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4.0 1904 Reviews

Hotwire Complaints Summary

99 Resolved
422 Unresolved
Our verdict: With Hotwire's very poor resolution rate, careful consideration is needed. Research their service comprehensively, and read up on how they handle customer disputes. If you face issues, be prepared for potential challenges in obtaining resolutions and explore other service providers as backups.
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R
10:48 am EST

Hotwire Hotel reservation not honored

Just had a nightmare scenario with Hotwire.   Booked
The Portofino Hotel & Marina
260 Portofino Way
Redondo Beach, CA, 90277 on February 14, 2016 with Hotwire and received a confirmation email. When we arrived at the hotel we were told that the hotel was fully  booked and that Hotwire/Expedia had continued to book rooms because of a 'computer glitch'.  More than 20 guests in total were in this same situation and Hotwire did not send out any warning messages so everyone traveled to the hotel before discovering the error.  After more than an hour on hold with Hotwire, I finally got through to a customer service rep who knew nothing of the situation and of course had no authority to deal with it other than to process a refund.  He refused to give me access to his manager and could only spout bureaucratic procedures to confuse and frustrate me. To make matters worse, there were no other hotels available in the region because of the long weekend holiday. So they were unable to book us into alternative accommodations. Any hotels that were available were one or two stars costing as much as $500 per night. And even those were snapped up before it was possible to secure them.  Finally, the customer service rep disconnected the call and did not attempt to call me back. I filed a complaint with Hotwire but so far they have refused to take responsibility. While mistakes happen, it is outrageous and unconscionable that Hotwire has not taken full responsibility for their error and steps to compensate their customers.  They obviously have far too much control and influence over the travel booking industry because no one can hold them accountable, not even the hotels, and they appear to have achieved near monopoly situation.

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6:13 am EST

Hotwire I have never been more disappointed!

I booked a hotel through Hotwire and I must say that stay was a real nightmare. Every time I contacted customer service I heard only excuses. I must say that their customer service workers are mentally disabled! I called them many times but they could not understand what was the problem. I explained what happened a million times! The hotel room were disgusting, dirty and smelly. I wanted a 3 stars room and they booked a room that looked less than 1 star! Everything there was dirty, there were even stains on my pillow! And they also gave me the wrong address and it took me 2 hours to find the right place. I trusted this company and wanted to give them a chance, but I'm definitely done with them! They are the absolute worst travel company ever!

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5:47 pm EST

Hotwire Airline ticket

First let me clarify that my statements are not meant to be supremacist in any nature, but in order to conduct business effectively free from error; there must be an ability to have clear concise communication with all parties that may be involved in the transaction. In this case it was not, Hotwire has chosen to outsource their business to other countries which forces there consumers to deal with customer service agents who fail to understand or speak English effectively. On December 4, 2015 I called in and spoke with an agent with a very thick accent (which made it extremely difficult to comprehend) about changing my airline ticket(INT #[protected]) to a departure date of 01/07/16 AND I clarified on several different occasions during the conversation . I recall at one point instead of speaking my the date I gave the agent and numerical version of the date to ensure her understanding; but to no avail the agent re-booked my ticket for in error for 01/27/16 versus the 01/07/16 that I communicated several times during this conversation. Once I discovered the error I reach out to Hotwire who after my insistence agreed to listen to the call in question and follow with me within a couple days for resolution. HA ! There so called resolution was to leave me holding the bag and stating they listened to call and confirmed the agent in her recap said the 01/27/16. I then asked Trina in their corporate department, how in God’s Green Earth were you able to without question able to understand what she stated AND MORE IMPORTANTLY what about the portion of the call which confirmed that I told their agent repeatedly the 01/017/16? Is there no level of accountability? I then explained to her due to thick accent, communication was already very strained and I thought I had got my point across when I told repeatedly 01/07/16 that everything was fine? Oh no, this is a moot point and in their opinion; I am the ONLY responsible party as a result I was forced to purchase another ticket for $1266.90 Hotwire thinks they are absolved from any responsibility, but I beg to differ! I would like to request the price of my ticket to be refunded that I was forced to purchase due to their poor business practices and unwillingness to do what fair and equitable.

