Summary of Winning Bids on Priceline, Hotwire, etc.

[pmshirl]

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

When you go on hotwire, it gives you the choices of hotels for the star # you choose. You won't always get one of the hotels they have listed, but that will give you an idea of what hotels they are giving you for that price.

 

I got a boston 3 star hotel ( it was NOT one of the listed hotels for my price) but I got it for 85.00 a nite and hotels in boston 3 star go for 350-600 a night. I just need a hotel to sleep the night before the cruise, so it worked for me!

[ScubaJess]

For anyone that has recently won the Sheraton via Hotwire...

I saw in a VERY early post on this board, from Toonjie (spelling?)

 

For those looking to get the Sheraton on Hotwire, note it is now a 3.5 star hotel and these are the amenities: Hotel features: Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access, Tennis Nearby.All the other 3.5 star hotels will either have ocean front or beach or near beach in their amenity lists. So you know you have the Sheraton if you have 3.5 and no beach or ocean.

Is this still good? I don't know if the hotel has been upgraded to a 4 star or anything. Since it's my first time booking through Hotwire, I want to make sure I do it right!!!



Thanks!:)

[NCTribeFan]

Thanks pmshirl. As soon as DD goes back to school, I'm going to get this all taken care of, even if my credit card is unhappy about it. I'm just one of those people who has to do their planning and get everything "set" early or I make myself crazy!

 

cappelli: I was just about to ask the same thing.

 

I'm shooting for the Sheraton for the 1 pre-cruise night and want the Marriott Stellaris for the 2 post-cruise nights.

[Groovey]

Do the San Juan hotels and resorts charges taxes and fees in addition to those already charged by Priceline? Staying at the Radisson Ambassador for 3 nights and don't want any unpleasant surprises?

[pmshirl]

Do the San Juan hotels and resorts charges taxes and fees in addition to those already charged by Priceline? Staying at the Radisson Ambassador for 3 nights and don't want any unpleasant surprises?

 

The only additional fee that you may be charged is for a resort fee! That is around $20.00. Sometimes you can try to get the place to wave it, other times not!

 

When I got the Marriott Stellaris for $125.00. I was charged the tax of 33.00. I was not charged the resort fee. I origianlly had this same hotel booked on my own and was charged the resort fee, but since mt total for one night was $270.00 ( withh all taxes and fees), I decided to try on Priceline. I just cancelled the one I had booked!

 

Sorry I can't help you with the Sheraton. I have only been inside their casino and it was a DUMP!

 

Good Luck

[Relayer4]

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 .

 

Priceline will almost always accept less than the counteroffer price. The counteroffers they present are completely random. If one has available free rebid zones, just close out and start over. I know there are many in San Juan for 3.5* hotels. For example, if I received a counteroffer at $115, I would close out, start over and make my next bid no more than $120. I've seen some folks rebid $1 at a time after a counteroffer. The general rule is cut the counteroffer in half and you should be successful.

[Relayer4]

I'll put a plug in for Bidding For Travel, http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/ I think they are the best site for Priceline users. One can see the same post on their Puerto Rico forum.

 

Using Preiceline, I had been trying the past few days, getting shot down on resorts up to $115, and 3.5* hotels up to $95. In researching the available hotels, all the 3* look like good places to stay in the San Juan area. The Hilton Caribe Resort seems to nickel and dime you for everything and for a pre-cruise stay it doesn't seem worth it. Also, I found out our ship leaves from the Pan Am Pier which is across the harbor from the Sheraton and Old San Juan. There would have been no advantage in winning that hotel. It turns out this Courtyard is one of the closest hotels to our pier.

 

I won this hotel on the first bid of $50 today. Based on what the winning bids have been going for in San Juan, I am very happy with the result. Lowest non-refundable rate on the Marriott site is $195 for this night.

[NCTribeFan]

I have visited the bidding help sites. Unfortunately, I've mostly just wandered around and haven't been able to find any specific information. Links directly to specific boards that provide specific info for San Juan hotels would help, rather than just references to the sites (like "go to betterbidding dot com"). I did that, and spent about two hours and couldn't find my way to anything specifically useful. I just don't have the time!

 

OK, anyway, I booked my air this morning. Flying down 5/16 for a 5/17 cruise. I want something in OSJ for the pre-cruise night, since we're on Carnival. But I'll book that one later after I decide whether to try for the Sheraton or to use my Priority Club points and just stay at the HIE.

 

But I'm going to try to get the Stellaris for the post-cruise nights of 5/24 & 5/25. Marriott's price for those nights is showing as $219.

 

So, if I've read everything correctly, I guess I'll try Priceline. I'll select Zone 6, resort, and place a bid. If that isn't accepted, I'll add a zone, but leave it at just "resort" because there are no resorts in zones other than zone 6, so that will be a free rebid.

 

Is this correct? Anyone have a suggestion at what price would be reasonable to start, given the rooms are going for $219 regular rate? Would it be a waste of time to start as low as $100?

 

AND...

 

what does the resort fee include? We'll be there 2 nights post-cruise, so it would seem reasonable that we should pay the resort fee, as we'll actually be using the facilities.

