HotwireReviews 770

I made a mistake. I did not realize the car I rented was offsite from the airport. I will be travelling with my elderly mother and she cannot climb on/off the shuttle and I cannot leave her alone at the airport. I tried to cancel the reservation and they refused to cancel. No changes, no cancellations. They would not work with me at all. Yes, it was my mistake for not reading the multi-page fine print, but due to the circumstances, the fact that they would not bend means I will NEVER work with Hotwire again. I found out in my confirmation email after the booking that I could not cancel or change. I had forgotten I had a bad experience with Hotwire years ago and this reminded me. I don't care how much cheaper it is, I will never use them again.

Literally spent 90 minutes booking my room reservation - 20 minutes on the app because it kept timing me out - and another hour with their chat agent - who kept telling me I didnt have an account despite the fact that both my email address and phone number were registered when I downloaded the app

After 30 minutes of the agent telling me I had no0 account - i decided to just submit my reservation without using the promo code on their site- and the order went right thru and I immediately get a confirmation to my registered email. The agent still insisted that I didnt have an account at hotwire, even AFTER i gave her my itinerary number. I simultaneously tried calling their customer service number but was on hold for 30 minutes - while the chat agent continued to tell me that I didnt have an account and there was nothing she could do

This was beyond useless - when customer service is actually working AGAINST YOU

I have been a long time member/customer of Hotwire. I have used them to books hundreds of hotel stays all over the country. They used to be the service I recommended to family and friends because if there was every an issue at a hotel, hotwire took care of it.

Now, they last 2 times I have used them not only do they are the process difficult if there is an issue at a hotel, but Hotwire customer service itself is difficult to work with.

In 9 years, hundreds of hotels I have only had an issue 3 times at a hotel. In the last 3 months there has been an issue at each hotel. And it was customer service at Hotwire that was the most difficult and terrible to deal with.

I opened booking dot com, and had a sponsored advertisement for Hotwire. They listed a great rate for a car. Now, I'm used to the BS of when they try to say "are your dates flexible" but there was none of that. I was literally about to board a flight, and mistakenly booked the wrong dates. Shame on me. But my flight got delayed, I contacted customer service within THIRTY SECONDS of booking and tried to explain that they had been deceitful and deceptive in the way their API had interacted with Booking.com, which was either a code issue or purposefully misleading (after my experience with CS, I suspect the latter). They couldn't do anything, asked for me to book another car so they could see if they could refund me. This is one of the absolute worst rental experiences of my life. Alamo, Enterprise, etc., will work with you on these things if you fat finger something. Nothing from Janeth and the absolutely terrible policies she was forced to follow.

I will absolutely never use Hotwire again or anything related to them - including Expedia who is their parent company. This was a $75 rental, and they will lose tens of thousands of dollars over this absolute hogwash of an experience. Thank God I use Booking / Priceline more, as I've never had this sort of experience with those sites.

Hotwire is a Hot MESS. Stay AWAY.

I'm trying to cancel a hotwire trip. I went with the hotrate option. It says you would get one of the two hotels. Saying they are both 3 stars and have free breakfast. The hotel I received is a nightmare. They have no working number, horrible reviews on all sites, no hot water, bugs, and no free breakfast. I just want to cancel my reservation and book a new one. I tried over the phone and thru texting. They said I can with a $20 fee. It's not my fault you booked me a dump.

I've been traveling for quite awhile and so do my clients. I've used you a lot in the past and I'm very upset and disappointed with hotwire. You are selling me a dump. The thing that kills me is no one wants to hear about all this. THEY HAVE NO WORKING PHONE NUMBER!

I've attached some photos of my conversation with you on my phone.

