Can You Save Money With Hotwire?

The answer is "YES"!

In my family we are Disney freaks and have the Disney Vacation Club, so we use our DVC points for accommodations on most of our vacationing. It is a great deal - but that is another post for another day!

Recently we had the honor of attending the wedding of my best friend's son. It was about 500 miles away, so of course we stayed the weekend. It also gave me the chance to visit with my friend and her family!

We live on a tight budget, so we had to carefully plan the trip. My friend had talked with hotels close to her home and found out the best rate. We needed 2 rooms because my son and his family were also going. Since my friend was not reserving over 10 rooms, she could not get the best "bulk" rate the hotels offered. Don't get me wrong, the price was better than the advertised rate, and better than I could get booking online. I just thought I could get a better price...

I spent one evening scouring the web trying to find a discount code or something that would help. Then my husband (smart man he is) recommended I check on Hotwire.com or Priceline.com.

So, we used Hotwire.com and put in our date and location. We knew the "star" rating of the hotel and the part of town. Hotwire.com lets you narrow your search by several things, including the rating and general location. You don't know the name of the hotel until after you book a room, but you do know the amenities, customer reviews, and which hotels are normally in the star rating category.

As it turns out, we found the same hotel and same type room as my friend was quoted. But - the rate was over 30% less than the best rate we could get otherwise! That sold me!

Hotwire.com has discount prices on hotels, rental cars, airfare, cruises and vacation packages. It might not always be your best bet, but it sure is worth checking out. Just remember - you won't know the exact hotel until you book, and booking requires a non-refundable payment.

Remember - Learning to be thrifty, to create a budget, and live by your budget is one of the most valuable money skills you can have!

Janet