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1:31 pm EST

Hotwire Bait and switch tactics on hotel room type

I booked a room for 2 adults and 1 child but at the check-in, was told the booking was only for two adults. The hotel staff explained to me that she could see my booking but the problem is Hotwire which only booked 2 adults. So they could only give me either a queen or two twins, or $50 more a night will do. Or I could take the matter with Hotwire.com. I called the customer service at Hotwire.com and hoped they could help me out. But as soon as the rep pulled up the reservation and must have realized the problem, he changed tone right away. He asked what the hotel gave me. I told him again, queen or two twins. Then he said, "so you got two beds right? How many beds you want, 3 beds?" So arrogant! So I asked him to talk to the hotel staff. But when the staff took over my phone, the Hotwire rep hanged up the phone.

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4:59 pm EST

Hotwire Car rental

My sister rented a car for a family vacation. A few days before our flight she learned she was pregnant and didn't feel comfortable taking an 8 hour flight and decided to not go. She called hotwire to change the name of the car reservation from her name to mine. Hotwire decided to be 'nice' and make the change but decrease the days, leaving us stranded without a car the last 3 days of our trip for the same price as the full 7 days that we had paid for. I regret not reading reviews prior to booking with them as it seems they are notorious for cheating people. Don't do any business with them!

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3:58 pm EST

Hotwire Fusion installation

I have no other choice than dealing with Hotwire communications since I live in a building in Bal Harbour that contracts Hotwire. Since they are now installing Fusion I finally am able to get the French channel tv 5 which I subscribed to among other upgrades. Unfortunately, this channel does not work properly : I keep loosing the sound on this channel. I complained many times but the issue has not been corrected. So frustrating that they cannot help

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12:38 pm EST
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Hotwire False discount pricing

I booked a hotwire hot rate hotel on November 15th. The advertised price was for a $1349.00 room for 73% off. I paid the 339.00 dollars plus fees etc. When I received the hotel I was thrilled to find out it was the new Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. According to the price I was to get a room that was originally $1349.00. I was booked into a intercoastal room by Hotwire that was never that price. I was told by the hotel management that Hotwire booked me into the double intercoastal for $120.00. The hotel also told me that room never has been $1349.00. The regular rate for that low category room is around $300.00. I overpaid for the room through Hotwire. When I contacted Hotwire I was told that room prices change everyday and that they take an average of the prices in the area when they advertise a price. I was told that there was nothing they could do for me since it was a no refund price. I explained that according to their website, I booked, in good faith, a $1349.00 room for a discounted price of $339.00. I was once again told that prices change daily. When I told them that that room never went for $1349.00, I was once again told that they take an average of the prices. I booked a room in good faith expecting a good discount and ended up overpaying for my room. When I went on the hotel website, the Florida resident rate was $271.00 for the same double intercoastal room. I asked the hotel for an upgrade hoping something could be done, I was told since I booked third party, there was nothing they could do. I would like a refund because I did not receive what was promised or a least a partial discount.

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11:07 am EST

Hotwire Car rental

Rented a car while on holidays this summer and paid double ! It's been a fight with Hotwire since I got back home from holidays this August I finally got a email stating that they did in fact screw up and are going to refund me but things have not progressed and I have call Hotwire customer service at least 30 times now and have to start from the beginning each time ... Poor service and you can stay on hold for an hour and be passed on to another agent and start all over again or better yet after waiting an hour the call magically gets disconnected ?!?!?! I have sent a complaint to the BBB hoping for an answer from them and I will not give up until I get my refund ... It's the principle of the matter. I am fustraited to the max and am now going on as many scam sites I can find to make sure that other people do not go through the same experience that I have gone through ...