I also have a Google review account and have over 27,000 views. A bunch of people would love to hear all about the horrible service I'm getting from Hotwire. Please call or email me. Ryan

I booked a 2 day car rental out of Phoenix AZ through Hotwire for September 22 starting and returning it September 24. I guess the total charge was supposed to be $175.11, which is hardly your claim to fame at $40.00 per day! You advertise lower prices, but when you're DONE you are still paying $87.00 a day!
Bait and Switch and ADD ONS!
When we came in to pick up the car it took forever to get out of there! Plus that Phoenix location looks very sketchy. If I would have been alone in the evening I would have left immediately! Another family was there picking up their car and we were talking about the location, they said they were there about 2 years prior and the place looks the exact same way! NU Car it's time to invest in making your pick up locations, not look like you're walking into a closed up business, in a poor area of town!

Now why am I writing this... I returned that car 1 day, plus a few hours early! You have the audacity to charge me for BOTH DAYS! SO WHAT YOU (HOTWIRE) CHARGED ME FOR (ONE) DAY CAR RENTAL WAS $175.11! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND I EXPECT A REFUND FOR 1 DAY!

THEN NU CAR... I RETURNED THAT CAR BACK SPOTLESS, YOU WOULD NOT EVEN HAD TO CLEAN IT! I TRIED TO FILL UP IN GAS AT A STATION ONE BLOCK FROM YOU, THEIR PUMPS WERE DOWN. I REALLY WAS UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING AROUND THE HOOD, LOOKING FOR GAS. I TOLD THE GIRL CHECKING MY CAR BACK IN THAT THE PUMPS WERE DOWN... SHE DID NOT GIVE A CRAP! SHE SAID THE CHARGE WAS $9.99 PER GALLON! ARE YOU KIDDING ME... TALK ABOUT STICKING IT TO PEOPLE! I ONLY NEEDED ONE HALF A TANK, ON A SMALL CAR AND NU CAR HAD THE AUDACITY TO CHARGE ME $63.61 (MORE) DOLLARS!

SO MY (ONE) DAY CAR RENTAL USING HOTWIRE AND NU CAR RENTAL COST ME $238.72... FOR ONE DAY!

The HotWire.com conspires with lower quality hotels, such as Le Reve Pasadena, to exploit customers.

The hotel Le Reve Pasadena is a slaughterhouse. It is between Highway 210 and E. Colorado Blvd. The rumbling sound is so strong that I did not sleep one minute in the whole night. Basically, you will be killed there.

You even cannot escape the slaughterhouse. If you escape it, you will not get refund.

I booked a hotel stay due to a Layover at LAX. Unfortunately, my flight was changed six times due to the pandemic and I no longer needed the hotel stay. I contacted Hotwire to request a credit or adjustment but I was denied. I've used Hotwire a number of times, so I understand their policy. However, I'm disappointed that Hotwire refused to make any accommodations after showing proof of the flight changes. That said, I will no longer book travel through Hotwire. #Dissatisfiedcustomer #Buyerbeware

Will never use hotwire again, cancelled hotel well in advance, due to covid they will not refund, do not use hotwire, hotel states they have nothing but problems and unsatisfied customers with hotwire

You'd be mad to pay double but that's what happened booking a Hertz car on Hotwire. Zero customer service from both, so this will go to FBI Wire Fraud dept as a criminal act

THEY ARE THE WORST DON'T BOOK WITH THEM. THEY TAKE YOUR MONEY AND DON'T FORWARD THE CORRECT INFO OVER TO THE COMPANIES AND YOU END UP DOUBLE PAYING. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THE WORST! SPOKE TO 7 REPS AND CAN'T GET A REFUND. PICTURE SHOWS 2ND PURCHASE

Hotel room I paid for was never even booked for me. Customer service was rude, demeaning, and barely coherent. Was scammed out of my money in a disaster. Hotel said they didn't even use hotwire. Avoid at all costs.

