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Summary of Winning Bids on Priceline, Hotwire, etc.

sunlover5

By sunlover5,
in San Juan, PR

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NCTribeFan

NCTribeFan

Posted
Posted

I'm having problems. I could swear that before I'd go to Better Bidding and not only was there a list of hotels, but there was somewhere that showed which amenities for those hotels would show up on Priceline and Hotwire. I've spent forever searching for that and can't find it.

 

Was I imagining it?

 

Anyway, I know this is way too early to book (sailing 11/1/14), but I'm on another repositioning cruise and we have a huge Roll Call thread plus a FB page. So, our secret is out. Lots of people are already booking air and rooms. I will probably fly Southwest so can't book my flights for quite a while and didn't want to book a room until I was positive when I'd be flying!

 

Now I'm concerned that the desireable hotels will fill up quickly.

 

Anyway, I see an Express Deal on Priceline for a 4* with guest rating of 8.0, amenities showing pool, biz center, casino, fitness for $107. I think this is the Condado Plaza Hilton (someone posted they got rooms there for $107).

 

Do you folks think this is the Condado and is that a good price for that time of year or should I wait several months? The regular rate is "only" $139 and I'm close to having enough points for one night. I may wait since that isn't such a bargain.

 

Or just wait and try bidding and take my chances.

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HeatherC430

HeatherC430

Posted
Posted

Today, on Hotwire, the 4 STAR Condado area hotel (using the Secret Hot Rate) I won for 1 night pre-cruise stay in April was the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino (200 Convention Center Blvd). With the taxes & fees it totaled $127.19 for the one night - which I thought was pretty good. If I were to book this room directly it would have been $294 for one night!

 

Also worth mentioning, if you download the hotwire app on your SMART phone and use it to book you get a $25 promo good on over $100 purchase from now through 3/31. The deal above included my $25 promo code.

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ncsteeler

ncsteeler

Posted
Posted
Today, on Hotwire, the 4 STAR Condado area hotel (using the Secret Hot Rate) I won for 1 night pre-cruise stay in April was the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino (200 Convention Center Blvd). With the taxes & fees it totaled $127.19 for the one night - which I thought was pretty good. If I were to book this room directly it would have been $294 for one night!

 

Also worth mentioning, if you download the hotwire app on your SMART phone and use it to book you get a $25 promo good on over $100 purchase from now through 3/31. The deal above included my $25 promo code.

 

We stayed there in 2010. A pretty nice hotel but not near anything. A nice roof top pool over looking cruise ship pier too. Enjoy and thanks for the tip.

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  • 4 weeks later...
tneah

tneah

Posted
Posted

IMPORTANT TIP! If you are choosing a hotel on Hotwire use Netscape as your browser. I have pulled up exact hotels in the same order and on Netscape they are from a few dollars to several dollars cheaper? I hope this works for you.:D

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tneah

tneah

Posted
Posted
I'm having problems. I could swear that before I'd go to Better Bidding and not only was there a list of hotels, but there was somewhere that showed which amenities for those hotels would show up on Priceline and Hotwire. I've spent forever searching for that and can't find it.

 

Was I imagining it?

 

Anyway, I know this is way too early to book (sailing 11/1/14), but I'm on another repositioning cruise and we have a huge Roll Call thread plus a FB page. So, our secret is out. Lots of people are already booking air and rooms. I will probably fly Southwest so can't book my flights for quite a while and didn't want to book a room until I was positive when I'd be flying!

 

Now I'm concerned that the desireable hotels will fill up quickly.

 

Anyway, I see an Express Deal on Priceline for a 4* with guest rating of 8.0, amenities showing pool, biz center, casino, fitness for $107. I think this is the Condado Plaza Hilton (someone posted they got rooms there for $107).

 

Do you folks think this is the Condado and is that a good price for that time of year or should I wait several months? The regular rate is "only" $139 and I'm close to having enough points for one night. I may wait since that isn't such a bargain.

 

Or just wait and try bidding and take my chances.

 

 

I don't think it is that hotel. I don't think the CPH has a casino.

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kc320

kc320

Posted
Posted

Can someone give me some tips on how/what to bid for a hotel in old SJ? I am looking for 1nt precruise for early Dec. I know it's probably much to soon to start bidding...but I really want to be in OSJ...I've been in other areas of Sj & they were fine...but since I only have the 1 day I want to spend more time in the old area...thanks!

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  • 2 weeks later...
gooscar

gooscar

Posted
Posted

1, Looking to be in San Juan for 3 nights around October15th, 2014. How many months or weeks should I start the bidding? If I start now, would not it be too early and not get a good rate? (In other words, what is the average time people start their bidding?)



 

2. Do the San Juan hotels have "off peak season" rates in October?

 

Thanks in Advance :)

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keishashadow

keishashadow

Posted
Posted (edited)
I'm having problems. I could swear that before I'd go to Better Bidding and not only was there a list of hotels, but there was somewhere that showed which amenities for those hotels would show up on Priceline and Hotwire. I've spent forever searching for that and can't find it.

Was I imagining it?

 

Anyway, I know this is way too early to book (sailing 11/1/14), but I'm on another repositioning cruise and we have a huge Roll Call thread plus a FB page. So, our secret is out. Lots of people are already booking air and rooms. I will probably fly Southwest so can't book my flights for quite a while and didn't want to book a room until I was positive when I'd be flying!