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4:20 pm EDT
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Hotwire Misleading and unethical behavior

Itinerary # [protected] In September 2015, I booked a trip on the Hotwire website for Nov. 5th - Nov. 8th, 2015. I purchased the offered insurance ($44.00) in case something happened. Apparently, Hotwire's itinerary links provided for my trip did not have the correct information. This was a bait and switch. I want Hotwire / Expedia to take care of the airline rebooking fees of $400.00. How this transpired: I called Hotwire on October 26, 2015, to change my trip and the first Agent told me that the rules I was given (via a link on my itinerary) are wrong. The rules of my insurance stated I could "cancel or change the trip one time for ANY REASON". It also stated that "if the airline had any rebooking fees that Expedia would pay the fees". However, the Hotwire Agent stated the only way I could cancel/change the trip was if I were sick and could prove it by providing proof from my Doctor. When I read the rules to the Agent (straight from the Hotwire itinerary/website) she again stated that it had to be due to illness - that the "cancel for ANY REASON" language was not going to apply. I then asked to speak with the Agent's Supervisor - again I was told the same thing by this Supervisor, even though I was accessing the 'rules' via a link from Hotwire. The Supervisor then said to me "I see that you were given the incorrect rules for your insurance - but I'll make sure I give this to my higher-ups so it doesn't happen again" How does that help me now, I asked...the Supervisor kept repeating "I appreciate your position and this is an unfortunate situation". Hotwire's Supervisor acknowledged there was a mistake made. I even repeated back to the Supervisor exactly what he had just said to me and his reply was "yes, and I appreciate how you feel and this is an unfortunate situation". Immediately the Supervisor then started acting like his phone line was having trouble and that he could no longer hear me - he then hung up. It was obvious this was an attempt to not talk to me further. I went back to my itinerary just a bit later to print off the 'rules' given and when I tapped the link - they were mysteriously gone! Please help. Respectfully - Misti Walker [protected] misti.[protected]@gmail.com

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5:55 pm EDT

Hotwire Overbooked hotel then refused refund

I booked a hotel for my employee in Baltimore, MD. Upon arrival he was told the hotel was booked and that they had just sent another Hotwire customer away 15 minutes earlier. I called and I spoke with Ervin R, Employee # [protected]. He was unable to locate another hotel so he arranged for my employee to stay at a $480 per night hotel. He gave me his name and employee number and assured me if I submitted the receipt that I would be refunded the difference between the $480 and the original $88. Of course I did that, or I wouldn't be here writing, and believe it or not, Hotwire wrote me back and said they could not confirm that the hotel was overbooked and not only kept my $88 but did not refund the $480. I am writing a letter to the President of the company. Until then, I will use Orbitz.com. On Orbitz.com, they allow you to enter your frequent flyer number and earn additional points. Screw Hotwire.

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SANiknam
, US
Jun 18, 2017 2:00 pm EDT
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What happened finally to your claim?

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Klichstig
, US
Oct 29, 2015 4:32 pm EDT

I just had a similar issue this week. I booked through hotwire and when I got to the hotel they told me they were full. They offered me a considerably inferior alternative which I did not accept, so instead I proceeded to make a reservation in a different hotel by myself. Believe it or not, Hotwire is still charging me for the one-night stay in the first hotel, even though I was not allowed to stay! I have complained via phone and email and the only response I get is that due to their agreements with partners they take the reservation as complete and cannot provide a refund. In my opinion, this is plain fraud.

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4:28 pm EDT

Hotwire Re-booking options / fees / customer service

Called Hotwire to try and re-book a flight however Rep/Supervisor "Sanfire" ran CC for one amount then said that she needed to change a higher fee due to them having a error on there end. I said if its your error and rate goes up why are we liable for the higher rate. She said that was procedure never offered options to maybe fly out at a different time to get same rate as originally quoted. Very rude person. No Customer Service, would not work with trying to get it resolved and reissue, said she would only wait 2 min and then would have to hang up if no answer was given. I asked for Manager and she was able to help with options but why the need to speak to someone else, 1st rep should be able to help you with changes and or options otherwise why are they in customer service. total of 1hr 40 min to get a re-booking flight!

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7:34 pm EDT

Hotwire Irresponsible

Hi,

I checked into '[protected]@Queen Anne' hotel in Seattle on 1st of September and the moment I got in, I could see that the hotel is a very old one. While sleeping, one of the wings of the ceiling fan broke and fell on my head. I came out and filed a complaint with the hotel reception. They offered me a change of room with no charge for the night. Around the same time, I called up the Hotwire customer care and filed a complaint asking for a change of the hotel. The guy I spoke to said he really can't do anything until the next day and that apparently how is the hotwire booking system works. I called up the next morning and this time it was a lady at the Hotwire customer service and I explained her everything again and asked her for a change of hotel for the same price. Since Hotwire put me through this and since put me in a hotel which put my life at risk, the least thing I would expect is for Hotwire to own up the mistake and offer me a change of hotel. The lady I spoke to said she can make a whole new reservation through hotprice and that I could get into any hotel as per hotprice policy. Only request I had was that, if I have go back to the same hotel, I don't want to do it. She wouldn't listen to me and she is not understanding my problem and she just put me on hold and hung up the call.