[Relayer4]

NCTribeFan, here is the specific link to the Puerto Rico board: http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/forums/102

 

Be careful, Zone 5 (Rio Grande-Humacao) is not a free rebid zone because they offer resorts. All others are good to go.

 

Also be cautious, if the Marriott is really where you want to stay, then Priceline might not be your best option. Always the chance you could win the Hilton Caribe when bidding for a resort in Zone 6.

 

Since you have so much time and so many free rebid zones, I'll would low-ball around $60-70 and work your way up. I never thought I would win the Courtyard for $50, but bargains like that do happen. Not to mention May is not the busy season.

[NCTribeFan]

Thanks! I'll exclude Zone 5.

 

I want Stellaris, but I can live with the others, I think. I just can't justify paying $200+ a night for the post-cruise stay.

[royal_flush]

When you go on hotwire, it gives you the choices of hotels for the star # you choose. You won't always get one of the hotels they have listed, but that will give you an idea of what hotels they are giving you for that price.

 

I got a boston 3 star hotel ( it was NOT one of the listed hotels for my price) but I got it for 85.00 a nite and hotels in boston 3 star go for 350-600 a night. I just need a hotel to sleep the night before the cruise, so it worked for me!

 

Don't forget that Hotwire often rates hotels 1/2 star above other travel sites so you might not get what you expected. Their prices are still very good however.

[teegee16]

just bid on priceline and got this for precruise two nights at 45 a night. average price per usual 238.00 yahoo, feel like i just robbed a bank!!!

[pmshirl]

just bid on priceline and got this for precruise two nights at 45 a night. average price per usual 238.00 yahoo, feel like i just robbed a bank!!!

 

 

WTG. That's a great price!

[ScubaJess]

For anyone that has recently won the Sheraton via Hotwire...

I saw in a VERY early post on this board, from Toonjie (spelling?)

 

 

For those looking to get the Sheraton on Hotwire, note it is now a 3.5 star hotel and these are

the amenities: Hotel features: Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access, Tennis Nearby.All the other 3.5 star hotels will either have ocean front or beach or near beach in their amenity lists. So you know you have the Sheraton if you have 3.5 and no beach or ocean.

 

 

Thanks!:)

 

 

 

Any takers yet?:)

Is this still good? I don't know if the hotel has been upgraded to a 4 star or anything. Since it's my first time booking through Hotwire, I want to make sure I do it right!!!

[cruiseguy1016]

just bid on priceline and got this for precruise two nights at 45 a night. average price per usual 238.00 yahoo, feel like i just robbed a bank!!!

 

Can you please tell me how you bid this? 3*, 4*, resort?

[cheffip]

Any takers yet?:)

[/left]

 

I bid in December and got the Sheraton OSJ via Priceline for $70. And yes, it was still 3 1/2 *.

[Relayer4]

Can you please tell me how you bid this? 3*, 4*, resort?

 

 

When you enter a city and date on the Priceline front page, you need to get into the "name your own price" section. The Courtyard is a 3* found in the San Juan area (zone 6), however there is no guarantee this is the hotel you would win, it could be any of the 3* hotels in this area. Instead of walking you through the entire process, I suggest you read the Hotel FAQ from Bidding For Travel. Then I'll be glad to answer any questions you might have. It's important to familiarize yourself with how the process works.

 

http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/topic/2560

Edited January 5, 2009 by Relayer4

[DoctorDestiny]

never mind

Edited January 5, 2009 by DoctorDestiny

[Relayer4]

just bid on priceline and got this for precruise two nights at 45 a night. average price per usual 238.00 yahoo, feel like i just robbed a bank!!!

 

teegee, just saw your post on BFT, nice win. I wonder how low they will go? Looks like there's a lot of bargains to be had at the Courtyard.

[travelmoxie]

teegee, just saw your post on BFT, nice win. I wonder how low they will go? Looks like there's a lot of bargains to be had at the Courtyard.

 

Given the outstanding price, I am tempted to try this thing for the first time. How close is this hotel to old San Juan and the cruise piers?

 

Thanks.

[travelmoxie]

Given the outstanding price, I am tempted to try this thing for the first time. How close is this hotel to old San Juan and the cruise piers?

 

Thanks.

 

Sorry, also, do you have to take your chances regarding beds? We need 2 beds in our room.

[Mo from Canada]

Just got 2 room at the Courtyard by Marriot San Juan Miramar March 6th for $45.00 and March 7th for $90

Thankyou to previous posters for posting on this deal

Mo

[vmbaskets]

I've never did this before and have tried all different ways as described here on the board. I am in need of a hotel for one night in San Juan on 1-24-09. I was up to $145 and had no luck. I was trying for resorts, 4 star and 3.5 star. Any suggestions???:)

[big aft]

Try 3* and drop the bid. Could get the Courtyard, which I did for 2/28 a Sat nite for $80.

[softlips]

I put in a bid for 3 1/2 star in zone 6 went as high as 89 .. trying to get Sheraton Old San juan .. with no success ... also searched the enigines for this hotel all came back .. that there is no availabilitu .. trying to get it 2/7/09 precruise nite. Want to be in old San juan to Walk intown and to dinner etc.

 

 

 

thanks

Edited January 5, 2009 by softlips