Hurricane Maria

[leosmom08]

We had a two night stay booked at Hotel El Convento post cruise on the 23rd and 24th. I emailed and attempted to call them as soon as I found out we would not be returning to PR, but instead going to FL to disembark, to try to cancel my stay and get my money back (you pay at time of booking with El Convento). The emails bounced and as of a few minutes ago, the phones are still not working. I realize this is probably due to the fact power and phones are down on most of the island. They did post one Facebook update post hurricane, so I tried sending them a FB message too - with no response.

 

So, regretfully, I just filed a dispute with my credit card company. I HATE doing that, and feel like I am kicking someone while they are down, but don't want more time to go by, and have run out of options to recoup what was a fairly expensive booking.

 

Dan.

 

 

 

I'm wondering if we will have to do the same if we don't hear something in the next week or two. It's heartbreaking to see what those people are going through.

[sometimes sailor]

I emailed hotel milano (small hotel in OSJ) and haven't heard back. Don't want to bother them at this point bc we don't know when flights/cruises will resume

 

 

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From PR Tourism:

Lodging Updates:

The following hotels are closed and not taking new reservations until further notice. If you have an existing reservation in the coming days, please contact the hotel directly for rebooking.

• Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
  
• W Retreat & Spa in Vieques
  
• Gran Melia
  
• Coral by the Sea Hotel
  
• Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa (planning to reopen at the end of the year)
  
• Royal Isabela
  

The following hotels are open, but not taking new reservations prior to October 15:

• Hyatt Place San Juan
  
• Hyatt House San Juan
  
• Verdanza Hotel
  

The following hotels are open, but not taking new reservations prior to October 22:

• Hyatt Hacienda del Mar (Dorado)
  
• Hotel El Convento
  
• Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino
  
• Condado Vanderbilt Hotel
  
• AC Hotel by Marriott San Juan Condado
  
• La Concha Resort
  
• InterContinental San Juan in Isla Verde
  
• San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino
  
• The Wave Hotel
  
• Holiday Inn Express San Juan Condado Hotel by IHG
  
• Canario Boutique Hotel
  
• Coral Princess Hotel
  
• At Wind Chimes Boutique Hotel
  
• Best Western Condado Palm Inn & Suites
  
• Comfort Inn San Juan
  
• Hotel Miramar
  
• Hotel Villa Montaña & Spa
  

The following hotels are not accepting existing or new reservations through October 31:

• Caribe Hilton
  
• The Condado Plaza Hilton
  
• Embassy Suites by Hilton Dorado del Mar Beach Resort
  
• Embassy Suites by Hilton San Juan Hotel & Casino
  
• Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino Resort
  
• Hampton Inn & Suites San Juan
  
• El San Juan Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
  
• DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Juan
  

The following hotel is no longer accepting existing or new reservations through December 31:

• El Conquistador, a Waldorf Astoria Resort
  

NOT GOOD THAT HOTEL MILANO is not listed at all. May indicate either serious damage, or as you said, it is small and not large enough for their listing.

[Clarea]

... NOT GOOD THAT HOTEL MILANO is not listed at all. May indicate either serious damage, or as you said, it is small and not large enough for their listing.

I don't see the Courtyard Marriott listed either.

[Schplinky]

This list is not strictly accurate so I wouldn't worry about your hotel not being included. My research is noted below.

 

From PR Tourism:

Lodging Updates:

The following hotels are closed and not taking new reservations until further notice. If you have an existing reservation in the coming days, please contact the hotel directly for rebooking.

• Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
  
• W Retreat & Spa in Vieques
  
• Gran Melia
  
• Coral by the Sea Hotel
  
• Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa (planning to reopen at the end of the year)
  
• Royal Isabela
  

The following hotels are open, but not taking new reservations prior to October 15:

• Hyatt Place San Juan - Their own website says they are closed and not accepting any reservations until further notice.
  
• Hyatt House San Juan - Their own website says they are closed and not accepting any reservations until further notice.
  