This is ridiculous!

For a company like Hotwire, this is not a decent thing to do. You guys have to maintain some standards. Ideally, I can sue you guys and the hotel for the whole thing. The only thing I asked was a change of hotel and you guys couldn't even do that. When you can't own up to the mistakes you have committed, you are not supposed to run a business.

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4:22 pm EDT

Hotwire Hotel over booking

I book a hotel only to learn upon arriving that Hotwire had overbooked the rooms here. When I called to inform Hotwire I was put on a 45 min hold. Then was told it could not be refunded, , , was put back on hold after I protested that they( Hotwire) overbook the hotel, , then after another 20 min another lady came on and asked alllllll the same questions all over again. I had to start from the beginning, , , , , , , was put on hold again while she called the hotel and verified that they had no rooms available, , , , , after over an hour of holding and recapping the story I was cleared for my refund, , , , , , , needless to say I will never use Hotwire again no matter what their advertised price's are. It was a horrible experience and one I will be telling to anyone asking how to book an hotel room. DO NOT USE HOTWIRE.COM, , PSS they said it was a 3 star hotel and it was straight up trash ! Just saying .

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6:22 pm EDT

Hotwire Misinterpreted time of the flight

Itinerary no: [protected]

My flight depicted other time before I booked it but after I booked it, the timings were not the same. As it was a non refundable, non cancellable flight, I had my 332$ waste because of the misinterpretation on Hotwire website. I have a screenshot proof of how the timings were different and how I was trapped into not being able to change the flight.

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4:04 pm EDT

Hotwire Car rental scam - phony "come-on" rate

Hotwire advertised a great $1.99 base rate plus excessively high taxes and fees for a FLL airport car rental. I called to get the proper taxes and fees applied (which Hotwire uses on their more expensive base rental rates). I was told by a supervisor that Hotwire could not verify the taxes and fees, but to call Payless to get the fee breakdown. I got the correct itemized fees, but when I called Hotwire back, they refused to honor them. Beware - their bogus, unspecified fees on hot rates bear no relation to the actual fees charged by rental car companies! As a result their hot rates may dramatically understate the actual base rate you are paying for the rental. In my case, the quoted $1.99 base rate was actually about $11.99. Fortunately, I didn't book with Hotwire and got a much lower total price elsewhere, even with a base rate several times higher.

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1:25 pm EDT

Hotwire Customer service/scam pricing

I called Hotwire.com 4 times to ask how they calculate the tax/fee component of the price they quote. You can get a quote on the same car for the same trip and one will show taxes of $45 and the other will be $90. This makes no sense so I inquired why there is such a discrepancy. All 4 employees initially tried to circumvent the question with nonsense answers that made no sense and didn't answer the question in any way. When I asked them to explain again how it works because I didn't understand I was hung up on. FOUR TIMES. There was no rudeness or disagreement with the hotwire.com "employees" so it seems that they are trained to just hang up on you when they don't want to answer the question. After reading numerous complaints from others it seems they run the same scam if you email a question...just respond with some nonsense that has nothing to do with the inquiry. There is something fishy about their taxes/fees and they don't want to tell you anything about how they're calculated.

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7:40 pm EDT

Hotwire False adverstising

I purchased a hotel from hotwire.com because they had advertised the hotel as "38% off the regular price" and that it had a "100% satisfaction" at this hotel. Upon purchase I found out that the actual hotel offered a lower price and only a 78% customer rating. Hotwire did refund me the difference in price, however I wouldn't have made the purchase to begin with had they provided accurate information. I made the purchase based on the false information provided by the site.

