Summary of Winning Bids on Priceline, Hotwire, etc.

[cheffip]

I got the Sheraton OSJ through Priceline for $70 for January 29, as a one-night pre-cruise stay. It was my first time bidding and I certainly used the information on this forum to decipher the process. Thanks all!

[stormycat]

I just got the Shearton Old San Juan for March 21. I knew when I booked there was a chance for only 1 bed. there will be 4 of us. I called the hotel directly to put in a request. He said they don't do that and if there is not a room available with 2 double beds when we check in they will not let us stay. Has anyone had that problem. Thanks

[explorergrl]

I want to thank this board for all your tips. I just booked the Mariott Resort for 2 nights pre cruise. $155.00 is a great price. I am so excited. I will take your advice and signup for Marriott rewards program.

Thanks again!!:D

[toonjie]

I want to thank this board for all your tips. I just booked the Mariott Resort for 2 nights pre cruise. $155.00 is a great price. I am so excited. I will take your advice and signup for Marriott rewards program.

Thanks again!!:D

 

Congrats on getting the Marriott! You will love it! :)

[frito58]

We are sailing from San Juan on April 4th. Staying Friday the 3rd, bid several times on a resort with no luck, bid as high as $120, which has worked in Sept. but I know April is high season, backed down to 4 star still no luck. I had seen on better bidding that that the Sheraton Old San Juan was going on Hotwire for $135, so went down to 3.5 stars hoping for the Sheraton bid $105 and got it . Not sure if you can go cheaper but its booking at $209 that night.

[ken_nyc]

I want to thank everyone who convinced me to get my airline tickets in the first week of November. We got an airfare of $308 per person on Delta, just checked both Delta and JetBlue, Delta's fare is up to $398 per person. JetBlue just posted there flights for August and it seems the average airfare is $582 per person (the comparable times as the flights we have). That is $822 more on JetBlue and $270 more on Delta for the 3 of us! WOW what a savings! Sure could put that money elsewhere on our cruise! :)

[toonjie]

I want to thank everyone who convinced me to get my airline tickets in the first week of November. We got an airfare of $308 per person on Delta, just checked both Delta and JetBlue, Delta's fare is up to $398 per person. JetBlue just posted there flights for August and it seems the average airfare is $582 per person (the comparable times as the flights we have). That is $822 more on JetBlue and $270 more on Delta for the 3 of us! WOW what a savings! Sure could put that money elsewhere on our cruise! :)

 

I love it when a plan comes together! :)

[bilyclub]

I just got back and used Priceline for one before/after the cruise. Yes it was cheaper, but be warned about this joint.

 

Cons: $11.90 per day added resort fee

no food joints nearby, hotel charges $15 for a burger

they will put you in the Condado Lagoon Villas.

the first night they gave us a room, #7116. it was across

from a loud machine that never stopped making noise.

the last night we were "upgraded" to #7727. this room had a view

of the contrsuction site next door. the workers there started work

at 6:00 AM, and their hoist is extremely loud.

 

Pros: lovely grounds, with a good beach and pool area.

close to piers, ( though on Sunday cabbies won't take you

to pier for posted rates).

local hamburger place. two blocks east

 

The people had the front desk were nice, but it was the first time I felt that they put these rooms on Priceline because nobody would pay their regular rate for them...

Edited December 17, 2008 by bilyclub

[sweetair]

sorry bilyclub, i guess to each his own..I absolutely LOVED the villas at the caribe as did the 4 others in 3 rooms We requested them! Most of the rooms had a little kitchenette with dinner table and chairs/fridge/microwave etc. My first room had an awesome jacuzzi in the bathroom. Only complaint: very little space for storage.

 

It even has its own pool and hot tub area or you can walk about 2 minutes to the beach or other pools.

 

second:everyone is charged a resort fee and the amount depends on what you paid whether through priceline or bought outright through hilton.

 

Food: subway and small bodega right across street and 15 minute walk to condado or use free bus

I stayed here 1 week and many 2 pre-cruise nights

*sweet*

[bilyclub]

My main beef is: Would you pay the regular/rack rate for these rooms?

I would say, most people would not. Those rooms and furnishings were old and worn out. They are putting those rooms on Priceline because they are not 4 or 5 star rooms. I've used Pricline a lot, and stayed at other Hiltons, and did not get the dreaded "Priceline" rooms. I'm not the only one with this view. The Caribe has a lot of negative reviews.

[gracemummy03]

I won Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel for $140 2/21/09.

 

Any idea how close to the Pan Am port that is?

 

 

We stayed at the Sheraton in April 08 and paid $274/night through the travel agent. This was our first cruise and did not know any better. So you are getting a bargin.

