Hotwire Hotel: Wanted: Caribe Hilton in SJ in April 2010

[jfdb24]

Hi. I want to stay at the Caribe Hilton from April 18-24, 2010 (it is a great hotel for little kids because of the sheltered beach and the private grounds). I know it is 4*. Here's what I get for those dates as the only 4* in SJ searching for 2 adults and 1 child (using the links from this page):

This hotel features the following amenities:

Resort

Resorts offer a complete destination experience. Facilities generally include a spa or fitness center, one or more swimming pools, and superior dining options. Depending on location, recreational activities may include water sports, golf, tennis or skiing. Coastal resorts usually boast ocean views or beachfront access. Note: A resort fee may be charged.

Beachfront

Property is located on the beach.

Casino

Property offers a full-service casino accessible from the lobby.

Fitness Center

Guests have access to exercise equipment; an additional charge may apply.

Pool(s)

Property offers at least one pool area; hours and dates of operation may be seasonal.

Restaurant(s)

Property offers at least one restaurant on the premises; hours and days of operation may vary.

Business Center

Guests have access to business equipment and services; an additional charge may apply.

Laundry Facilities

<amenity names only please... not descriptions>

High-speed Internet Access

Guestrooms are equipped with high-speed Internet access; an extra charge may apply.

Golf Nearby

Property is located within walking distance or a short drive of at least one golf course; an extra charge typically applies.

Tennis Nearby

Property is located within walking distance or a short drive of at least one tennis court; an extra charge typically applies.

Spa Services

Guests have access to a spa facility or spa services; an extra charge typically applies.

[yellowdog]

Do not copy/paste to your thread... post only the icon names and not the full descriptions that go along with it as it will make your post easier for us to read.

Yellowdog.

[thereuare]

Please follow-up your threads with whatever you ended up doing for each stay:

Hotwire London

Toronto Novotel (needs dates to appear in the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins)

Hotwire Toronto

Then bump this thread and we'll have a look at the above.

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

[jfdb24]

I want to get the Caribe Hilton for April 26 - May 2, 2010 (yes, starting to look early). Would really like this hotel, because the private beach is perfect for kids, unlike any of the other resorts in San Juan.

I see this 4* for $109 per night:

Resort

Resorts offer a complete destination experience. Facilities generally include a spa or fitness center, one or more swimming pools, and superior dining options. Depending on location, recreational activities may include water sports, golf, tennis or skiing. Coastal resorts usually boast ocean views or beachfront access. Note: A resort fee may be charged.

Beachfront

Property is located on the beach.

Casino

Property offers a full-service casino accessible from the lobby.

Pool(s)

Property offers at least one pool area; hours and dates of operation may be seasonal.

Restaurant(s)

Property offers at least one restaurant on the premises; hours and days of operation may vary.

Business Center

Guests have access to business equipment and services; an additional charge may apply.

Laundry Facilities

<amenity names only please... not descriptions>

High-speed Internet Access

Guestrooms are equipped with high-speed Internet access; an extra charge may apply.

Tennis Nearby

Property is located within walking distance or a short drive of at least one tennis court; an extra charge typically applies.

Spa Services

Guests have access to a spa facility or spa services; an extra charge typically applies.

Is this likely the Hilton? What else could it be?? I know Hilton has tennis and a spa, but I didn't think there's a casino there, is there? The Marriott has tennis and a casino, but I didn't think it had a spa. Of course, I could be wrong on all of this ... hence my question to those with experience.

Thoughts?

[yellowdog]

Please do not copy/paste to your thread... post only the icon names and not the full descriptions that go along with it as it will make your post easier for us to read.

And please follow-up your previous threads!

Yellowdog.

[thereuare]

Please follow-up your threads with whatever you ended up doing for each stay:

Hotwire London

Toronto Novotel (needs dates to appear in the Priceline and Hotwire Calendar of Wins)

Hotwire Toronto

[jfdb24]

Ok. Sorry for the multiple posts, and for the messy layout. I tried editing these to clean them up, but can't quite figure out how to do that. Also sorry for not follow-up on my other posts. I've now done that.