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4:28 pm EDT
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Hotwire Deceptive practices

We booked a hotel through Hotwire secret rates on 6/4/2015, but fought the charge as the hotel was misrepresented as follows:
-Hotel was supposed to have a pool and indoor pool - it does not. The description I originally clicked on said last person got the Century Southern Tower hotel. The description fit that one - not the hotel I was given.
-The hotel was supposed to be worth $197 per night - I paid special "hot rate" of $121. Found it all over the internet for $108 (see attached from Tripadvisor for same date). I checked with the hotel to see if I was given a suite or higher priced room, but they said the booking was only for an economy double room. They had the same room on their website for approx. $138/night for those dates.
-Hotel was supposed to be in Shinjuku - is actually in Kabukicho - a red light district! and I am travelling with kids!
-There seemed to be some issue with the Hotwire website that day (June 4, 2015). The original deal with the same hotel description and $197 value was listed as $89 night. I clicked to buy it - went through ordering getting total with tax etc., then website said I had to disable cookies to go further. I did so but then the site would not let me go back or complete the purchase. I called Hotwire customer support but they said they couldn't do anything or find my booking since it did not go through. I went back on the site and found the price had increased to $121. Feeling gypped but thinking I was booking the Century Southern hotel that the last client got or similar, I decided to buy it anyway. Once I completed the purchase it showed me that I had a hotel that did not fit the description given and was not worth the price listed (not the price I paid and certainly not the $197 it said it was worth).
I called Hotwire and spoke to a customer service agent. They told me they could/would not do anything. I asked to speak to a supervisor. I said the hotel did not fit the description and I wanted to book a different one. They would not change or cancel the booking. I called again to ask to speak to an Express supervisor (I was a preferred Express member but apparently the benefits do not apply if you book under a different email.) They also would not change or refund despite fact hotel was misrepresented. I will not book with Hotwire again and believe this was deceptive and falsely represented. The hotel does not have the same rating as they had posted and lack the features that were listed on the hotel description. I have booked many other times with them with no issues - but I feel this was a complete misrepresentation and disputed the charge. Bait and switch methods of advertising are not legal and I am the victim of this practice by Hotwire with respect to both the price and description of the product they offered vs. the grossly inferior product they actually intended to deliver.
I was not able to resolve this issue with Hotwire and felt they did little to assist, despite the considerable travel business I have given them and other providers. We ended up booking and paying for another hotel because we felt unsafe going to this one. They refused to change the booking or refund the $600 - despite the request being 45+ days before arrival.
Do not book hotels with them - you have no options for changes, do not know what you are going to get and may not save money. We could have booked that hotel for $108 - paid more, it did not have a pool, was not in the area requested and did not fit the description. Basically a family vacation ruined by deceptive bait and switch practices.

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Frank Earl
, US
Nov 03, 2018 10:00 pm EDT

If a given hotel is not as described, it's typically a violation of most US State's Deceptive Trade Practices Acts.

It is explicitly **FORBIDDEN** to a business to offer something with no intention of providing the same or refunding the purchase. PERIOD. I think it's come time to highlight this to several States' AGs as they're doing this on a regular basis. (Booked a room for a Queen, described as having a pool, etc. in Snotwire's description of hotel Amenities. Well...the hotel believed there was nobody in the room I was put in (WRONG) and I was put in a Double Full. No pool EITHER. Better yet, the hotel's not *WORTH* the claimed rack rate. It's rack should be what I charged if at all (Floor had bad ink stains...) and their descriotions of modern lighting, etc. on the ESA site is laughable.

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AbhinavSh
, US
May 12, 2016 9:52 am EDT
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Going to New Orleans. Had the following similar experience:
- Was promised a hotel in the French Quarter area and got a hotel in the Warehouse District. For the Hot Rates green shaded regions, they cut out a small part of Warehouse district and put it in the French Quarter area. Even their website lists the hotel as a Warehouse district. After talking to 4 people (3 of whom put me on hold for 10 minutes and then cut the call) and a supervisor, all I got was -- "Well, it is still on the edge of green shaded region. We can have different definition of areas in Hot Rates and regular Hotel tabs".
- It showed 44% discount. In reality, it was hardly any discount with website offering same rates.

Used to use hotwire regularly. Never going to use it again.

