Hotwire Hotel: Hilton Caribe in San Juan for Dec 05

[phlydude]

I am checking Hotwire each day and noticed that for the first time for Dec3 - Dec4, the Hilton Caribe has shown up as an option. Rack rate on Hilton's site is $205+tax pre-purchase. The hotwire price is $172+tax.

4* rating and ammenities shown are beachfront, restaurant, pool, fitness, spa, tennis nearby and business center. From what I have researched, I can pretty much spot on be sure that this is the Caribe.

Is this a good price? I want something very close to the cruise dock (Pan Am) and from my understadning, the Caribe is pretty much right next door.

What have others been getting this for?

Would I perhaps have better luck with Priceline on the rate? Newby to the Priceline/Hotwire thing since pretty much every vacation taken up to this point has been at an all-inclusive or to WDW!

Thanks! :)

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

The Caribe Hilton is not "right next door" to the Pan Am pier... it is the closest hotel to that pier, but it is still a cab ride away.

I wouldn't be locking this in on Hotwire at the moment for a savings of $25, there is far too much time between now and your stay, although if you don't take my suggestion below i would book a fully cancellable back-up in the meantime just to protect yourself.

I would take a closer look at the 3.5* property on HOTWIRE which (at least on my search) is the believed to be the Sheraton Old San Juan. This hotel is litterally 'next door' to the other dock (not the Pan Am) but is still a fairly short cab ride away from the Pan Am pier. At nearly half the price of the Caribe Hilton, that is where i would be booking now for this stay, as this hotel has only recently been added to the Hotwire system (since the Sheraton has recently taken over this property) and i would think that there is a very good chance that this offering would not be available closer to your check-in date.

As much as i enjoyed the Caribe Hilton during my own stay, there is not much to do in the immediate area (unless you want to go to Old San Juan). The Sheraton puts you right in Old San Juan where you have a large variety of choices of restaurants and bars for your nightly entertainment. I know there have been some mixed reviews of this property so far, but i think that is typical for San Juan which usually has very high hotel rates and is not known for being very customer service oriented, and whatever 'kinks' they are currently experiencing since taking over the property should be worked out by December.

Let us know what you decide to do or if we can be of more assistance.

If you book either, please use THIS LINK to start your purchase.

[phlydude]

Thanks for the welcome, been doing some lurking but decided to post finally!

I guess I'm trying to please the masses (there are 5 of us going and the beach being there is a big PLUS for 3 of 5). Also the proximity of the hotel to the pier will be a savings on cab fare (how much? minimal I'm sure but try telling that to your MIL!)

I too have heard mixed reviews from the Sheraton Old San Juan and about Old San Juan in general at night. I don't know if the ladies would enjoy it (they are not street smart at all!)

Someone else brought up about perhaps getting 5 of us in a 2 bedroom suite in the Embassy Suites. How often do you see this hotel come up on hotwire and is it a standard room?

[thereuare]

Regarding the area of Old San Juan, i'll remind you that you are going to San Juan, which while not considered a very dangerous city, it is not considered the safest either... i don't expect you'd be walking the streets around the hotel much after dark and wouldn't advise doing so in the Condado area either (where the Hilton is).

From the Hilton to the Sheraton is maybe 3 miles or so, so the difference in cab fare in getting the Pan Am pier would be negligible ($5 at the most?). As well, you'll likely be able to walk to off-property restaurants while at the Sheraton, not likely so at the Hilton, so if you're factoring cab fare into the equation before to analyze your total costs (forget about eating at the Hilton or other on-site hotel restaurants.... very expensive. If you want some local fare check out my San Juan Dining Thread). For half the cost i think the Sheraton thru HOTWIRE is an easy decision.

But this isn't my trip, it's yours, so you need to be happy with your decision and feel comfortable in the area in which you'll stay. So if you decide against the Sheraton i would book a cancellable back-up in the meantime and continue to monitor the offerings (the San Juan area is notorious for releasing inventory close to check-in date... but some who only wait for inventory to be released never see it come, so make sure you have a back-up your happy with).

Let us know if/how we can help further.