Priceline Hotel: Help for Priceline Bid - Sheraton Old San Juan 9/24-27

[TATIANA03]

My first post..... My trip is a cruise leaving San Juan 9/27. We need two rooms 9/24/2009 - 9/27/2009 at the Sheraton Old San Juan. I've been reading these posts all evening and it seems like I could proceed as follows: The only 3.5* Hotels in San Juan area are the Sheraton (PL regular price $119, the Water Club - $145, and Embassy Suites Hotel & Casino - $145. Successful bids have been made earlier this month for the Sheraton at $86.00. Can I be reasonably reassured that if I bid $86.00 I should get the Sheraton and not either of the other two or should I go lower to ensure that I get the Sheraton? Other travelers want to stay close to downtown Old San Juan. Also (side item) is the Sheraton close to the PanAm Pier?

Thanks for any and all help.

TATIATA03

[TATIANA03]

See my original post.... but what are my chances of being offered an extension to my stay if I just bid on the first night needed for two rooms (that way, if I get surprised we could stay one night and move?

Thanks!!

[Romelle]

There really is no safe way to target a specific hotel, unless that is the ONLY hotel in the zone. I've read of people bidding minutes apart and getting different hotels.

And no real way to predict being offered an extension either. San Juan is pretty much driven by the cruise ship business and there are big swings in that, depending upon when ships are arriving and departing.

www.langland.org/cruises/sanjuan.asp is a nice map that shows some of the hotels and their relationships to the piers. Another site had the Sheraton as 1.6 miles from the Pan Am pier.

Romelle

[thereuare]

I like our own Hotels By The Pier maps better :) Will show you hotels in the area, you can drag the map, zoom in/out, as well as get driving directions (including milage distances) to either the San Juan Pier or the PanAm pier. :)

Few points regarding your post...

If you're trying to target a specific property i'd recommend using HOTWIRE rather than PRICELINE, it may cost you a little more, but if you correctly make a 'match' for the hotel you're trying to target your chances of receiving the hotel you're hoping for are greatly increased. Bidding $86/nite is not going to improve your chances of landing the Sheraton, nor will bidding lower than that... not only are you subject to the other 3.5* properties in the zone, but also all higher rated hotels as well (4* and Resorts) since the star rating you select is the minimum you are willing to accept, so you could always be upgraded to a higher rated property.

As well, IF you are given the option to extend your stay, you can only extend up to the same number of nites you have already booked... so if you purchase one nite with the intention of extending your stay 2 additional nites, it won't let you do that, you would only be able to extend one additional nite.

Evertything in San Juan will be a cab ride to the PanAm Pier so it really doen't matter how close you are. Do note that cabs in San Juan not only charge the metered fare, but also per bag/luggage (last time i was there it was .50/small bag and $1/larger bag... depends upon the driver if you get charged for smaller things such as laptops, knapsacks, etc)

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

Let us know your thoughts regarding the above or if we can be of further help.

[TATIANA03]

Thanks Romelle for the prompt response and thereuare for the nice pier map.... My traveling companions (including the spouse!) are not as adventurous as I and prefer to book the Sheraton at the regular priceline price of $119.00 which is pretty reasonable (he and I stayed there last month for $189 before taxes!). I can't wait to try this again when we have more flexibility.

TATIANA03