OT (somewhat): Hotwire.com

Greg in NJ · 09-01-2005

Thinking about booking a hotel room in Vegas through Hotwire. If you've used them before, you're aware that you don't know the name of the property that you're booking, until after you've confirmed your reservations. They do tell you the vicinity of the property, how many stars it's rated, its price as well as all of its amenities. By not telling you the properties name, they can supposedly offer you much deeper discounts.

Thanks.

Greg in NJ

**ryberg** · 09-01-2005

That's interesting. They confirm a specific hotel right after you confirm you want it and pay? I mean, on the spot? Or they send you something at some specified later date with that info?

I ask because if it's the latter, well then you could see some logistical benefits in the extra time: checking with various hotels, shifting arrangements around, making more efficient use of the space at all hotels, etc. But if it's the former, well then I'm not sure what the benefit would be to keeping it a secret until you fork over the dough. Unless it's (1) because they're afraid you might not book if you see the exact property, or (2) they are trying to hide discount rates from other representatives of the property (agents), although they could probably find that out very easily, anyway...

Steve

cuffedlinks · 09-01-2005

While I haven't seen it lately...Apple Vacations used to offer 3, 4 and 5 apple (according to a rating system where they used "apples" instead of "stars") vacations at a discount in a given area where you booked and were told later which property they would be using...so in essence you booked a certain rated property and then were placed accordingly. I think you were first aware of the property upon receipt of your travel documents...

Given the similar nature of many of the properties (all AI's)...you could receive quite a discount from a published property-specific rate....I haven't seen them do this for quite a while now, however.

Greg in NJ · 09-01-2005

Here's what the site says:

"Find out the name and address of the top name hotel after you've completed your booking."

It goes on to say, they do this by:

"Our partners allow us access to their unsold inventory - empty seats on flights, empty hotel rooms, and unrented cars - at big savings. By showing the name of our travel partner after you book, Hotwire can get you travel deals that are significantly below published prices."

If you believe their testiminials, their discounts can be quite substantial:

"I tried Hotwire for the first time and got several search results, including one for an upscale hotel in Chicago for only $51/night. Was I surprised when our hotel turned out to be a fantastic, well-known hotel on Michigan Avenue! I checked the hotel's home page and found that their minimum published rate for reservations on the 'net was $219!"

Greg in NJ

JimmyMN · 09-01-2005

Although the concept is entirely the same, I tend to use Priceline for discounted hotel bookings. If you use this unrelated website (biddingfortravel.com) you can get a glimpse of the mystery properties being clearanced via Priceline. From my experience, discounts through Priceline are deeper than those offered by Hotwire.

Here in the Minneapolis area, the cheapest way to visit Las Vegas is via charter. For instance, air & hotel at the Westward Ho is $199, while it's $259 at Stardust and $345 at Newyork,NY. Perhaps other cities in your immediate area might offer steep discounts via charter.

Jimmy

Greg in NJ · 09-01-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyMN

Perhaps other cities in your immediate area might offer steep discounts via charter.

Thanks for the tip, but my flight is already booked. We had planned on doing a few days in New Orleans in the middle of October. I had booked the flight with Jet Blue. When I changed our plans, I used the credit to book our Vegas flight.

Greg in NJ

**ryberg** · 09-01-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyMN

...air & hotel at the Westward Ho is $199...

Can't help but wonder how much flak a hotel with that name must take in this day and age, especially as it's in Las Vegas!

Steve

JimmyMN · 09-01-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg in NJ

Thanks for the tip, but my flight is already booked. We had planned on doing a few days in New Orleans in the middle of October. I had booked the flight with Jet Blue. When I changed our plans, I used the credit to book our Vegas flight.Greg in NJ

From the biddingfortravel site, I took the liberty of capturing those hotels (casinos) directly on the strip or downtown on Fremont Street that you'd probably land if you bid through Priceline:

