love2vacation

Help. Not sure if I should scrap this and start over. I accidentally booked the Hampton Inn Cypress Creek (priceline). We get in really late the night before a cruise and I am thinking I should cut my losses and book something else. Thinking the taxi prices will be pretty high. Airport to hotel and then to cruise terminal. Since we get in late I don't really care if it is near shopping, etc. Should I scrap this hotel and book something else?:mad:

Very much appreciate the map! First time in Falmouth in February.

Here are a few of my favorites:

 

The Greek Theatre at Taormina with Mt. Etna in the background:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Temple of Hesphaestus in Athens, above.

 

 

 

 

The one above is Chania, Crete and the Special Effects feature I found out that my camera had.

Nice!

What kind or camera and what special effect setting?

I agree the Spellman Files books are a fun read.:D

I've been thinking about starting to bring a small amount of sand from each of the beaches we will visit on our next cruise in June 2011.

 

Has anyone had troubles doing this in the past year as a souvenir??

I have done this on some of the more unusual beaches. Take those snack ziplocs for this purpose or in a pinch I have put some in an empty plastic pop bottle.

Gosh I can't believe is has been that long since our last cruise but here are two from our February 2010 Serenade cruise.

Finally got a resort for December for our precruise. Now onto post cruise. Does anyone know if Stellaris tacks on a resort fee?

They did last time I was there.

What are the chances of getting a non smoking room in the resort hotels using Priceline?

Very few hotels offer smoking rooms anymore and the corporate policy at Marriott is their porperties are smokefree with only designated areas outside the buildings.

I just submitted on Hotwire for the 4* with tennis nearby in San Juan with a price of $119.oo plus resort fees on 7/17/2010.It ended up being the Sheraton Conrad condado plaza on Ashford Ave!! I wanted the Sheraton Old San Juan!!!! Is the conrad condado any good?????????

__________________

I think this is not a Sheraton but the Conrad Condado Plaza and a Hilton and it is a 4* hotel and should be much nicer than Sheraton in OSJ.

http://www.condadoplaza.com

Thank you, Karen. In this photobucket album, on pages 6 & 7, you will find pictures I took of some of the cameos in the cases at the Stone Castle Cameo Factory. They are not the ones we purchased. There were many more than this!

http://s848.photobucket.com/albums/a...0March%202010/

 

As far as pricing, it was not a percentage. There are prices on them, but they discount that price always. Do haggle with them. It was more like, "oh, you want this 2nd one also? How about $x amount". And so on through the 3rd and 4th. The blue agate with the 14K gold setting was the most expensive at about $500-600. The brown (hammerhead shell) with sterling (?) setting was around $300. The two smaller ones of coral with 14K gold settings were around $200 each. We spent close to $1,500 on the 4 pieces. They prefer cash and will discount extra for that.....which we did also. We do plan on taking the two larger pieces to our jeweler and having some more substantial settings made for them. Our mothers truly loved theirs, which was so nice to hear from them! They say that they have had many compliments on them, too :D.

Thanks for giving me an idea on the prices.

I forgot all about the Cameo factory. I was thinking that there would be no unique or intersting jewelry on the next cruise but now I have to save some $ for this stop!:o

Hi! I just found a 3* hotel thru Hotwire that I think somebody said is Sheraton OSJ for $92 on 1/24/10. Is there really a way to tell by the amenities whether it is or not? There's a casino, fitness center, pool, restaurant, business center, high speed internet access, & tennis nearby. Thanks for the help!

The regular Hotwire site lists OSJ as a 3 1/2 star. I went in to the vacation portions and did a search for San Juan hotel pkgs.

Just got Shetaton Old San Juan precruise 1/30 for $100. I was hoping for a resort, but could'nt get it. Can't wait.

Good for you. You will be right in Old San Juan - lots of things to do and see!:D

Our daughter has been bidding for a room for 2/5/2010 for months and finally got fed up trying for a resort so she bid on the 3 1/2 star and got the OSJ for 90.00 first try. She thought she might have bid less and still got it but you never know. Hotwire did have for 109.00 for that date (though they don't specifically list the name of the hotel on the offer) and regular price on Sheraton site and other hotel booking sites is 229.00. She is pleased with the 90.00 price so that is what counts.