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11:11 am EDT

Hotwire Changed fight

Booked a flight with Hotwire on July 2 2015 with American Airlines for 2 from NY to Chicago. Departure date was for Friday August 7, return date was for Sunday August 9. Email confirmation date had return trip August 7 with an hour stay in Chicago. Notified Hotwire which by the way runs their business out of the Phillipines that return date was wrong. I was kept on phone with Hotwire for over 1 hour trying to sort out high penalties for a mistake they created. In the middle of the conversation Hotwire hung up on me. I Called back only to be told that they added another batch of fees because the call ended. Again, I was on the phone for another hour and half only to be hung up on again by Hotwire. Because of all these call backs my $286 flight went to $915 with 3 hours of phone time. I talked to 3 managers and 2 associates all saying that American Airlines was at fault. In the end I have to pay $800 for a $286 flight. Hotwire was rude and gave no assistance whatsoever and all blame was put on the Airlines. This was the first and last time I will be using Hotwire and am very disgusted that domestic business like this has to be conducted overseas.

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9:25 pm EDT

Hotwire Flight insurance

I booked a flight for 4 people and purchased there insurance to be able to change dates if needed, I tried changing dates with the airlines and they told me to call hotwire, after 3 hours on the phone I was told by the insurance company that I do not have insurance that they can find and told by hotwire I do but they could not contact the insurance company because they were closed. All I wanted to do was change my tickets to this Saturday since my Mom is dying. They charged my card for the insurance, so how do I not have any?

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The Truth You Must Know
, US
Jul 24, 2015 12:18 pm EDT

"They charged my card for the insurance, so how do I not have any?"

If you purchased insurance you would have a policy number. You need that.

Hotwire Customer Reviews Overview

Hotwire is a popular travel booking website that offers discounted rates on flights, hotels, rental cars, and vacation packages. Our analysis of Hotwire reviews reveals that the website is highly regarded for its user-friendly interface, competitive pricing, and reliable customer service.

Many customers appreciate the ease of use of the website, which allows them to quickly search for and book travel arrangements. The website's search filters are also praised for their ability to help customers find the best deals on flights, hotels, and rental cars.

Hotwire's competitive pricing is another major selling point, with many customers reporting significant savings compared to other travel booking websites. The website's "Hot Rates" feature, which offers even deeper discounts on hotels and rental cars, is particularly popular among budget-conscious travelers.

Customer service is another area where Hotwire excels, with many customers reporting positive experiences with the company's support team. Representatives are said to be knowledgeable, helpful, and responsive to customer needs.

Overall, Hotwire is a highly recommended travel booking website that offers great value and reliable service. Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or a longer vacation, Hotwire is a great place to start your search for affordable travel arrangements.

Hotwire In-depth Review

In summary: Hotwire is a travel website that offers competitive pricing on hotels, flights, car rentals, and vacation packages. With a user-friendly interface and a variety of travel services, it is a convenient option for travelers looking to book their trips at discounted rates. While the site provides value for money and often has deals and discounts, the opaque booking process may not appeal to everyone. Customer service experiences vary, and the cancellation policies can be restrictive. Overall, Hotwire is a solid choice for budget-conscious travelers who are flexible with their plans.

Overview of Hotwire: Hotwire is a travel service company that specializes in offering discounted rates for hotels, flights, car rentals, and vacation packages. By keeping the details of the hotel or airline a secret until after purchase, Hotwire can provide lower prices than many competitors.

Website Usability and Design: The Hotwire website is clean and intuitive, with a simple layout that makes it easy for users to navigate. The search functions are straightforward, allowing users to filter and sort results according to their preferences.

Booking Process and Ease of Use: Booking on Hotwire is generally straightforward. Users can easily select their travel dates and preferences, and the site provides clear instructions at each step. However, because some details are only revealed after booking, it may not be suitable for those who prefer to know all the specifics upfront.

Range of Services Offered: Hotwire offers a broad range of travel services, including hotel bookings, flight reservations, car rentals, and vacation packages. This makes it a convenient one-stop-shop for various travel needs.

Pricing and Value for Money: Hotwire is known for providing good deals, especially for last-minute bookings. The value for money is generally high, although this can vary depending on the specific deal and travel dates.

Deals and Discounts Availability: The website regularly features special deals and discounts. Users can access these through the "Deals" section or by signing up for the Hotwire newsletter to receive notifications about current promotions.

