‘Masked’ hotel booking services have been around for a while, offering substantial discounts to travelers willing to take a leap of faith. The premise is simple: you get some details about the hotel, such as its general location and star rating, but the exact name and address remain a mystery until after you’ve booked. Amenities may also be listed, as with Hotwire, which can include features like a pool, on-site restaurant, or airport shuttle service. The catch? These reservations are typically non-refundable, and you won’t know your exact destination until you’ve paid.
Travelocity’s Top Secret Hotels: A New Player in the Game
Travelocity introduced its Top Secret Hotels service as a new contender in the ‘masked’ hotel booking market. Although it’s been available for a few months, we waited to test it out, allowing time for any initial issues to be ironed out.
Selection and Availability
Cities Covered: Top Secret Hotels started with a limited selection, featuring only 14 cities, 10 in the US and 4 in Canada.
Hotel Options: In our case study of San Francisco, only 2 Top 離婚したくない場合の奥の手 Secret Hotels were available, compared to Hotwire’s 25 and Priceline’s 158 options. Travelocity’s regular booking system showed 286 hotels.
Pricing: Does It Live Up to the Hype?
The main allure of ‘masked’ bookings is the potential cost savings. However, in our comparison, the two Top Secret Hotels averaged $240 per night, which did not reflect the advertised savings of up to 45%. In fact, other sites offered similar or superior hotels for half the price or less.
Location Specifics: A Game of Chance
While exact locations are disclosed post-purchase, these services do provide a general area. Hotwire divides downtown San Francisco into 8 zones, and Priceline into 7. Travelocity, however, offered a single broad area that could place travelers anywhere from the Golden Gate Bridge to Redwood City, a span of about 25 miles.