AOS - Marriott San Juan and Stellaris Casino..

[Nessa1dc]

First of all thank you all for your help in finding the best way to get a room in San Juan. Our cruise on the AOS is December 12 -19th, 2010.

 

We have decided to head to San Juan on December 10th...(a couple of days of sightseeing.)

 

I bid $122.00 on Priceline and got the Marriott San Juan Resort and Stellaris Casino. (I started with a bid of $80, uh...that didn't work, I didn't think it would...I was hoping to get lucky)

 

I still have a few questions:

 

1. Everyone recommended the Hilton Caribe...is the Marriott as good, better, or worse?

 

Another question, there is a resort fee, is that included in the Priceline fee we paid or will we be hit with another bill at checkout?

 

2. Are we close to the Port? Airport? How much for a taxi ride to either?

 

3. Can we walk to Old Town...how far are we from the action (shopping, tours, etc.)

 

4. We were interested in doing the Bacardi Tour. I read somewhere that the tour is about $100? Is that right? If so, is there anything cheaper to do?

 

5. How is the Casino? What type of table games, etc.?

 

Thanks Everyone...we have our airline tickets, and hotel room...we are ready to go...Already Super Excited.

[Aquahound]

I highly recomment the Marriott because it is a gorgeous resort. But to answer your questions:

 

1. Carib is also good, but I think I like the Marriott is better. You will see a resort fee on all PR hotels. PR charges a bed tax. You, the tourist, pay the taxes there.

 

2. Marriott is about midway between the airport and the cruise port.

 

3. You can not walk to old town from the Marriott. That would even be difficult from the Carib.

 

4. The Bacardi tour is free. If you really want to go, then go. Just realize that you do not get to see the actual factory. The tour is only of a static display in a separate building. I recommend going to the rainforest.

 

5. The casino at Marriott is excellent. They have all the table games.

[Motorman23]

First of all thank you all for your help in finding the best way to get a room in San Juan. Our cruise on the AOS is December 12 -19th, 2010.

 

We have decided to head to San Juan on December 10th...(a couple of days of sightseeing.)

 

I bid $122.00 on Priceline and got the Marriott San Juan Resort and Stellaris Casino. (I started with a bid of $80, uh...that didn't work, I didn't think it would...I was hoping to get lucky) That is not a bad Price, we have gotten it from $80-$110 depending on the season.

 

I still have a few questions:

 

1. Everyone recommended the Hilton Caribe...is the Marriott as good, better, or worse? I have only stayed at the Marriott and it is very nice

 

Another question, there is a resort fee, is that included in the Priceline fee we paid or will we be hit with another bill at checkout? We did not get hit with any additional fees.

 

2. Are we close to the Port? Airport? How much for a taxi ride to either? It is about a 15 to 20 min trip depending on traffic. Charges were reasonable, maybe $20-25 but not 100% sure.

 

3. Can we walk to Old Town...how far are we from the action (shopping, tours, etc.) Regarding Old Town, Not unless you like real long walks, it is a cab ride in my opinion. There is lots of shopping around the hotel and we found it to be safe to walk around. Lots of Tourists and Cops around.

 

4. We were interested in doing the Bacardi Tour. I read somewhere that the tour is about $100? Is that right? If so, is there anything cheaper to do?

 

5. How is the Casino? What type of table games, etc.? Standard Casino on the first floor, mostly locals in the casino. Friendly staff. Many slots, maybe 12 tables.

 

Thanks Everyone...we have our airline tickets, and hotel room...we are ready to go...Already Super Excited.

 

See Comments above

[jebba555]

We stayed there and really liked it. We researched it on TripAdvisor too. Its distance from the airport and the port was fine. Enjoy :)

[mjyanne]

First of all thank you all for your help in finding the best way to get a room in San Juan. Our cruise on the AOS is December 12 -19th, 2010.

 

We have decided to head to San Juan on December 10th...(a couple of days of sightseeing.)

 

I bid $122.00 on Priceline and got the Marriott San Juan Resort and Stellaris Casino. (I started with a bid of $80, uh...that didn't work, I didn't think it would...I was hoping to get lucky)

 

I still have a few questions:

 

1. Everyone recommended the Hilton Caribe...is the Marriott as good, better, or worse? Never stayed at the Hilton but Marriott is very nice.

 

Another question, there is a resort fee, is that included in the Priceline fee we paid or will we be hit with another bill at checkout? Believe it is included in your price.

 

2. Are we close to the Port? NO Airport? NO How much for a taxi ride to either? $20 - $25 from Airport to hotel and $20 - $25 from Hotel to Port. (about 15 - 20 minute ride each way).

