Summary of Winning Bids on Priceline, Hotwire, etc.

[aainsjen]

We were not able to process this request since our records indicate you have already made a request for this same trip. Your credit card has not been charged

 

Why do I get this and what do I have to do?

 

I waited 2 days before I went back on to bid.

 

I did San Juan with first (resorts) then (4 Star) then (3 Star)

 

Started at 120, went to 121, then 123

 

3 different transactions and I got that response everytime.

 

I really want the Sheraton which is a 3 star..any advice??

 

THanks

[Linda74]

Wait 24 hours and then start another bid. Begin with resort and San Juan, the add the free bids which would you can find by looking at the Priceline site and seeing which areas don't have resorts. Increase your bid by $5 or so each time. I don't think I would go lower than 4 star if paying over $100.

[cruisintwinsmom]

We were not able to process this request since our records indicate you have already made a request for this same trip. Your credit card has not been charged

 

Why do I get this and what do I have to do?

 

I waited 2 days before I went back on to bid.

 

I did San Juan with first (resorts) then (4 Star) then (3 Star)

 

Started at 120, went to 121, then 123

 

3 different transactions and I got that response everytime.

 

I really want the Sheraton which is a 3 star..any advice??

 

THanks

 

 

2 sites may help you with a strategy for getting the Sheraton, which I think is different than if you want to get a resort (not sure). They are betterbidding and biddingfortravel (dot com). Good luck!

[drakes2]

First time ever bidding on Priceline and entered a bid of $180 and was accepted first try. Got the Marriott Stellaris Resort & Casino which is what I wanted. With taxes came to $217 for Jan. 24th. Pretty sure I would not have gotten it for less for this date. I am soooooo happy! Thanks to everyone for all the great advice.

You cant pick a specific hotel with Priceline. With that said all the resorts in San Juan are decent to excellent. Caribe Hilton and Intercontinental are 2 hotels that are frequently won on Priceline. So while you could end up with the Marriott, there is also a good chance you wont.

 

It always best to start out bidding low. Since there are so many free rebid zones you can bid multiple time a day. I won Intercontinental with a bid of $150 for a 1/19/09 stay. I started at $120.

 

Biddingfortravel.com and betterbidding.com are great reference threads for people new to priceline and hotwire.

 

 

Good Luck

[Flip2cruise]

First time ever bidding on Priceline and entered a bid of $180 and was accepted first try. Got the Marriott Stellaris Resort & Casino which is what I wanted. With taxes came to $217 for Jan. 24th. Pretty sure I would not have gotten it for less for this date. I am soooooo happy! Thanks to everyone for all the great advice.

 

Congrats!! Since there are so many free rebids when booking resorts in San Juan, its always a good idea to start off low. Im sure you could have gotten a win at a lower rate, but you still got a great deal.

 

Have a great cruise and hotel stay.

[Nanatravel]

Congratulations to the Priceline bid that won the El San Juan.

 

I wanted that hotel (when there about 8 years ago there was a "Resort Fee"). I understand that if a hotel has a Casino, it qualifies for that additional fee. We too will see if they charge us.

 

I won the El San Juan Resort & Casino on HotWire for $159 plus taxes and $153+ for Nov. 1. I wanted this property particularly since we had stayed there before. Lowest rate I had found was $179, so I was OK with my winning bid. I went to Packages and did the "test" to see if the icons and stars would help me identify just the hotel. It did. I ended up "buying" another room for friends about 2 weeks later who will join us on the cruise and the rate had dropped a few dollars. I am happy.

 

Bon Voyage

Nanatravel

[luna_goddess]

so we are trying to stay at the Sheraton Old San Juan pre-cruise on Sept. 13th.

 

how do i know how many stars this hotel is?

is it a "resort"?

they are offering rooms for $149/nt... is $49 too low of a bid ?? :p

 

from reading the thread it doesnt seem like many people stay here... is it terrible? lol we just want something *in* old san juan.

 

help please? :D

[Flip2cruise]

so we are trying to stay at the Sheraton Old San Juan pre-cruise on Sept. 13th.

 

how do i know how many stars this hotel is?

is it a "resort"?

they are offering rooms for $149/nt... is $49 too low of a bid ?? :p

 

from reading the thread it doesnt seem like many people stay here... is it terrible? lol we just want something *in* old san juan.

 

help please? :D

 

I would check www.biddingfortravel.com http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/forums/102/t/Puerto-Rico-U-S-Virgin-Islands.html

 

or www.betterbidding.com

 

Sheraton Old San Juan is a 3 star hotel. There is no way to bid and get a specific hotel. If you bid 3 star you could get the Radisson Ambassador.

 

I would seriously think about just paying the $149 if you know for sure that is the hotel you want. Most of the Priceline hotels arent in Old San Juan, but in Isla Verde and Condado

 

You might not see many posts about Sheraton, because most are bidding for resorts in San Juan.

[RocCruisers]

Luna, I just got the Marriott with a bid of $120 through better bidding / priceline. Now for the flight down!

[Izeve]

Has anyone had any luck with 1 night pre-cruise for AOS 8/17/08 sailing? I just tried a resort/boutique bid with rebids from $70 to $110 with no luck on priceline. I can get Sheraton Old San Juan, Hilton Caribe or Embassy Suites for around $178 per night plus tax, so I don't want to go over $120 or so on Priceline. Suggestions?

[green eyed lady]

Izeve,

I got 3 nights post cruise for the 8/3 sailing of AOS (8/10-8/13) at the El San Juan for $115/night :D

[DON M.]

Izeve,

I got 3 nights post cruise for the 8/3 sailing of AOS (8/10-8/13) at the El San Juan for $115/night :D

We will be going pre-cruise Aug. 09. When did you start bidding? Thanks.