Las Vegas Strip Area

5 Star
Venetian Las Vegas
Bellagio Hotel & Casino

4 Star
MGM Grand
MGM MIRAGE
Bally’s
Treasure Island
Aladdin
New York-New York Hotel & Casino
Luxor

3 Star
The Westin Casuarina Las Vegas
Flamingo Las Vegas
Harrah's
Stratosphere Casino Hotel & Tower
Riviera Hotel & Casino
Hotel San Remo
Boardwalk Hotel & Casino
Sahara Hotel & Casino

2.5 Star
The New Frontier
Circus Circus

2 Star
La Quinta Las Vegas Strip

Fremont Street Vicinity

4 Star
Golden Nugget

3 Star
Four Queens Hotel

2 Star
Lady Luck Las Vegas Hotel
Las Vegas Club Hotel

1 Star
Days Inn Downtown

Greg in NJ · 09-01-2005

Wow. Thanks for your help. I very much appreciate it.

Greg in NJ

JimmyMN · 09-01-2005

My two favorite places to stay on the Strip are Barbary Coast and San Remo. San Remo is a small 15 story complex sandwiched between MGM Grand and Tropicana. My preference for staying there is being able to slip in the backdoor without ever having to enter their casino. Barbary Coast is even smaller and is considered the prime choice for fly-in sports betting. The rooms are quite nice in both hotels but the staff is more personable at Barbary Coast. By the way, it's shares the corner with Ballys, Belagio, and Cesars Palace...

Jimmy

Greg in NJ · 09-01-2005

Thanks. I've looked at the San Remo. It looks like a definite possibility. I also looked at the Barbary Coast. They don't allow Saturday checkouts.

Greg in NJ

**Shammy** · 09-01-2005

I just booked two Vegas trips last night for folks from Grand Rapids to the MGM Grand. The charter from Chicago sold out so we had to go with scheduled air, and they lost a pretty decent price. Charter service to Vegas is a good deal!

But..Hotwire/Priceline are fine if you don't care about which hotel you go to, just the area it's in.

I don't know anything about Barbary Coast but I have friends that stay at the San Remo...or USED to stay at the San Remo all the time when heading to Vegas for Buffett concerts. The last time they were there, last fall...they said it had really gone downhill and they would not consider staying there again. Not sure exactly what the deal was (they did mention a ton of transvestites though...NOT kidding!

) but just thought I'd pass that info along! They all stay at the Flamingo now (has a great pool!).

As far as what Cuff is talking about with Apple...that's an Apple Square Deal. It can be a 4 Apple, 5 Apple or 6 Apple. You book the Apple rating you're comfortable with but you don't find out which hotel you are going to until you get to the airport on the day of departure. Not a big deal if you stick with a 5 or 6 Apple property...but you definitely take a chance with a 4 Apple because some 4 Apples are pretty bad.

Greg in NJ · 09-01-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shammy

Not sure exactly what the deal was (they did mention a ton of transvestites though...NOT kidding!

) but just thought I'd pass that info along!

Transvestites? Cool. The wife and I love people watching.

Zod

09-01-2005	#1 (permalink)
Greg in NJ beachaholic Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 432	OT (somewhat): Hotwire.com Thinking about booking a hotel room in Vegas through Hotwire. If you've used them before, you're aware that you don't know the name of the property that you're booking, until after you've confirmed your reservations. They do tell you the vicinity of the property, how many stars it's rated, its price as well as all of its amenities. By not telling you the properties name, they can supposedly offer you much deeper discounts. Thanks. Greg in NJ

09-01-2005	#10 (permalink)
JimmyMN party machine Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Minneapolis-St. Paul Posts: 3,561	My two favorite places to stay on the Strip are Barbary Coast and San Remo. San Remo is a small 15 story complex sandwiched between MGM Grand and Tropicana. My preference for staying there is being able to slip in the backdoor without ever having to enter their casino. Barbary Coast is even smaller and is considered the prime choice for fly-in sports betting. The rooms are quite nice in both hotels but the staff is more personable at Barbary Coast. By the way, it's shares the corner with Ballys, Belagio, and Cesars Palace... Jimmy Last edited by JimmyMN; 09-01-2005 at 11:00 AM..

