Hotwire

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

Looking at renting a car from Hotwire for a 4 day trip to Detroit. Any experience or whatouts? Other options?

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

I've researched the best price on hotwire and then bid less on priceline. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I've never actually bought from hotwire.

Sue

[barndweller Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close barndweller]

Same here. Actually, I think I did get a car once through Hotwire. I get junk e-mails from them everyday now.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I've researched the best price on hotwire and then bid less on priceline. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I've never actually bought from hotwire.

Sue

I do the same thing but I also check on BiddingForTravel.com - The informed Priceline Travel Bidding Forum before bidding on Priceline

[shmuggee Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shmuggee]

You ever take a look at these guys?

Priceline and Hotwire Forum

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

I've used Priceline and Hotwire both for cars. They've been fine, always major car-rental agencies--I think they work with the big four only. I wish you could use Hotwire or Priceline for local rental agencies (like Hertz HLE), but you can't, unfortunately. Airport pick-up and drop-off only.

Just be sure to get the cars back on time.

BTW, I think there's a Hotwire coupon for car rentals in the Entertainment book.

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

A search on car rentals on priceline for Phoenix shows prices for Hertz, Avis, Alamo, National, Budget, Advantage, Payless, Thrifty, Enterprise and Fox. This would be for a regular reservation.

If you were to put in a bid on Priceline, you have no control over who they book with, but when I've had a successful bid, it has always been with one of the better known companies.

Sue

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

If you were to put in a bid on Priceline, you have no control over who they book with, but when I've had a successful bid, it has always been with one of the better known companies.

Sue

Our Priceline rentals have usually been with Avis or Hertz. The one exception was on the Big Island and that was with Alamo. One time we even got a convertible when renting in San Diego. It was the nicest "standard" car I've ever had.

[Art Member Find all posts View Profile Close Art]

Our most recent booking is for two weeks in San Diego with Hotwire. I got a Budget although I have gotten Hertz, Avis and Alamo on other Hotwire rentals.

I have found that I have to underbid the Hotwire price on Priceline by at least $1 a day for Priceline to be cheaper because Priceline has a slightly higher add-on for their commission. It adds up with a 15 day rental.

Art

[happymum Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close happymum]

I have found that I have to underbid the Hotwire price on Priceline by at least $1 a day for Priceline to be cheaper because Priceline has a slightly higher add-on for their commission. It adds up with a 15 day rental.

Art

That's interesting, I hadn't noticed the difference.

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

Thanks for all the information. I think I will give Hotwire a chance and see what I think while I study up on Priceline.

[pranas Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pranas]

I have gotten a lot better deals on Orbitz than Hotwire.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

I have gotten a lot better deals on Orbitz than Hotwire.

I see that occasionally as well. But it's driven by supply and demand.

Car rental companies provide discounted inventory to Priceline and Hotwire only when the rental company believes that it will have unrented cars for that period. If the rental company does not project unrented inventory, the company won't provide discounted inventory to PL and HW; rather the inventory the rental company does provide to P: or HW will be priced higher than what the rental company would rent it for themselves.

Same thing goes for hotel rooms. Overall, you can't assume that PL and HW inventory will always be discounted. Often it is, but during peak periods it won't be.

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

I've used Hotwire lots of times and no problems. I'm usuing them next week when I go o the Pokey Nose. shaggy

[ptprism Member Find all posts View Profile Close ptprism]

I always shop sites like Travelocity first. Or go through Kayak to compare several.Then I go to individual sites like Thrifty or Alamo. After I feel I have the lowest price I can find--THEN I go to Hotwire. If you are shopping PRICE as the major factor, they almost always beat the best price. You don't know which company--but who cares? I don't as long as it's a clean,well-maintained car.

Every so often I go to Priceline and run the Hotwire amount less 10% or 15%. I have probably done this 8-10 times and have NEVER had Priceline beat the price. I just get the same old--"We agree that would be a great price..." line, but they never match it in my experience. I guess they must be matching for people somewhere, or they wouldn't still be in business!