BTW most of the resorts are going for over 300.00 for this date on the regular booking sites.

I think they will enjoy OSJ since it is their first time in Puerto Rico.

Have you read it? Was it good?

I just finished "Burn" by Linda Howard.

The main setting for the mystery is a cruise ship.

I recommend the book.

I have been trying also for 01/30 and no luck either. Bid up to $125. I'm going to put it on hold for a month and try again.

DD decided to wait a few weeks and try again. If worse came to worse they could always stay with us at the Embassy suites. They would have to sleep in the LR on the sleeper sofa but it would be free!;)

Wanted to thank everyone for the helpful info in this thread! Hubby and I are sailing out of San Juan in December and using the tips here I was able to book the Marriott/Stellaris for $100 through Priceline. Probably could have gotten it for less, but I'm thrilled. Marriott web site price is $175 (164 w/AAA) for the cheapest room.

 

Thanks, guys!!

 

Kathy (and Dan)

Target's Mom

Did you bid resort or 4 star to get the Marriott?

Thanks, DD has been trying to get a resort for Feb. with no luck.:confused:

I love your red dress. Hope you had a great cruise.

Here's the matches:

 

The 4* is the Intercontinental

The 3 1/2* is the Radisson Ambassador

The 3* is the Sheraton OSJ

 

I'd say 99% certainty on these. (The good thing about Hotwire is it is easy to tell what you are getting, the bad is that it is more expensive in PR than Priceline.)

I was thinking the same for the hotels. I guess I just wanted someone to confirm!!;)

DD has 4 months to try Priceline so maybe she will keep plugging away. I honestly think the Sheraton wouldn't be too bad for them because they would enjoy walking around OSJ.

There are three hotels listed on Hotwire for the night needed.

3 star= 107.00

4 star Resort= 189.00

3 1/2 star= 162.00

 

Can anyone tell me which hotels these rates might indicate?

 

I can't seem to find this information on BFT.

Thanks,

3 star= 107.00/ Casino,Fittness, Pools, Rest, Bus Center, High Int, Tennis

4 star Resort= 189.00/ Resort, Beach, Casino, Rest, High Int, Tennis, Laundry

3 1/2 star= 162.00/ Beaches Near, Casino, Fittness, Rest. High Int, Bus Center

Date DD needs is 2/5/2010

I don't emember that I had to bid multiple times on priceline when I used it several years ago. I am trying to help DD get a nice hotel since it htier first time in PR. We have our hotel already.

The star ratings differ from site to site .............:rolleyes:

There are three hotels listed on Hotwire for the night needed.

3 star= 107.00

4 star Resort= 189.00

3 1/2 star= 162.00

Can anyone tell me which hotels these rates might indicate?

I can't seem to find this information on BFT.

Thanks,

you are not bidding too far out! we have bid 330 days out and have gotten great deals. You just have to get "lucky".

Dont give up. As i said before Just have a cancellable back-up hotel you can live with.

*sweet*

DD needs more patience. I think she might try going SJ and 4 star. They would be happy with any of the 4 star hotels! They can always stay with us at the Embassy.

I'm new to Priceline, but thanks to all of the good advice here I got two rooms at the Marriott for 1 night next May for $110!

So there goes the theory that we are bidding too far out!;)

I don't remember bidding more than once when I used priceline previously.

My daughter has been trying off and on for a couple weeks bidding resort and adding zones with no luck. :confused: I started helping her out (bidding for her when she has used up her re-bids) and I am not having much luck. We have our hotel (used points for a free stay) but they still need a place. They need Feb 5th 2010. Has anyone had luck with February? It is a Friday night.

Second night. This floral print silk dress is mid-calf length and looks much better in person.

First night- not a very good picutre but we where having too much fun to take a formal one!