Hotwire is a great way to book hotels in Las Vegas because travelers can save a lot of money on hotels. Hotwire uses a blind bidding or ‘opaque’ model, where travelers do not know the name of the hotel until after they make their hotel reservation (which is non-refundable). This can save travelers money but there are also some risks involved. Specifically, you do not know what hotel you are getting and you cannot cancel your hotel. Fortunately, there is an effective way to figure out or reveal Hotwire hotels in Las Vegas before you book. This method is explained in this article and provides some other tips and advice.
Using Priceline instead of Hotwire? Check out this article entitled Better Bidding on Vegas 5-Star Hotels on Priceline. Priceline is usually cheaper than Hotwire but there is also greater risk involved. Specifically, Hotwire tells you what amenities you will get when you book. If you use Priceline’s Name Your Own Price, you do not know the hotel amenities.
Revealing Your Hotwire Hotels In Las Vegas
The image below is an excerpt from the Las Vegas Hotwire hotel list. This is a list of hotels that other travelers have received on Hotwire and who have posted their hotel details on Hotwire, making it easy for you to ID your hotel most of the time. You can identify a hotel by comparing the amenities on Hotwire to the amenities on the hotel list. It is important to keep in mind that the hotel lists are generated from forum members who share their winning bids after purchasing a Hotwire hotel via the Hotwire Forum. I do my best to keep the hotel lists up to date but there is always a risk of not getting the hotel you were expecting to get.
List of hotels travelers have received on Hotwire in Las Vegas.
Hotwire Vegas Bidding Zones
Hotels commonly bought on Hotwire in Las Vegas on the Strip.
If you are using Hotwire for a hotel in Vegas, it is important to know which zone you want to stay in. For most travelers, this means the Las Vegas Strip. The Strip, however, is quite long, extending about 4 miles from Mandalay Bay (South Strip) to SLS Hotel (North Strip). Therefore, Hotwire breaks the Strip into 3 zones: Strip South, Strip Central, and Strip North. In choosing which area to book, it is important to give consideration to transportation options and where you want to spend your time. If, for example, you have rental car, you may be ok staying at a hotel on the far north or south end of the Strip. On the other hand, if you want to leave your hotel and immediately walk the Strip, staying near the center of the Strip may be preferred.
See current Hotwire winning bids in Las Vegas. In the Hotwire forum, actual travelers have reported their hotel purchases. This is a great way to find out what hotel other travelers have received recently via Hotwire.
Strip North
The Strip North zone offers some great value. The risk, however, is getting a hotel that is located too far outside the Strip. This is of particular concern if you are booking 4-star hotels. A common 4-star hotel is the SLS Hotel, which is way up north and difficult to avoid. If you are booking a 4-star hotel, I would not recommend booking a hotel in Strip North unless you are okay with being located in the very remote and isolated end of the Strip.
If you are booking a 5-star hotel, on the other hand, I recommend the Strip North zone. The Trump hotel is fairly isolated but it is easily avoided because it DOES NOT HAVE A CASINO. If you book a 5-star hotel with a casino, you will either get the Wynn, Encore, Venetian or Palazzo (most likely).
Strip South
The far south end of the Strip South zone is somewhat remote but not too bad. On the very south end is Mandalay Bay, Four Seasons, and the Luxor. The Luxor and Tropicana are both rated 4-stars on Hotwire and more than likely you will get either one of these hotels. The location is fairly ideal, just a short walk and you are in the heart of the Strip with easy access to New York New York, MGM Grand and other nearby hotels, clubs, and casinos. The south zone can offer some great bargains without sacrificing too much on location.
Strip Center
Most travelers prefer to stay in the Strip Center area, and for good reason. The location is tough to beat. You are in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip and within arms reach of most attractions. This area is, however, a little more expensive than most, however. If you want a bargain, look for a 5-star hotel without a casino. The Vdara is notoriously inexpensive and tucked in behind the Aria and the Bellagio hotels. Rooms are spectacular and often go for less than $100 per night. See the Vdara history of winning bids on Hotwire and Priceline to find out how much other travelers are paying.
Better Bidding on Hotwire Hotels In Las Vegas
Whether you are bidding on Priceline or booking on Hotwire hotels in Las Vegas, these tips will help you bid better:
- Remember that hotel purchases are non-refundable and cannot be changed.
- There is risk when booking on blind bidding sites, so try to reveal your hotel before you book using the list of hotels other customers have received.
- If you need some help booking your hotel, ask a question on the Hotwire Discussion Forum.