Not sure what happened with your friend, but I've always had a great experience with Perx.com. The reservations office is friendly, and they go out of their way to find deals and return phone calls. Even through Orbitz, Travelocity, etc....I call the actual hotel after the booking to be sure it's in there, and Perx is no different. They can arrange hotel transportation for your arrival/departure, and it's always been cheaper than the cabs or airport shuttles. So, I'd say give 'em a try. If not, there's always ID90.com. But, I believe there's a membership fee for that site.