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Hotwire Hotel: 4.5* San Juan (Condado) La Concha Renaissance


king10208
By king10208,
in

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Good evening, all, and thanks again in advance for your help.

 

My family is heading to the convention center in San Juan for a conference, and we are late booking a room so the conference blocks are all gone at the Hyatts and Sheratons.

HW is listing the following two hotels of interest for our party of 2 rooms, 2 adults, 1 child (which is more accurately 2 adults in one room and 2 adults, 1 2 year old, and 1 3 month old in the second room).

 

Hotel 1:

3*, $116/night (reg $151), 90% recommended, Booked 7 times today

Free Internet

Business center, Fitness center, Near beach, Pool(s), Self-service laundry, Smoke-free rooms, Spa services
no mention of bed type 

 

Hotel 2:

4*, $221/night (reg $299), 70% recommended, Booked 5 times today

Free Internet

Airport shuttle, Business center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Self-service laundry, Smoke-free rooms

In-room accessibility

1 full bed or hotel chooses bed type for same price

 

Thoughts? Looking forward to your insight.

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7 hours ago, king10208 said:

2 rooms, 2 adults, 1 child (which is more accurately 2 adults in one room and 2 adults, 1 2 year old, and 1 3 month old in the second room).

 

Sorry, i'm not following the above... so we can replicate your search can you please clarify how many rooms/adults/children (in total) you're including in your search.

 

Please remember to return to BetterBidding and use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPSandHOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

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Sorry, still not sure i'm following...

 

You will often get different results (and pricing) depending upon how many rooms you are purchasing and if any of those rooms have more than double occupancy, so before researching we want to make sure you're using the same search parameters as what you intend to use when you make your purchase.

 

Your search should be for the total number of rooms/adults/children... not per room.

 

So if you need occupancy for

21 hours ago, king10208 said:

more accurately 2 adults in one room and 2 adults, 1 2 year old, and 1 3 month old in the second room

... then you would need to search for 2rooms/4adults/1child (you don't need to include the 3month hold since HOTWIRE defines children as ages 2-17)

 

So do you intend to purchase as 2rooms/2adults/1child (which is 2 rooms for 3 people in total) or as 2rooms/4adults/1child (which is 2 rooms for 5 people in total)?

 

If the latter, and you repeat your HOTWIRE search, do the same offers (and prices) that you listed above appear in the results?

 

Please remember to return to BetterBidding and use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPSandHOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases

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When I started this thread, I had searched as the former - 2 rooms, 2 adults, 1 child.

I have just repeated the search using the more accurate latter - 2 rooms, 4 adults, 1 child.

 

"Hotel 1" remains when I modify the search to 4 adults, 1 child from 2 adults, 1 child at $116 w/ same amenities.

"Hotel 2" disappears when I modify the search to 4 adults, 1 child from 2 adults, 1 child.

 

Interestingly, "Hotel 2" reappears when I search 3 adults, 1 child. I wonder why that is.

 

Honesltly, I'd rather book the conference hotel if I could find a way to do so. It's the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino, but it seems to be quite sold out for these dates. It's a shame I couldn't reserve earlier, but life happens as we all know.

 

Thanks for your help, thereuare. I very much appreciate your time and expertise and will obviously be linking out from here to book as always once I locate a solution.

 

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The second hotel likely disappears because you're changing the search for double occupancy (per room) to more than double occupancy for one of the rooms.  If the hotel accepts a reservation for double occupancy they can then be flexible on the room that is ultimately assigned since all rooms at the hotel can accommodate double occupancy... once you get to more than double occupancy the room assignment can become a bit more restrictive from the hotel's perspective (or sometimes rooms with two beds and/or more than double occupancy costs more than a room with 1 bed and/or for double occupancy)... so some hotels may not offer inventory (at deep discounts) to the opaque suppliers for more than double occupancy.

 

As for the first HOTWIRE offer, unfortunately i'm not certain for this one as this amenity set applies to many 3 star hotels in this area... the Best Western Plus Condado Palm Inn and Suites would be a guess, but i'm really not certain (as 'Free Breakfast' missing from the amenity set, which the Best Western does offer, makes me even a bit more unsure of this guess)

 

What is your maximum budget (per room per nite before fees/taxes) for this trip?  Will you be attending the conference each day of this trip or only for one or two of the days?  Will the other people you're traveling with also go to the convention or will you be the only one and the others will be exploring San Juan as 'tourists' while you're working?

 

Please remember to return to BetterBidding and use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPSandHOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases

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It is a conference that only my wife (from our group) is attending. The rest of us will be vacationing and providing child care to my two little ones. 

