Hotwire Hotel: Help ID Punta Cana Bavaro area hotel.

[gsarchenko]

Hi, I used your link and need assistance in trying to ID the following on Hotwire:

 

Punta Cana Bavaro Area Hotel

June 28, 2015 - July 4, 2015

 

Hotwire states is $89, 4 star hotel (slashed price is $261)

States it is 35% recommended

Has 4 out of 5 on Trip advisor.

 

 

Amenities:  Free Parking, Free breakfast, Resort, Suite, Beachfront Hotel, Casino, Children's Activities, fitness center, Pools.

 

I did see someone asked about this same set of amenities just last month (he also mentioned another set of amenities on another listing in the same thread). It was unclear to me what his outcome was.  Thank you in advance for your help!

 

Also, when they state the star rating... do they mean Hotwires star rating?  IE... if they state it's 4 stars, is it safe to assume that a hotel that hotwire states is a 3.5 star would not be an option?

 

 

 

 

[gsarchenko]

Okay, I used the BiddingHelper.com, I started reading some other threads and I figured I too had too few amenities.  Below is what the bidding helper turned up. (added to the above info though).

 

Amenities: Free Parking, Free Breakfast, Resort, Suite, Beachfront Hotel, Casino, Children's Activities, fitness center, Pools, Restaurant, Self Service Laundry, Internet Access, Tennis Nearby, Spa Services, Accessible Path of Travel, Accessible bathroom.

 

Thanks again for any info that can be provided

[thereuare]

My guess for this property would be the Sirenis Resort Punta Cana Casino and Spa... but the 35% recommendation by previous guests would cause me to be very cautious for this one.

What is your maximum budget (per nite) for this trip?

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

[gsarchenko]

Hi, Yes you're correct about the 35% making me cautious. However, my common sense questions how can it have 4 out of 5 ratings on trip advisor and still have 35%?  One of the two must be incorrect.  I don't have a max budget but was hoping to find something decent for 800 per room.

 

On another note. I'm curious if you know how they come up with their "retail" slashed price or their star options.  Is that the average going price and hotwires own star rating? Just curious. Didn't trip advisor itself have a section where they showed the green thumbs up and the percentage recommended?

[thereuare]

Hi, Yes you're correct about the 35% making me cautious. However, my common sense questions how can it have 4 out of 5 ratings on trip advisor and still have 35%?  One of the two must be incorrect.

It's possible the hotel has recently changed management, brands, or some other change which makes previous reviews higher than the current one... note only a few reviews by previous HOTWIRE guests. It's also possible that the hotel has some 'standard' rooms which are not as nice as others at the property and HOTWIRE/3rd party bookings receive these less desirable rooms. There are other possible scenarios but the above at least gives a few possible reasons for inconsistencies.

 

On another note. I'm curious if you know how they come up with their "retail" slashed price or their star options.  Is that the average going price and hotwires own star rating? Just curious. Didn't trip advisor itself have a section where they showed the green thumbs up and the percentage recommended?

The crossed out rate shown by HOTWIRE is an average rate of hotels of that star rating in the zone for the same dates... NOT necessarily the price of the specific hotel being offered. The 'percent recommendation' figure shown by HOTWIRE is their own internal number based upon previous hotwire guests and not related to any percentage figure that is listed on any other website.

Are you ready to commit to a summer 2015 stay at this point in time or are you just shopping around at the moment to see what may be available?

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

[gsarchenko]

Hi, thanks again for your assistance. 

 

Regarding your first comment (can't figure out how to copy/paste here) about Hotwire reviews:  How do we actually read the HOTWIRE reviews for the standard rate hotels (not the secret rate ones) that is stated there are? 

 

Regarding your second comment:  About the slashed rates, I sort of thought that's what it was and that's why I was assuming (hoping) that it wasn't the Sirenis because I can't find that resort ANYWHERE for a price that's even close to the slashed $261. The highest price I found the Sirenis for was like $160 per night.

 

Yes, I'm ready to commit as I already have the flights and dates reserved. However, I don't have to commit at this time. I don't want to miss a good buy and end up paying more if I wait too long.

 

Thanks!

[gsarchenko]

I'm sorry, I forgot to mention when I asked how to read hotwire reviews, I meant... when we're looking at standard rate hotels (not secret ones) how do we read the actual Hotwire reviews for those.

[thereuare]

HOTWIRE doesn't publish their user reviews... only the 1-5 rating on the general categories they ask users to rate (room cleanliness, location, condition of the hotel, quality of service, etc)

What exactly is it that you're looking to read? With the name of the hotel provided there should be plenty enough information to learn more about the hotel.

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

[gsarchenko]

Thank you for your response. You answered my question.  But yes we're ready to commit if we find a great deal as we already have the flights and dates already set.

[thereuare]

PRICELINE EXPRESS has what THIS 4* property for $126/nite which would appear to be the Ocean Blue And Sand Beach Resort (confirm your dates on the landing page)... any interest in this property?

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

[gsarchenko]

Hi, yes... Ocean blue/sand is a decent choice and an option we were looking at. I currently can book that on a traditional site for just a few bucks less than the express deal would be so I don't see a "deal". I'll mention it to my husband and see what he thinks. Thanks for keeping me updated on good finds!

[thereuare]

You can also try our new sister site Refundable Rates.com which would enable you to book a cancelable back-up while you continue to search for a deal on PRICELINE / HOTWIRE and also protect you from rates rising from here.

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

Keep us updated on your progress and let us know if we can be of further help along the way.

[bobcook54]

I.too, have been watching this 4* on Hotwire for June 2nd-June 9th. It now shows 30% recommended,but still 4* on Tripadvisor. I agree one of these has to be wrong....I tend to trust Trip advisor more than just 10 reviews from Hotwire reviews. Here are the amenities:

Free parking

Free breakfast

Resort

Suite

Beachfront hotel

Casino

Children's activities

Fitness center

Pool(s)

 

Has anyone either booked this or know what resort it might be? $85.00 per night is a deal. Just want to make sure....Hotwire rates is for the room and the amount of persons that you enter....not each person,correct?

[thereuare]

bobcook54,

For help with your own trip please start a NEW TOPIC and include the dates of your stay.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPS and HOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

Thanks.

[bobcook54]

Ok,will do. I posted it here thinking others following this post might benefit.