Hotwire Hotel: 3.5 Orange County (Disneyland-South) Hyatt Regency

[BEAV]

Needed two rooms for two nights. Decided to try Hotwire's double-the-difference by first bidding one room on Priceline (see separate post in Orange County Priceline section). Was awarded the Hyatt Regency on Priceline for $45. Because Hotwire was displaying the Hyatt Regency for $81 per night, I decided to purchase the 2nd room through Hotwire and apply for their double-the-difference.

Hyatt Regency Orange County

11999 Harbor Blvd

Garden Grove, CA

Check-in: January 15, 2007

Check-out: January 17, 2007

1 room @ $81.00 per night X two nights - $162.00

Taxes/Fees: 25.77

Hotel Total: 187.77

Less Double-the-Difference Refund: -144.00

Net Cost for 2 nights: $43.77

Amenities:

Customer Favorite

Fitness

Pool

Restaurant

Business

Hi-Speed Internet

Golf

Tennis

Hotwire purchase was made by the Support/Travel Links from this board.

[thereuare]

Nice detective work :)

Let us know if you have any problems with the Double the Difference Guarantee.

Thanks for using our HOTWIRE link to begin your purchase.

Enjoy your stay.

[BEAV]

Funny you should mention "problems" with double the difference. Hotwire promises to respond with an answer to your claim within 72 hours. My claim was approved (pretty much a slam dunk), but not before first sending a couple of emails and eventually a phone call to them. In the past, they have always responded within about 24 hours. After 72 hours came and went, I wrote an email asking for the status of my claim. At 94 hours, I called Hotwire asking for the same. The representative, after putting me on hold for awhile, came back and told me that 72 hours was more or less a guideline. I said that was unacceptable, as Hotwire expects the customer to file the claim in a clearly specified amount of time and that expectation should be a two way street. She then said Hotwire still had two hours to reply, thinking it had been 70 hours since my claiim was filed. I had to point out that 72 hours from Monday at 4:00pm is Thursday at 4:00pm, and this conversation was taking place on Friday! Finally, she put me on hold again, went to a supervisor who approved my claim on the spot.

I've had great luck with Hotwire's double-the-difference program in the past, but this time their customer service left a little to be desired. You can bet if I had filed a claim merely minutes after their 48 hour deadline they would have denied my claim on grounds of late filing. So I expect the same in return from them when they promise an answer within 72 hours.