Hotwire Hotel: 4* Miami (Coral Gables-Coconut Grove) DoubleTree

[ashguy77]

Hi,

I am frustrated with my Hotwire purchase today. They specifically list Doubletree as a "3" star rating and I chose 4 star still they give me the "Doubletree Coconut Grove" hotel.

I know I should've known of this forum beforehand.

For the same Hotel, Expedia ,AAA, Hotels.com and Orbitz rate "3 Star"

Isn't Hotwire playing games? I did not want the Doubletree, I even checked Priceline and did not want to buy anything below 4 Stars.

Can I call Hotwire and complain? Any use?

I want a better hotel. Its Important!

Please help!

Thanks,

Ash

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

As per the second post in THIS THREAD, please report the details of your purchase (city, zone, star rating, price, dates, amenities before purchase, etc) in the appropriate forum of the board. You can still see all the information needed from your purchase by clicking the MY ACCOUNT link on the top right corner of Hotwire's home page.

We'll then be happy to address and try to help with your questions and concerns.

[ashguy77]

First of all here are the details of my "win":

DoubleTree Hotels Miami Coconut Grove

June-18 to 20, 2 Nights Std. Room

Amenities: Restaurant, Pool, Fitness Center, Tennis Nearby

$65 per night, $130 + taxes = $153.95 total!

Now, my problem is that I was specifically looking for a better, 4 Star hotel. While Hotwire showed this as 4 stars, Expedia, AAA, Hotels.com and Orbitz have it as 3 stars and Travelocity as no rating.

I tried priceline but they had no 4 stars for this price so I booked this. I specifically want a better hotel that is actually a 4 Star!

Hotwire Ratings Help says 3 star is something like DoubleTree.

If I call Hotwire, will they help in this regard or cancel my reservation or upgrade me to a 4 star?

Please help!

[thereuare]

You can try calling Hotwire and hoping for a simpathetic ear. It doesn't cost anything to try, but i'd guess your chances of getting the reservation cancelled are less than 25%.

Under their hotel classification system (where you saw DoubleTree listed as a 3*) it states:

*Examples only. Hotwire does not guarantee you will stay in one of the hotels listed here. Property classes can vary within the same chain. Some hotel partners have properties in more than one star-rating category.

(italics by thereuare for emphasis)

If you really feel that you have been 'wronged' and don't get satisfaction from Hotwire, you can try disputing the charge with your credit card company claiming that Hotwire misrepresented what they were selling. However, i don't think your claim would be settled until after your planned check-in date so if you make other plans you run the risk of losing your dispute and having to pay it anyway. Whether you have success with your credit card company or not depends upon how aggressive they are, but Hotwire's stance will be that the hotel is properly rated and you're just not happy with the received but agreed to take what they sold in you exchange for a discounted rate.

The bigger issue is that there is not a universal hotel rating system in the industry, and therefore all ratings are subjective. As a result, i think Hotwire has the upperhand in your case and more than likely would prevail if you chose to dispute the charge (although as we see in the court system, anything can happen!)

It appears that the hotel has recently been renovated and the reviews that i read were generally quite favorable. I'm not saying that you have to be happy with it, but maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised? Have you actaully stayed at this property before or in what way are you familiar with it that you know it's not worthy of a 4* rating?

[ashguy77]

I called Hotwire and the lady there promised to forward my case to the research Dept! Lets see if anything favorable comes out!

I've had some friends stay in Miami at this hotel and its more of a business hotel than a romantic getaway. Therefore I was specifically looking for 4* Hotels!

I'm not disputing with my CC. Either Hotwire gives me some relief or I stay in this hotel!

Only if I knew this forum before I would've found out what hotel it actually was!

[thereuare]

Well now you know about us for the future :)

Please keep us updated as to the outcome.