Hotwire, Inc.


Country United States
State California
City San Francisco
Address 655 Montgomery St Ste 600
Phone (866) 468-9473
Website http://www.hotwire.com/

Hotwire, Inc. Reviews

  • Jul 22, 2015

I tried to make a reservation with Hotwire and the company end up charging over a $1,000 on my Debt. catrd. when it came time to trying to reach customer service, no one was willing to help me recover my money. I was given a risk management phone number . When trying to reach them. It was no live person to speak with over the phone.Just an answring service.

My bank even tried to help me recover my money, no luck.

As of today . I still haven't had my funds release.

Never do business with Hot Wire 1

  • Jul 20, 2015

I was trying to book a business trip hotel online. Hotwire changed the dates of my trip. No final verification so I could check it. When I called customer service, waited over an hour and was told it was a 'hot rate' and non-refundable. Emailed and received an email back tellung me to call. Tried calling, but wait time was again an hour.

  • May 30, 2015

I booked a hotel reservation on hotwire on May 28th for a May 30th hotel stay. The price at the time was $70 (I have a screen shot). When I received the confirmation by e-mail, the price had jumped to $74, and there was an additional $20.95 in taxes and fees - suddenly my $70 reservation was costing me $94.95! I immediately called hotwire to cancel, but they "explained" that since it was a hotrate, it could not be cancelled. I explained what happened and was told to fax a copy of the screen shot showing the $70 rate and I would hear back in 7 - 10 days (my reservation was in 2 days) - not a lot of help. I called back 3 more times to speak with another supervisor, twice I was conveniently disconnected when I explained the problem, and the third time I got the same company line. I finally called American Express and contested the charge. I will never use them again.

  • May 2, 2015

My husband enjoys looking for good deals. He went to Hotwire.com to find a highly rated hotel with a pool for a March break surprise. He called to give me the address for a 5 night stayin Portland, OR. When I took the exit for the hotel it was under the flight path for PDX in an industrial area with homeless people in the area. I had trouble finding the hotel. It was next to a train track. We arrived in the rain at 10p.m. The receptionist was unqualified to work at a 1 star hotel. She was exceptionally rude, when I had trouble finding my ID, and told me I would not be able to stay at the hotel per her decision. We called Hotwire for a refund after I secured a room in a Days Inn next to the original hotel and next to the freeway. The $527 charge was in dispute, but has been recharged to my account. I was upset by the receptionist, but she was a product of the bad area and the quality of the Sheraton Four Points. Considering what we thought we were getting, this was unnescessarily stressful and outrageously expensive mistake. I could have stayed on the Oregon coast in a real 5 star hotel for much less than the two reservations on the side of the freeway and under air traffic.

Hotwire and the hotel have stolen our money. They are a fraud.

  • Apr 20, 2015

I needed a travel ticket for Jackline Aridi to travel from ORD to RDU on the Sat morning 03/21/2015 6am and return nextt day Sunday morning 8 am on the 22nd March 2015.

After a good search I finally found a link on Hotwire URL that would meet this specification at first glance so I thought .They had flights that left ORD from 6am on the 21st March to RDU and returned on the 22nd March 2015, 8am back to ORD.

The Selection was titled "Hotwire Hot fare Get the flight now and flight details after booking. This is a special fare with restrictions. Look for details in Checkout. Airline and Flight time revealed after purchase. "

With fare listed as $378.75/=.(PLEASE REFFER TO PAGE #1 OF EVIDENCE ATTACHMENT)

So this sounded positive and was going to meet my requirements because i was promised to " Get the flight now and flight details after booking"

and was promised to "Look for details in Checkout.

of which I would only purchase if the details met my requirements of (03/21/2015 , 6am to 03/22/2015 ,8am ).

After deciding to go for this special Offer Ticket , I was reference to a page similar to [PLEASE REFFER TO PAGE#2 OF EVIDENCE ATTACHMENT] in the

I was promised to look for details in Checkout ,( THERE WAS NO CHECKOUT SCREEN just [PLEASE REFFER TO PAGE#3 OF EVIDENCE ATTACHMENT] after submitting there was a sort of glitch and the I was given a NOTIFICATION that I will be EMAILED THE FLIGHT

DETAILS AFTER BOOKING CONFIRMATION) as a result there was no way of knowing the details for the flight at the time of submission , to enable me to CHANGE MY MIND if possible.

I was even given an option of insurance worth $27 for the flight just incase of any thing which I took as well only to reliase that it will not reffer to any of my cases under all circumstances.

