Hotwire Hotel: 3* Myrtle Beach Wayfarer Motel

[pistachio2]

3* Myrtle Beach $39 Wayfarer Motel

TotalPrice:$49.97 with tax

10/09-10/10/10

amenities: pool, near beach

[pistachio2]

Any suggestions on what action I should take? I have always been pleased with rooms that I have booked on Hotwire. So I was very surprised when I booked a 3-star room in Myrtle Beach, and was assigned the Wayfarer Motel. After searching through many websites, I finally found some reviews, and they are very distressing.

On tripadvisor.com, 89% of travelers do NOT recommend the

[Gallus50]

Hey p2 - I would absolutely fight this. I looked at reviews and you are right, they are terrible. You also may have been overcharged, as their regular rates are similar or less than what HW charged you.

Perhaps the best way to approach this with Hotwire is that the Wayfarer is in no way a 3* hotel. First off, it is a motel, which means it shouldn't be rated higher than 2*. Further , the HW website says that their 3* hotels offer inviting lobbies, on-site dining, room service and sometimes health and fitness rooms. I'm sure the Wayfarer has none of these. It also says that typical 3* hotels are Doubletree, Radisson, and Holiday Inn. This motel sounds nothing like those chains.

I suggest calling them again to make your case. For good measure, you could email them again, too.

HW is known to be a bit loose with their * ratings, but this sounds over the top to me.

Keep at it and don't give up. The least they could do is credit your $$ back, then you can use it to get a decent hotel.

Have been to Myrtle Beach twice in the last month and there are plenty of nice places to stay. Keep at it and you'll get one, too.

Let us know what happens, please.

[AaronJB]

Sorry to hear about the result of this purchase! :)

I would definitely contact HOTWIRE in this case - the reviews are really very negative and concerning (and a motel like this really should not qualify for a 3*.)

Thank you for sharing your win and using the site's HOTWIRE link. Additionally, thank you for letting us know about this new HOTWIRE property so that we can update the site's Hotwire Hotel List for the state.

Let us know what happens if you contact HOTWIRE again.

[pistachio2]

Thanks to both of you for your replies. I emailed Hotwire twice, with no satisfaction. I then called. The rep actually went to Tripadvisor to check out the reviews, but still would not acknowledge that the place is a dump. So I asked to speak to a supervisor - he wouldn't help either. He just kept saying that I should go to the hotel, and if it wasn't up to standards, I should call them.

Sure, that's how I want to start my vacation! I told him I would dispute the charge with my credit card company. Which, I will, as soon as the transaction appears on-line.

This has definitely soured me against Hotwire. I would not recommend it to anyone!

[Gallus50]

p2 - You have lots of time before this stay, so I would be persistent. Perhaps on Monday - a regular business day - you will find someone who takes your concerns more seriously.

Quite frankly, the Wayfarer Motel in no way fits the criteria HOTWIRE itself set up for a 3* designation - that alone should give them pause. Do keep at it. Maybe you can talk them into crediting your account - that won't actually cost them any money. If they do, you can carefully ID hotels here, asking for help if necessary, and find a decent one.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

[pistachio2]

do people ever have any success fighting with HOTWIRE? I tried searching on this site, but haven't found any success stories.

[AaronJB]

There have definitely been some success stories with HOTWIRE and issues with the property, a couple of which have been similar to this (a small, independent property with negative reviews.)

[Gallus50]

p2 - A little more fuel for your fire. Hostelz.com rates Wayfarer 2.5* ( A hostel website, with lower standards!!), travelpod and tripwolf.com rate it 2*. No other site rates it as a 3*. Hopefully, that could help you make your argument.

Any progress?

[pistachio2]

yes, I had mentioned the hostelz.com poor rating to Hotwire. The 1 rep I had on the phone even went to tripadvisor and checked out the awful reviews. she still wouldn't do anything for me.

I submitted a dispute with my CC company, and a complaint with BBB.

I will not use Hotwire again.

But I appreciate the help that you offer here!

[AaronJB]

Happy to help! :)

Please do let us know what happens with this stay.

[pistachio2]

I could swear I replied last night, and now the post isn't here???

