Hotwire Hotel: 3* Williamsburg (Colonial-Busch Gardens) Holiday Inn

[grram1]

I paid $75/night before fees/taxes. Hotwire claimed a 53% savings over alleged $160 retail. After getting this Holiday Inn Williamsburg, VA. I went to holiday-inn.com and they had the same room for $84.95... after all taxes and fees I only save $6.70/night (only 7% savings). Granted this was a restricted rate, but even the unrestricted rate was only $105.95 (or 29% savings). I would not have been upset if this were not advertised as a "Best Value" and "53% savings off of $160 retail". I understand that Hotwire still maintained its lowest price claim... but this was some major false advertising (should not be allowed!!!). :) This hotel looks like it will suite us fine, I'm just upset at the way it was advertised.

Holiday Inn Williamsburg-Dwntn (Busch Gardens) (Best Value)

814 Capitol Landing Rd.

Williamsburg, Virginia 23185

(757) 229-0200

Check-in date: Sun, Jul 30, 2006

Check-out date: Thu, Aug 3, 2006

2 Adults, 2 Children

1 room(s) $75.00 per night x 4 nights

Subtotal:$300.00

Taxes/Fees: $47

Total: $347

Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Laundry

[thereuare]

Have you tried writing to Hotwire re: the way it was advertised?

Also, always check our Hotwire Hotel List before purchasing as this property is listed there as described above, so it would have been known that the Holiday Inn was a possibility.

Enjoy your stay.

[grram1]

I sent a similar e-mail to Hotwire as what I stated in my post. I had checked the hotwire lists before purchasing. Both this property and the Four Points by Sheraton were identified at 3* and have the same amenities. Given the price difference (and Hotwire savings claim) I was expecting the Four Points (although the Four Points didn't retail for $160 either... it did retail for much closer to that figure than the Holiday Inn), or possibly a new, not yet identified, hotel. I've made many Hotwire purchases over the last 5 years; sometimes the savings are great and sometimes meager... BUT this is the first time I'd ever had them exaggerate the savings so much. Like I said, I wouldn't have been upset but for their stated claim (usually they just have the low price guarantee and make no specific $$ or % claim on a particular property). I'm fine with the Holiday Inn, just not Hotwire's claim of 53% savings. Thanks for the tips.

[grram1]

Just wanted to follow up. Hotwire responded quickly to my complaint. They requested that I fax them my Hotwire itinerary along with the prices I got from holiday-inn.com (which I did). Their explanation was that the savings quoted was off of the "average 3* hotel in the area" (my research still shows this definitely is an exaggerated claim, even with the new definition). In any case, only 2 days after starting communications with Hotwire, they did credit my account with $25 in "HotDollars" (credits for future purchases) :) . Honestly this is much more than I expected. When I wrote them I even explained that I wasn't unhappy with the hotel, or even the price, just the exaggerated savings claim. I wasn't expecting anything, just wanted to make sure they knew how I felt.