TravelExpertGuru

I stayed there a couple of years ago and it was disgusting then, and they were renovating. IT WAS AWFUL!! I called HOTWIRE to complain about the rating and the property, and they offered to move us over to another property, which ended up being the Omni and gave us a $75 credit towards future travel, which we used on the rebooking. Of course no refund on the charges, but I didn't want to stay there any longer than I had to. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS write your review. If you give a negative review, they are usually good about giving you a $25+ credit on your account.

Sign up for the players club card. I go there often, so I may be getting exclusive rates, but I'm going March 28-April 4th and I'm getting rates at NYNY for $29/night, MGM for $39/night and TI and Mirage gave me $49/night. TI's resort fee's are optional, but NYNY and MGM are included in the price. Weekends rates I'm getting for $129 at TI and was able to get $59 at NYNY. Go to www.mlife.com and if you don't already have one, join their Player's Club to see if you will have access to the exclusive rates for MLife Players Club Members. You also need to consider that it's Spring Break and the rates are going to be higher. Venetian has a special going on right now for $159/night with 2 tickets Phantom of the Opera. Sign up for e-mail alerts to get exclusive rates as well. For Vegas, HOTWIRE is iffy on whether or not you are going to get a deal. I lived there and worked at The Mirage, and go back 3-5 times a year. The deals on HOTWIRE vary and sometimes you actually end up paying more on travel sites than what is going to be offered on their specials on their websites or through their e-mail specials. Also, go to their Facebook pages, they do exclusive rates for Facebook fans as well. If you want to spend $150/night, try one of the newer casino's at City Center. The Cosmopolitan is new and the rooms are beautiful, as are Aria's. But they don't have theme's, but they are really nice. Vdara is about the same rate wise, and they have kitchenette's. MGM properties are running a 72 hour sale right now, so check those out before you go with HOTWIRE. Also consider that you are going over a weekend as well, rates are going to be 3-4x the normal rate as well, so getting it under $200 may be a challenge since most casino's are $300/night and over. 4star south properties can include Luxor, Excalibur and even Tropicana, and those are CRAP properties, so try to stay mid-strip if you can for 4 stars. And IF by some chance, the property posts a rate that is lower than what you were given on the website, HOTWIRE will give you credit for future travel.

For Vegas, I recommend signing up for the email alerts for all the properties. On the 16th and 17th, MGM Grand has a special for $79/night, weekends are of course $200/night. I've found their specials for past guests and through Facebook to be better than what HOTWIRE or PRICELINE offers. Most Vegas properties aren't going to discount you much through 3rd party websites. However, with the deal directly through MGM Grand itself, you are getting a cheaper and better deal than what you would get with the listed 5 star properties, even with the jacked up weekend rate. Do some homework first, look at Hotels.com to compare the rates of other properties vs. what HOTWIRE is listing, you can kind of guess what you are going to get based on the amenities, and that will tell you if you are getting a decent deal. Keep in mind that you are looking at a week that is the start of the college Spring Break, so rates are elevated, and I believe this is a major convention going on, because the base rates that week and the next are in the $200s at most properties during the week, which signifies a large scale event. If your dates are flexible, the last week in March is discounted, MGM has it for $39/night and you can amazingly book Mirage for $49 - $79/night that week as well through one of their e-mail promotions. Based on what you are wanting, from HOTWIRE you are looking at $700-$800 for the 4 days, however I suggest doing some research and your homework. Remember you are looking at staying over a weekend, so Friday and Saturday can be double to quadruple the weekly rates. If you are trying to stay in a budget, then you can adjust your days or switch properties if you can find a decent weekly rate on Hotwire that is cheaper than the rates with the property themselves. I used to live in Vegas and travel there often still. I'm also a former employee of one of the major strip hotels and have worked in the travel industry for 11 years. Regardless of how you book, spend some time doing some research, or if you don't want to take the time, I'll be glad to help you find something, it just all depends on what you are willing to spend and how much time you are willing to invest in looking for the best deal. I use HOTWIRE religiously for hotels, except when it comes to Las Vegas, there are far better deals to be had, in most cases, with the properties themself. You *can* find a deal using 3rd party sites from time to time, but always make sure you check directly with the source, sometimes you can find a package that helps you avoid their stupid resort fees. Good Luck and again, I'll be glad to help you find something if you'd like.

The two 4star properties that are used in Perimeter area are nice, the Westin you will really like. It is in the middle of a financial district and among some high rise office buildings. Can be a bit of a pain to get to if you don't know your way around that area, but I book that property often through HOTWIRE with a single mom friend of mind and we love it. The staff is very friendly and don't treat you poorly for booking on HOTWIRE. I always ask for the highest floor available and have always been given the top floor. Some recommendations for area restaurants: Twisted Taco Maggiano's Cheesecake Factory These 3 are are about a 5-10 minute drive and locatedon Ashford Dunwoody Rd. at The Perimeter Mall. Maggiano's and Cheesecake Factory at the mall and Twisted Taco directly across the street. Enjoy your stay!!