• Verdanza Hotel
  

The following hotels are open, but not taking new reservations prior to October 22:

• Hyatt Hacienda del Mar (Dorado) - Their own website says they are closed and not accepting any reservations until further notice.
  
• Hotel El Convento
  
• Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino
  
• Condado Vanderbilt Hotel
  
• AC Hotel by Marriott San Juan Condado
  
• La Concha Resort
  
• InterContinental San Juan in Isla Verde
  
• San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino
  
• The Wave Hotel
  
• Holiday Inn Express San Juan Condado Hotel by IHG
  
• Canario Boutique Hotel
  
• Coral Princess Hotel
  
• At Wind Chimes Boutique Hotel
  
• Best Western Condado Palm Inn & Suites
  
• Comfort Inn San Juan
  
• Hotel Miramar
  
• Hotel Villa Montaña & Spa
  

The following hotels are not accepting existing or new reservations through October 31:

• Caribe Hilton
  
• The Condado Plaza Hilton
  
• Embassy Suites by Hilton Dorado del Mar Beach Resort
  
• Embassy Suites by Hilton San Juan Hotel & Casino
  
• Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino Resort
  
• Hampton Inn & Suites San Juan
  
• El San Juan Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
  
• DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Juan
  

The following hotel is no longer accepting existing or new reservations through December 31:

• El Conquistador, a Waldorf Astoria Resort
  

NOT GOOD THAT HOTEL MILANO is not listed at all. May indicate either serious damage, or as you said, it is small and not large enough for their listing.

[Schplinky]

I don't see the Courtyard Marriott listed either.

 

Their web-site says the following, which I think strongly implies they are open.

The Government of Puerto Rico has enacted a curfew. All check-in has to be made before 6:30 p.m

[Clarea]

Their web-site says the following, which I think strongly implies they are open.

The Government of Puerto Rico has enacted a curfew. All check-in has to be made before 6:30 p.m

Thanks. I'd had tried doing some test reservations on their website and found some openings after mid October, but I missed that curfew part.

[mcsgabby]

We had/have reservations at the El Convento and I have not been able to get a response from them. We are definitely not going to PR since our cruise (AOS on 9/30) and all our flights were cancelled. We've rebooked on the Allure leaving on Sunday instead. However, I pre-paid for pre and post-cruise stays at El Convento and since your list shows them open I have no idea what will happen to that nearly $2,000. Oh well, I know they need the money more than I do but it still hurts.

[Schplinky]

We had/have reservations at the El Convento and I have not been able to get a response from them. We are definitely not going to PR since our cruise (AOS on 9/30) and all our flights were cancelled. We've rebooked on the Allure leaving on Sunday instead. However, I pre-paid for pre and post-cruise stays at El Convento and since your list shows them open I have no idea what will happen to that nearly $2,000. Oh well, I know they need the money more than I do but it still hurts.

 

I'd call my credit card company. As others have, you could challenge the charge and receive a refund.

[SensFan11]

We had/have reservations at the El Convento and I have not been able to get a response from them. We are definitely not going to PR since our cruise (AOS on 9/30) and all our flights were cancelled. We've rebooked on the Allure leaving on Sunday instead. However, I pre-paid for pre and post-cruise stays at El Convento and since your list shows them open I have no idea what will happen to that nearly $2,000. Oh well, I know they need the money more than I do but it still hurts.

 

It's worth trying to get a refund from the hotel or your credit card for a prepaid stay...but may be tricky.

 

A refund from the credit card company is usually only for 'goods and/or services not provided'. If you prepaid your hotel and they say they were open and able to accommodate you, then they're going to consider you a 'no show' and the credit card company probably won't reverse the charge (although it's worth a try).

 

This is where travel insurance would be applicable...most have clauses based around costs due to a 'missed scheduled connection', a Government-issued advisory not to travel to a region, or a natural disaster at your destination.

