Hotel room rates

[devonhunter]

Have any of you noticed that hotel rates everywhere are sky rocketing? I can't figure out how to plan my trips anymore... what are you guys doing?

[Epigonos]

Even though I am not an escort yes I find that hotel prices are sky rocketing. I am relying more and more on http://www.hotwire.com. Initially I do not know the exact hotel only the number of stars it has and the general location. I have NEVER been disappointed. I frequently end up in a Hilton or a Sheraton. I have stayed at both the Hilton and Sheraton at O'Hare for under $100.00 a night. Good luck

[tyro]

I use hotwire a lot too.

T

[unsub2O17]

Most of the time, I use Hotwire, but I recently found a better deal on Priceline. Never had much luck with Hotels.com or Expedia, and the hotel's website has never been the cheapest for me.

[Kevin Slater]

A few of the escorts who post on here have been known to either swap apartments or simply rent theirs out to one another when out of town. I've had really good luck with this and met some very nice guys to boot.

 

Kevin Slater

[+ dupontversDC]

Kevin ... I wish you'd swap apartments with your friend here in DC so I can see you again soon stud. :-)

[Bosguy]

I'm not a working guy but for the travelling guys, they're getting hit with exhorbitant airline rates as well as hotel rates.

 

Boston Bill

[+ azdr0710]

I also use hotwire a lot....unlike Epigonos, I HAVE been disappointed at times when some weird place results, as I usually like the conventional Hyatt/Sheraton/Marriott/Hilton genre....if you have the time, read the "reviews" before you commit and, often, clues will appear that hint at the specific place, though hotwire tries to avoid that...

[gp0560]

I use HotWire a lot, mostly with good results. Be careful not to go too cheap, though. Once I thought I was being clever and picked a two-star. Big mistake! Crying babies, barking dogs, loud TV on one side, amorous adventures on the other, smelly hallway, and a so-called "de-smokified" room. Fortunately, I had built up enough bookings through HotWire that they refunded the money, not an easy thing to talk them into.

[bigvalboy]

Several members here mentioned they use 'Hotwire'... I have always used Orbitz. Is 'Hotwire' better?

[nate_sf]

Yes I've found the cost of hotels (and airfare, too as Boston Bill notes) has gone way up and it makes it hard to make travel work. I've used Priceline and Hotwire for years and even those the prices have crept up. Just a couple of years ago it was not unheard of to get decent 3 and 4 star hotels for $45-65 through Priceline but not now. I don't want to raise my rates so I've had to cut back on trips because the numbers don't work.

 

There is a great cheat-sheet website called biddingfortravel.com with a message board that shows what people's winning bids are for Priceline. I learned about that site from this board back in the Hooboy days and it's the first place I look always. Usually fairly quickly you can get a sense of price trends and which hotels are being booked. There is a similar site for Hotwire (I can't remember the site) but it involves comparing the list of amenities and trying to figure out which hotel it is, which is a bit more complicated.

 

The 3 and 4 star hotels through Priceline and Hotwire are usually fine, typically Hiltons and Hyatts and the like. However you'll often get a less-than-desirable room, either with a lousy view or an odd layout or location. I think of these as the "Priceline Room" or in some cases there is an entire "Priceline Wing." But the rooms themselves are fine in terms of bed, linens and the stuff you need from the business perspective. And every now and then you'll be surprised and score a really good room. Less than 3 stars can be risky, and even the 3 star category can throw some surprises but nothing that would be a deal killer.

 

Hotels.com can have some decent rates too but it's inconsistent. For an upcoming trip I found a surprisingly good rate for a particular hotel on hotels.com and thought I'd identified the same hotel on Hotwire for about $12 less, but then figured it wasn't worth risking getting the wrong hotel over $12 and went with hotels.com.

 

I was looking at another escort's website the other day and noticed he had higher "travel rates" for when he stays out of town. I figured it was in response to the travel costs and thought it was an interesting approach. I haven't tried it myself though.

[whipped guy]

Nate is correct regarding the fact that many Hotels have a "priceline wing". Recently a hotel employee at the management level told me that they actually, "don't like priceline customers... and customers from other similar websites, but have to deal with them"... and hence have a section where they literally cram them in. Incidentally, I got to experience this so-called "priceline wing" when there was a problem with the hot water in my room and I was given temporary access to one of the "priceline rooms" to be able to take a shower and freshen up. As Nate indicates, the room was clean and similar to any other room... albeit a bit smaller, cramped, and without a view... and literally so as there was not even a window... Still, being on a low floor in the middle of NYC that would be an advantage as far as the noise factor is concerned. At any rate, and in the final analysis, the room would certainly be more than acceptable from a "business" standpoint...

