Hotwire is an online travel agency offering discounted rates on hotels, flights, car rentals, and vacation packages. This RetailCoupons.com review page aggregates shopper ratings and feedback to help prospective customers evaluate the platform's reliability, customer service, and booking experience.
Hotwire Reviews
2.0
20 reviews
What Shoppers Say About Hotwire
Created with AI, based on recent reviews
Hotwire is rated 2.0 out of 5 by 20 shoppers, with a heavily polarized distribution favoring either one-star or five-star reviews. Negative reviews cite significant operational failures including difficulty canceling reservations, overbooking without adequate support or alternatives, misleading location information for accommodations, and poor customer service responsiveness. Complainants report that cancellation interfaces malfunction, contact options are limited or ineffective, and the company fails to resolve issues when travelers arrive to find no available rooms.
The minority of positive ratings suggest that some shoppers have completed bookings without incident, though even satisfied customers note that support quality is inconsistent. Issues appear systemic rather than isolated, with recurring problems across hotels, car rentals, and the cancellation process. The disconnect between promotional messaging about deals and actual service delivery is a common complaint.
Customer Reviews (20)
Sorted by: Most recentMarcus T.Aug 14, 2025
My internet in this neighborhood has been completely out for the past two months. I'm basically stuck at home with no way to reach out to anyone, not even my mom to check in on how she's doing.
Jessica N.Jul 22, 2025
I'm out $500 on a non-refundable car rental and got absolutely no flexibility, even when I escalated to management. I've booked through Hotwire plenty of times before, but this situation showed they care way more about sticking to policies than keeping customers happy or treating them fairly. The cancellation terms weren't easy to find when booking, and when I asked for an exception, they just said no. You'd be better off with a company that actually values your business.
Victoria P.Jul 12, 2025
Straight up scam. They showed one price but billed me in a different currency, which ended up being $180 more. Hotwire takes advantage of customers - do not book with them under any circumstances.
Sarah M.Jul 12, 2025
Total rip-off. The price shown was one thing, but they charged me in a completely different currency and hit me with an extra $180 in charges. Hotwire preys on customers - stay far away from them.
Jennifer W.Feb 18, 2025
Hotwire completely failed to accommodate our family situation. We booked five flights, but our adoption finalized unexpectedly before departure. Getting them to change the name has been an absolute nightmare - we've spent over 40 hours on it. They canceled part of our flight and keep promising to rebook without following through. It's been a month now. We have our hotels set up but no flights, and we're still out $3,500 for the airfare. Virgin and Delta told us the same thing - Hotwire just won't apply the waiver code or handle seat assignments properly. At this rate we might lose $3,500 in flights plus $3,000 in hotels.
Patricia D.Feb 6, 2024
Amazing customer service experience. I needed to cancel a non-refundable hotel reservation in the US because of a family health crisis, and the support rep named Alex went above and beyond to help. Honestly, I didn't expect much support given the circumstances, but the empathy and effort they showed made such a difference during a really tough time.
Angela F.Aug 25, 2022
We rented a car and everything went smoothly. Got exactly what we paid for without any surprise charges. The rental company didn't try to squeeze extra money out of us, and neither did Hotwire. We called customer service about something on our end, and they helped as much as they could. When the call dropped, they immediately called us back.
Brandon H.Feb 25, 2022
You won't find better prices or nicer rooms anywhere. The deals are unbeatable. Their customer service team is super friendly and genuinely cares about making sure your trip goes smoothly. Every time I use this app I walk away satisfied. Definitely give it a shot!
Sophie R.Jul 20, 2017
Had a fantastic time at my hotel in Liverpool. I was browsing other booking sites and their prices for distant, run-down locations were crazy high. Found Hotwire through a money-saving website and booked a mystery hotel. Turned out to be an Aloft, which was awesome. The booking fees could definitely be lower, but even with those added in, the total price was pretty reasonable. I'll definitely be back for my next stay.
Kenneth M.May 25, 2013
Absolutely thrilled! They showed me a 2.5 star hotel for $39 per night, and when I booked it, I actually got a 3.5 star hotel for that exact same price. I got the correct dates I requested and wasn't overcharged. I checked the official hotel website later and that same room was going for $115 a night. I'm super pleased with the deal - thanks Hotwire!
Hotwire Review FAQ
What is Hotwire's average rating on RetailCoupons.com?
Hotwire is currently rated 2.0 out of 5 based on 20 customer reviews. The ratings show a stark split, with 75 percent one-star reviews and 25 percent five-star reviews, indicating highly polarized customer experiences.
What are the main complaints about Hotwire?
The most frequent complaints involve cancellation difficulties (with broken website interfaces and no clear phone support), hotel overbooking with insufficient assistance, inaccurate location information for bookings, and unresponsive or inefficient customer service channels. Customers also report that the company's marketing does not always match the actual service provided.
Can I cancel a reservation with Hotwire?
According to recent reviews, canceling reservations has proven problematic for many shoppers. The website cancellation process reportedly loops users back to login screens, and customers struggle to reach support by phone since contact numbers are not prominently listed in communications. Before booking, carefully review the specific cancellation policy for your rate type, as policies vary.
How does Hotwire handle overbooking situations?
Reviews indicate that when hotels overbook, Hotwire has not consistently provided customers with rebooking assistance or alternative accommodations. One customer reported arriving late at night with family to find no room available and receiving no real support from the company.
Should I book with Hotwire?
The highly divided ratings suggest Hotwire carries significant risk. While some customers report successful bookings, reviews indicate that when problems occur, the company struggles to resolve them effectively. Prospective customers should weigh the potential discounts against weak customer service support and documented issues with accuracy and cancellation processes.
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