Back to my major case, later when the email arrived to my dismay Jackline Aridi was booked on a ticket that left ORD at 8.26pm 03/21/2015 and arrived in RDU at 11.01pm and returned from RDU on the 03/22/2015 at 6.52am and arrived 8.10am

a ticket that did not meet my specification of Saturday 03/21/2015,6am and return Sunday 8 am on the 22nd March 2015. Given the fact that it was going to leave ORD 16 hours late and leave RDU for ORD at least 1 hour early and the time duration that it gives the vistor to stay

in RDU is just a mere 3 hours in the middle of the night when kids and family will be fast asleep.

So when I got this ticket I declared it NULL AND VOID because

1) It did not meet the time specification required by Jackline Aridi as it drastically reduced amount of time needed to visit family and the time was also untimely

2). it DID NOT ALLOW ME TO "Look for details in Checkout " to make a confirmation instead I was told I would receive an email once the flight is CONFIRMED.

3). The insurance ( which they say belong to different company on further research ONLY PROTECTS TRAVEL AGENCIES YET IS OFFERED to customers on Hotwire website.

4) The trip was cancelled by Hotwire or United Airline. [PLEASE REFFER TO PAGE#5& 6 OF EVIDENCE ATTACHMENT]meaning that it was sold to someone else so no loss.

Jackline Aridi failed to make the trip and I have called customer service on several occasions without success for a total refund.I am firmly requesting a refund worth $405.75/= based on the above reason as well as because the Hotwire Website

does not do what it promises to do and as a result I feel I was defrauded.

N/B: I have attached all the relevant evidence that will be need for this case.

This trips were later cancelled either by United Airline or Hotwire with no refund in sight.[PLEASE REFFER TO PAGE#5& 6 OF EVIDENCE ATTACHMENT]

I have also attached a copy of the NULL AND VOID INSURANCE as well.

  • Mar 18, 2015

I used Hotwire's "Hot Rate" option, knowing and understanding that my hotel would be chosen for me based on location and class. Fair enough. But, to my surprise, I was given occupancy in an Evangelical college owned by Pat Robertson! Right on the campus! I called several times to explain that I'm not staying at Pat Robertson's hotel, and they refused to allow me to chose a comparable hotel in the area. Amazingly awful.

  • Mar 13, 2015

I had booked a motel in LI, NY from April 2nd through April 7th on Hot-wire and due to a medical surgery I called to cancel they said I needed a letter from my Dr.. When I called my Dr. he rescheduled my surgery till after my trip so I called Hot wire .to reinstate my reservation and was told there was nothing they could do and that I was out $350.00

Can you help me as I am on a very limited income and can not afford this lose.

Please help me,

Lawrence G.

  • Mar 7, 2015

Hotwire's location maps are incorrect - booked a hotel for a specific reason in a specific area, hotel was not area in the region. Fought with customer service for days on it, with them refusing to refund even though they falsely advertised areas. Hotwire should be held accountable for scamming so many people on a day to day basis.

  • Feb 23, 2015

I went on Hotwire.com for a hotel purchase on 2/21/2015. I went into the hotrate section where I found a hotel that was advertised a 4 Star Hotel ($348) value for 60% off at a rate of 128.

I purchased the hotel without knowing the name, only the star rating and area. I was then given a hotel that did not meet any of the advertised qualifications other than the area. The hotel was South Beach Hotel in Biloxi. It was a 3.5 star rating on every other website besides Hotwire. It also was only worth 195 ( full price per night )

I called Hotwire Customer service to let them know my frustrations and concerns. I was pretty much told that was how it was going to be no matter if it was false advertisment. They told me they get their star ratings from an average of other websites star ratings. I expressesd this was wrong because every other star rating on every other website was 3.5. I have called to speak to a supervisor or management 5 times. I was put on hold every time with no answer.

This has been the worse customer service I have ever recieved. I also get a different run around with every customer service representive that I talk to . There is no getting through with anyone. They tell me a certain website says it is a 4star hotel. I let them sit on the phone with me while I look and the website says it is a 3.5. They ALL lie and do everything in their power to make you hang up and think that there is nothing to be done. They say its a universal policy. I guess what they mean by universal policy is a policy to LIE to fool customers into thinking that they are getting a better deal than they actually are.

