Priceline Hotel: 3.5* San Juan Radisson Ambassador

[danzrqt85]

I have been looking on the priceline retail site to see what I might end up with when bidding for a 3.5* hotel. Sheraton Old San Juan would be my first choice so I checked out dates/prices on the Sheraton site. On their site Sheraton Old San Juan says sold out for 2/10/12 - 2/11/12 which is the 1 night I need. But when I search for 2/10/12 - 2/12/12 (2 nights) it says there are rooms available. This led me to believe there is a 2 night minimum but when I search for 1 night a weekend later, it says rooms are available.

This makes no sense to me. This will be my first time using priceline. Can anyone please help?

[Romelle]

While a hotel may set a 2 night minimum across certain high volume nights, it doesn't have to be a general limitation for all two night pairs. And you can bid for just one night any time.

You can't do anything about making sure you will get a specific hotel though. If you bid a star level and zone, you have to be prepared to accept anything at that star level (or higher, since Priceline can opt to upgrade) and within the boundaries of the zone map.

It is good you are doing research before bidding though. It helps one form reasonable expectations. Odds are you won't get the Sheraton, but there is some history of people getting hotels showing as being sold out. Not probable, but possible. With the Sheraton showing sold out for your particular night, it may take a relatively high bid to win a hotel. San Juan hotel business is largely driven by the cruise ship pre-and post-cruise business.

Did you also check Hotwire for your night? Usually worth a peek.

Romelle

[danzrqt85]

I would be fine accepting whatever hotel I was given at the 3.5* level (or higher if given upgrade). My goal is to get the best rate at 3.5* for 2/10/12. Sheraton Old San Juan would just be my first choice.

I did look at hotwire but the star levels seem to be different there than on priceline. Is there any advantage to using hotwire over priceline?

With my goal, what should I start my bid out with? I have looked any many other posts of wins but none seem to be for the 2 month away from range that I am in now with Feb 10th being a little less than 2 months away.

Thanks for your help!!

[Romelle]

I'm a member, not a moderator, but I'll give you my opinion. With two months to go - start low and work up. Bids are free and I find nothing more frustrating than winning on my first bid. I then know there is a possibility I could have done better. For an actual starting number, you might look at the Calendar of Wins (under Tools) above. I see your problem with no reporting right around your date. Maybe look back a couple months, and then start with the low successful bid. You undoubtedly will have to go higher since you already know it is a busy night, but you will feel safe you aren't missing anything. Also, February tends to be more expensive than November and December.

Hotwire - usually they rate their hotels about a half star higher than Priceline, but in the case of the Old San Juan Sheraton, it also rates it a 3 1/2*. You can see this by looking at the hotel list at the top of the Hotwire-Puerto Rico area.

The advantage to Hotwire is usually the experts here can make a very good guess as to what you might get based upon the amenities. Not 100%, but close. The disadvantage is Hotwire tends to be more expensive. Not always, but usually. What I think they are particularly handy for is establishing a bidding ceiling on Priceline. In a couple cases out of many, I've turned to Hotwire when my Priceline bidding reached the Hotwire amount.

Romelle

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding.

My goal is to get the best rate at 3.5* for 2/10/12... Is there any advantage to using hotwire over priceline?

PRICELINE is usually a little cheaper than HOTWIRE, so if lowest price is your ultimate goal, then PRICELINE is probably your better option for this stay. The advantage of HOTWIRE is that they show the amenities before your purchase so you can know certain things offered by the hotel, Beachfront, Beach Access, Pool, Restaurant on-site, etc, etc, should these be important to you. You can also often use these amenities to take a guess as to the hotel you will receive OR avoid a hotel you're hoping not to receive (ie- if you don't want to stay at 'Hotel A' and they don't have a pool, you can 'safely' purchase any HOTWIRE hotel which lists Pool as one of the amenities offered).

Please start by reading your messages and clicking each of these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links. Then, if you decide that PRICELINE is the best option for you for this trip, let us know your maximum bid (so we don't suggest a strategy that goes higher than you're willing to pay) and we'll suggest a strategy for you to follow.

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

Thanks.

[danzrqt85]

Thank you. I would like to get a hotel for $130 or less. I used the PRICELINE link on this site. After reading some bidding tips and checking out every other bidding zone area, this is what I did.