As always, we're not looking to empty the bank, but we are aware that if you're choosy, you pay to be so. I'd like to keep it under $200, but I'd also like a pool and not to worry about my 2yo if we decide to visit the beach. 

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9 hours ago, king10208 said:

It is a conference that only my wife (from our group) is attending. The rest of us will be vacationing

 

Well, you may want to consider your goal of trying to be near the convention center, imo.

 

There really isn't too much near the convention center... i would sooner suggest staying near the 'touristy' or 'beach' areas of the city so that those not traveling on business (everyone other than your wife) will be more centrally located and have more to do during the day.  As the 'needs' of each group (your wife vs. everyone) are somewhat different, and you can't really be convenient to both (tourist and convention center), better to have one person inconvenienced by travel each day than the rest of the group.  As well, there are many more hotels in the touristy areas vs. the convention center, so you'll have more options (and possibly better pricing due to competition)

 

For example, i'm seeing what appears to be the Intercontinental San Juan Resort Spa and Casino on HOTWIRE for $175/nite for your dates, which has a very nice pool as well as being located directly on the beach.  It's also one of the better rated hotels in San Juan, but like almost all hotels in the area, the reviews are mixed (as overall the service levels in San Juan are a bit lower and fall short of expectations, given the often high costs)

 

Please remember to return to BetterBidding and use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPSandHOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.


Let us know your thoughts and we'll advise further.

 

 

Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases

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  • 1 month later...

Well, my wife and I have let this slip far too long. 

We've still got out reservation at the conference property, but have just now really tried to firm up something for her folks. 

Pardon me for reviving an old thread, but I took your previous advice to heart and have been looking for something that wasn't necessarily nearest the Sheraton casino but rather nearer more full-time entertainment for the rest of us.

 

That said, I'm currently looking at the following search result and would appreciate your best guess on property ID:

 

same dates, 4/5-4/11, searched for 1 room, 1 adult, no children

4*, Condado area, $233/night (reg. $343)

Free Internet

Resort

Near Beach

Casino

Smoke-free rooms

Fitness Center

Pool(s)

Restaurant(s)

Business Center

$10/night resort fee

 

Tripadvisor 4.5/5.0,

Hotwire, 100% 5.0, 180 reviews

 

Thank you very much for your continued assistance. I, of course and as always, began the aforementioned search with your HOTWIRE link and will perform the booking on the same.

 

[btw, I've hedged my bets here and reserved the Holiday Inn Express (no fee cancel) with my AAA at $137/night just to be sure everyone has a bed to sleep in, lol]

 

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If you search using the EASY VIEW TAB of our BiddingHelper.com tool i think you'll see the following as the full amenity set for this property (after clicking the green 'See all amenities' link):

Free Internet

Resort

Near Beach

Casino

Smoke Free

Fitness

Pool

Restaurant

Business

Laundry

Hi-Speed Internet

Deaf Accessible

Bathroom Accessible

Handicapped Parking

... if this is what you're seeing, the La Concha Renaissance would be my best guess for this one.

 

Thanks for using the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board.

 

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

 

PS- for the future, or RefundableRates.com site has a great interface for finding the best deals to use as a back-up hotel

Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases

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How wonderful. I didn't know about the BiddingHelper.com tool. I'll be using that regularly going forward.

 

Well, we're in the home stretch of this unfortunate marathon. La Conca looks quite lovely. So much so, that I'm starting to lean towards your first instinct in responding to this thread that we should punt entirely on the Sheraton Casino and try to get both rooms at a beachfront resort like La Concha with more in walking distance (less isolated like the Sheraton seems to be). 

 

Of course, now when I add a second room and a child the 4*, $233 goes away.

If I just do two rooms, two adults, I see the same amenity set for that 4*, but the price rises to $252. I can tolerate that, but am a little concerned about the kids. What do you think?

 

[amenity set, as before, for both cases is:

FULL AMENITIES: Free Internet, Resort, Near beach, Casino, Smoke-free rooms, Fitness center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business center, Self-service laundry, Internet access, Accessible for hearing impaired, Accessible bathroom, Accessible parking]

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What is the actual occupancy you need (i re-read the first post but didn't following this time around) is it:

1 room = 2 adults

1 room = 2adults/2children

 

If so...

 

If you search for one room, using the HOTWIRE tab (not the EASY VIEW tab), click-thru on the $233/nite hotel, and on the subsequent page under the price the red drop down gives you an option to 'SELECT ROOM', where one of the options is 2 double beds.