[robberbaron4u]

At the time I "traveled" in my business pursuits, I always made it a point to become acquainted with the assistant general managers of the hotels which I frequented in my travels as these are the people who have "hands-on" management of the property and can make things happen, including "upgrades and perks". The old Pontchartrain Hotel on St. Charles Avenue at New Orleans was my preferred accomdation in that city, and, I was always billed the "best single rate" for my suite, and, on occasion, I was upgraded to the Presidential Suite and the Penthouse Suite at that rate. My relations with the general managers of that inn was cordial, and, they had a standing invitation to lunch at the restaurant of their choice in the course of my stay.

[+ azdr0710]

Several members here mentioned they use 'Hotwire'... I have always used Orbitz. Is 'Hotwire' better?

 

hotwire usually doesn't name the hotel at all until you have irreversibly paid for it, while orbitz does name it beforehand....you'll usually pay a somewhat higher price for that disclosure, of course!

[LurkerSpeaks]

there is a new app for smartphone called hoteltonight. It is great, if you can wait until the last minute. They release very discounted rooms for that day's arrival. Sometimes the rate might be good for another day or two, but usually just for that night..At this time, they are limited in the number of cities, but it is growing on a regular basis.

[buckguy]

Early in the recession, there was a glut of places in most cities, because of construction that took place during the real estate bubble. Except for a few cities like New York, very few new properties have opened since that time and the business travel market has slowly recovered. In other words, the market has slowly corrected itself making cheaper rooms less available. I have use cancelable rates when I travel for work---these usually more or less track the govt/military rates which can be chosen on most chain websites. If those rates, which are profitable for hotels, are not available, then it's likely that cheaper rates won't be or the rooms will be broom closets. There still seem to be bargains available during the winter months and around major holidays, as well as "Monday holidays". I often travel for NYC and things have been tight on weekdays during the "meeting season" (roughly March-May and mid-Sept to mid-Nov), the peak summer tourist season (July/Aug when Europeans and us travel) and the Xmas shopping season

[+ newatthis]

...I've used Priceline and Hotwire for years and even those the prices have crept up. Just a couple of years ago it was not unheard of to get decent 3 and 4 star hotels for $45-65 through Priceline but not now....

 

There is a great cheat-sheet website called biddingfortravel.com with a message board that shows what people's winning bids are for Priceline. I learned about that site from this board back in the Hooboy days and it's the first place I look always. Usually fairly quickly you can get a sense of price trends and which hotels are being booked...

 

The 3 and 4 star hotels through Priceline and Hotwire are usually fine, typically Hiltons and Hyatts and the like. However you'll often get a less-than-desirable room, either with a lousy view or an odd layout or location. I think of these as the "Priceline Room" or in some cases there is an entire "Priceline Wing." But the rooms themselves are fine in terms of bed, linens and the stuff you need from the business perspective. And every now and then you'll be surprised and score a really good room. Less than 3 stars can be risky, and even the 3 star category can throw some surprises but nothing that would be a deal killer...

 

Nate is correct regarding the fact that many Hotels have a "priceline wing". Recently a hotel employee at the management level told me that they actually, "don't like priceline customers... and customers from other similar websites, but have to deal with them"... and hence have a section where they literally cram them in...

My experiences with priceline rates mirror Nate's in some, but not all, of the cities I travel to with some frequency. Certainly in Montreal I'm having to bid 2-3 times more than I did a few years ago...but the higher rates are still great bargains there. In other cities, priceline rates have been pretty static for me.

 

My one or two bad experiences using priceline came from ignoring Nate's right-on-the-mark advice: use biddingfortravel.com to see what hotels are likely to come up at the various star levels and avoid bidding in areas or at star levels where you're likely to get a clunker. It takes time and experience to make priceline bidding work; once you master that, it's the best deal around.

 

I always email the hotel ahead of time with some simple requests (e.g. quiet room away from the elevators) and ask them to add my frequent guest program number to my reservation -- you don't earn any points on a priceline reservation, but you sometimes get some of the other perks, like newspaper delivery. And they seem to do their level best to give me a decent standard room...sometimes even better than that. Finally, unless the hotel is completely booked, you can ask for a room change if there's something drastically wrong.

[bigvalboy]

hotwire usually doesn't name the hotel at all until you have irreversibly paid for it, while orbitz does name it beforehand....you'll usually pay a somewhat higher price for that disclosure, of course!

 

Thanks azdr....I think I will stick with Orbitz.

[Electra 225]

In my travels, I have found Best Western (http://www.bestwestern.com) to be more than adequate. Best Western now has three tiers of hotel: basic, plus, and premier or permium. Granted, none of the hotels in this group will rival the Ritz, but they work for me (and I am a "client" and not a "provider") for both business and recreational travel and the price is right. If an escort were to host an incall at a Best Western, it would be very easy to preview the property on the Best Western site and determine the facilities and the area for appropriateness (location, etc.). If I were hosting an escort at a Best Western, especially the plus and premier/premium properties, I would not feel the least bit intimidated by having him come to such a property. My two and a half cents....