Customer Service Experience: Customer service experiences with Hotwire can be mixed. Some users report satisfactory assistance, while others have faced challenges when dealing with changes or issues with their bookings.

Cancellation and Refund Policies: Hotwire's cancellation and refund policies are often seen as restrictive, particularly for the Hot Rate deals where changes or cancellations are typically not allowed. It's important for users to review these policies carefully before booking.

User Reviews and Ratings: User reviews and ratings on Hotwire can be found on various external review platforms. These reviews are mixed, with some customers praising the deals and others expressing dissatisfaction with customer service or specific bookings.

Mobile App Functionality: The Hotwire mobile app is well-designed and offers the same functionality as the website. Users can search, book, and manage their reservations on the go, which is convenient for travelers.

Loyalty Programs and Benefits: While Hotwire does not have a traditional loyalty program, frequent users can benefit from exclusive deals and promotions that are occasionally offered.

Transparency and Fees Disclosure: Hotwire's opaque booking model means that some details are not disclosed until after purchase. While the total price is shown upfront, the lack of transparency about the specifics can be a drawback for some users.

Travel Destinations and Accommodations: Hotwire offers a wide range of travel destinations and accommodations, including hotels ranging from budget to luxury. The variety ensures that there is something for every type of traveler.

Rental Car Services: The rental car services provided by Hotwire are comprehensive, with options available at numerous locations worldwide. Users can compare prices from different providers to find the best deal.

Travel Insurance Options: Hotwire offers travel insurance options to protect users' bookings. This can provide peace of mind, especially for more significant travel investments.

Comparison with Competitors: Compared to competitors, Hotwire's main advantage is the potential for lower prices due to its opaque model. However, competitors may offer more transparent booking processes and flexible cancellation policies.

Payment and Security: Hotwire provides secure payment options and takes measures to protect users' personal and financial information, which is essential for online transactions.

Accessibility and Language Support: The Hotwire website is accessible to users with disabilities, and language support is available for a variety of languages, making it accessible to a global audience.

Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability: Information on Hotwire's corporate responsibility and sustainability efforts is not prominently featured, which may be a consideration for socially conscious travelers.

Final Verdict and Recommendations: Hotwire is recommended for travelers who prioritize savings and are flexible with their travel details. It's particularly useful for last-minute bookings and those who don't mind the lack of transparency in exchange for lower prices. However, travelers who prefer knowing all the details before booking or who require flexible cancellation policies might want to consider other options.

How to file a complaint about Hotwire?

Here is a comprehensive guide on how to file a complaint against Hotwire on ComplaintsBoard.com:

1. Log in or create an account:
- If you already have an account on ComplaintsBoard.com, log in using your credentials. If not, create a new account to proceed.

2. Navigating to the complaint form:
- Locate and click on the 'File a Complaint' button on the ComplaintsBoard.com website. You can find this button at the top right corner of the website.

3. Writing the title:
- Summarize the main issue with Hotwire in the 'Complaint Title'. Be concise and clear about the problem you are facing.

4. Detailing the experience:
- Provide detailed information about your experience with Hotwire.
- Include key areas such as transactions, nature of the issue, steps taken to resolve it, personal impact, and the company's response.
- Offer ideas and guidance on what information to include for users struggling to articulate their concerns.

5. Attaching supporting documents:
- Remember to attach any relevant supporting documents to strengthen your complaint.
- Avoid including sensitive personal data in these attachments.

6. Filling optional fields:
- Use the 'Claimed Loss' field to state any financial losses incurred.
- Utilize the 'Desired Outcome' field to specify the resolution you are seeking from Hotwire.

7. Review before submission:
- Review your complaint for clarity, accuracy, and completeness before submitting it.
- Ensure all details are accurate and effectively convey your concerns.

8. Submission process:
- Submit your complaint by clicking the 'Submit' button after reviewing it.

9. Post-Submission Actions:
- Regularly check for any responses or updates related to your complaint on ComplaintsBoard.com.
- Stay engaged with the platform to track the progress of your complaint.

By following these steps, you can effectively file a complaint against Hotwire on ComplaintsBoard.com.

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Contact Hotwire customer service

Phone numbers

1866 381 3981 1866 468 9473 More phone numbers

Website

www.hotwire.com

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