 

Unfortunately when searching for 2rooms/4adults this bed choice option disappears, and when searching 1room/2adults/2children the offer disappears entirely.

 

Since your original plan was to stay at different hotels anyway, i would try booking one room at 1room/2adults, and choose the 2 bed option (assuming this works for your needs). 

--> ==> this should be OK for the room with 2adults/2children (especially if they are very young, as they appear to be, at 2years and 3months, and you know the room will have 2 beds and accommodate 4 quad occupancy)

 

Once that purchase is complete i would then repeat the search and see if you could get a second room (when searching for 1room/2adults/0children).  If so, you should be all set (you can work out between your group/family who gets which room configuration)... if it's no longer offered you're not in any worse off of a situation than you were previously, of staying at different hotels... any maybe this hotel re-appears in a day or two OR you find another option nearby.


Just to be clear, there are risks to the above (which i deem to be small), but risks that you need to be aware of / willing to accept:

1) if you purchase one room at this hotel a 2nd room may not be offered when you go to make the 2nd purchase

2) technically your room (even the one with two double beds) is reserved for double occupancy, this usually isn't a problem (especially with young children, it becomes more of an issue when the 'kids' are 17 years old, 6ft 5in, built like a football player, etc, etc... but to be on the safe side you could simply have one spouse (or family) play with the kids in one part of the lobby while only one parent goes to desk at check-in).  I'm not sure of the make-up of your group/family, but for instance have the two moms (or dads) have a seat on a couch elsewhere in the lobby with the kids while just the dads (or moms) go to the counter at check-in)

 

The above is how i'd play it if you are willing to accept the risk and the possibility that you may ultimately end up at a second property (the upside though is that you have a good chance of getting the first room at $233/nite... assuming the same hotel re-appears for your 2nd purchase, it may be at $233 or $252, there is a chance that inventory is getting low and that only one room is left at $233/nite, which is why the room choices and price changes when searching for 2 rooms)

 

Hopefully you followed all of the above (a bit long winded :biggrin:), but if any questions feel free to ask.

 

Please remember to return to BetterBidding and use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases... or thru our sister site MAPSandHOTELS.com for your regular rate purchases.

 

Good luck and let us know how it goes or if we can be of further help.

 

PS- if making two separate purchases, please return here and click our HOTWIRE link once again to begin the 2nd purchase.

Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases

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Once again, you have helped tremendously. I went with the two rooms @ $252/night option. Frankly, having the in laws in the same property and within walking distance of what we'll be doing all day and evening outweighed my wife's inconvenient commuting to the conference hotel a couple of times a day. Easier to move one adult than one adult and two children.

 

As you estimated, the property was, in fact, La Concha - A Renaissance Resort.

 

Booking through the Renaissance website would have been $5,930.77. My total was $4233.71.

Add a hundred bucks to cancel my conference hotel deposit, and we're still up a bunch. Thank you very much!

 

I see that the $233/night option remains after I've bought the two rooms. Oh well, taking that risk could have saved me $228 (252-233) x 6 nights x 2 rooms, but honestly if I hadn't been able to get us both rooms at the same property, I would been in quite a pickle. The security was worth the money to me. 

 

This is a long-winded thank you win report. Of course I booked through your links, and I will be back again the next time!

 

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Regular $343/night

 

FULL AMENITIES: Free Internet, Resort, Near beach, Casino, Smoke-free rooms, Fitness center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business center, Self-service laundry, Internet access, Accessible for hearing impaired, Accessible bathroom, Accessible parking

 

$10/night resort fee
 
Tripadvisor 4.5/5.0,
Hotwire, 100% 5.0, 180 reviews

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Congratulations on your success!

Glad to see how well it went and that you saved a bundle!

 

You will need to take a taxi, but this place is highly recommended for lunch or dinner one nite (if you go for dinner and take a taxi ask the driver if he will return or ask the restaurant to call you a taxi to pick you up in front of the restaurant, as the area can get a bit rough at nite):

La Casita Blanca

351 Calle Tapia

... very authentic local dishes


Thank you for sharing your results and using the HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your purchase.

Have a great trip!

Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases

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I will (we hope)!

 

Thank you for the lovely meal suggestion. That looks incredible and a welcome relief to what I'm sure will become somewhat-routine hotel-area food. I see that it'll be about a 12-minute cab from La Concha. No biggie there. 