I have booked a hotel in Niagara fall with Hotwire. Here are some positive points I found:
1. It was a real deal (not a scam).
2. The website and the phone App are easy to use, fast. They also sent me notifications and reminders which are nice.
3. Accept many different types of payments including PayPal.
4. They often have promotions code on the App, so you can absolutely make the booking even cheaper.
5. Customer service is great. You can just chat with them through the App.
6. Although it does not reveal the hotel name, it does give a hint by saying " Last guest get hotel XXX" and I noticed that it was always correct.
- Negative points:
1. The currency was not based on the hotel's location. We have to set the currency, otherwise, it will be in USD.
2. I had problems using code for the App sometimes.
3. The price is not much cheaper and not always cheaper. So use it as an alternative source to compare with other sites.

This company engages in false advertisement and unethical practices. They mislead in the booking information and then refuse to give a refund when the hotel booked is disgusting, filthy, and unsafe. They lied and said that I stayed at the hotel for more than two hours, when in fact I left within five minutes. They steal money and show zero concern for their costumers. It is a fancy way to steal your hard earned money! Stay for away from Hotwire! The hotel I booked had visible dirt and grime everywhere! The 'white' tub was gray all over the bottom from dirt and grime. The door was dented, not secure, and only one of two locks that worked. The sidewalk repair was uneven and a trip hazard. This hotel was in a scary neighborhood and was extremely unsafe! Hotwire refused to give me a refund because the hotel would not authorize the refund. Of course they didn't authorize it, they were the problem. Hotwire stated that they based their rating and relationship with the hotel on positive experiences of previous customers, but also said they could not see if there were previous complaints by customers. They said they spoke with the hotel chain, but I received different information from the chain itself. Hotwire had no interest in my proof or documentation. They refused to do anything except offer me $25 discount on future travel. There will be NO future travel using Hotwire! Please do not be abused by this company!

Don't be fooled they are crooks period. You have to really really read the fine print. Hot deals... aren't hot. But if u do purchase and get COVID and can't travel your completely screwed. They do not care. You won't get a refund or even a credit., no matter how high you take your case. BBB review coming, I lost 280 to them so that's 280 reviews a buck a review. $#*! em. Pure trash

I booked a rental car through these peeps. Their policies are so strict you can't change or cancel anything about the booking. I'm out roughly $1200 they rip me off... just don't use hotwire it's not worth it.

I can perfectly live with Hotwire's secrecy and lack of change flexibility. But when I go to the rental car office and I am told to wait for more than an hour, while no one at hotwire picks up the phone or is available to chat, I can truly say that they ate failing operationally.

I tried to book a room using Hotwire app and Apple Pay. It declines the Apple Credit Card payment 4 times. I figured app is acting up or my credit card has a problem. Check my credit card it's good. No charges so I decided to let it be and stay at a friends instead. Come next day 11am I am charged for the room. I never got an email or text notification. The trip doesn't even come up on my app under past or current trips. After 40 minutes of being on the phone when I explained the whole scenario and if nothing else give me a credit or something. The supervisor and the agent said it is what it is. We cannot do anything about it. You should have called us. Why would I call you when I didn't have a confirmed trip. I called you when I found out I had a charge and all they kept saying is you should have called us yesterday. Ridiculous customer service, literally agreed to it is what it is. Multi-million business and can't even offer $120 in refund. Never again.

So, here's the thing: If your trip is set in stone and you're ok with having ZERO flexibility and you want to save a marginal amount of money - go ahead and use Hotwire, Expedia, Travelocity or kayak or whatever 3rd party site to book your stuff. However, if anything comes up (delayed flight, change of plans, car rental change) there's zero flexibility and you'll lose money.
I booked a rental car for a vacation in Vegas, but my flight was delayed by 3 hours so I didn't arrive to my destination until after the rental car counter was closed. Had to uber to my hotel and then back again the next day to pick up the car. Contacted Hotwire for a refund for the day I didn't use and they said there were no refunds. I saved MAYBE $15 by booking through Hotwire instead of direct with the car rental company, but lost out on more by not getting refunded for the day I didn't use and the uber costs.

Lesson learned. Never again will I use a 3rd party "bargain" site like Hotwire.