 

Now I'm concerned that the desireable hotels will fill up quickly.

 

Anyway, I see an Express Deal on Priceline for a 4* with guest rating of 8.0, amenities showing pool, biz center, casino, fitness for $107. I think this is the Condado Plaza Hilton (someone posted they got rooms there for $107).

 

Do you folks think this is the Condado and is that a good price for that time of year or should I wait several months? The regular rate is "only" $139 and I'm close to having enough points for one night. I may wait since that isn't such a bargain.

 

Or just wait and try bidding and take my chances.

 

no, the providers have changed things around and the listing of amenites etc is restricted. If you do go their links and post, they are able to access more of them and advise for HW.

 

You should see the rates for all the hotels in SJ around new years:eek: I wish I could get the Condado for that rate my date! Booked it at a sharp discount yesterday, after all taxes/fees approx. $270:rolleyes: but the embassy suites and Hampton in Isla Verde are even higher. Note: I do see for my dates a HW 4 star in Condado for $187, which is likely the same hotel but after all fees their price is $257.

 

I'm the type to want to have a cancellable room within my preferred loyalty program booked, especially when I expect demand to be high.

 

I cancelled a cruise the end of May and booked the above January one but approximately 4 months ahead of sail date, many of the Hilton properties in SJ had the points + small fee offer available.

Edited by keishashadow
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  • 3 weeks later...
buddylover

buddylover

Posted
Posted

Won 2 different hotels/dates on Priceline this week:

1. Bidding: 4 star, resort, Condado/Old SJ for 1/9/2015, 1 nite we won Conrad Condado Plaza Hilton for $155/nite + 30.75 taxes (total $185.75)

 

2. Priceline Express Deal: 4 star resort Condado on Jan. 17, 2015 we won La Concha Resort for $171 + $30.63 Taxes/Fees for total of $201.63 This was our first choice to win and was so excited to win it.

 

Tried bidding for Jan 17 date and naming our our price for last 2 weeks, got up to $175 and was still rejected, prices have been going up and up, decided to just take the PL Express Deal (used coupon Spring14 for 5% discount and got room for $171)

 

Very excited about both wins...prices are way way up this year, but it still beats $299 nite listed for La Concha and $259/nite for Conrad Condado Hilton...both 4-star resorts.

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NCTribeFan

NCTribeFan

Posted
Posted

Just 10 minutes ago, I used Hotwire for the 4* Condado area (showing at $119, it is now $123).

 

Amenities: Free Internet, Resort, Near Beach, Casino, Smoke Free Rooms, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurants(s), Business Center.

 

I would've been happy with any of the 4* hotels in that area (I've stayed at the Marriott) but was hoping for Caribe Hilton or La Concha (didn't really want Condado Plaza Hilton but would've been OK with it at that price).

 

I got La Conca. Total with taxes $165.54. :D

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  • 2 weeks later...
Dajbman22

Dajbman22

Posted
Posted (edited)

FYI to any trying to bid in the first weekend of January 2015.

 

I was unable to find anything 4* for under $200 with name your own price. (Too many 3 and 3 1/2 star properties with low user ratings for me to risk lowering the stars).

 

I wound up giving up on bidding, since it was already getting to the express deals/other bidding sites.

 

In the end, I just booked Tres Palmas directly for pretty much my expected budget ($130+ tax). I know it's not a resort, but the reviews were very positive and the location seems great for a day of just relaxing pre-cruise.

Edited by Dajbman22
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cruisepeach

cruisepeach

Posted
Posted

Am very interested in this topic. Traveling end of May as first time to San Juan for a cruise departure. Have a family group of 12, probably need 4 rooms for 1 day before and 1 day after cruise in hopes of exploring SJ. Need to go read up on this bidding process but wondering -- are you able to request several rooms at same time? Would welcome any and all suggestions from the travel pros on Cruise Critic.... Thanks in advance. :D

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  • 2 weeks later...
xowendyxo

xowendyxo

Posted
Posted
Just 10 minutes ago, I used Hotwire for the 4* Condado area (showing at $119, it is now $123).

 

Amenities: Free Internet, Resort, Near Beach, Casino, Smoke Free Rooms, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurants(s), Business Center.

 

I would've been happy with any of the 4* hotels in that area (I've stayed at the Marriott) but was hoping for Caribe Hilton or La Concha (didn't really want Condado Plaza Hilton but would've been OK with it at that price).

 

I got La Conca. Total with taxes $165.54. :D

 

I am looking for March 2015 and it's now $178 :(

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  • 2 weeks later...
twinzzz

twinzzz

Posted
Posted

Just wondering if anyone has the used this for flights to/from San Juan, and what time were the flights? We are looking to fly from BUF or DTW.

 

We will be flying in the day before our cruise, so have a full day if we got a late flight but coming home need to leave the day we arrive back in port.

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  • 1 month later...
Tennessee Rose

Tennessee Rose

Posted
Posted

Can someone tell me which site to go to and be able to limit hotel bidding searches to just Old San Juan? It seems like every place I look has just San Juan and includes all of Condado and Isle Verde. I'm trying to figure out how to "possibly" get Sheraton OSJ near Pier 4.

Help!

And thank you! :)

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