Hotwire Hotel: Help with 3.5* hotel in Vancouver airport

[AGuy]

So I am new to the forums, hello every one :)

On that note, I am looking for a hotel in Vancouver (preferably airport area) for the period of 3/16/12 to 3/20/12.

It will be a party of 3, so 1 hotel room is sufficient as 2 hotel rooms can get expensive.

I know that priceline only does 2 occupancy room and I doubt I can easily get a 2 beds room on luck, so while it is really attractive I don't think it will work. I thought about lowballing it for 2 rooms, but I doubt $40 per night per room will get me anything (or do some of you think I should try for a 2.5* with $35-40... any chance of that working out?).

Back to the point, I am looking at Hotwire and noticed that for the period mention a 3.5* is available for $77.

The amenities are

Airport Shuttle, Fitness Center, Pool, Restaurant, Business Centre, High speed internet, accessible for blind, accessible for deaf, accessible path of travel, in-room accessibility, accessible bathroom, handicapped parking and roll-in shower.

I tried the hotwire package and it seems like there are only 6 hotels of 3.5* class at the airport area:

Sandman signature airport

Delta airport

Radisson airport

Sheraton airport

Hilton airport

Marriot airport

I think it might be the Sheraton, but can anyone else give some insights? Also, is 77 a fair price for this hotel or should I wait longer as I have plenty of time before I travel?

I tried the search using 3 adults as well as 4 adults to a room and both have the same price for this particular unknown hotel. I hope that's a good sign that it will have 2 beds. But I guess the worst case would be a pull out queen sofa as they can't have 2 roll away beds/cots in a room with a king/queen bed already I don't think. If I were to book and both are the same price, I guess I should book 4 adults which would mean I am more likely to get 2 beds right?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks all!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Keep in mind that not all of HOTWIRE's 'opaque' hotels participate in the 'retail' side of their service so you could (easily) win a hotel that is not listed thru that arm of their site (and therefore could be a hotel other than one of those you've listed above). With this noted, the Sheraton has been seen with this amenity set in the past so that would be my best guess for this one.

HOWEVER, i'll also ask if you're using this as a cheaper alternative to staying Downtown? If so, note that there are similiarly rated hotels in the $80-$110 range that are more centrally located downtown, which on average (using the midpoint of the range) is only about $15 more per nite, divided 3 ways is $5 more per nite, and you'd likely save more than that per person commuting from the airport to downtown each day (again, this assumes that your plans will be taking you Downtown each day)

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Let us know your thoughts and/or how it goes and we'll take it from there.

[AGuy]

Thanks for the suggestions!

I went and considered the downtown hotels. However, the $80 for 3.5* I am pretty sure it is the Moda (based on trip advisor rating and amenities... not certain but a very high chance) and based on what I know of it, that hotel gets pretty noisy at night since it is very close to the club district. The time we are there I think includes the spring break/reading week weekend and we want to avoid that area if possible. I have to admit the free parking there is really attractive... but we need to sleep at night. Of course, I could be wrong and lost out on a great deal. Does anyone have insights? Is this the Moda? Any one have experience with how noisy it gets?

There is the 3* downtown vancouver south hotel for $95, but that is pretty useless because in that area I can get the Best Western Plus with exactly the same amenities for the exact same price or even cheaper using CAA/AAA rates on the Best Western website. And something about this hotel's amenities tell me it might just be the Best Western lol.

The other 3.5*-4* hotels in that price range unfortunately have horrible taxes and fees (some more than $200) that makes the hotel extremely expensive after everything is calculated. I fully support just putting the full price head on... those fees and taxes are misleading.

The only other hotel with reasonable fees/taxes is the $114 4* at Coal Harbour Stanley Park area. The total cost for that hotel in comparison to the 3.5* will be about $200 more (after taxes and fees). Do you have any good idea as to which hotel that 4* is? I am guessing Westin Bayshore. Anyone have experience about how the Westin (or whatever it is) compares against a 3.5*? Worth the extra $45+ per night?

The alternative is to priceline and try to lowball 2 rooms at 2.5-3* for about $50 a room. I think 2 3* room might be a step up in terms of comfort but not so sure about 2.5* as the range of these hotels can vary greatly.

Suggestions welcomed and appreciated :D

[AaronJB]

If you would like us to try to help ID a listing, please post the details of each listing (star rating, price per night before taxes/fees, complete list of amenities and zone) and we would be happy to take a look and try to ID.

In terms of two rooms at a lesser rating versus one at a higher rating, it would depend on what appealed more to the group and how much time you will be in the room, etc.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[AGuy]

Thanks. The hotel is a 4* at 116 with 95% customer recommended.

It has fitness, pool, high speed Internet, business centre and restaurant.

The stay I quoted for us the same: 3/16 to 3/20/2013. It is located in Vancouver downtown coal harbor Stanley park area.

Thanks.

[AaronJB]

When you scroll over "see all" next to the amenities, are you seeing any additional amenities (such as accessible amenities?) If so, please provide the complete list and we would be happy to take a look and try to ID.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[AGuy]

Thanks, but it is no longer available and it is replaced with a risk free booking one that is more expensive (so I am sure it is still the same hidden hotel just jacked up the price with cancellation clause).

So while it sounds interesting that I can book it and cancel it just to see what it is... I don't think it is worth the headache.

How about help with this one:

$57 at vancouver airport 2.5*

Free Parking

Free Internet

Airport Shuttle

Fitness Center

Restaurant(s)

Business Center

Laundry Facilities (self-service)

Accessible path of travel

In-room accessibility

Accessible bathroom

Handicapped parking

Roll-in shower

Tripadvisor 4 out 5

90% hotwire customer reviews

Sounds quite nice for a 2.5*. Anyone knows what it might be?

[thereuare]

How about help with this one...

I'm not currently seeing this 2.5* property offered when searching HOTWIRE for your dates... are you still including all 3 adults on your search?

What is it that you are looking for from this stay? (ie- purpose of the trip, desired budget, star rating, etc)

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[AGuy]

I just tried it out and it is available for the dates with either of 3 or 4 adults.

I am flexible actually up to 90 per night as long as the hidden fees are not outrageous (some places charge a lot in fees maybe because we have 3 people).

Thanks.