This property does not warrant a 4 star rating in my opinion. I've used Hotwire for years to book hotels and I have stayed all across the country for work and leisure and this is not a 4 star hotel. MAYBE 3.5, but not 4. The hotel is directly across the street from the Orlando Convention Center and while we were there it was quiet. If you valet your car, which we didn't so I'm not sure if there is a service charge for it that is mandatory or not, the entrance is nice. However, if you choose to self park, you have to go around the building, to a guard shack and check in. Then you drive through the service area, pass the loading docks and around to the back of the hotel. I recommend letting valet take your bags to your room then park you car, it is quite a hike from the parking if you have your arms full, plus a kid in tow, which was the mistake we made. You have to walk through the back of the hotel past the Convention rooms. There are a few restaurants/bars and a cafe on site and a spa, which I didn't get a chance to indulge in. Prices are not posted on the Spa Menu in the room, but I contemplated getting a massage after our Disney adventure. The room is adequate and moderately spacious. The hallway from the elevator though is dark, dismal and poorly lit. The carpet was clean, but warn and looked like it had not bee changed in 10 years. The walls were a dingy yellow, almost looked like it had been a smoking floor when they allowed it. The linens were thin, but clean, and thankfully there was a thicker cotton throw in the closet. The bathroom was small, the tub was shallow and the door barely cleared the toilet. The walls were the dingy yellow that we found in the hall and looked like they had been painted over and over several times. The door in the bathroom was dirty looking and rotting at the bottom. The thermostat was strange, 69F kept the room cool, but adjust it to 70 and it turns on the heat, we couldn't find a happy medium. Sea World is about a 5 minute drive and there is tons of restaurants in the area. We had stayed at The Sheraton Vistana LBV the 3 nights before, but couldn't rebook it for one more night after deciding to extend our stay. Got the Rosen Centre for $60/night, and I wouldn't imagine paying a cent more. I won't be re-booking this property, I can't say I really was impressed. IF you have to go to the convention center, it's convenient and I would recommend this more for the business traveler, but not a family. If you want a nicer hotel for a cheaper price, I'd say it's ok, but I think Hotwire inflated the star rating based on the appearance of the lobby and the fact that there is a spa and on site dining, the room is far from 4 star compared to most places I have stayed at.

