Unveiling the Savings: A Deep Dive into Travelocity's Top Secret Hotels

The Mechanics of 'Masked' Hotel Bookings

'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 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.

Hotel Information: The Mystery Deepens

In our search, the information provided for Top Secret Hotels was minimal, with no details beyond the star rating and a non-smoking indication for one hotel. This contrasts with Hotwire, where a full list of amenities is available, allowing savvy users to potentially identify their hotel in advance using resources like HotelDealsRevealed.com's Hotel Inventory.

The Verdict on Travelocity's Top Secret Hotels

Travelocity's Top Secret Hotels feature has room for improvement, particularly in selection, pricing transparency, and location specificity. While the company has expressed intentions to expand and enhance the service, it currently falls short when compared to established competitors.

Interesting Stats and Insights

• According to a report by Statista, the global hotel industry was projected to generate approximately $550 billion in revenue in 2022.
• A survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) revealed that 70% of travelers prefer to know their hotel details upfront.
• Data from the same AHLA survey indicates that 52% of travelers are likely to book a hotel room through an online travel agency (OTA) like Travelocity, Hotwire, or Priceline.

In conclusion, while Travelocity's Top Secret Hotels may offer some savings for the adventurous traveler, it's essential to weigh the potential benefits against the limitations and risks. For now, it seems that the more established 'masked' hotel booking services may provide a better balance of savings, selection, and information.