 

That does bring up a little debate we're having here, though. How much should we bring for car seats? Obviously we'll have seats as we arrive at the airport, but we're unsure of whether or not to bring her convertible (a huge RXT by Diono) and his Keyfit 30 / base) or not. I believe she's ok on the flight and he'll be a lap child anyway. But, once we're there? I was leaning towards hiring a bigger car rather than take two cabs, since cost will be similar and we'll be six with too much luggage anyway. Long text for a short question - do any of you have any experience with traveling with kids in this regard? Would it be easy enough to find local transportation with car seats? 

 

thanks again, all

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Most car rental companies will have car seats available for rent, it's a daily fee and will add up quickly for a week long stay and 2x since you have two kids (sometimes there is a maximum fee that will be charged per rental, but i still think it will get pricey).

 

You can check with the airline your traveling with, but most do not charge 'baby equipment' (car seats, strollers, etc) as checked bags so you can check these items and not have to worry about the fee adding up.

 

We used to travel with our own (it's one less variable for the kids to complain/cry about given it's the same one they are used to at home) and what we weren't going to need on the plane we would check as baggage; but ultimately it does come down to cost vs. convenience (although may be somewhat easier for you with the extra set of adults traveling with you).

 

With the above noted i do recall:

1) being at the gate ready to board and running back to security realizing that we left a car/booster seat there

2) parking at an off-site parking lot, standing online to check-in at the airport, realizing that we left a car seat in the car (some quick research online we learned that our kids were 'of age' to ride in a car without... guess our local state laws were tougher than where we were traveling to)

 

Hang in there... traveling with kids gets easier as they can start to carry (roll/drag) and be responsible for their own carry-on bags. :wink:

Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases

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That all makes perfect sense. It's certainly a pain to lug along all that stuff (it will be our second full-family trip), but your point about familiarity is true. At the same time, we don't use child seats on buses and trains. I was hopeful that by avoiding a rental car (and its associated costs and troubles), we might locate a simpler ground transportation method. Seems like that's not in the cards.

 

How about limo service? Sometimes that has made financial sense for us (three couples in Vegas from McCarren to the strip), etc. Any experience there? Considering we're larger than a standard cab anyway, I imagine a single hired car both ways might compete with multiple cabs...

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I don't have any experience with any limo companies in San Juan, but the taxis there are notorious for trying to overcharge (if you get taxi(s) at the airport be sure to ask the dispatcher the cost to your location) and also factor in that there is an additional charge for any pieces of luggage (so if you have a small backpack, diaper bag, etc, etc) hold them yourself in the backseat and don't let the driver touch/put in or take out of the trunk if you want to try to avoid the charge).

 

It all comes down to convenience vs. cost, but you should look into the cost of 2-3 taxis (however many you would need) vs. a limo vs.:

Google Maps puts the hotel about a 16 minute ride from the airport.  You could send one person (and a full carload of passengers) to get ONE rental car, drop the passengers offer at the hotel, then return to the airport to pick-up the 'others' who went to retrieve the luggage and will be waiting curbside when you return to the airport.

 

There will certainly be some wait time for those who are in the 2nd trip and retrieved the luggage, but it could be a cost effective option (and then need to do the same in reverse at the end of the trip... but obviously upon return take the luggage group first).

 

Also keep in mind:

-could be parking fee at your hotel

-San Juan drivers can be aggressive, so make sure you're comfortable with 'fast paced city driving'

 

One last option is to look into a shared-van service from the airport OR hiring a car service with a mini-van (which may be cheaper than a limo)

Please use this HOTWIRE and these PRICELINE LINKS: HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, and AIRFARE to begin your travel purchases

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  • 2 weeks later...

Good evening!

 

We have returned (survived) and had a great time. Thank you, thank you, thank you for offering the suggestion to not stay at the convention hotel. Many of my wife's colleagues were moaning about the lack of "to do" around the hotel and, frankly, in that hotel itself. La Concha was incredible. We ended up renting a van with her corporate rate (great rate) and driving was, as you offered, quite aggressively interesting. The road (Calle) signage left MUCH to be desired.

 

La Casita Blanca was delicious. Well, mine was anyway. My MIL's and wife's weren't that tremendous. I had the pocadillo criollo (sp?), though, and it was amazing. We'd also recommend Pinky's for breakfast and a place out by the airport, Metropol, which was at least as good if not better. More of a churrasca place, fwiw. Oh, and this little 24-hour place right off the highway - Degetau Seafood; looks rough, but the carne frite con tostones was out of this world.

 

Anyway, just wanted to thank you again. We had no trouble with extra cribs and guests with La Concha. We actually ended up in a partial-ocean-view room with a kitchenette and everything. Quite a steal.

 

see you next time,

-dmk

 

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