:) I absolutely LOVE this resort. I used the Android application "Hotel Search by Adlibtrips", which is powered by Hotwire. After 2 weeks of searching for hotels on the aggregate websites, comparing Hotwire and going nearly insane planning out Disney Vacation, I jumped on the $79/night rate I found. The amenities listed included: Resort Fitness Center Pool(s) Restaurant(s) Business Center Laundry Facilities High-speed Internet Access Golf Nearby Tennis Nearby Kitchenette Children's Activity Program Finding the property is EASY. I grew up going to Orlando every summer to my grandparents house, so I know the area quite well, but for anyone who is unfamiliar with Orlando, this is an easy property to find with direct access to I-4. When you arrive on property, you turn into the Welcome Center and go inside to check in. I feared being a time-share/condo that I'd get harassed to come to the High Pressure, we-refuse-to-take-no-for-an-answer the second I walked into the lobby. I was ready and defensive to ward off the "Sign up now" Stalkers. Check in was pleasant, the agent was nice and was quick. The deposit for incidentals was only $50 and then she tells us they have a welcome package for us. I was really exhausted at this point and managed to avoid an opportunity to have to be pressured into coming to their meeting. We leave the Welcome Center and go around to our building. All units are behind gated, guarded, access. Our unit was the first row of buildings, and was right behind the Welcome Center, so we didn't have to weave through the complex to find our way. The property is set up just like a luxury apartment complex, so it already feels homely. We were given a ground floor, end/corner unit. When I walked in, I was amazed at how nice the place was. There is a full, all though slightly micro, kitchen. You have a mini-washer/dryer unit in a closet, small pantry with all cooking utensils and accesories, an electric, flat-surfaced cook top with an oven, full sized microwave, dishwasher and a full sized 12 cup coffee maker. You also get a toaster, blender, pots and pans, cookie sheet, colander..etc. I cooked breakfast every morning, dinner every night and even baked cookies. We saved SOOOO much money, it was worth paying a little more per night over a 3star for $28. We had a full king size bed in the master suite, and a 42" LG HDTV in the living room with a Bose Stereo/DVD Player. There is a pull out couch, which is comfortable if you can find the right spot to avoid the bar in your back. The bathroom was amazing as well. It has a deep full size bathtub: a Kohler Bubble Massage to be exact and it was great for relaxing in after a 12 hour drive and a day at Disney. I think I must have soaked in it for an hour each night. The bedroom had a 32" LG HDTV in it as well, goose down, or down alternative bedding. The thermostat, I can tell you is quick to cool/heat the room as well. My daughter is 4 and loved the room, she didn't want to leave and asked if we could move there. Honestly, I am not one for time-shares, but if I had the money to invest, I certainly would at this property. We did get 1 phone call, because we happened to be in the room when they did their calls. We had just sat down to dinner and the guy of course did all he could to get us down there. "It's only 45 minutes, over breakfast..." etc etc etc. Luckily I wasn't the one on the phone, and my friend had the job of trying to say no. It took him about 5 minutes of "We aren't interested" to finally just get the guy off the phone. OH! The welcome packet you receive has some toiletry items, a razor and some coupons. The property has 7 pools that are heated to 82F. 4 are open until 10pm and 3 are open until 1am, or visa versa. They have activities every day and while we were there they hosted a 50s style Sock Hop and an outdoor movie night. We didn't have time to go, but there is ALWAYS something going on. There is a market on property, but really over priced, but for a nominal fee, you can have your room stocked prior to arrival if you call ahead. There is a Wal-Mart not far from the property, so don't worry about having to only shop there, unless you don't rent a car while there. They do offer shuttles to the parks, but the schedules aren't really convenient. Close to the property is one of the Premium Outlet Centers, one that I shop at every time I'm in Orlando. You can walk to Wendy's, Chick-fil-a and there is a Sante Fe steak house next door. Landry's and Golden Corral is about a block down and across from the hotel. It's a busy 6 laned road, so I wouldn't recomment walking to it, unless you are comfortable playing Frogger at the intersection. Across the street is a miniature golf, and we could hear the Volcano go off from our room (shoots fire), but it's not annoyingly loud or anything. I honestly cannot say enough about this property and would LOVE to be able to get a good deal like this through Hotwire in the future. If you get this property for your booking with Hotwire you will certainly enjoy it, I can't say enough about this place, not one negative thing, I am truly in love with this place.

Is the only one what? The amenities listed were copied directly from the Hotwire listing itself.

Hey I used to live in Vegas and travel there often. I honestly don't really recommend Hotwire for Vegas hotels, you aren't saving that much. The regular rate for that date through their website is $199. If you sign up for email alerts you can get even better deals that aren't always published on their website, or sign up for Facebook offers. Now I use Hotwire a lot for most of my hotel bookings, but the trick you need to do is start with Hotwire and compare the prices of similar star rated properties on an aggregate site like Hotels.com to see if are getting a good deal, and then check with the hotels that it could be individually. Sometimes you can save 40-60% off the room, but not always in Vegas, they don't really negotiate huge discounts with Hotwire and Priceline. If you can get a rate like that on a weekend when the rates are $300 or more, that is great! OR if you end up with a room with a view or one of the larger suites. I worked for one of the casino's in Vegas as well as an airline, so I know the industry side to how this works. Normally the "Hotwire Rooms" are going to be the lowest rated room, and you won't have a choice of bed type or location/view. You can request whatever you prefer at check in, but 9 times out of 10, you will be told it was a Hotwire booking and they can't upgrade your room. Now, if you go through the hotel itself, they are more willing to upgrade you for free, and I have done that almost every time I've stayed at Venetian. Regardless of what room you get you will love it, so don't take my advice as negative. The rooms are huge and even the regular base rooms can fit an army inside them. The staff is always extremely friendly and it is honestly my favorite property on The Strip...that and Palazzo. The Lux Cafe is owned by the same people who run The Cheesecake Factory and I recommend a Blood Orange Mimosa with your breakfast in the morning. Enjoy your trip!

Based off the current list, this property was 3.5 star, however it has been sold as a 4 star, so not sure if they are wavering or changing it back and forth, or how current your list is. I booked 1/19/2011 - 1/22/2011 for $79/night (2 Adults) Amenities Include: Resort Restaurant(s) High-speed Internet Access Kitchenette Fitness Center Pool(s) Business Center Laundry Facilities Golf Nearby Tennis Nearby Children's Activity Program I have been searching the Hotwire website for almost a week watching rates and booked 3 nights for $277.04. The cheapest room they have for the same nights was $129/night before junk fee's and totaled $435.38, that is a savings of $158.34! I usually get excited if I see the room is rack rated $200/night and over, but a saving of $50/night is still a great deal! I'm a former airline ticket agent and travel advice writer myself, and I am wary about using 3rd party websites for air travel, but highly recommend them for hotels.