Summary of Winning Bids on Priceline, Hotwire, etc.

[OhioJeff]

Well, I want to thank everyone for all the good advice and giving me the comfort to actually bid. I got us 2 rooms for 3 nts each at the Intercontinental San Juan Resort & Casino $162/night. Cheaper than the $329 and up they advertise!!! :D

 

Now, I need to investigate The Intercontinental, hope it's a nice hotel.

 

Well thanks again, I owe you all.....but then don't we all owe each other?:confused:

 

Happy Cruisin'

Score!! Its a great hotel! Just plan to eat and drink somewhere else, because the food and drinks are pricey.

 

There are quite a few post on this board about the hotel and here is the link to tripadvisor reviews.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g644389-d150446-Reviews-InterContinental_San_Juan_Resort_Spa_Casino-Carolina_Puerto_Rico.html

[Cruiser64]

I scored through Priceline the Intercontinental resort pre-cruise on Jan 17th for $150 and the Wyndham Rio Mar Beach resort post-cruise on Jan 25th for $140. Anyone know anything about the Wyndam Rio Mar resort in Rio Grande? Trip advisor has good/bad reviews and not too many.

[polodad]

Wow toonjie! $40 per person at the Marriot for the day??? Do you have to arrange this ahead of time? That would be great! Do you know if kids are the same price?

 

Kabux- Depending upon the room price at the Marriott for when you're going it might be less expensive to get a room then $40 pp for day use. Our room with fees was $135. 2 adult & 2 kids= 4 x$40=$160 for daypasses.

[waterbugohio]

Ok,

 

here we go again. Have been bidding for the last three weeks for November and cannot get accepted. I am up to $135 and no luck. Will try again tonight.

[cruisingnewyorkers]

i'm with you, need a room for November 7th and I've bid as high as 131 and nothing.

 

good luck

[green eyed lady]

OK I did it:eek: I got 2 rooms at the El San Juan for $115 per night per room. Am I gonna hate it??? :confused: Have any of you stayed there recently? That was my last choice of hotel...I read some not so great things about it on Tripadvisor. Did I do the right thing or should I have kept my ressie at Hampton Inn? :(

[toonjie]

OK I did it:eek: I got 2 rooms at the El San Juan for $115 per night per room. Am I gonna hate it??? :confused: Have any of you stayed there recently? That was my last choice of hotel...I read some not so great things about it on Tripadvisor. Did I do the right thing or should I have kept my ressie at Hampton Inn? :(

 

Don't worry! First, It's way, way better than the Hampton Inn! I was at the rooftop bar of the Water Club, which is right next to the ESJ, last year and a guy that travels to PR all the time said he liked the ESJ better than any of the big hotels. The beach is the best in San Juan and the pool area is really nice, that alone makes it worth it! I wouldn't worry about the negative reviews on Tripadvisor either, most of those people pay full rack rate and expect the Ritz because they paid so much! I would look at it this way, even though you didn't get your first choice, you got a really nice hotel that is a lot better than your backup and you got it for less!

[green eyed lady]

OK Thanks. At first I was really having buyer's remorse but I'm starting to feel better now. It is only 3 nights so I'm sure we'll be fine there.

 

So now can you tell me what's near the ESJ? Is it near the Marriott or any of the other big hotels? What can we walk to from there?

[waterbugohio]

Green Eyed Lady

 

After bidding for the last month, I was finally accepted also at the El San Juan. I too had hoped for the Marriot or one of the others, but after looking at the website and photos, I am sure we will be happy.

 

We got the El San Jaun for $142 ($171 w/taxes) for Nov. 14th for one night. I still feel like I got a really good deal.

 

I would also like to know what is within walking distance? We will get in about 5:00 friday night and will probably just stick near the hotel that night. We are kinda planning on checking out of the hotel early the next morning. Storing our luggage somewhere and spending the morning touring the forts, ect. Then heading to Pan AM pier around noon

[green eyed lady]

Waterbug,

I will be sure to let you know how it is when I get back! The website does look beautiful but I was leary b/c all the trip advisor reviews were awful lately. But the good news is, go to trip advisor and read the most recent one posted just yesterday I think...it's glowing! :D I'm really looking forward to this trip ;)

[toonjie]

The ESJ is in Carolina, the neighborhood close to the airport, it is too far from the Condado area, where the Marriott is to walk. I'm not as familiar with that area aw I am the Condado. If you are looking for a great restaurant, then Tangerine in the Water Club isn't a far walk down the beach. I would recommend you at least go to the rooftop bar there and see the elevators with waterfalls in them on your way up. It's a chic, South Beach kind of hotel and the food at Tangerine is out of this world, one of the best restaurants in the Caribbean!

Here's a pic of me on the roof on one of the sofas:

 

Bird of Paradise on the rooftop of Water Club: (Note the great view of the beach, you will have a great view of the ESJ as well.)

[green eyed lady]

OK thanks for the info and don't you look comfy and relaxed! :D

[toonjie]

OK thanks for the info and don't you look comfy and relaxed! :D

 

San Juan does that to me! Oh, and probably the Pina Coladas as well! :)

[IHATESNOW]

I just got the Intercontinental for $169 through Hotwire for a 1 night pre-cruise stay in January 09 for 4 people. I was 99% sure that's what it was going to be and betterbidding confirmed it before I pulled the trigger.

