Priceline Hotel: 3.5* San Juan Radisson Ambassador

[lake_wannabees]

We're planning a cruise Oct 14-21, 2012 to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. I'm curious as to how far out you placed your bid from the date needed. I've never bid on a room before since I always use hotel points or pay for them but wanted to try it out this time. I have my airline taken care of so we arrive on Friday, Oct 12 and we're staying over one day post cruise. I have points with Hilton (Diamond level) and Marriott (Gold level) but want to try out this bidding process. Pre-cruise we'd like to be closer to the port and post closer to the airport but I know with bidding I can't specify the hotel except by star level or cost.

Thanks for your help in advance. Joyce :)

[thereuare]

Please use separate threads for each leg of your stay as it will be easier to follow. We'll use this thread for your 10/12-10/14 stay, feel free to start a separate topic for your post-cruise stay.

The zone is the same whether you're looking to stay near the pier or the airport... which pier do you leave from? (Old San Juan or the PanAm pier?)

As far as when to bid, see the related 'bid early or close to check-in link' in our PRICELINE FAQ.

What is your desired star level and maximum bid for the pre-cruise portion of your stay?

Lastly, we just launched a new site specifically designed for pre/post cruise hotel stays which you may be interested in: Pre-Cruise Hotels.com

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

[lake_wannabees]

I don't know which pier Carnival leaves from so can't answer that. I'm thinking the stars would be 3.5 to resort. We haven't considered our max bid yet but right now I could book retail from the Hilton site for the following rates:

Caribe Hilton - $218

Condado Lagoon Villas at Caribe Hilton - $227

Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza - $189

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Juan - $116

Embassy Suites San Juan - Hotel & Casino -$161.

Joyce

[thereuare]

I'm thinking the stars would be 3.5 to resort.

Are you willing to pay more for a Resort rated hotel vs. a 4* vs. a 3.5*... or is your goal the least expensive 3.5* hotel for this leg of your trip?

We haven't considered our max bid yet but right now...

Based upon the rates you're seeing for the hotels above, how much would you need to save to make an 'opaque' purchase worthwhile? That would be your maximum bid.

Are you ready to bid for these stays now?

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

[lake_wannabees]

I think the goal is to get experience with bidding and to get the best room possible at the lowest cost. No, I don't have to have a Resort, especially if I have to pay for golf courses/tennis/spas that I'm not going to use. I want something centralized that I can get easy access to safe transportation to sites since this may be our only trip to San Juan. Hubby might differ but I'm ready to bid right now and don't have a max. I just didn't know if it made sense to start now. I can't complete my online cruise paperwork without a hotel listed.

Joyce

[lake_wannabees]

Since I was so successful with this earlier for the post-cruise stay, I went in with the same criteria to just get it all over with and won this for $80/night also (taxes and fees add $26.93). Joyce

[thereuare]

Here are some options and you can take we from there...

What appears to be the InterContinental is offered for $141/nite on HOTWIRE... what appears to be the Sheraton Old San Juan is available for $98/nite.

Most San Juan hotels have their issues (and more than a handful of negative reviews, mostly due to the cultural differences, imo), but the InterContinental is one of the better rated properties and is on a great stretch of beach in the Isla Verde section... the Sheraton Old San Juan is not on/near a beach, but is located directly in Old San Juan (and if your ship leaves from the Old San Juan Pier, is directly in front of the dock)

You can see if either of the options above appeal to you OR try for something different with PRICELINE, but with PRICELINE you're subject to any hotel in the zone at the star rating (or higher) you designate.

Let us know how you'd like to proceed and we'll take it from there.

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

[thereuare]

My previous reply was entered before seeing that you had already purchased a hotel for this leg of your stay (which is why we ask to please keep all posts for the same stay in the same thread) I'll leave the post above though in case the information can help another user.

Glad to see you found something that you're happy with and at a great price.

Thank you for sharing your win with the board.

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

Have a great trip, and a Happy Anniversary