So, any advice on getting the San Juan Hilton over other San Juan hotels? I.e. What specifically distinguishes the Hilton?

Also, I've read reports of people getting Villas at the Hilton. Any idea how to swing that? Sounds perfect.

[AaronJB]

There is no way to 100% guarantee a particular hotel on PRICELINE or HOTWIRE; while one can make an "educated guess" that a HOTWIRE listing may be a particular hotel, there is always the outside chance that that listing could be an unknown, previously unreported hotel with the same amenities.

There is definitely no "work around" to get a particular hotel via PRICELINE.

Would you be okay with a hotel besides the Hilton, or is the Hilton a must?

Please use the site's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links.

[jfdb24]

I understand no guarantees. But I know odds of guessing right are better in some cases b/c particular distinguishing features. Does caribe Hilton have anything unique typically reported vs eg Marriott or intercontinental or others?

[thereuare]

You can see the amenities that have been reported to be associated with the Caribe Hilton in the Hotwire Hotel List.

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

[jfdb24]

You can see the amenities that have been reported to be associated with the Caribe Hilton in the Hotwire Hotel List.

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

Thanks. Very helpful.

Quick follow-up...

1. I know the Hilton also has restaurants, business centre, internet, etc.. These aren't reported. Is that common (i.e. for the hotel not to report features they have)?

2. Are the terms "beachfront", "oceanfront", and "beach access" terms of art -- that is, are they ever used by different hotels to describe the same thing, or can I assume, for example that the "beachfront" hotel is the Hilton while the "beach access"/"oceanfront" is the Plaza?

3. I don't see the Condado Marriot (Stallaris) anywhere on this list (not the Courtyard Marriot - another one), but I have seen people report winning it. Or maybe that's just on Priceline, not Hotwire? Can you confirm for me.

Thanks again for the great site!!!

[yellowdog]

jfdb24

1. I know the Hilton also has restaurants, business centre, internet, etc.. These aren't reported. Is that common (i.e. for the hotel not to report features they have)?

There is no general answer for this question. But yes, it happens. But it's more likley that a hotel don't list business centre, internet than a "key" amenitie. But we also se suite hotels that don't list suite as an amenitie etc.

2. Are the terms "beachfront", "oceanfront", and "beach access" terms of art -- that is, are they ever used by different hotels to describe the same thing, or can I assume, for example that the "beachfront" hotel is the Hilton while the "beach access"/"oceanfront" is the Plaza?

No easy question, both "beachfront" and "oceanfront" is two "abused" amenities when it comes to locations of hotels. We see hotels that have oceanfront one week and beachfront the next week. Some hotels use the beachfront without an beach location. And "easy walking distance beach" is sometimes a joke. I don't know the "history" for Hilton and Plaza. The best thing you can do is to look at old reports for the hotels and see if the change between the two amenities.

3. I don't see the Condado Marriot (Stallaris) anywhere on this list (not the Courtyard Marriot - another one), but I have seen people report winning it. Or maybe that's just on Priceline, not Hotwire? Can you confirm for me.

The Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino is only reported as a PRICELINE hotel.

You should not try to ID any hotel with your thoughts in question 1 and 2. It's better that you post the complete amenitie combo in this post.

Hotels are added/removed by Hotwire all the time, and star ratings amenities can change at ANY time. As well, the geographic boundaries of an area are subject to change.

Yellowdog.

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

[jfdb24]

Just an update -- I haven't yet booked. Am waiting until closer to the date.

[jfdb24]

I ended up not booking via HOTWIRE because it was too unpredictable.

[yellowdog]

Thanks for the follow-up and closing this thread.

It would be helpful if you post what you did for this stay... it could help other users if/when they have trouble finding accomodations for their own stays.

Yellowdog.

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