Hotwire Hotel: Need help IDing Palm Beach Aruba 3.5*

[tk4books]

Looking at Hotwire with a 3.5* offered in Palm Beach Oranjestad shows $600 value for $164.

Amenities Free Parking, Free Internet, Resort, Beachfront, Casino, Fitness Center, Pool, Restaurant, Business Center, 80% recommended.

I first thought Holiday Inn Casino, but when I look at their website, the $600 value would bump it up to inclusive plan.

There really isn't anything else with those amenities when I plug everything into any travel search.

I used the better bidding link for HOTWIRE to search. Which resort do you think this could be?

[thereuare]

I believe there are more amenities then what you have posted above as HOTWIRE has a new interface that does not show the complete set of amenities unless you click thru a few extra links.

If you repeat your search using our BiddingHelper.com tool, and then click the HOTWIRE EASY VIEW tab, do you see more amenities then what you have listed above? Searching for your dates i see the following for the 3.5* hotel offered in this zone:

Free Parking

Free Internet

Resort

Beachfront

Casino

Fitness

Pool

Restaurant

Business

Laundry

Hi-Speed Internet

Golf

Tennis

Spa

Childrens Activities

If this is what you're seeing, my guess for this one would be the Holiday Inn Aruba Beach Resort Casino, but i'm not certain.

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

Let us know how it goes or if we can be of further help.

[tk4books]

Why do you think it is showing the value as $600.00? Rates at Holiday Inn are $194-$258. I saw a 3.5* with a meal plan for around $600.00 but now I can't remember which resort, and I can't find that option again.

[thereuare]

The crossed out rate isn't the rate for the property offered, but an average rate of hotels in the zone at that star rating for your dates... this figure there shouldn't be used to try to determine the hotel being offered.

The Marriott Aruba Surf Club is priced at $600/nite, but i don't believe they have a Casino, which should eliminate this from being the property above.

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

[tk4books]

There really aren't any other 3.5* with casinos. Is there a chance this deal includes the meal plan? $167 (it went up) isn't really a great deal for the Holiday Inn unless it includes the all-inclusive option. There isn't another 3.5* Funny thing is Travelocity is showing the Holiday Inn Aruba Resort All-Inclusive as a 3*, and the Holiday Inn Resort Aruba (no meal plan) as a 3.5*. It's one resort, right? I say shame on Hotwire if they are comparing the Holiday Inn to any $600 resort or calling this 72% off if it is indeed Holiday Inn without a meal plan. Added: ....especially when Holiday Inn is going for $61 on Priceline.

[thereuare]

I'm seeing the Holiday Inn for your dates at $194/nite thru PRICELINE... and $205/nite thru Hotels.com... and only one Holiday Inn listed at Travelocity (3.5* rated and $205/nite)

As 'all-inclusive' is not a standard amenity at this property, i would have no reason to believe the HOTWIRE rate is for the all-inclusive package as there is nothing to indicate that it is all-inclusive.

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

[tk4books]

1. Holiday Inn Resort Aruba 1.855.315.1654

Holiday Inn Resort Aruba Compare 3.5 ... star rating

Northwest Aruba: Palm Beach, Aruba, AW

$205 lowest per night avg

2. Holiday Inn Resort Aruba All Inclusive 1.855.315.3781

Holiday Inn Resort Aruba All Inclusive Compare 3 ... star rating

Northwest Aruba, Palm Beach, AW

Specials: Children 12 and under Stay, Play and Eat Free

$410 lowest per night avg

This is from Travelocity, see "Compare 3.5" and "Compare 3" for the two different star ratings.

I would also be surprised if Hotwire offered a meal plan, but I think it's really misleading to even put the $600 and 72% off. I think I'll take a chance on Priceline if I decide to book Aruba. And, as usual, I will use the Better Bidding link. This site is priceless, and it's one of my favorite travel tools. Thanks to all who help make it great!

[thereuare]

Thanks to all who help make it great!

That includes yourself and everyone else who posts. :)

From the information i can gather both of the Holiday Inn properties above are at the same location, but they may use a different telephone reservation line (or even reception desks) for the 'ala carte' and 'all-inclusive' plans.

If/when you make a purchase just use the EDIT TO REPORT WIN button on the lower right corner of this page and the entire thread will automatically be moved to the PRICELINE section of the board (if necessary).

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.

Let us know what you ultimately decide or how we can be of further help.

[tk4books]

**Beating a dead horse here, most likely**

When I search different dates (1/15-1/19/2014) on Hotwire, the 3.5* for Palm Beach is the $163 price but showing a value of $205 which is the Holiday Inn rate. Why would the value show $600 and 72% off for the dates I chose? Would they possibly offer a meal plan which would make it a $600 value? Holiday Inn is just finishing up a big reno that has given them some bad reviews lately. I think if I did win this and it was a standard room, I would give them some real grief. Even if they called it a $300 value, 72% off would make it $84. $164 is not a great deal, hot buy, or whatever they want to call it. Sorry to be a pain, I appreciate any replies, truly I do.

[thereuare]

You have to accept the definition of the crossed out rate and how it is determined, and that it is NOT necessarily for the specific property offered. As per HOTWIRE's website:

Savings based on median published rate we've found on leading retail travel sites in the last 24-48 hours for the same neighborhood, star rating, and stay dates.

(italic emphasis added)

[tk4books]

Noted. Just seems really misleading that the 3.5* is listed as a $205, $335, $500, and $600 on different searches using different check-in dates. The $600 only comes up on 1/28/14 for a 4 night stay. I think I'd try my luck with PRICELINE first, using the link at the top of this page, as usual. It's really good to understand how they figure their discounts as not to "assume" the listed price is the hotel you're selecting.

Thanks, again!!