Priceline Hotel: Resort Puerto Rico (San Juan) InterContinental

[crisp1]

Is there point when it's too late to bid to get the best price possible? 1st bid for 3star in San Juan for 1 night 4/10/04 of $ 70 was rejected on2/27/04. another bid made 72 hrs later for $90 was rejected also

[WillTravel]

Sometimes the best prices come at the very last minute, but that can't be predicted. I suspect the fact that 4/10 is a Saturday might make the necessary bid higher, but I don't know this area at all.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

I don't think it's too late in this instance (if there is such a thing as Priceline/Hotwire get distressed inventory).

I would recommend you re-consider your approach to this stay. Puerto Rico is one of those areas where there is often very little price difference between the Resort quality hotels and the 3* hotels. As well, there is one particular 3* hotel that i have read very poor reviews of and that alone should be enough to avoid the 3* level.

The Embassy Suites (a 3* Priceline hotel in this zone) is sold-out for your date so that is just one hotel that isn't even a possibility. I think you're bidding too low for this date and would consider raising your bid amount and your quality level.

Let me know your maximum bid amount and if you want to continue to bid 3* or if you want to try for a Resort. I'll then suggest a bidding strategy to follow (if you'd like one).

[crisp1]

Theruare, thanks. I have no problem with resort. we will be checking in late (9:45pm flight) and off to the Destiny the next morn. We need 2 rooms ( 2 adults,2 teens) my limit is around $120, after that it may make sense to book a suite(?). Any help you can give is greatly appreciated.

[thereuare]

Rates are high for your dates and I think it will take a bid of $130 to be successful at the Resort level (and a most likely scenario is the Wyndham Condado Plaza, but of course this is my guess and not guaranteed). If your limit is $120 then i would go ahead and bid that amount and see what happens.

You mention it may pay to get a suite if going above $120/nite, but have you actually seen suites offered at this price for your dates? Most standard hotel rooms in this area for your dates go for $200+ so i don't know where you will find a suite for under $250 (i'm not saying it doesn't exist, but i haven't seen it, so if you know of something please share it with the rest of the board so that others may be able to use it as an option in the future).

I did see the HoJo for $100/nite for your date, but i have heard and read really bad reviews about that property and not an ideal way to begin a vacation.

Let us know what you decide to do and how it works out. If you haven't really researched prices yet, i think the $130 i mention above may start to look good. :)

Feel free to ask any questions you have regarding the above.

[crisp1]

I checked prices twice this morning on hotwire with slightly different results. There was a 3.5* for $158 with casino, pool, tennis, which in 1/2 hr changed to 3.5* with casino and pool for $163. a 3* with casino and pool for $180 and a 2.5* with beach access and pool for $106. None of which seem to match the list ( there are no 2.5*). I have to wait another day before switching to resort with Priceline. With our late arrival/one night stay, do I dare go with a 2.5* on hotwire if my next bids are rejected?

[thereuare]

Are those the complete list of amenities for each selection?

[crisp1]

Sorry, no. The 3.5*, casino, restuarant, pool, business center, fitness center, tennis nearby, laundry/ $164 (changed again). 3*, Casino, restuarant, pool, fitness center, business center/ $180. The 2.5* had beach access pool, continental breakfast, and laundry facilities/ $106. And just to be complete, the 4* was beachfront, casino, restuarant, pool, business center, tennis nearby, and spa/ $322 ( up from $318)

[thereuare]

Be sure to read beyond the first post of HOTWIRE HOTELS PUERTO RICO.

If that 3.5* also has an oceanfront icon (you didn't list above but i think it most likely does) than it matches the Wyndham Old San Juan. The 4* seems to be the Inter-Continental while the 3* i think matches the Radisson. Not sure of the 2.5*and it's up to you if you want to try it, but i wouldn't recommend it just based upon the fact that PR is notorious for poor hotel quality (especially relative to prices). I still think you'll be successful at $130 via Priceline.

Keep us updated or let us know if this sparked any add'l questions.

