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The Good News: You Got a Good Deal on Hotwire; The Bad News...

Go To The Hotel's Web Site Where: 450 Powell Street at Sutter [map], San Francisco, CA, United States, 94102
July 7, 2009 at 6:04 PM | by | Comments (3)

Yo, this is a story all about how your life could get flipped, turned upside down, and we'd like to take a minute, just sit right there — we'll tell you the bad news about getting an awesome deal on Hotwire. Oops, that didn't rhyme.

Still: Twitter-er DrewMeyers scored a kickass deal on Hotwire. Which is awesome. Remember, Hotwire is an opaque booking site — which means you can get serious deals on your hotel stays but you don't know the name of the hotel until your credit card has been charged for the non-changeable, non-cancellable, non-refundable reservation (you can specify your star class and the general area that you prefer, though).

In this case, the Hotwire game worked out for Drew, who ended up scoring a room at Sir Francis Drake for August 4-7 at a rate of $78 per night. But there is bad news: parking is $46. EW.

The lesson? Hotwire is a gamble. Oh, wait, we knew that. But be super-aware of parking fees — no matter what kind of a deal you get, those extra charges can add up quickly and hit you pretty hard.

Score an awesome deal lately? Tell us where, when, and how much in the comments below.

Hotels mentioned in this story

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Return to » The Good News: You Got a Good Deal on Hotwire; The Bad News...


Don't have to park at the Hotel

Just because you are staying there, doesn't mean you have to park there....

Just some very quick googling there is some garages in walking distance that are $31-33 a day, still not brilliant but better than $46.

I did this in London all the time, there is always a better deal to be had just for walking a short distance...

davidf on July 7, 2009 at 9:43 PM #Permalink

nearby garages are good

i did that on my last trip to San Fran. fortunately there was a garage half a block away and it was way less than the hotel. but that's not always the case.
juliana on July 8, 2009 at 11:48 AM #Permalink

2 Great Deals from Hotwire in 3 weeks!!

Toronto has been a Hotwire favorite destination of mine this summer, as I have scored 2 great deals at Downtown properties for cheap over the past 3 weeks.  I booked the Delta Chelsea for a weekend getaway with my girlfriend on a June weekend for $60/night, and then booked my friend a room at the Sheraton Centre for $71/night, also a four-star property, a few weeks later.  

The only downside about these great deals was that, as Jenna pointed out, there's a few unexpected challenges you will have to face when Hotwiring...downtown parking fees, low floor room assignments, and the general malaise from front desk clerks as you tell them you room is pre-paid on Hotwire (booking on Hotwire does not make me a third-class citizen, front desk agent.  just a savvy traveler!)

Anyway, I love hotwire with a passion and only book through the opaque channel these days...everyone should do it!

gregbodenlos on July 9, 2009 at 8:27 AM #Permalink

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