3.5*

San Juan area

$71 - obviously very low and did not think this would be accepted

Not accepted

3.5*

added Cabo Rojo area

$73

Not accepted

3.5*

added Aguadilla

$75

Not accepted

3.5*

added Dorado

$76

Not accepted

3.5*

added Humacao

$81

Not accepted

3.5*

added Ponce - Guanica and Mayaguez

$85

Not accepted

Should I just start again with 3.5* and only San Juan area for something higher than $85 tomorrow and work my way up by adding the "free areas" like I did today?

[Romelle]

I just checked Hotwire for your date.

4* $114

3.5* $177

3* $108

This is a little unusual. Normally the rates fall right in line as the star level increases.

You've got almost 2 months yet. Your idea of working on up is reasonable. You could explore the area up to the $108 tomorrow with your seven possible bids.

89

93

96

99

102

105

108

If that doesn't yield anything, you could see if you like that Hotwire 3*. If you post the amenities here, somebody would take a well-educated guess as to what it might be. Then it would be decision time again.

Romelle

[danzrqt85]

Thanks Romelle. I did my re-bids today and none were accepted.

I did look at hotwire for my date and it has a $103 4* with these ameneties: casino, smoke free rooms, fitness center, pool(s), restaurant(s), business center, high speed internet access, golf nearby, spa services. Looking at the posts on the hotwire board it seems this is the Sheraton Convention Center hotel.

The hotwire 3.5* is $175 which seems oddly high compared. Its amenties are: near beach, smoke free rooms, fitness center, pool(s), restaurant(s), business center, laundry facitilies, high speed internet access, tennis nearby, childrens activity program. I have no idea what hotel this is... any clue?

Since it is higher than the 4* should it come down?

Based on some comments on the hotwire board, the 3* listed did not seem to be good.

Trying to figure out if I should continue to try with priceline or go with the hotwire 4* or wait awhile and see what happens.

[Romelle]

Did you look at the Hotwire list of 4* hotels people have reported as wins? I'm not sure of this, but I think the tricky one is the Conrad, since it is really nice, but fairly far out. If you post the list of amenities for that 4* offered right now, maybe the moderators can figure out which one it probably is, as well as the 3.5* for which you already listed the amenities.

At least now you know there isn't a Priceline 3.5* currently offered for $108 or less.

I think I'd wait for an educated guess on those Hotwire hotels, and then make my decision as to going with one of them or continuing to pursue Priceline.

You do still have nearly 2 months. You could make a cancelable back-up reservation, and then "sweep" 3.5* Priceline from low to high about once a week - something like 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, and 130. If something new is added to inventory, you'd nail it at a reasonable level.

Romelle

[danzrqt85]

For 2/10/12 - 2/11/12 $103 4* with these ameneties: casino, smoke free rooms, fitness center, pool(s), restaurant(s), business center, high speed internet access, golf nearby, spa services. Looking at the posts on the hotwire board it seems this is the Sheraton Convention Center hotel but wanted to be sure.

For 2/10-12 - 2/11/12 $175 3.5*. Its amenties are: near beach, smoke free rooms, fitness center, pool(s), restaurant(s), business center, laundry facitilies, high speed internet access, tennis nearby, childrens activity program. I have no idea what hotel this is... any clue?

[AaronJB]

The 3.5* would be a possible match for the Verdanza. The 4* would be a possible match for the Sheraton.

Thank you for using the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[danzrqt85]

Finally was able to get a hotel in San Juan - 3.5* $120 Radisson Ambassador. Seems like a fairly good location - halfway between airport and cruise port. Does anyone know if this hotel charges a resort fee?? I hope not.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see you got these nites settled and are pleased with the results. I can't say for certain, but I don't believe there are any resort fees charged at this hotel.

Thank you for sharing your win with the board.

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

Enjoy your stay.

[Romelle]

Taxis at the San Juan airport have a flat rate system to various zones. I think the Radisson is in Zone 3. Big signs explain rates and zones right where one catches the cabs.

There also is a free trolley that will toddle you about quite a bit of the downtown area. If you have the time for it, it is a fun little experience.

I'm glad you finally scored a place.

Romelle