Priceline Hotel: 3* San Juan Courtyard Miramar

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Hello everyone, Glad to be here on such an informative board.

I have read many threads here and have done my research prior to asking, but right now I simply can't win a bid through priceline for anything.

I was hoping for the Sheraton in OSJ a 3.5* for the dates 2/19 to 2/21. I have bid up to $130 including the options :

4* & Resorts and the regions 2, 3, and 6.

So far my bids have looked like this :

$110 for Region 6 (OSJ area) 3.5* - declined

$120 for Region 6, added Region 3 and Resort - declined

$130 for Region 6, 3, and added Region 2 and 4* rank - declined.

I have no idea what to try next. Any advice? Many thanks in advance my (new) friends.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

What exactly is it that you're looking for from this stay? Your bidding doesn't have much of a systematic approach, so not really sure what your ideal star rating and/or budget is?

What is it that you like about the Sheraton Old San Juan? Is this a pre/post cruise stay or just a weekend away?

What is the best rate you're currently able to find outside of PRICELINE / HOTWIRE?

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

Let us know the above and we'll try to advise accordingly.

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Hi,

This is just a weekend get away. I saw a lot of posts about people who had stayed at the Sheraton and enjoyed it. Basically it is near OSJ. My plans are Friday to go to the zipline and rain forest, Saturday spend time exploring OSJ and such. Leaving very early (7AM) to return home.

Basically I wanted something reasonable with a decent location to the area. Since I am a photographer, something that is close enough for me to get out and have some interests to view and photo after dark as well.

I am from Ft Lauderdale, so beaches are not that much of interest to me as I live on one here. (and I have read the PR beaches are not that great.)

I had read that the Sheraton was the only 3.5* in the San Juan area so I was trying to hit it accordingly by my methods, which granted are not very productive.

Did I leave anything out that would be helpful?

[thereuare]

As per the Priceline Hotel List the Sheraton is not the only 3.5* rated hotel in this area (as well, new hotels are added all the time, as are hotels upgraded/downgraded). As well, when you select a star rating it is the minimum that you're willing to accept, and PRICELINE can always upgrade you to a higher rated hotel, which opens up a whole new range of possibilities.

There are really only less than a handful of hotels in Old San Juan and the majority are in the Isla Verde section followed by the Condado area... we do see wins for the Sheraton, but to expect to land there i don't think is a reasonable expectation.

If you still want to proceed with PRICELINE (given that the Sheraton is not the most probable outcome) what is your maximum bid for this stay? What star rating do you want to try for first with this maximum? What is the best rate you're able to find thru conventional booking channels?

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

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For the OSJ area... what hotel is the best option in your opinion? As stated, I only read about the Sheraton as the most common one that was used and nearly everyone had very positive things to say about it.

I would like to stay under $150 per night for the hotel if possible. Really anything nice and within walking distance of OSJ so I can explore is great.

Many thanks for your time and answers here my friend.

[thereuare]

Is anything available in Old San Juan thru conventional methods for $150 or under?

The issue is that the San Juan zone for both PRICELINE and HOTWIRE is much larger than just the Old San Juan area, so you can't "safely" use PRICELINE and expect to end up in OSJ... similarly with HOTWIRE, all the hotels curently offered appear to be outside of the Old San Juan area.

The hotel i realy want to try in Old San Juan is El Convento, but 1) it's not available for your dates, and 2) it's usually much more than your $150 limit.

The only real option i see for this stay is if HOTWIRE offers something in the OSJ area which you're able to identify before your purchase... otherwise i think you're going to have to "give" somewhere, either star rating, location, or budget.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

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Well what I am seeing for San Juan area on the regular Priceline search (non bidding) are :

(note, this is just 3* and above)

3* Doubletree by Hilton - $159 per night

3* Holiday Inn Isla Verde $198

Resort - Intercontinental San Juan Resort Casino $249

3.5* Embassy Suites Hotels $249

3* Courtyard by Marriott $254

Resort - El San Juan Hotel $279

Resort - Caribbe Hilton $299

So perhaps I can't stay exactly "in" the OSJ area, just close to it would be good enough.

Ok, so what strategy should I attempt?

Start with what rating, region, bid? This is so new to me, but I am really learning a lot so far.

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Well I have gone up to $115 for a 3* one as well. Still not winning.

Not sure what is left though. I see people getting 3* for under $75. I can't start over because they have that "duplicate of previous bid" thing.

[thereuare]

So perhaps I can't stay exactly "in" the OSJ area, just close to it would be good enough.

If you end up in Isla Verde it's about 15 minutes by car to Old San Juan and taxes aren't that inexpensive... although there may be a public bus in this area to OSJ which is very cheap, but it i think i recall reading it would take about an hour with all the stops along the way.

The rate at the the Doubletree San Juan appears to be cancellable up until 2 days before your arrival date (always doublecheck the cancellation details as you go thru the booking pricess), so i would book that as a back-up and continue to try PRICELINE in hopes of better this deal.

Otherwise, i don't know if it would help, but is SPLITTING YOUR PRICELINE BID an option?

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

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I imagine I could as a last resort.

I don't arrive Thursday night until 11PM.

I will also give HOTWIRE a try as well.

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The amenities listed are :

3.5-star hotel in San Juan Area

This hotel features the following amenities:

Near Beach

Casino

Smoke Free Rooms

Fitness Center

Pool(s)

Restaurant(s)

Business Center

High-speed Internet Access

[thereuare]

Please keep all posts for the same stay in the same thread.

I assume you're not currently at the "last resort" point and splitting your bid?

The HOTWIRE hotel above is a match for the Radisson so that would be our best guess. For a few dollars more i would think you'd be better off keeping your options open for the next two weeks with the cancellable Doubletree... although the Radisson would put you a bit closer to OSJ. Have you booked the Doubletree as a back-up?

What's your current gameplan... just to wait it out and try again with your current $115 maximum bid?

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[ClickClick]

Many thanks to the admin here for basically holding my hand and providing me with some good winning strategies and tips.

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your win!

Did you change your dates to a one nite stay or should the above date range be for a long time frame?

Glad you stuck it out and got a great deal at the Courtyard... we're hapy to have helped.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

Enjoy your stay.