Hotwire Hotel: 2.5* Monterey-Carmel (Marina) Ramada

[itswife]

hi there -

looking for help with id'ing some hotels. There seems to be a lot of listings that aren't matching up with the hotel list here on Better Bidding. Either new listings or Hotwire not listing the same amenities?

Here's the info:

2 adults, 1 room, 0 children, check in Nov 19 check out Nov 20 (1 night), checking Monterey area, checked all additional amenitites and they are all listed here:

Monterey Hotel, 3.5* $72

Boutique, Internet

Monterey Hotel, 2* $39

Breakfast, Internet

Monterey Hotel, 2.5* $53

no amenities listed

Monterey Hotel, 3* $69

Fitness, Pool, Business Center, Laundry, Internet

Carmel Hotel, 3* $76

Breakfast, Pool, Internet, Golf Nearby

Carmel Hotel, 2.5*, $63

Smoke Free, Pool, Restaurant, Internet

Pacific Grove Hotel, 2.5*, $69

Breakfast

Marina Hotel, 2.5*, $53 (possible Holiday Inn Express)

Breakfast, Fitness, Business Center, Internet

This room is for tomorrow night/tonight (depending on what time zone you are in) so any help is really appreciated!

[Colfax]

ID'ing eight hotels, many of them unreported, would take an hour or more.

Can you narrow it down to the three that interest you most?

[itswife]

how about if we look at the first three? And if anyone has any insight into the others, please pitch in? I really do appreciate the help. I know it's a lot of listings, but since I was only able to ID maybe one from the hotel listings I found on this site, I was really thrown... usually there might be one or two that haven't been id'd.... thanks to everyone who posts and all the info that is here!

[Colfax]

I'll try the four Monterey hotels.

None of them has been reported here before, at least not with the listed icons, and Hotwire doesn't give TripAdvisor stats for any, which is one of the main clues we use to ID. I can't give much guidance then.

I will guess that the 3.5* is the Spindrift Inn with new icons because the reported icons are a subset of what's been reported in the past for Spindrift. That is a guess though. (And the price has gone from $72 to $85 since you posted last night.)

For the 3* I'll guess Holiday Inn Express Seaside--again because the icons are a subset of what's been reported before.

The 2.5* hotel has no amenities listed and a hotel with no icons can't be ID'ed.

The 2* is probably something like a Travelodge, Econolodge, or Days Inn.

Sorry I can't give more specific answers.

Since Monterey seems to be your first choice and you only need one bed what about bidding for a 3.5* or 3* on Priceline? PRICELINE usually beats HOTWIRE on rate. I like Hotwire when I know what I'm buying but since HOTWIRE will be pure guesswork in this instance I'd try PRICELINE first myself. With Hotwire's 3.5* at $85 maybe try $70 or $75 for a 3.5* on Priceline.

Please use these HOTWIRE and PRICELINE links and let us know what you ultimately do.

[itswife]

hi - thanks for the guesses. :) Yes, I thought that one might be the Spindrift Inn as well. I didn't have much of a guess on the others (although thought the no icons might have been the Ramada?). ANyway, went with the one I thought I had the best chance on, since it matched on a lot of the icons and went for the 2.5* in Marina hoping it was the Holiday Inn Express. It wasn't, it was the Ramada. It's not bad, good wireless, microwave, fridge, and firm bed.

[itswife]

breakfast, fitness, business center, internet were the icons showing. Booked through Hotwire.

I don't know if this is a new hotel or new-ish. It has granite countertop in bathroom, fridge, microwave, good wireless connection in room. We got the room by the elevator, and were worried about noise, but with the fan on we couldn't hear anything and we slept well. Quick check in. We didn't do breakfast, but when we checked in they said it was a "cold" breakfast and I think they have a waffle maker. This was great for a quick overnight stop on our trip, but I would want more ambience if I were staying longer. It just feels sterile and I think we are missing the couch that is supposed to be in our room...

[thereuare]

Thank you for sharing your results with the board and helping us add this property to the Hotwire Hotel List.

While not the best stay you've had, sounds like this suited your needs and worked out well for your one nite stay.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

Glad you enjoyed your stay.