[crisp1]

My 72 hrs are up tomorrow afternoon on the $90 bid for a 3* ( it was my first and only- I don't want to change area or go below 3*) Should I bid higher before the time is up ( can I), or should I wait til the time is up and go for resort, and should I bid the $130 first time?

[thereuare]

You can't bid again until your 72 hours have elapsed (it's fun waiting, huh?)

I still think it will take $130 to be successful. There are no re-bids at the resort level in this zone so you basically have one shot at it. You can certainly bid lower if you choose to do so, wait another 72 hours, and so-on, and so-on, but i think if you really want to secure a hotel for this stay and focus on other parts of your vacation planning i would bid the $130.

Good Luck and let us know how it goes.

[crisp1]

Well, contrary to your good advice, I went and bid $120 for the 4*, and was rejected, but told if I bid an additional $22 that my chance would be good :) . Instead, I went back and added the 3* at $120 and was again rejected :) . It's 5 weeks away, so I guess I'll try sitting on my hands for the next 72 :o

[thereuare]

No problem... you're free to bid as you wish. It's not for me to tell you how to spend your money.

However, if the above scenario occurs again, i would not recommend lowering to 3* and bidding $120! Some of the 3* hotels in the area are just not worth it.

Feel free to check back in 71 hours and 30 minutes :) to make sure i still think $130 is the correct price to go with.

Thank you for followng-up!

[crisp1]

Thereuare, here I am :) . It's almost time, about 2 hours. I just got off Hotwire and the 4*, beachfront, casino, restuarant, pool, bc, tennis nb and spa went down to $152. The 3* with casino, rest, pool, fitness center, bc, tennis nb, and laundry is also $152. The 3* with casino, restuarant, pool fc, and bc is $108. So What do you think? The prices seem to be falling considerably for the 4*. Should I still bit the whole wad :) , or hope for the counter? Thanks again

[thereuare]

Assuming that 4* is the Inter-Continental, that happens to be an excellent rate (hopefully we'll see more of it in the future from Hotwire). However, since you're already stretching your budget higher than you intended and you won't be at the hotel very long, i wouldn't bump my price any further than i have to.

That 3* is most likely the Radisson which i don't know much about it other than that it seems to get good reviews. If you're indeed seeing it for $108 than that is very good and probably worth considering, however, i'm currently seeing it at $175/nite. However, the Radisson website is showing sold-out so i'm now questioning the certainty of this guess.

I still think Resort bidding at $130 via Priceline is your best bet at this point. Even if you were to bid $120 again (or even $125) and received a counter-offer, the counter-offer is likely to be higher than $130 (the counter-offers are not the lowest price Priceline will accept, there is some extra mark-up in there for them)

Feel free to ask any last minute questions you may have if any remain.

Good Luck, i look forward to hearing what you decide to do and how it works out.

[crisp1]

Just a quick reply, I'll do the detailed report later. Bid $ 130 for a 4* san juan, 4/10/04, 1 night, 2 rooms 2 adults,2 children, bid $130/rm accepted.. taxes & service feees $41.50... total$301.50 ... Hotel Intercontinental !!! Thanks to u thereuare! :)

[thereuare]

Well that's an even better rate than the $152 above!

Did you by chance bid Resort? as there is no 4* bidding in this zone.

Looking forward to hearing the details... and even more to the review when you return!

Congratulations... glad it has all worked out for you.

[crisp1]

bidding history: 1st bid $70 (3*) 2/27, rejected, 2nd bid $90 (3*) 3/01, rejected, 3rd bid $120, resort rejected, 3/04 ( counteroffer +$22), I re-offerd $120 for 3*, rejected. Final bid $130, 3/07 accepted. Total taxes and fees were $41.50 for 2 rooms, I assume that one room would be half ($20.75)

At the begiining of the bidding process the Hotel web rates, as well as hotwire's were $250 or more for Resort level , the prices on hotwire dropped to $152 the day of last bid. The dates for the room are over Easter weekend, many hotels were sold out, and the Astros and Mets are playing in San Juan that weekend.