  • Feb 19, 2015

I went in search of a hotel for a trip I am taking to Kennesaw, GA. I was drawn to an advertisement at hotwire.com fpr a 2 1/2 star hotel in Kennesaw for $51 a night. They said it was similar to a Holiday Inn Express and La Quinta inn. SInce I had stayed at both hotels in different cities and liked the brands I went ahead and made a reservation.

Hotwire does not allow you to know the hotel before you pay for your stay in full but since I knew the brands they compared it to I went ahead and reserved the hotel.

After they had processed my card they informed me that the hotel I had been booked at was the Bewt Western Inn in Kennesaw. I could not have been more disappointed. I happen to have stayed a couple of nigths at this hotel during my last visit and had to leave early and move into a different hotel because the place was horrible. Without getting into detail since this is not about Best Western, I can confidently state that this Inn is not a 2 1/2 star hotel and is certainly not like Holiday Inn Express or La Quinta inn.

I immediately called and tried to cancel my reservation but Hotwire would not give me my money back because their reservations they say are non refundable. I believe they do this because they know that they are peddling horrible and nasty hotels at rates no one would pay for them otherwise and deceive customers by comparing them to really nice brands that they know are likely to entice you to buy at their rates. This needs to be stopped and I for one are looking into taking this matter to the courts of law to see if they should be allowed to get away with this.

  • Dec 10, 2014

I booked a hotel with hotwire for 3 nights.. When I went to check in at the hotel, there were no acceptable pet free rooms that I could tolerate with my allergies. The hotel vendor stated I must contact Hotwire for a refund. Although I respectfully called Hotwire, they offered no remedy and would not refund my entire fee for the reservation amount.

This a was a total ripoff for no services purchased. I paid for 3 nights stay and got NOTHING! I will NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER USE HOTWIRE EVER AGAIN AND WILL COMPLAIN AT EVER SITE AVAILABLE TO DO SO!, EVER, EVER, EVER USE HOTWIRE EVER AGAIN AND WILL COMPLAIN AT EVER SITE AVAILABLE TO DO SO!

RESERVATION CODE: 9RAGK77HBB0

  • Dec 8, 2014

Hotel was booked through Hotwire via cell phone (on the road). Upon arrival at hotel, clerk informed me I had NO reservation. I left hotel and tried reservation again via cell phone. Was assigned same hotel, went back in, and this time there was no hotel clerk to even check for a reservation (was told by other uniformed employees that I should wait, as desk clerk was upstairs, helping a customer with clogged toilet). After waiting several min. & still no clerk appeared, I left and called Hotwire to resolve the failed booking. Was told I had made 2 reservations for same hotel, within min. of one another, but had no recourse, because every transaction made on Hotwire is a final sale. WHAT?! I was first told I HAD no reservation, then no clerk was there the 2nd time, but I, as a "valued Hotwire Express customer", have no recourse?! I fired off a series of emails, and after my credit card company credited both reservations, the following billing perior Hotwire then charged me again for both reservations. When I called AGAIN to resolve this matter and asked a supervisor what the value is in being a Hotwire Express member is, she told me, "the benefit of talking to an American agent". I kid you not! The way Hotwire runs their business is a total scam, and I write this report to warn as many as possible to steer clear of this scammer operation!

  • Nov 21, 2014

At the beginning of my transaction i was looking at 14.99 a day. then as i navigated through to the end of the reservation process i saw i was charged 18.99 per day. (charges not related to taxes etc.) customer service refused to refund the difference despite the service representative confirming the rate was in fact at the time 14.99 per day hotwire runs a scam for car rental, where their computer system quotes a price then on the next screenshot raises it a few dollars figuring the the customer will just pay..its only a couple bucks a day. if you check again from another computer the first lower rate will likely remain. continually checking from the the same computer will result in a higher price.(their system can see your computer or smartphone's cookies) I recommend checking prices with hotwire as a reference and the maybe try somebody else like priceline to beat their price..their customer service is awful and in the Philippines or something.

  • Nov 4, 2014

Hotwire never book a hotel with them they misrepresent the hotels saying they were 74 % off only to find barely 15% did i get off what a ripe off and they woulld not stand behind it . two hours on the phone 20 mins after i booked it , trying to change the hotel it was not a chain at all all lies.

  • Nov 3, 2014

Hotwire is a dishonest broker of hotel rooms. I booked blind as is their business model. No problem with that. They offered me a room at The Wyndham in Irvine at an acceptable rate. With my credit card now having been debited, I find out that parking was an additional $18 per vehicle.

