Pre cruise hotel - convenient, inexpensive, and nice???

[LoriAB]

We will be arriving in San Juan two days before cruising. We want to stay somewhere where we won't spend a fortune, but we need to be safe and convenient to the port for the Celebrity Summit. Any suggestions? We are two couples in our 50's....Thanks.

[bouhunter]

Search on travelocity, expedia etc. If you want to be on or near the water there's pretty much no such thing as an inexpensive hotel in San Juan.

 

If you haven't been to SJU before, I recommend you spend some time in Old San Juan. Tour one of the forts, have a nice dinner, etc.:)

[texancruzer]

I agree - inexpensive and San Juan don't really happen in the same sentence often........

 

There are two basic choices...... Old San Juan area or out/near the airport.

 

OSJ is closer to the port that Celebrity uses (Pan Am pier) which is a short taxi ride, but even the Condado/Isla Verde/airport locales are just a 20-25 minute taxi ride depending on traffic.

 

You will definitely get better prices out by the airport - by the beach will be higher.

 

We ALWAYS stay in Old San Juan.....for the ambience.

 

You will get a lot of different recommendations on this board..... I suggest you keep researching on your own as well...... try Tripadvisor too

[printingchick]

I found a "reasonably priced" hotel in Old San Juan that I booked for my next cruise. Villa Herencia is a B&B in historic OSJ. It has a lot of charm and ambiance. It also has only about 8 or 9 guestrooms, so it sells out for weekends a full year in advance! Best to call to check for availability. They are one of the few historic inns in OSJ which permit single-night stays. I know you plan to stay for two nights, but many cruisers are looking for accommodations for only one night, making VH an attractive option.

[SeaBands]

is close to the pier and at the edge of OSJ so many sites are close by as well as restaurants and they have a rooftop pool and a casino. I don't think that their prices are high.

[Traveller20074]

I'm paying over $200/night for the Sheraton Old San Juan. I was shocked when I found out, but my travel agent told me there are no "cheap" options in SJ.

[texancruzer]

I'm paying over $200/night for the Sheraton Old San Juan. I was shocked when I found out, but my travel agent told me there are no "cheap" options in SJ.

 

$200 is really not high for a tourist area such as OSJ. And for one right on the water as the Sheraton (even tho it is harbor and not beach) with a casino and pool......

 

You have checked to find out if that includes the taxes (which run @ 12% or $24.00 on 200.) for casino hotels.

[sippican]

If you are willing to do a bit of research, there are nice options in OSJ for under $200 per night. We are staying at top-rated El Convento post-cruise for $165 per night, and Villa Herencia for a total of $164 pre-cruise.

The Tripadvisor website is a great option (search hotel reviews, San Juan, and inns and bed & breakfast). Be sure to read the winning bids sticky at the top of the San Juan Board; even if you are not bidding, you can get a good idea of what hotels are willing to sell their rooms for.

[Sunseeker11]

If you want a good deal, I recommend Priceline. It can save you quite a bit. You can get a 4 star resort for around $100-120 a night.

[PORT ROYAL]

We will be arriving in San Juan two days before cruising. We want to stay somewhere where we won't spend a fortune, but we need to be safe and convenient to the port for the Celebrity Summit. Any suggestions? We are two couples in our 50's....Thanks.

 

For one night only - Check out the Marriott actually at the airport (you walk to check-in), because the taxi fares (yellow cabs) from the airport (back of the Marriott Hotel) to Cruise Terminals are set and posted. This way you only pay for one taxi ride. Otherwise you may run the risk of being skimmed by a local taxi driver.

 

For two (2) nights first check out the usual Hotel webs and then E-Mail the hotels you have an interest in direct and ask what deal 'they' can offer for your two nights.

[roothy123]

I was looking at Casa Condado in the Condado section, which is between Old San Juan and the airport. There's a bus that runs down to Old San Juan (for sightseeing the day before) and as someone else mentioned, the taxi ride isn't too terribly far to the port. I assume you know that the Summit docks at the Pan American Pier (we're on March 9 cruise, by the way) which is not in Old San Juan. Unfortunately there's not much in the way of hotels right there other than the Sheraton Conference Center (nice but not cheap).

 

Casa Condado is around $100 a night for a Saturday. It is not cushy by any means, but a friend who has been to SJ a couple times says she has heard it's decent. She also likes El Canario Boutique Hotel - around same location and price.

 

I like Priceline, but keep in mind that they tack on a fee for using the bidding feature. Also, some resorts or hotels in SJ charge a resort fee. The tax is high, too!

[gaylenhazel]

We got the Conrad San Juan Condado hotel on Hotwire for $89 a night. Staying two nights. Bid for a 4 star. Looks great!

[Nole0202]

We will be arriving in San Juan two days before cruising. We want to stay somewhere where we won't spend a fortune, but we need to be safe and convenient to the port for the Celebrity Summit. Any suggestions? We are two couples in our 50's....Thanks.

 

Do your homework.

San Juan is not over expensive. It has a surplus of hotels and is in a major recession. The good deals are easy to find.

There are no hotels near the Pan Am port so do not worry bout getting close to he ship.

For 2 days, recommend you consider Isla Verde near the beach. You can take the bus or. Taxi into OSJ one day for site seeing and dinner.