 

We are going on AOS May 17 09 and this time decided to go online to search for hotels. We found a 4 start hotel about 2 miles from the Pan American Pier for $170.00. Hotel - Condado Plaza hotel. Its the same distance as the Sheraton Old San Juan from the Pan American pier. The staff at the Sheraton was fine. However I was not totally impressed with the room. The good thing was the hotel took all our luggage to the pier so you dont see them again till you arrive on the ship. ( They must have labels for your cruise);)

Saying all that we consoled ourselves with the fact that we walked many miles around town and never once took a taxi. So I suppose being closer to town made up for cost of taxi. That was really lovely. We found some really great restaruant that served native foods....wished I could remember their names. I think one was the German Resturant near the Fort, and the other was a Bakery that was made famous by Rachel Ray. The food there was fabulous. We had breakfast and there were long cues to get in as it is such a popular place.

 

Good luck with your travels.:)

[pmshirl]

Just got the Marriott Stellaris for June 6, 2009, for $125.00 with taxes = 159.00. I had this same hotel booked for the same date through Marriott for $279.00 ( that was a Gov. discount price). I saved nearly half through priceline!:)

[nessymarie]

ok i just got home from a little hotel hopping in the Condado area :D

 

La Concha - hotel exceeded my expectations had some problems with noisy neighbors and got upgraded to a "balcony"room. I have to say their costumer service is great. the restaurant by the pool has nice tapas style dinning in the evening .

 

Marriott Stellaris - had some problems with the air conditioning but for the inconvenience got upgraded to a pool view . i just wanted a room with a working air conditioning a street view would have done. The hotel is really nice overall , although the casino needs a little refurbishing because it looks and feels really dark and outdated

 

Caribe Hilton - :mad: thank god i had only paid 124 including tax trough priceline , the hotel is not what it used to be . I think the last refurbish was done in 1999 and it shows . i found a very old looking cigarette bud in the balcony and the room felt dusty i left the hotel about 1 hour after arriving

 

Condado Plaza - by far my favorite got here after leaving the Hilton . had and ocean view room . the room was really nice and a very good size and the bathroom was more than enough for two people . the service was awesome and the food was really good and after comparing the prices it was the cheapest.

 

oh i just got the Marriott in priceline for July 3- 5 for $158 including tax

[scarlett68]

I am looking to book at a very nice hotel in Old San Juan, PR for 1/19-1/20/09. 2 rooms. I don't know on Priceline or Hotwire how to narrow down to Old San Juan. Any advice?

[toonjie]

Well, it seems it's been a very successful year of bidding, we wanted to wish everyone a merry Christmas and happy Hanukah & New Year and continued success in getting those great hotels on the cheap!!! :)

[epixx]

I got the Caribe Hilton for $85 plus taxes 1/4/09 one night post cruise. I read on this thread that others have declined the resort fee at the Marriott. Has anyone been successful refusing to pay resort fee at this Hilton?

[Spurscorner]

Just Got the Sheradon OSJ for 1/31 on Priceline.

Started out with a bid of $99.00 for 3.5* in zone 6 [san juan] and was declined. Bumped it up to 115 with free rebid added zone 5 [ponce] got a reply if I added $22 they would accept it. So I took it. Rack rate is currently $269 .

[bilyclub]

I got the Caribe Hilton for $85 plus taxes 1/4/09 one night post cruise. I read on this thread that others have declined the resort fee at the Marriott. Has anyone been successful refusing to pay resort fee at this Hilton?

 

Was there on 12/6 and 12/14. No luck. They will inform you at check in that it is mandatory. It will be $11.90. Watch out for the rooms at the Condado Lagoon Villas. There is construction next door, and some noisey equipment on the first floor.

[NCTribeFan]

It's a "loophole" in the Priceline system.

 

In theory, if you wanted a resort in San Juan, you'd pick your max bid price, select the resort category and the San Juan zone, and bid away -- if the bid were rejected, you'd have to wait 24 hours to bid again.

 

In practice, however, there is a way to make multiple bids on the same day, thus allowing you to start your bidding lower and work your way up. This is known as "free re-bidding" and uses the technique of "free re-bid zones." These zones are what you refer to: other areas that don't have resorts. If your initial bid price is rejected, Priceline allows you to place another bid at a higher price simply by adding another zone to the re-bid -- even though that zone may not have a hotel in the category on which you are bidding.

 

There are four other zones in Puerto Rico that don't have resorts, so this appears to give you four re-bids. But wait -- there's more!

 

By using that algebra that's stored somewhere in our memory, 'permutations' actually give us 15 chances to re-bid here. How? Let's say you bid on zone 6, then on zones 6 & 1 -- you can then sign out, sign back in, and place a new bid on zones 6 & 2, then re-bid on zones 6, 2, and 1. This process is repeated for other zones, 6-3, 6-3-1; 6-3-2, 6-3-2-1; 6-4, 6-4-1; 6-4-2, 6-4-2-1; 6-4-3, 6-4-3-1; 6-4-3-2, 6-4-3-2-1.