The customer service staff at Hotwire admit that they know that these charges apply but do not feel it is their duty to reveal it prior to debiting your card.

I resolved this by contacting the hotel and getting them to agree to cancel the booking. Wyndham are smart. They know they will be in existence long after Hotwire crashes and burns. They do not wish to lose me as a potential client forever because of Hotwire's disingenuous behavior.

Hotwire's parting shot was that the refund may take two billing cycles of my credit card to show up. Even when they are forced to admit that they are wrong they still indulge in unscrupulous behavior.

  • Oct 29, 2014

I went online Hotwire.com looking for a hotel in Orlando for December. I found one for $41 per night which was a great price. I was staying for three nights and even chose the insurance for $15 just in case. The total came to $160 something after taxes and additional fees. Well I put my card in to found out the hotel they offered was one I stayed at before BUT ALSO THAT THEY ENDED UP CHARGING ME $100 MORE. I called and spoke with a rep who said well they display the price before checkout. I told the person yes I thought I was getting it for $160 not $260 if that was the case I would of never went through it. Contacted my bank and I got the overcharged credited back. Well a few weeks later something came up and I found out due to family health reasons I might of had to reschedule my trip. I contacted hotwire to get the information on how to file a claim with the insurance company after they asked me for the information like account number and thing. HOTWIRE EMAILED ME BACK TO SAY I NEVER WAS CHARGED FOR THE INSURANCE. SO NOT ONLY DID THEY REAP ME OFF THEY ALSO CHARGED MY WHOLE RESERVATION I ORIGINALLY REQUESTED!!!! THIS COMPANY IS A FRAUD AND I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO BRING THEM DOWN.

  • Oct 16, 2014

Hotwire's ad as well as the HOTWIRE representative I spoke with when I MADE THE RESERVATION claims a 50-80 % reduction of hotel room rates. They do not disclose the name of the hotel until after booking- so you cannot verify the rates prior to booking.

After I booked based on the promise of 50-80% REDUCTION OVER REGULAR RATES I then went to the website of the hotel Hyyatt Regency Miam to verify the rates. I found I actually paid MORE through Hotwire than if I had booked the Hyatt Regency Miami directly for these dates.

Once I called Hotewire to complain they said the medium 50-80 % is based on 'comparable' hotels. However, they will NOT tell you which the comparable hotels are so you could verify their claim. This is how their fraudulent practice operates.

When I asked for what comparable hotels they use to base this claim of a 50-80% reduction on, they refused to disclose the hotels. Yet the maintain that when you booked you got the 50-80 % reduciton. When you nail them an dshow that the hotel is actually cheaper than what they charged you through Hotwire. THEN they say: well it is a 50-80 % reduction BASED on COMPARABLE hotels to the one they booked you on. When you want ot verify the rates of these supposed 'comparable' hotels Hotwire refuses to disclose that.

Hotwire rips you off and then covers its tracks that by booking you agreed to their Terms and can not cancel. When you can show that you got a rotten deal and that they lied to you about the rate reduction they cover their tracks that this is based on a medium rate of comparable hotels but they refuse to say what hotels they use as their comparables! SO in this way they defraud the consumer and refuse to allow for a cancellation or a refund! I spoke to several of their supervisors including Amy Monfils' office and they all repeat the same fraud. This case is RE: Hotwire itinerary 5502233205

  • Oct 15, 2014

I recently booked a Hotel via Hotwire, Only to arrive at an unsafe hotel that wasn't in the destination requested. When I explained to Hotwire there was a safety issue and that I am a young single women traveling alone and I felt my safety was at risk and that I was extremely uncomfortable in this location even getting out of my car. They refused to relocate me or issue a refund for the hotel I NEVER checked into or stayed in. I Even explained the pictures and Ratings of the Hotel were Different from the actual Hotel. I was bullied and shouted at by a Hotwire manager, and told that I was "legally bindied" and that I could be sued if I tried to cancel. I've spoken with Many Hotwire Managers as well as Hotwire Corporate Customer Service Reps. Who have all informed me they don't care about the safety of the hotel and they will not issue a refund to my account. Hotwire Reps Pressure you into booking Hotels with them without giving you all of the facts of their services as well as business practices. They Threaten you and refuse to Acknowledge their wrongdoings and Unethical practices. Even when acustomers safety is at risk. I've exhausted every possible resource before getting to this point. I've allowed ample time for afair resolution, And have been denied all request for a resolution.