[green eyed lady]

I started about 6 weeks ago and they took my bid after 2 days of trying. But some people bid way far in advance and get good deals too.

[patches12]

I have been trying to figure the priceline thing out. Just as I think I understand, I realize I do not. I have been reading all the posts and links for the last 9 days. Now I have a headache!

 

I know I cannot get the exact hotel by name, but some people said there is a way to figure it out. I cannot figure it out. They all look alike!

 

I would like to have the Sheraton Old San Juan that is by the pier. How can I figure out which one that is? I understand it may not even be offered at all. Is that right? July 5th is the night I need. I know, last minute.:D

 

When we disembark, we will use ANY hotel/resort so I can take my chances then. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks

[patches12]

Ok. Still trying to understand the star thing.

 

When I look at the hotel's site, expedia, travelocity, hotwire, priceline, etc., they do not have the same number of stars. A hotel will be 2 star in one and 3 star in another.

 

Which one is right when bidding? If I am on priceline bidding part, do I go by Priceline's (non-bidding part) star system?

 

Thanks:confused:

[DON M.]

Ok. Still trying to understand the star thing.

 

When I look at the hotel's site, expedia, travelocity, hotwire, priceline, etc., they do not have the same number of stars. A hotel will be 2 star in one and 3 star in another.

 

Which one is right when bidding? If I am on priceline bidding part, do I go by Priceline's (non-bidding part) star system?

 

Thanks:confused:

On Priceline when you look for 3star hotels in San Juan they list 4 0r 5, Sheraton, Hoiliday Inn etc. If you want the Sheraton you would bid for 3 star hotels in San Juan. You may or may not get the Sheraton. A starting bid right now if I was bidding would be $85.00, and go from there. I would not use Priceline if you must have only the Sheraton.

[sweetair]

once again priceline has come through very well...

i just got the La Concha for dec 5- dec 7..san juan..4 stars...$116 bid plus taxes!!!

 

i have seen the grounds and the hotel (although still a work in progress) has beautiful pool areas...will report after i see the rooms.

 

*sweet*

[patches12]

Thanks Don.

 

I don't have to have the Sheraton, but it would make it much easier for us. I will bid 3 stars starting at $85.00 and see what happens.

 

I was just wondering how some posters said they could figure out which one was which. I

 

Thanks!

[DON M.]

Thanks Don.

 

I don't have to have the Sheraton, but it would make it much easier for us. I will bid 3 stars starting at $85.00 and see what happens.

 

I was just wondering how some posters said they could figure out which one was which. I

 

Thanks!

Your welcome, when bidding on Priceline, no one knows what hotel has a surplus of rooms, convention, etc. that will generate the discounts. If you dont have any luck and have a budget of around $125.00 take a look at this hotel that gets very good reviews on Trip Advisor.http://www.hotelmilanopr.com/f1.htm

[aainsjen]

Well I finally did it, I used priceline and this is what I got:

 

Marriott San Juan Resort And Stellaris Casino

162 a night--2 nights 1/9/09 & 1/10/09.

Taxes 62.17

 

I think thats pretty good. Im tired of searching around.

 

Thanks to all who helped me out!

[patches12]

Ok I figured the priceline and hotwire thing out!

 

For the past four days, Hotwire has had a hotel for $163.00 per night for 3 people. I looked at the amenities listed, number of Trip Advisor posts, average Trip Advisor ratings, then compared them to the hotel website and Trip Advisor website. It looks like July 13th matches with the Intercontinental.

 

I wanted to save more money so I went with Priceline.

 

July 5th -- 3 star is Radisson Ambassador in Condado. $125.00 + taxes = $152.89 + resort fees of ?? %

 

July 13th -- Resort category--Caribe Hilton in Old San Juan. $130 + taxes = $ 158.95 + resort fee of 12%.

 

Not bad. I can't believe the 3 Star is almost the same as the Resort! Just because of the dates! 3 star on Saturday and Resort on Sunday!

 

I love this. Thanks to whomever started this sticky at this forum!

:D :D :D

[DON M.]

Ok I figured the priceline and hotwire thing out!

 

For the past four days, Hotwire has had a hotel for $163.00 per night for 3 people. I looked at the amenities listed, number of Trip Advisor posts, average Trip Advisor ratings, then compared them to the hotel website and Trip Advisor website. It looks like July 13th matches with the Intercontinental.

 

I wanted to save more money so I went with Priceline.

 

July 5th -- 3 star is Radisson Ambassador in Condado. $125.00 + taxes = $152.89 + resort fees of ?? %

 

July 13th -- Resort category--Caribe Hilton in Old San Juan. $130 + taxes = $ 158.95 + resort fee of 12%.

 

Not bad. I can't believe the 3 Star is almost the same as the Resort! Just because of the dates! 3 star on Saturday and Resort on Sunday!

 

I love this. Thanks to whomever started this sticky at this forum!

:D :D :D

Congrats. You did well, have a great time.

[swom]

Let me ask a question. If you win a bid and don't like the hotel can you cancel or are you stuck with it?

In my case, my husband smokes and I need a room that allows smoking. A lot of the hotels are non smoking ones, so can I cancel without penalty if I get one of those?

Thanks!

[patches12]

No you cannot cancel. I think there is a new law about smoking anyway. I don't think you can smoke in any hotel...not sure.

[toonjie]

You can't smoke anywhere inside in Puerto Rico from what I understand and in addition, you can't smoke outside in public places, if someone asks you to stop smoking you have to put it out. Hopefully some of the locals will chime in about the enforcement of this new law. Here in CT, they are considering making it illegal to smoke in your car if you have children in it, a great law IMHO.