 

You now have 15 re-bidding opportunities to get a resort in San Juan ... and I need to drink less coffee in the morning. :eek:

 

:eek: is right!

 

No wonder I didn't understand what was going on! Hey, I'm a CPA. This stuff makes tax law seem logical!

 

OK, I've been researching all my many shore excursions and have an idea of what I'll be spending, and know which flights I'm going to book, so I think I'm ready to bid.

 

I don't sail until 5/17, though. Is it too early? Am I late?

 

I hate to put all this expense my credit card (which, sadly, has a balance due to Fascination cruise and Christmas) and I need to book airfare, which will be around $780 for two. Seems rather silly to book everything now, putting it all on credit card, when I'll have to pay interest on it, negating a lot of the savings!

 

Can I wait to book the hotels or do you think I should go ahead and get started?

 

I just realized that I have enough Priority Club points to book the HEI on 5/16. That would help! I may try to get Sheraton OSJ instead (and keep the points for later). Will go back and read to see what people have bid and what area for that one.

 

I really want Marriott Stellaris for the 2 nights post-cruise, though.

 

I have read the better bidding stuff. It really didn't help me too much, I'm afraid. If people would not only post their winning bids, but tell what they had to select to get that hotel and the description, it would be helpful to us novices!

[sally4909]

Just looked at Hotwire for a stay in San Juan from 1/31-2/1 and there is a 4* hotel for $133. It is a boutique hotel, smoke free, pool, restaurant, fitness center, business center, high speed internet. Could this be the El Convento or the Normandie? Thanks for your help.

[heyduke55]

Just looked at Hotwire for a stay in San Juan from 1/31-2/1 and there is a 4* hotel for $133. It is a boutique hotel, smoke free, pool, restaurant, fitness center, business center, high speed internet. Could this be the El Convento or the Normandie? Thanks for your help.

 

Sally it appears to be the El Convento since the hotel you get with a package deal matches the amenities that the four star hotel has. Also the only other boutique hotel that shows up in their packages is 3.5 star one. Good luck - we will also be in san juan that date.

[sally4909]

Thanks Heyduke55,

Thanks for your help. It is indeed the El Convento but the price went up a bit when I got around to making the reservation. Still a great price at $136 plus taxes. We're going on the Adventure of the Seas the next day and actually made this reservation for my brother and sister. My husband and I are staying at the Marriott Stellaris. Booked it on Priceline months ago at $180 plus taxes. Thanks again, Sally

[pmshirl]

:eek: is right!

 

No wonder I didn't understand what was going on! Hey, I'm a CPA. This stuff makes tax law seem logical!

 

OK, I've been researching all my many shore excursions and have an idea of what I'll be spending, and know which flights I'm going to book, so I think I'm ready to bid.

 

I don't sail until 5/17, though. Is it too early? Am I late?

 

I hate to put all this expense my credit card (which, sadly, has a balance due to Fascination cruise and Christmas) and I need to book airfare, which will be around $780 for two. Seems rather silly to book everything now, putting it all on credit card, when I'll have to pay interest on it, negating a lot of the savings!

 

Can I wait to book the hotels or do you think I should go ahead and get started?

 

I just realized that I have enough Priority Club points to book the HEI on 5/16. That would help! I may try to get Sheraton OSJ instead (and keep the points for later). Will go back and read to see what people have bid and what area for that one.

 

I really want Marriott Stellaris for the 2 nights post-cruise, though.

 

I have read the better bidding stuff. It really didn't help me too much, I'm afraid. If people would not only post their winning bids, but tell what they had to select to get that hotel and the description, it would be helpful to us novices!

 

I went into the priceline website. Entered San Juan (#6), Clicked on resort, don't click on the 2, 3, 4, star area! Placed my initial bid for $110.00. It came back declined. I then added a click on the Dorado ( since there are no resorts in Dorado) , I was able to place another bid! I then bid $125.00 and got the Marriott Stellaris ( which is where I wanted to stay).

 

Good Luck! As long as they are not accepting your bid, you will not be charged! Once you enter an amount and they have something available for that bid, you will be charged! Then you will find out the hotal you got for that bid!:p

[cowetamom]

We won't be in San Juan until Sept but I checked on priceline for the Marriott Stellaris and right now it is going for $175. When would be a good time to start bidding, it seems a bit early to me but Im not sure. Also, what would be a good starting bid?

[big aft]

Hotwire is showing 3 * for $93/nite for 1st week in March. Comp breakfast and short walk to beach.

 

Anyone have an idea of what this is?

 

Thanks