My Request are Fair and Simple, All I am requesting at this point is a refund to my Card as well as a Written Apogee from Hotwire for all the hardship and Stress I've had to endure with in the process of trying to come to a fair resolution regarding this matter. I don't want any other customer to deal with the headache or stress I've had to encounter or for another individuals safety to be compromised.

  • Sep 27, 2014

False advertisement for hotel price!!!!!

in hotwire website above the price of what they're the selling price its says $99 dollars, and on the side of their selling price it says save 52% of the hotel price! but it turn out that i only save $1.00 after i look at the hotels room rate. t's a shame that they just false adverstised so they can sell the hotel room. I spoke to one of their representative to cancel my purchase and she said that she cannot do anything with it. Im so dissapointed!

  • Jul 31, 2014

Will soon either start or locate a class action Law suit and website to deal with this company Hotwire.com / Expedia.com - Parent Company who is so direct as to there knowledge and understanding that I was ripped off 3/07/2012 in west Palm Beach FL totaling $ 167.33 and to my face explain they refuse to make any effort to either refund or offer better product to replace unacceptable original offer. So after reaching their Corporate Headquarters Staff they agreed to do nothing and refused to allow me to maintian communication dialog w one executive resolution Staff Member. Further switch board operator w not transfer you into Corporate or Legal staff of this Company. (((phone number redacted)))

  • Jul 28, 2014

I am traveling with my family of four 2 adults and two children aged 19 and 22. i recently booked a four star hotel in the city of Prague, Czech Republic through Hotwire. I did a search and enered the parameters, location (Prague, old town), numberof stars (4 or 5) arrival date (19 August 2014) number of nights (3), number of adults (4), number of rooms(1).

I choose a four star hotel that had received excellent reviews. Once i paid we were informed that it was the Mosiac House in Prague. the hotelhad excellent reviews on TripAdvisor and we were very excited. Uponlooking at the hotel site,the rooms for single, double and triple accommodation looked appriate for the four star rating. However, their only quad accommodations are rooms with 2 bunk beds and require climbing a ladder to go to bed.

Upon further review, I discover that the mosiac house is both a hotel and hostel, and the bunk bed quads are much more hostel than four star accomodations. When i called to inquire with Hotwire, they refused to admit any wrong doing and kept repeating a script about boutique hotels can be a little unusual and that they stand by the four star rating of the hotel. After two seperate calls, andover two hours on the phone the supervisor refused to give me a higher contact, their name, extension or any other identifiable menas to persue my claim. They wanted me to sort this out with the hotel. Unacceptable, Hotwire was my booking agent, Hotwire accepted the Mosiac House and knew or should have known that Mosiac House quads are substandard and significanly inferior accomodation to the rest of the invenory (single, double, triple) sold by Hotwire.

They finally agreed to contact the hotel on my behalf, the solution was for my to pay an additonal 75 euros per night for two double rooms. Completely unacceptable, Hotwire was wrong to accept a quad booking in this hotel as the quad accommodations are significantly inferior and in no way represent a four star accommodation when guests are asked to climb a ladder to go to be at night. Hotwire refuses to refund my reservation, and saidthe decision ended with the supervisor andihave not recourse with Hotwire.

  • Jul 17, 2014

Notified Hotwire immediately of unauthorized transactions on my credit card the same morning it occurred. The representative stated they would investigate but assured me it would be refunded back. Explained the situation, that I had paid for my friends room with my credit card and the CSR told me she had to make a copy of my card because it was hotel policy, and that she must have made those unauthorized transactions. Advised the Hotwire rep that I had already notified my credit card company and the GM of the hotel and the Sheriffs office.

The hotwire rep stated she would definitely prosecute at their end but assured me they would refund the money back and felt sorry for me. The following day, one of the smaller transactions was refunded back. Then on the third day on checked my account and found the two larger transactions posted and finalized. I called howire back only to find out from the hotwire rep that the risk mgmt team made a decision that the transactions are good and finalized them and will not do anything further and for me to continue with my credit card company.

When I asked to speak with them directly I was advised that they do not speak with anyone and that once the decision has been made you have to deal with your credit card company from that point on. I questioned them as to what proof do they have that this was a "good" transaction since the person who did make the transaction was arrested and sitting in jail, and they had no reply. Just advised me again to take it up with my credit card company. Definitely don't do business with them again. Their motto is then, you can use anyone's credit card, charge up a large sum and you will get away with it because you cannot dispute any charges as they will not do anything about it.

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