[Marie51]

I want to bid on priceline for a pre-cruise hotel for 10/24/08. I checked on the Marriott website and I can get the Stellaris for $157 senior rate. Do you think I should book that or try priceline for a cheaper rate?? And how much does priceline charge for their "fee"?

Thanks

[NoVACruiser]

I suggest you book the Stellaris for $157 as your back up and as it gets closer, try Priceline for something cheaper. If you get it, fine, if not, you still have the Stellaris as long as you're OK with the $157.

[Flip2cruise]

I want to bid on priceline for a pre-cruise hotel for 10/24/08. I checked on the Marriott website and I can get the Stellaris for $157 senior rate. Do you think I should book that or try priceline for a cheaper rate?? And how much does priceline charge for their "fee"?

Thanks

 

What is the normal rate for that day? Sounds like a great rate,as mentioned book that as a back up.

 

When you put in your bid, the next page(before you actually click "book my hotel") will show you the the taxes and fees(minus resort fee)

 

If it were me, I would do some research and find out what the accepted bids have been for your dates. If you really want a resort, you might be able to snag the same resort for $20-30 less. Marriott and Intercontinental have been coming up quite a bit lately in Priceline resort wins.

 

I won the Intercontinental ($150..$181 w/fees) for my cruise, which is during a busier time of the year than your cruise.

[Marie51]

The normal rate for the day that I am going, 10/24, is $185, and the senior rate is $157. If some folks are getting a 4* for about $150 on priceline, then it would turn out the same after you add in the fee that priceline charges. I may book that as a backup and use priceline or hotwire for a better deal.

 

I also see that lots of you book rooms with priceline several months before your trip. I usually wait til the last minute, like 2 weeks before my cruise, and I have always been lucky getting a great hotel. Of course I realize I am taking a chance that nice hotels would be sold out by then but it hasn't happened to me yet.

[Flip2cruise]

The normal rate for the day that I am going, 10/24, is $185, and the senior rate is $157. If some folks are getting a 4* for about $150 on priceline, then it would turn out the same after you add in the fee that priceline charges. I may book that as a backup and use priceline or hotwire for a better deal.

 

I also see that lots of you book rooms with priceline several months before your trip. I usually wait til the last minute, like 2 weeks before my cruise, and I have always been lucky getting a great hotel. Of course I realize I am taking a chance that nice hotels would be sold out by then but it hasn't happened to me yet.

 

If the regular rate is $185, a bid of $80-100 might get you a resort. There are no 4 star Priceline hotels in SJ. Have you done research on the same days on betterbidding or biddingfortravel to see what the lowest accepted bids have been?

 

My winning bid was 150, but the regular rare for the Intercontinental is $329 a night.

[kay995]

You are the only one here who I see is going

on the Serenade on the 15th...we are looking

to stay in San Juan on the 14th...will fly in from

NY on Friday and looking to have a nice dinner

and see some sights before we go to the ship

 

Never did priceline and am clueless....any tips as

to how to begin??? I would like to spend less than

$200.....

 

This is our 8th RCCL cruise and it is more fun when

you find another couple to hang out with....what

exursions have you planned?

 

Kay and Tom

[waterbugohio]

Kay,

 

Check out my reply on roll call.

 

Waterbug

[Ernie G]

You are the only one here who I see is going

on the Serenade on the 15th...we are looking

to stay in San Juan on the 14th...will fly in from

NY on Friday and looking to have a nice dinner

and see some sights before we go to the ship

 

Never did priceline and am clueless....any tips as

to how to begin??? I would like to spend less than

$200.....

 

This is our 8th RCCL cruise and it is more fun when

you find another couple to hang out with....what

exursions have you planned?

 

Kay and Tom

 

Kay:

 

We were on the Serenade in November and stayed pre-cruise a few nights. This was our 3rd cruise out of San Juan but have stayed at 5 different hotels. We always book through Priceline and have been successful in getting a 4* resort 2 times. They were the Caribe Hilton and Marriott Stellaris. The other times we got the Hampton Inn & Suites at the airport, The Ambassador in the Condado district, and what use to be the Wyndam Old San Juan which is further away from the port you'll be embarking from. I didn't look all the way back to see when your dates of travel are, but would be more than happy to share more information with you if you still have questions.

[sun bum]

:) Just Got The Intercontinental San Juan Resort Through Priceline For 2 Nights ---january 22-24-2009 For $157. Total With Fees For Both Nights --$375.58

[toonjie]

:) Just Got The Intercontinental San Juan Resort Through Priceline For 2 Nights ---january 22-24-2009 For $157. Total With Fees For Both Nights --$375.58

 

Great score! The pool area and beach are fantastic! I hope to get there next week and take some pics and post a review when I return.

[polodad]

Just got back from a 2 week Canal cruise that originated in San Juan. We stayed 1 night precruise at the Marriott Stellaris as we did last year. Wow!

 

Even tho the reservation was acquired thru Priceline for $110 because I'm in the Marriott Rewards program the concierge contacted us prestay and asked for special requests (robes, slippers, down pillows, qt of Johnny Walker (kidding about the JW)).

 

I requested an ocean view & they appologetically said no, but when we got into the room it was an ocean view. They placed us on the executive floor, 1 below the penthouse. The room key gained us complimentary (free) access to the executive lounge on the roof. In the morn it was deluxe breakfast buffet and a 360 degree view of the beach & San Juan and inside or al fresco dining. What a deal!