[ColoradoGurl]

We had/have reservations at the El Convento and I have not been able to get a response from them. We are definitely not going to PR since our cruise (AOS on 9/30) and all our flights were cancelled. We've rebooked on the Allure leaving on Sunday instead. However, I pre-paid for pre and post-cruise stays at El Convento and since your list shows them open I have no idea what will happen to that nearly $2,000. Oh well, I know they need the money more than I do but it still hurts.

 

 

Most credit cards, especially travel based credit cards (Like the Southwest Visa for example), come "built in" with travel insurance. According to the terms and conditions of my SW Visa, you can get your money refunded for the hotel under these circumstances, as long as you paid for the hotel with the Visa.

 

 

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[spleenstomper]

We had a two night stay booked at Hotel El Convento post cruise on the 23rd and 24th. I emailed and attempted to call them as soon as I found out we would not be returning to PR, but instead going to FL to disembark, to try to cancel my stay and get my money back (you pay at time of booking with El Convento). The emails bounced and as of a few minutes ago, the phones are still not working. I realize this is probably due to the fact power and phones are down on most of the island. They did post one Facebook update post hurricane, so I tried sending them a FB message too - with no response.

 

So, regretfully, I just filed a dispute with my credit card company. I HATE doing that, and feel like I am kicking someone while they are down, but don't want more time to go by, and have run out of options to recoup what was a fairly expensive booking.

 

Dan.

 

You may want to contact the PR tourism FB page through message and let them know. They may be able to contact the hotel maybe, if only to tell them you feel bad about doing it this way.

[Schplinky]

Thanks. I'd had tried doing some test reservations on their website and found some openings after mid October, but I missed that curfew part.

 

I've just been looking at their availability calendar and they say it is unavailable for check-in before December 1.

[Clarea]

I've just been looking at their availability calendar and they say it is unavailable for check-in before December 1.

Interesting, that was not the case yesterday. I wonder if reservations got filled, or they decided they could not be ready.

[Schplinky]

Interesting, that was not the case yesterday. I wonder if reservations got filled, or they decided they could not be ready.

 

I was having trouble with their web-site and so I just clicked through to the hotel's page and then clicked availability calendar. For every date before December 1, it said "not available for check-in" or something to that effect.

[Schplinky]

I was having trouble with their web-site and so I just clicked through to the hotel's page and then clicked availability calendar. For every date before December 1, it said "not available for check-in" or something to that effect.

 

As many are likely doing, in case their first choice hotel doesn't re-open on time, we are making a back-up reservation at a second hotel. Sadly, this will make overall availability in San Juan look even worse than it already is but there is no way around it. If our cruise is going forward, we need a place to stay.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

we just got through to our hotel in San Juan and they said they are not sure yet if they will be up and running by October 20th and to call back a few days before we are to arrive.

 

We have reservations at the AC hotel in Condado.

 

Bill

[SensFan11]

As many are likely doing, in case their first choice hotel doesn't re-open on time, we are making a back-up reservation at a second hotel. Sadly, this will make overall availability in San Juan look even worse than it already is but there is no way around it. If our cruise is going forward, we need a place to stay.

 

I also suspect FEMA and other disaster relief organizations are booking whole hotels and/or large blocks of rooms for multiple weeks ahead through the fall/winter. Some of these may get reopened to new bookings as the recovery effort proceeds, but I'd also expect a few hotels will get taken over completely by FEMA for the next 4-6 months.

 

That's the primary reason I've booked a backup hotel...in case it's FEMA that's there now, and that they continue to hold all rooms beyond October 31st.

 

It's been widely report that there's over 10,000 federal employees now in Puerto Rico...they've got to stay somewhere.

[mjgep0316]

I also suspect FEMA and other disaster relief organizations are booking whole hotels and/or large blocks of rooms for multiple weeks ahead through the fall/winter. Some of these may get reopened to new bookings as the recovery effort proceeds, but I'd also expect a few hotels will get taken over completely by FEMA for the next 4-6 months.

 

 

 

I thought I read that FEMA and aid workers have or will have presence of up to 10,000 folks on the island, so this makes sense.

 

 

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