09-01-2005	#2 (permalink)
ryberg playa maya guy Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: real America (reality-based community) Posts: 27,964	That's interesting. They confirm a specific hotel right after you confirm you want it and pay? I mean, on the spot? Or they send you something at some specified later date with that info? I ask because if it's the latter, well then you could see some logistical benefits in the extra time: checking with various hotels, shifting arrangements around, making more efficient use of the space at all hotels, etc. But if it's the former, well then I'm not sure what the benefit would be to keeping it a secret until you fork over the dough. Unless it's (1) because they're afraid you might not book if you see the exact property, or (2) they are trying to hide discount rates from other representatives of the property (agents), although they could probably find that out very easily, anyway... Steve

09-01-2005	#3 (permalink)
cuffedlinks añejo Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The City of Presidents Posts: 15,998	While I haven't seen it lately...Apple Vacations used to offer 3, 4 and 5 apple (according to a rating system where they used "apples" instead of "stars") vacations at a discount in a given area where you booked and were told later which property they would be using...so in essence you booked a certain rated property and then were placed accordingly. I think you were first aware of the property upon receipt of your travel documents... Given the similar nature of many of the properties (all AI's)...you could receive quite a discount from a published property-specific rate....I haven't seen them do this for quite a while now, however.

09-01-2005	#4 (permalink)
Greg in NJ beachaholic Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 432	Here's what the site says: "Find out the name and address of the top name hotel after you've completed your booking." It goes on to say, they do this by: "Our partners allow us access to their unsold inventory - empty seats on flights, empty hotel rooms, and unrented cars - at big savings. By showing the name of our travel partner after you book, Hotwire can get you travel deals that are significantly below published prices." If you believe their testiminials, their discounts can be quite substantial: "I tried Hotwire for the first time and got several search results, including one for an upscale hotel in Chicago for only $51/night. Was I surprised when our hotel turned out to be a fantastic, well-known hotel on Michigan Avenue! I checked the hotel's home page and found that their minimum published rate for reservations on the 'net was $219!" Greg in NJ

09-01-2005	#5 (permalink)
JimmyMN party machine Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Minneapolis-St. Paul Posts: 3,561	Although the concept is entirely the same, I tend to use Priceline for discounted hotel bookings. If you use this unrelated website (biddingfortravel.com) you can get a glimpse of the mystery properties being clearanced via Priceline. From my experience, discounts through Priceline are deeper than those offered by Hotwire. Here in the Minneapolis area, the cheapest way to visit Las Vegas is via charter. For instance, air & hotel at the Westward Ho is $199, while it's $259 at Stardust and $345 at Newyork,NY. Perhaps other cities in your immediate area might offer steep discounts via charter. Jimmy

09-01-2005	#9 (permalink)
Greg in NJ beachaholic Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 432	Wow. Thanks for your help. I very much appreciate it. Greg in NJ

09-01-2005	#11 (permalink)
Greg in NJ beachaholic Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 432	Thanks. I've looked at the San Remo. It looks like a definite possibility. I also looked at the Barbary Coast. They don't allow Saturday checkouts. Greg in NJ

09-01-2005	#12 (permalink)
Shammy Travel Insurance Tester Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Joisey Shore Posts: 17,486	I just booked two Vegas trips last night for folks from Grand Rapids to the MGM Grand. The charter from Chicago sold out so we had to go with scheduled air, and they lost a pretty decent price. Charter service to Vegas is a good deal! But..Hotwire/Priceline are fine if you don't care about which hotel you go to, just the area it's in. I don't know anything about Barbary Coast but I have friends that stay at the San Remo...or USED to stay at the San Remo all the time when heading to Vegas for Buffett concerts. The last time they were there, last fall...they said it had really gone downhill and they would not consider staying there again. Not sure exactly what the deal was (they did mention a ton of transvestites though...NOT kidding! ) but just thought I'd pass that info along! They all stay at the Flamingo now (has a great pool!). As far as what Cuff is talking about with Apple...that's an Apple Square Deal. It can be a 4 Apple, 5 Apple or 6 Apple. You book the Apple rating you're comfortable with but you don't find out which hotel you are going to until you get to the airport on the day of departure. Not a big deal if you stick with a 5 or 6 Apple property...but you definitely take a chance with a 4 Apple because some 4 Apples are pretty bad.

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