Hotwire Hotel: 2* Newark (Airport EWR) Extended StayAmerica

[dahammer]

I was unsuccessful in a Priceline bidding session at the 2.5* level in Newark, Elizabeth, and Jersey City up to $95. Lowered my star rating to 2* and bid $65 in Newark, no luck. Before bidding, I checked out HOTWIRE and saw a 2* with the following amenities: Suite, Laundry, High Speed Internet. I thought this might be the Extended Stay America, and I was right:

1 room(s) @ $68.00 per night

Tax recovery charge and fees $17.03

Total Price:$85.03

I still can't figure how this place rates a Suite amenity. From HOTWIRE's description:

Suite

A guestroom designed for an extended stay and/or that more spacious than the average hotel room. Suites typically offer residential-style furnishings, as well as separate living and sleeping areas; some also offer kitchenettes.

This is yet another inconsistancy with HOTWIRE's ratings, why don't all of the ESA's show a Suite amenity?

[thereuare]

Thanks for the post... hope you're enjoying your stay.

I assume the room does qualify as a Suite with separate living/sleeping areas?

The hotels are the ones who determine the amenities to show, so a hotel may decide not to show all the amenities offered or which may accurately describe the property.

Thanks again.

[dahammer]

I assume the room does qualify as a Suite with separate living/sleeping areas?

No, its just one room with a kitchenette, there is no living area here at all which was the point that I was trying to make with customer service for about 30 minutes. He claimed that the statement "a guestroom designed for an extended stay" trumps my claim that there is no seperate living and sleeping area. About 6 months ago, I successfully argued this point and received $20 in hot Dollars but they have since added the "extended stay" to the description of a suite.

The room is totally adequate, and given comparable rates in the area for my dates, its not so bad....they now provide TWO bars of soap and a whole packet of ground coffee :). The rack rate is $99 and for $79 or so I could have stayed in a Howard Johnson's or Econo Lodge, a couple of scary properties nearby.

[thereuare]

I think it could come down to the interpretation of this sentence:

Suites typically offer residential-style furnishings, as well as separate living and sleeping areas; some also offer kitchenettes.

Does the word 'typically' apply just to the furniture style... or also to the 'separate living and sleeping areas'? :)

If you want to pursue this i'd try sending HOTWIRE an email... you may get somebody with an understanding ear and also won't have to waste another 30 minutes on the phone.

Let us know if you follow-thru with this any further and make any headway.

[dahammer]

If you want to pursue this i'd try sending HOTWIRE an email... you may get somebody with an understanding ear and also won't have to waste another 30 minutes on the phone.

at thereuare's suggestion, I sent HOTWIRE's customer care an email and complained about not receiving a suite, within about 4 hours I received the following:

"I regret you were dissatisfied with your stay at the Extended Stay America Elizabeth - Newark Airport. I have contacted the hotel on your behalf and confirmed you did not recieve a suite for your stay."

as a result, I received $42 hot Dollars into my account for use towards a future stay. WOW! It was better than I had hoped for, thanks thereuare for your suggestion, I would have let this one go without a second try!

[thereuare]

Glad to hear that HOTWIRE resolved this to your satisfcation and that we were able to help.

Now... where to use those hot dollars :)