booking $45 rooms just as throwaways, if they show up they show up, no big deal (to them)... There will be thousands of empty rooms paid for by orbitz and unbookable by others over the next year. Or others might just book the local HI every weekend so they can party with their friends (and claim they paid for it).
Never take more than you need in life, anything more is gluttony.
__________________ The Best Rate Guarantee Blog is back and better than ever. Recently named one of the top Travel Blogs by Priceline.com.
Last edited by MileageAddict; Nov 20, 08 at 9:38 am.
Yeah, it never ceases to amaze me how stupid some people can be. Never take more than you need in life, anything more is gluttony.
I'm actually surprised by how few bookings I've made. Inventory -- at least at attractive prices -- gets scarce at hotelclub the further out you get. Couple that with the change penalties and the high rates at most higher-end hotels, and -- even with $50 off -- the rates are often unattractive. Especially when you consider the fact that hotwire and priceline should have very attractive offers this winter on the better hotels (an industry report yesterday showed a massive decrease in occupancy levels at high end properties).
So I'd use this deal prudently. Just because you can get 50 bucks off doesn't necessarily mean everything is "a deal."
Programs: HH Silver, US/UA/DL basic, Marriott Silver, ZE Gold, ZT BC, WN reluctant no fee convert.
Posts: 261
Quote:
Originally Posted by roadtripman
I found this promotion on RetailMeNot yesterday and I thought I'd share it with you. This is a great value no matter which way you slice it.
If you look past the fact that this site uses the archaic voucher system, there are incredible savings to be had:
and you will recieve $50 USD in your account, redeemable for hotel stays worldwide. I've tested this, and it works brilliantly. Just don't lose your voucher!
Enjoy.
------------------------------------------
I signed up because it just so happens I need a hotel in a upscale part of town this weekend in No. VA because I will have no car. I am participating in packing up turkeys and trimmings for meals for the needy at a nearby mega church this Saturday and will probably use the hotel shuttle if it's operating at 5:30am or a taxi to the church. Here is my question. I found a Sheration for $79.00; any way I can get my $50.00 premium like SOON so I can use it!
You may have answered above with the reference to a Voucher (paper to be mailed?) but my hope is so high I am not being rational here???
Thanks for replies and advice!!!! Best wishes, Jan_believes
Last edited by jan_believes; Nov 20, 08 at 11:02 am.
Reason: add info
------------------------------------------
I found a Sheration for $79.00; any way I can get my $50.00 premium like SOON so I can use it!
You may have answered above with the reference to a Voucher (paper to be mailed?) but my hope is so high I am not being rational here???
Thanks for replies and advice!!!! Best wishes, Jan_believes
You don't need to wait, the $50 member dollars are in your account. Go ahead and make your reservation and it will give you the option to apply the member dollars directly to your payment.
You don't need to wait, the $50 member dollars are in your account. Go ahead and make your reservation and it will give you the option to apply the member dollars directly to your payment.
Cheers
Perfect use for this deal!
I might also suggest folks visiting family for Turkey Day consider staying at a nearby hotel. Trust me, your host won't mind.
Programs: AA Gold, DL Silver, BMI Gold, PC Gold, HHonors, SPG
Posts: 1,780
Quote:
Originally Posted by iahphx
Perfect use for this deal!
I might also suggest folks visiting family for Turkey Day consider staying at a nearby hotel. Trust me, your host won't mind.
I've pitched that idea to around 50 of my friends on Facebook - no one is interested in this coupon. The general consensus is "sounds like a scam" and "no one just gives out $50 for nothing"
Their loss, our gain.
__________________ The Best Rate Guarantee Blog is back and better than ever. Recently named one of the top Travel Blogs by Priceline.com.
I've pitched that idea to around 50 of my friends on Facebook - no one is interested in this coupon. The general consensus is "sounds like a scam" and "no one just gives out $50 for nothing"
Their loss, our gain.
Yeah, I looked yesterday at the discussion on slickdeals, and that seemed to be the general consensus.
More evidence that flyertalkers are their own species.
I've pitched that idea to around 50 of my friends on Facebook - no one is interested in this coupon. The general consensus is "sounds like a scam" and "no one just gives out $50 for nothing"
Their loss, our gain.
Were going to tell our friends, too. Thought about an email or phone call, definitely know some people could really use this for their upcoming trips.
Then I realized how many of the deals they've taken advantage of in the past... almost zero, so probably not worth the time explaining the vagaries of information asymmetry and misguided internet marketing.
People's eyes just glaze over. The only thing they ever listen to is sign-up bonuses on $0 annual fee first year credit cards. And, even then, invariably 13 months later they complain to me that there is now an annual fee! OMG!
They won't listen to a 5 minute discussion on how to save $50, but they can tell us every last bit of gossip/happenings on the last season's American Idol.
Sure this is my hobby, but that I just don't get. And people wonder why their finances stink. "Oh, we can't afford to travel anywhere, though there are so many places we want to go to. Traveling is just toooo expensive."
Programs: AA Gold, DL Silver, BMI Gold, PC Gold, HHonors, SPG
Posts: 1,780
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheapskate Travels
Were going to tell our friends, too. Thought about an email or phone call, definitely know some people could really use this for their upcoming trips.
Then I realized how many of the deals they've taken advantage of in the past... almost zero, so probably not worth the time explaining the vagaries of information asymmetry and misguided internet marketing.
People's eyes just glaze over. The only thing they ever listen to is sign-up bonuses on $0 annual fee first year credit cards. And, even then, invariably 13 months later they complain to me that there is now an annual fee! OMG!
They won't listen to a 5 minute discussion on how to save $50, but they can tell us every last bit of gossip/happenings on the last season's American Idol.
Sure this is my hobby, but that I just don't get. And people wonder why their finances stink. "Oh, we can't afford to travel anywhere, though there are so many places we want to go to. Traveling is just toooo expensive."
I agree, the majority of my friends are similarly idiotic.
I post mistake fares every day on my Facebook profile, and NO ONE ever uses them. One person said "Well, I guess it is $600 total from Calgary if I book a seperate ticket to LAX and then onto Cambodia, but honestly I don't "want to get caught", I'd rather pay an extra $1000".
I can't believe people like that even exist.
__________________ The Best Rate Guarantee Blog is back and better than ever. Recently named one of the top Travel Blogs by Priceline.com.
I'm actually surprised by how few bookings I've made. Inventory -- at least at attractive prices -- gets scarce at hotelclub the further out you get. Couple that with the change penalties and the high rates at most higher-end hotels, and -- even with $50 off -- the rates are often unattractive.
We've booked a few, almost all in the lower price range. We're staying at Super 8s and such, but interestingly it felt tougher to pull the trigger on a $20 ($70 - 50) Super 8 night than spending $100 of our own money on a Hilton room. We're not hotel snobs, but we've gotten to really like the consistently comfortable beds at most of the middle/higher end chains.
Oh, and reading trip advisor while searching for deals can be like a Stephen King novel. Scar-y!
I agree, the majority of my friends are similarly idiotic.
I post mistake fares every day on my Facebook profile, and NO ONE ever uses them. One person said "Well, I guess it is $600 total from Calgary if I book a seperate ticket to LAX and then onto Cambodia, but honestly I don't "want to get caught", I'd rather pay an extra $1000".
I can't believe people like that even exist.
And they can't believe we exist. Most of our friends think that finding deals is somehow criminal!?
And that is why they'll continue to use priceline, because it is advertised heavily, so it is a "legitimate" way to a hotel discount, while Hotel Club is a "scam," and despite no language limiting number of accounts, we are violating their t&c's...
