HOTWIRE Archives

I recently booked a four-star hotel in Mexico, through Hotwire. Hotwire claims its four-star hotels are prestigious, respected properties.

Four stars for that resort? Says who?

January 20, 2024March 4, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

The hotel Valerie Acosta booked through Hotwire.com isn’t what she expected. The site claims it’s a four-star resort, but the reviews say otherwise. How about a refund?

Half a star may not sound like much to the average hotel guest, particularly when there are no nationally-recognized hotel rating standards.

Can this trip be saved? Cheated by half a star on my New Orleans hotel

January 20, 2024February 21, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

Half a star may not sound like much to the average hotel guest, particularly when there are no nationally-recognized hotel rating standards in the United States. But it means the world to Sandi Tanner, who is planning her 20th wedding anniversary in New Orleans.

I recently returned from a nine-day trip to Cancun, Mexico. I booked a car rental through Hotwire.com, with Europcar for $9.80 a day.

Snared by the Mexican insurance scam

January 19, 2024February 11, 2011 by Christopher Elliott

Gordon Houston is offered a $9.80-a-day rate for a rental car in Mexico. But an agent refuses to rent the car to him without insurance, which more than doubles the price of the vehicle. Now neither his agent, nor the rental company, will refund the difference. Is he stuck with the bill?

One of the most frequently-repeated pieces of advice for bargain-hunters is that you'll always find a deal on the "opaque" travel websites

Attention, bargain-hunters! “Opaque” doesn’t necessarily mean “cheapest”

January 24, 2024December 22, 2010 by Christopher Elliott

One of the most frequently-repeated pieces of advice for bargain-hunters is that you’ll always find a deal on one of the so-called “opaque” travel websites, like Hotwire or Priceline.

The case of Samantha McCormick, a 23-year-old Hotwire customer whose car rental rate unexpectedly doubled.

My car rental rate doubled — should I split the difference with Hotwire?

January 19, 2024November 16, 2010 by Christopher Elliott

When it comes to fixing travel problems, every happy ending isn’t necessarily a Hollywood ending. Consider the case of Samantha McCormick, a 23-year-old Hotwire customer whose car rental rate unexpectedly doubled.

Brian Perez-Daple rents a car in Mexico through Hotwire. But his car rental company insists he needs to buy extra insurance.

I thought car rental insurance was optional

January 19, 2024November 12, 2010 by Christopher Elliott

Brian Perez-Daple rents a car in Mexico through Hotwire. But his car rental company insists he needs to buy extra insurance, which he doesn’t. Is there any way to get his money back?

Mexican car rental scam. You have a car rental confirmed reservation, only to learn that you have to buy mandatory insurance.

Maybe you should have walked away from that Mexican rental car

January 19, 2024April 15, 2010 by Christopher Elliott

Ah, the ol’ Mexican car rental scam.

Their first outbound flight was a codeshare flight operated by United. Flight was delayed and they had to purchase new tickets.

One airline ticket for the price of two?

January 25, 2024November 7, 2009 by Christopher Elliott

Llouellynde Orahood’s flight from Los Angeles to Dallas has all the makings of a trip from hell, including weather delays, cancellations and almost-missed flights. What could be worse? Having to pay again for the same tickets. Now, neither the airlines nor her online travel agency is willing to help her recover the money she should have never had to spend. Is there any hope for a refund?

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