 

3. Can we walk to Old Town...how far are we from the action (shopping, tours, etc.) No. You can take a taxi or there is a bus stop right outside the hotel that is pretty cheap (don't remember all the particulars but others have provided that info on this board (check the San Juan port board for details).

 

4. We were interested in doing the Bacardi Tour. I read somewhere that the tour is about $100? Is that right? If so, is there anything cheaper to do? I believe the tour is FREE. Others have also said it is not worth doing (not sure).

 

5. How is the Casino? What type of table games, etc.? Standard casino games and very nice.

 

Thanks Everyone...we have our airline tickets, and hotel room...we are ready to go...Already Super Excited.

 

See comments in RED above

[BeancounterUSA]

4. We were interested in doing the Bacardi Tour. I read somewhere that the tour is about $100? Is that right? If so, is there anything cheaper to do?

 

 

Check out the Fajardo bio bay Kayak tour.

http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/fajardo-bio-bay/

 

I'm usinig Kayaking Puerto Rico for $45 per person in July 2010. They will provide round trip transportation from the Marriott for another $20 per person. There are a number of other tour operators also. There is a 6:45pm tour and a 9:00 pm tour (check in is a half hour before the times above). It's 40 miles or so east of the hotel so you'll have to leave or get picked up well before the check in time, but it might be worth checking out.

 

 

 

You'll have to check the calendar to see if the moon is right for the date that you'll be there.

[cara1484]

First of all thank you all for your help in finding the best way to get a room in San Juan. Our cruise on the AOS is December 12 -19th, 2010.

 

We have decided to head to San Juan on December 10th...(a couple of days of sightseeing.)

 

I bid $122.00 on Priceline and got the Marriott San Juan Resort and Stellaris Casino. (I started with a bid of $80, uh...that didn't work, I didn't think it would...I was hoping to get lucky)

 

I still have a few questions:

 

1. Everyone recommended the Hilton Caribe...is the Marriott as good, better, or worse? We stayed at the Marriott in January - hotel was very clean, bar had good drinks, and the casino had nice games!

 

Another question, there is a resort fee, is that included in the Priceline fee we paid or will we be hit with another bill at checkout? No you will not be hit with another bill unless you charge items to your room.

 

2. Are we close to the Port? Airport? How much for a taxi ride to either? We met another couple and carpooled to the port - it was a $20 ride. We got there around noon and had to wait 15 minutes but we were among the first on the ship.

 

3. Can we walk to Old Town...how far are we from the action (shopping, tours, etc.)

 

4. We were interested in doing the Bacardi Tour. I read somewhere that the tour is about $100? Is that right? If so, is there anything cheaper to do? We were interested in the Bacardi tour as well, but come to find out its about a $40 cab ride each way from the Marriott Stellaris - not worth it. There is an excursion with RCCL that you can do for cheap that includes the tour and airport transportation I say go with this.

 

5. How is the Casino? What type of table games, etc.? We just walked in but the slots were giving out money.

 

Thanks Everyone...we have our airline tickets, and hotel room...we are ready to go...Already Super Excited.

 

 

See Above for answers!

Were going on the AOS in Jan. 2011 - post a review when you return! Enjoy!!

[Sheffie]

I have some photos of the hotel in my signature link. Check under "San Juan 2006." We loved the hotel; it has beautiful pools and is right on the beach.

 

Have fun planning for your cruise!

[rcipilot]

Bus from Marriott to bus depot in Old Town was a quarter a couple of years ago. Nice hotel, Enjoy

[missbogota]

I have stayed at both and prefer the Marriott! It is close to other restaurants/shopping and even a Burger King. I've had great luck on the slots in the casino. Both are nice...just prefer the Marriott! You got a great price!

[shonandsuzie]

We loved the Marriott Stellaris! We have some pics in our signature in "Adventure of the Seas 2008".

BTW, it was 20 for taxi to airport and the same to port for us with luggage.

[shonandsuzie]

Marriott Stellaris...ahhhhhh. I wish I was there now.....

 

[mein18]

The Marriott is fantastic! Stayed there this past January. Only word of warning, be sure to designate an ocean view room. There may be a slight upcharge however you don't want to be stuck with a view of land.

[Nessa1dc]

Thank you all for your responses...thanks for the wonderful photos as well. We are so ready...we have until December...I can't wait. The hotel looks beautiful.

[toonjie]

Congrats! You got a good price and the Marriott is a lot nicer than the Caribe Hilton. Check out my pics in the link in my signature and the google map to learn the lay of the land. (There's a link there with great info on the Bacardi tour.) You'll love the Marriott and the AOS!

[HappiTravels]

Contrary to some of the responses above if your hotel is considered a resort you will receive a bill on checkout for the 14% resort fee. We got the "Caribe Hilton" on the Priceline name your own price and of course that was all paid in advance. We had a bill under our door for the resort fee.