Hotwire Hotel: 3* Oahu (Waikiki Central) Aqua Aloha Surf and Spa

[Anon]

Heads up! Amenity list change! On 2/5/11 I was offered a 3* hotel in Waikiki Central for the night of 7/26/11 for which "all amenities" were listed as Near Beach, Pool(s), Laundry. It appears that the only Hotwire hotel previously reported to this board anywhere on Oahu at any star level with that exact amenity list was the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel. Although I gather from the pinned Hotwire hotel list that the Beachcomber was previously reported as being in the "Oahu (Waikiki Beach)" area or in the "Oahu (South)" area, I determined that it is physically located on the inland side of Kalakaua Avenue, and therefore appeared to be in (but right on the edge of) the Hotwire map zone now designated as "Oahu (Waikiki Central)."

I was hoping for the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel because of its location, but decided to purchase only 1 night to "look behind the curtain" for what will be a somewhat longer stay. Turns out the wizard wasn't there.

I don't recall if my original Hotwire listing showed a "per cent recommended number." for the offered 3* hotel. Based on the exact amenity list match with what was previously reported for the Beachcomber and the Beachcomber's physical location, I didn't pay attention to the "per cent recommended" number. My bad. I ran another search for the same date just now to check, and an otherwise identical 3* offer comes up that says "We are still gathering reviews for this property." That search today also pulled up an offer for a 2* hotel in "Oahu (Waikiki Central)" at $71, for which the entire amenity list is ALSO "Near Beach, Pool(s), Laundry, and which also states "We are still gathering reviews for this property."

I saw on a Trip Advisor review of the Beachcomber that signage to rebrand it as a Holiday Inn location was being installed around Halloween of 2010. What are the odds that the rebranded Beachcomber is now being offered with the same amenity list, but downgraded to a 2* hotel in the "Oahu (Waikiki Central)" zone? Would the rebranding cause Hotwire to start gathering an entirely new set of reviews for the Beachcomber?

Has anyone reported getting the Beachcomber after Hotwire began using an "Oahu (Waikiki Central)" map zone? If so, what map zone was it in?

Too many questions, not enough answers. Because exact location is important for this particular trip, I am now planning to rent a condo at the VRBO website for my other nights.

[thereuare]

Thanks for the post.

It would be appreciated if you used the requested PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your future travel purchases.

Enjoy this nite of your stay.

[Anon]

Here's some additional info that may help others re the Waikiki Beachcomber changes - - I'm not asking for any help, and I'm giving details so that you can independently confirm this if you wish:

A Hotwire search made today for a Waikiki stay from 7/19/11 to 7/26 for 2 adults and 1 child (1 room), resulted in the following:

1. A $71/nt Hotwire opaque offer for a 2* Central Waikiki area hotel listing all amenities as "Near Beach, Pool(s), Laundry Facilities" and stating "still gathering reviews;"

2. No other Central Waikiki area Hotwire opaque offers;

3. A $101.86/nt 3* Central Waikiki area transparent offer from "trusted partner Hotels.com" for the Aqua Aloha Surf & Spa that shows all amenities as "Boutique Hotel, Near Beach, Pool(s), Laundry Facilities, High-speed Internet Access;"

4. a $175/nt 3.5* Central Waikiki area transparent offer from "trusted partner Hotels.com" for the Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber Resort that shows all amenities as "Near Beach, Smoke-free Rooms, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Laundry Facilities, High-speed Internet Access."

At first blush, this seems to indicate that:

the rebranded Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber Resort is indeed now located in the Central Waikiki zone, but (i) upgraded from 3* to 3.5* and (ii) it has a new, more extensive amenity list;

the Aqua Aloha Surf & Spa can be offered on Hotwire with yet a third amenity list (dropping "Complimentary Breakfast" from the originally reported amenity list); and

the 2* Central Waikiki area hotel mentioned above is some hotel other than the Waikiki Beachcomber.

I say at first blush, because these conclusions assume that when Hotwire lists transparent hotel offers from "trusted partner" Hotels.com, Hotwire lists each of those hotels with the same star level, amenity list and map area that Hotwire would use if Hotwire was offering the same hotel opaquely. Seems like a reasonable assumption, but proof of that is above my pay grade for this stuff.

Seems like this potentially useful Waikiki Beachcomber info is "buried" in this Aqua Aloha Surf & Spa topic - feel free to put this into a separate Waikiki Beachcomber topic if there's a way to make it easier to find by someone searching for info on the Beachcomber.