I submitted a dispute with Visa, and then I entered a complaint with the Better Business bureau. After a few days, I was notified that I would receive a full refund.

Is there a good place on this forum to report this? It seems like it will be lost in this string. I'm sure others have had problems with Hotwire also, and I would like to share this experience.

[Gallus50]

You could put a post under General Hotwire Tips.

I'm glad you got your money back and some satisfaction, however you were able to do it. I do think Hotwire should be made to address the situation, though. Did you make some other plans for accommodations?

[Gallus50]

BTW - If you still have booked another place, try using BEAV's method for Last Minute Travel.com. You can positively ID each hotel and save some $$, too. For your date, they have the Westgate Myrtle Beach starting at $44 - it's been getting good reviews. Also the Hilton MB for $77, which is a good price for Kingston Plantation.

Let us know where you end up.

[pistachio2]

BTW - If you still have booked another place, try using BEAV's method for Last Minute Travel.com. You can positively ID each hotel and save some $$, too. For your date, they have the Westgate Myrtle Beach starting at $44 - it's been getting good reviews. Also the Hilton MB for $77, which is a good price for Kingston Plantation.

Let us know where you end up.

I hadn't seen Beav's tips on lastminutetravel before! That's great! I may just use it. Thanks again for the help!

[pistachio2]

I just wanted to share this, in case anyone else has a similar problem. I have always been pleased with rooms that I have booked on Hotwire. So I was very surprised when I booked a 3-star room in Myrtle Beach, and was assigned the Wayfarer Motel. After searching through many websites, I finally found some reviews, and they are very distressing.

On tripadvisor.com, 89% of travelers do NOT recommend the

[dahammer]

From HOTWIRE's website:

We don't rate our partner hotels, you do

How we calculate our Star Ratings:

■Take the average rating on three top travel sites

■Factor in customer feedback -- we receive over half a million reviews per year

■Adjust the ratings downward if a majority of customers say we should

Regardless of a hotel's star rating, you should expect a quality experience from our hotel suppliers. This includes:

■A clean, comfortable room with daily housekeeping service (weekly for extended stay properties or condos)

■A private room

■Listed amenities in proper working order

If you encounter a problem during your stay, contact us and we will work directly with the hotel to solve it.

All decisions by Hotwire regarding the Star Ratings Guide, rebooking or compensation are final and binding.

none of the "big 3" rate this Motel

HOTWIRE's description of a 3* property:

Quality 3-star hotels

These quality establishments make comfort and personalized service their priority. These full-service properties usually feature:

■An inviting, relaxed lobby

■On-site dining

■Room service

■Family-style rooms

A business administrative or health and fitness center may also be available. You can find these hotels in downtown or resort areas, and also in smaller, suburban cities.

Our 3* suppliers include: Holiday Inn, Radisson, Doubletree.

I was successful in making an argument for a star reduction, I received a 2* motel that I thougt should be a 1*, the folks on HOTWIRE agreed and told me that the hotel had "just" been downgraded (while on hold for 10 minutes??) and they offered to cancel the reservation with no penalty or let me keep the reservation and issue me hot Dollars towards a future stay.

I don't know of any 3* hotels with outside room entrances. This place is a MOTEL not a HOTEL, no room service, no restaurant, but there is an ice cream parlor, does this construe "on site dining?"

[pistachio2]

yes, I quoted all their claims to Hotwire, and it didn't help until I went to the BBB.!

Dahammer, I could swear that I posted this on the Hotwire General Tips Forum. Am I going crazy, or were you able to move it?

[pistachio2]

I did use lastminutetravel to book the Westgate. I am sure it will be much better than the Wayfarer! Thanks again, Gallus!

[Gallus50]

You're welcome. Glad to hear you found something decent and still got a deal. I've had so many good experiences w/HW and PL that I hate to hear it when someone really has a bad one.

Read more reviews of WGMB and it seems like some rooms may be better than others. So if you get a room that seems substandard, ask for another one. It looks like a big enough place that they should be able to accommodate you. As you can probably tell, I'm a big advocate of speaking up.

Have a nice trip.