Priceline Hotel: 3.5* (or 3*) San Juan 4/7/12-4/8/12

[David L]

I'm looking for a 3.5* or even a 3* Hotel in San Juan for 1 night on 4/7/12.

Preference would be to be as near to Old San Juan as possible.

Did some looking over in the Hotwire forum before posting here and it looks like my best option there is the Radisson Ambassador (90% sure that's the one I'm looking at) for $129/night, plus I have a $25 Hotwire Credit that's expiring in July and wouldn't otherwise be used.

I'd be happy with that location since we have friends staying the same night in the Marriott which looks to be extremely close by.

So, basically the target would have to be somewhere below $95/nite to really make it worthwhile to not take the Hotwire option.

I would like to avoid any hidden resort fee, but I guess I'd have to select resort option for those to even come up?

4/7 arrival date is a Saturday and 4/8 is Easter Sunday.

I was just looking around priceline since I've never used it before. Is the first bid fixed based on the * level? 3.5* seems to have $95 hardcoded in and 3* has $70 hardcoded in.

What's a proper bidding strategy for this?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Please start by reading your messages and clicking these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links... then reply to this thread and we'll have a look at your stay above.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[David L]

Ok. Did that all.

Airfare for the return trip opens up tomorrow morning, so I'm going to book that then.

Was hoping to have a plan for the hotel today so that I can purchase that right after I book the flights tomorrow, so any quick assistance is appreciated.

[thereuare]

Did some looking over in the Hotwire forum before posting here and it looks like my best option there is the Radisson Ambassador (90% sure that's the one I'm looking at) for $129/night...

I'm not sure what you're seeing, but the the hotel i'm seeing i believe to be the Inter-Continental.

Preference would be to be as near to Old San Juan as possible.

Your hotel can be anywhere within the shaded boundaries of the zone... are you willing to accept a hotel anywhere within the zone?

I would like to avoid any hidden resort fee, but I guess I'd have to select resort option for those to even come up?

No, you can have 'resort' fees at any hotel star level.

I was just looking around priceline since I've never used it before. Is the first bid fixed based on the * level? 3.5* seems to have $95 hardcoded in and 3* has $70 hardcoded in.

No, you choose the price... not sure where you're seeing the hard coded figures you're referencing. If you use the search box on the top right of this page and enter "San Juan, PR" and your dates, does the page look like the one you're referring to?

Based upon the above do you want to bid on a 3.5* property with a maximum bid of $90, is that correct?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[David L]

I'd say that would be about right for 3.5*. What should I start the bidding with if I wanted to do 3*?

The $129 hotel on Hotwire is gone with 2 adults/0 children. If you do it as 2/1, it's there for $135 and 2/2, it's there for $139. Pretty positive that one is the Radisson (85% hotware approval, 3.5 TA rating). Can you confirm that?

With my $25 Hotwire dollars and having the hotel narrowed down to the exact hotel, which is very acceptable, I might just go that route.

What's my risk doing it on HW with 2/1 if I have 2 kids? It's one night. Probably not worth trying to save the $5, I guess. I'd probably get 2 double beds either way though.

[thereuare]

I'd say that would be about right for 3.5*. What should I start the bidding with if I wanted to do 3*?... With my $25 Hotwire dollars and having the hotel narrowed down to the exact hotel, which is very acceptable, I might just go that route.

Please decide how you'd want to proceed and we'll advise accordingly.

Pretty positive that one is the Radisson (85% hotware approval, 3.5 TA rating). Can you confirm that?

Please indicate the star rating and the amenities HOTWIRE associates with this property.

What's my risk doing it on HW with 2/1 if I have 2 kids? It's one night. Probably not worth trying to save the $5, I guess. I'd probably get 2 double beds either way though.

This is a key aspect you didn't include above... PRICELINE only guarantees double occupancy, so if you go that route, you could receive a room with only one bed. With HOTWIRE if you search 2adults/1child it's possible that a rollaway is brought into the room which may only accommodate one person comfortably (not sure how old your children are) or a pullout sofabed which is a single. Perhaps only a small risk doing it 2a/1c if you'll actually be 2a/2c, but it depends just how much risk/safety you want.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[David L]

Sorry for not giving that information up front.

That's part of why I've avoided Priceline before. I figure, for one night, I still could get 2 double beds via priceline, and, if not, we could make due. I am worried that I'll bid $90 or something and then get hit with a $20 resort fee though.

I think I'll just do hotwire. I know I'm in the wrong section now, but that hotwire hotel I mentioned is almost definitely the Radission Ambassador, right?

[thereuare]

I am worried that I'll bid $90 or something and then get hit with a $20 resort fee though.

It's possible... but $110 is still likely cheaper then any hotel you could book outside of the opaque providers :)

...that hotwire hotel I mentioned is almost definitely the Radission Ambassador, right?

Please include the star rating and amenities associated with the property and we'll have a look.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[David L]

Well, with the $25 HOTWIRE credit I have that would go to waste if I don't use it by July, that probably makes HW as good as I'll get with Priceline and I'll be 90+% sure of the hotel.

Here's the one I think is Radission Ambassador.

2 adults/2children 4/7/11, 1 night

3*, $139/night, near beach, casino, smoke free, fitness, pool, restaurant, business, internet

TA rating 3.5/5.

There's almost no chance that it's not the Radission, right?

[thereuare]

I would agree that the 3* appears to be the Radisson and that would be my best guess for that one.

HOWEVER, why look at that 3* ($139) when there is a 4* hotel offered for $128/nite. The 4* has Resort, Beachfront, Casino, Restaurant, Pool, Hi-Speed Interent, Business, Laundry, Tennis, Spa icons and is believed to be the InterContinental. While the IC does have a resort fee (i'm not sure of the Radisson) it will cost you only a few dollars more which is worth it for this property, imo. While most San Juan hotels get mixed reviews, the InterContinental is one of the better ones on the island, is on one of the best stretches of the beach in the area, and they have a fantastic pool area for your kids. I'd be taking this 4* over the Radisson, imo.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Let us know what you decide and how it goes or if we can be of further help.

[David L]

The InterContinental does have a resort fee 14% and the Radisson does not. That evens it out some.

I do see that the Radisson has about $42 in taxes and the Intercontinental only $22. What could be the reasoning for that?

Also, it's just one night and we have friends (who we are cruising with after) saying at the Marriott, which is right next to the Radisson, so I think I'm still going to shoot for the Radisson for the convenience.

[thereuare]

Yes, i saw and commented on the 'true total' price difference and think the Inter-Continental is worth the additional amount (which is neglibible)... the pool and section of the beach it's located on is worth more than $10 :)

But you seem to want to be closer to your friends so you should just go with the 3* property.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Let us know how it goes or if we can be of further help.

[pghflyer]

With all this discussion on resort fees, I just want to make sure I understand a couple things.

1) I am doing a bid now for $90 a night for 4 nights...and on my Request Review page, PL is adding "Taxes and Service Fees" of $56.84 to the reservation. These are separate and don't include the "resort fee"? I believe they don't but those are some hefty taxes prior to getting hit again!

2) With regard to the resort fees, I see they are normally calculated as a %. In the case of a PL win, is the resort fee based off your per night bid win?

Thanks - will post when I get my win............

[thereuare]

pghflyer,

Please start a NEW TOPIC for your own stay.

Please use the requested PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your future bidding, searches and travel purchases... please click this PRICELINE link before replying.

Thanks.