[JoeyBryant]

I use HotWire a lot, mostly with good results. Be careful not to go too cheap, though. Once I thought I was being clever and picked a two-star. Big mistake! Crying babies, barking dogs, loud TV on one side, amorous adventures on the other, smelly hallway, and a so-called "de-smokified" room. Fortunately, I had built up enough bookings through HotWire that they refunded the money, not an easy thing to talk them into.

 

I'd only pick 2 star on hotwire if I was getting in late, and needed a bed to sleep on and was just passing through. even if it says 80% good reviews. I've only had 1 good experience choosing 2 star...which was a Days Inn. On more than 1 occasion 1 or 2 star ended up being Super 8 and I CAN'T STAND super 8. Some aren't so bad, but it's just the AM breakfast and 11 am checkout times and the signs that say, "no guests after 9 pm without manager approval" BS.

 

Another good choice is Priceline's new Express Deals section. It's almost like Hotwire...but a bit cheaper. Last hotel I was at my favorite hotel, Residence Inn Mariott. I was almost a little upset because I'd only booked 1 night, hadn't bought groceries and was expecting a high-rise. But...you get what they pick and there's just no way to really predict what you're going to get even if you think you know what it's going to be.

 

That said, I've noticed some hotels aren't coming by as cheaply as they were 2 years ago...even in Denver lately I've noticed some hotels in my neighborhood are like $20 more on hotwire than they were 2 years back. Matter of fact, hotwire seems to have gotten more expensive across the board. I've kind of laid off using them as much. But, there's still some good deals to be found. Especially look for corporate 3-4 star hotels on Sundays and weekends. I got a J.W. Mariott for $42 last month in the corporate part of town. Boring location, but it worked.

 

My issue now is the gas prices. They really need to stop the bullshit. In July I was able to fill up in New Mexico with Shell V-Power for $3.39 and this last trip was $3.87. And it doesn't help that everywhere I go is minimum 500 miles. I'm about to just move to a more compact geographic area...like Boston.

 

However you'll often get a less-than-desirable room, either with a lousy view or an odd layout or location. I think of these as the "Priceline Room" or in some cases there is an entire "Priceline Wing." But the rooms themselves are fine in terms of bed, linens and the stuff you need from the business perspective. And every now and then you'll be surprised and score a really good room. Less than 3 stars can be risky, and even the 3 star category can throw some surprises but nothing that would be a deal killer.

 

I try to ask up-front about my room before they even give me the key card. I always try to aim for a King Bed, but if I'm expecting to be busy I might ask for the 2 doubles . If I go to the room and it's not to my liking, I have been known to ask for something different sometimes even getting upgraded to something better.

 

I'd say less than 2.5 stars is risky...as 2.5 star can include Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn, Holiday Inn Express...which aren't bad hotels at all and run cheaper price-wise, easier to get in and out of, have micro/fridge in some etc. 3 and 4 star hotels annoy me sometimes with having to buy breakfast, no place to put food at, sometimes just loud and busy lobby areas with everyone dressed in suits or in their wedding attire and I'm alone in a room waiting for a call. No fun. Sometimes I just want to get into a room quickly without a production.

 

Nate is correct regarding the fact that many Hotels have a "priceline wing". Recently a hotel employee at the management level told me that they actually, "don't like priceline customers... and customers from other similar websites, but have to deal with them"...

 

That's wrong (for them to say that). And I think that's probably limited to larger cities. I remembered being treated like that only in Chicago, Houston and Oklahoma City. I haven't had anyone say that to me in probably 2 years though...and I never get put in lousy rooms either or I will come right back downstairs and complain. Better to get it right the first time.

 

They need to remember that even though it's 3rd party, I believe PL/HW STILL pays their room rate or works out some sort of flat-rate deal. They (the hotel) don't even see how much we as customers pay for the room. The Hotel charges PL/HW credit card to book the room, not yours. In addition, when we pay on those sites, it's generally non-refundable. It takes tons of research, skill and courage to use those sites. Most people I know are too afraid to risk being stuck somewhere. When we pay, it's upfront and can't get it back if we change our minds. So to be rude and snobby is uncalled for.

 

I try to be a good Priceline customer and buy their breakfast if there's a restaurant. Usually $12-15 bucks.

[seaboy4hire]

I noticed hotel prices while trying to help a friend book a hotel for Chicago next weekend. Tried using name your own price to no avail. Also I noticed a jump in price for hotels in Vegas. I work in the travel ind. for my day job and I get an employee discount which is quite nice. The least I pay is $29 (think and extended stay hotel) and the most I pay is $59 (four star fancy marble lobbies). This is of course depending on availability.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[pogiboy]

go to do searching

 

Have any of you noticed that hotel rates everywhere are sky rocketing? I can't figure out how to plan my trips anymore... what are you guys doing?

 

Just have to search, now that summer is over, hotels would probably lower their rates, the chain of hotels that I am a member of charges less if you book in advance