Hotwire Hotel: 3.5* London (Notting Hill-Bayswater) Holiday VIlla

I just won this on HOTWIRE and thought I would register on Better Bidding and post to save others from making the same mistake. The hotel had not previously been listed on any winning bids on better bidding. The hotel was listed for $89 on HOTWIRE, although $44 dollars of charges actually takes it over $130, which is more than can be purchased on Orbitz (which can also be cancelled).

Hotel has terrible reviews, and seems very run down from the user submitted pictures on Trip Advisor. I can't really see how this is listed for 3 1/2 stars and PRICELINE had better deals in this location, when you factor in the excessive charges that Hotwire add to the cost.

I won't be staying here even if it means taking the cost, I stayed in the Copthorne Tara last year and it was not worth saving the extra money. Has anyone been sucessfull in getting money back from HOTWIRE?

What a disappointment! I'm looking for a hotel in London and have a 3.5 star in Notting Hill-Bayswater listed as a Hotwire candidate.

Can you list the amenities that Hotwire provided for you on this quote? This sounds like a place I want to avoid. Thanks for sharing and hope you find a solution.

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Thank you for sharing your results with the board.... sorry to hear you're disappointed with the outcome. Can you please add a reply to this thread with the dates of your stay (so this thread can appear in the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins) and the amenities shown before your purchase (so we can add this listing to the hotwire hotel list... we'll then comment as to your situation above.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Thanks.

The details are $89 (although really it is $132) and the date is 5/11/10. I believe the amenities are Breakfast, Internet, Restaurant and Spa.

This is the Hotwire 3 1/2 description:

These classic, polished hotels feature an excellent service level with quality amenities found at better hotels. They usually offer:

■A well-known, on-site restaurant

■Large, quality rooms

■Room service

■Health and fitness center

■Business administrative center

Our 3.5-star hotel suppliers include Hilton, Millennium, Crown Plaza and other respected hotel brands.

Below is the link to traveler’s pictures on TripAdvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-...d.html#18457939

During this trip I am also staying at the Marriot Grosvenor House, Intercontinental Park Lane and Conrad (Dublin), having used Priceline successfully. The Holiday Villa is the last night of my visit, and 3 1/2 stars near Paddington looked great because it's easy to get on the Heathrow Express. The saying goes "too good to be true", and in this case it certainly looks that way. I'm trying to appeal because this is not a 3 1/2 star hotel, not even by Hotwires own description, and I think they have got this one wrong. Overall I have had a lot of luck with PRICELINE, and my Priceline rule is never bid less than 4 stars. Previously I thought HOTWIRE's lowest bid of 3 1/2 staff was equivalent to that.

During this trip I am also staying at the Marriot Grosvenor House, Intercontinental Park Lane and Conrad (Dublin), having used PRICELINE successfully.

I'm sure knowing about these wins could help other users as well, not just the "problems", please share your other results with the board (one win per thread please) so that others can benefit from the information.

Regarding the Holiday Villas, HOTWIRE mostly uses Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity to determine their star ratings (with a little tweaking of their own). The problem that i think you're going to face is that Orbitz currently rates this hotel 4*, while Expedia doesn't rate this property, and i'm not sure if Travelocity carries it... thus leaving the average rating of the three major online travel agencies at 4 stars... so it may be an uphill argument challenging the 3.5* rating. However, even though 4* rated, the reviews at Orbitz are generally low (which will help your argument).

I would contact HOTWIRE and show them the pictures you refer to above, as well as the Orbitz and tripadvisor user reviews. Let them know that you were "willing to take whatever 3.5* hotel you received" but that this hotel doesn't appear to meet the star level you agreed to.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board for your future purchases, and please do post your others wins so that the information will help others.