A great thing about being a college student is that it is socially acceptable to sleep on a friends couch while you visit their city. Sadly, that starts to become a social no-no when you graduate. How do you satisfy your travel cravings when traveling can be so expensive? Thankfully, Hotwire is a site that allows you to purchase a hotel room for up to 50% off. But here’s the catch: Hotwire does not reveal which hotel you are booking. This may sound a little risky, but here are some tips to ensure you book a good, safe hotel.
- Only book a hotel that has three and half stars and above – This is because Hotwire is generous with their ratings and rate their mystery hotels an extra half star above their actual rating. Three and a half star hotels are usually franchises like the Marriot or Embassy Suites, and four-star hotels are hotels like the Hilton or Westin. Hotwire also lists hotels that are not a franchise, but if you stay within the three and a half star rating and above, then you will be safe.
- Read the Reviews- Hotwire provides reviews of the hotels, and it is from these that you can have a general idea of the quality, and sometimes brand of the hotel you are considering booking. Be sure to weigh what you hear: if a hotel has more negative reviews than positive ones, then steer clear. But if there are plenty of positive reviews, chances are you will enjoy your stay as well.
- Visit http://www.hoteldealsrevealed.com -This is a cross-reference that shows which hotels Hotwire uses in a particular area. Make sure the geographical location is safe and that you like the hotel listed. Hotel Deals Revealed also show the code Hotwire uses for their hotel brands.
While this may be a bit of a gamble, Hotwire helps make traveling affordable. So take a chance this summer and use Hotwire to book the hotel for your next trip!
By: Natalie G., Florida State University
Emily P has 76 post(s) on RTR On Campus
