San Juan Hotel - Clean, Affordable...

[mel47]

Looking for recommendations. We are travelling with both sets of parents. We are in our late twenties, parents in 50's/60's. We will come in Saturday afternoon to SJU, stay the night and partial next day somewhere then head to the port to AOS. We are going next May.

 

Criteria:

CLEAN

Close to a decent beach (walking distance)

Affordable (Under $160 preferably)

Good food nearby

Not too outrageous $$ for transportation from airport and to pier

Casinos/Shopping/Other stuff to do nearby a definite plus

 

Any recommendations help. Looking at Coral Princess Inn, but heard beach isn't good. Welcome any thoughts, suggestions, experiences. Thanks so much!

[andresnlt98]

Hi Mel

One of the most reasonables and clean close to airport , beach, Casino and food.

 

Howard Johnson in Isla Verde 1-787-728-1300,

Holiday inn San Juan in Isla Verde1-787--253-9000

Villas del Mar in Isla Verde 1-787-791-2600

Hampton inn in Isla Verde 1-787-791-8777

[mel47]

Wonderful!! Thanks so much for the new ideas. Want to start our vacation on the right foot!

[franma]

Try tripadvisor.com - gives ratings and compares hotels and prices from different online sites. I've found it very helpful.

[2VaCruzers]

We are staying at the Canario. Here's the link. It's a small place (only 25 rooms) but inexpensive, clean, newly renovated in 2003, and approximately 20 steps to the beach. It's right next to the Marriot Resort in the Condado area. We posted asking if anyone had stayed there. One cruiser said she had, and was pleased. While it wasn't luxurious by any means, it was clean and safe. She also said there was a nice little courtyard where they served a complimentary tropical breakfast. The best part...we got a room w/ a queen sized bed for $95/night. Works for us since we won't even be in it for 24 hours. It's a short cab ride to the pier, too. Hope this helps.

 

San Juan Hotels: El Canario Hotel Group - the best budget value in San Juan, Puerto Rico's best location - the famous Condado!

 

Oh..there are 3 of these "bed/breakfast" style hotels. The one we're staying in is El Canario by the Sea.

[tammythetwinsmom]

Thanks for the info on the Canario.. let us know when you get back about it.. I think we may book a room for the night there too in January.. Anyone else out there stay there yet? Thanks!

[2VaCruzers]

You're welcome...we won't be there until June of 2006, but I'll try to remember to post something.

Tammy...I notice you're from Fredericksburg...there's a group of us from VA that have quite a lively thread of "VA Cruisers". We've been chatting for well over a year and a half. Check it out...it's in the Floataway lounge.

 

Cruise Critic Message Boards - ISLAND CRUISERS of VA (and MD/DC/WVA)

[Kaye from Chicagoland]

We have booked 'Hotel Milano' (http://www.hotelmilanopr.com) in the heart of Old San Juan in Jan because we wanted the location. It gets great reviews on tripadvisor.com. Last time I looked it was 4th favorite among travelers. It is small (30 rooms) and prices are betwenn $135 and $155 during the winter months (less in off-season).

 

I think we will be happy - we decided we would have 7 beach days if we want during the cruise and wanted some of the night life in OSJ - free continental breakfast included.

 

Have fun wherever you decide!

Kaye

[sherry7]

I still need to book a hotel for 1 night in January, so I'm glad to run across this posting.

[sandikai]

I just had to join in and share my good news. I just got four rooms at the Marriot San Juan Resort for one night, January 27, on Priceline for $100 each. I only tried once and it came up. I had booked the Best Western Hotel Pierre as a standby hotel, and just cancelled it. I am so excited. Can't wait to tell the rest of the gang.

 

Sandi

[Northender]

Mel, we will be staying there in March, 2006. Will give you a report when we return. It did come recommended and the people there are soooo nice to deal with - very acommondating and will answer all your questions before you book :) I just sent an email re transportation to the Golden and will let you know what they say. The Golden is now supposedly docking at OSJ - Pier 4

 

We booked El Canario by the Sea. Very easy to do online. :)

[2VaCruzers]

We're staying at El Canario by the Sea as well in June of 2006. They were very accomodating and it was painless by email.

[nerak]

We are at the El Canario by the Lagoon post cruise New Years Eve and the 1st. I agree with Mel, they were excellent on the phone answering questions. We booked through the internet and they put us down for a lagoon side. I'd never used Priceline, but tried it for pre-cruise December 22 and 23...we got the Raddison for $85 per night.

[cen822]

anyone stay at the comfort inn? we are crusing 4/06 and made a reservation for comfort inn.......about the only hotel with availability at a reasonable price. any info would be greatly appreciated.

[2VaCruzers]

Cen822...don't know what price the Comfort Inn is giving you, but have you looked into the El Canario by the Sea? Here's their website:

 

San Juan Hotels: El Canario Hotel Group - the best budget value in San Juan, Puerto Rico's best location - the famous Condado!

[mom8x]

Have reservations at Comfort Inn, since it was one that listed queen size beds. There are four of us who will be sharing a room, and doubles just seem awfully small. Anyone with information about other hotels that have queen size beds in their double rooms? Not sure if the Comfort is going to be very good, but at least we know we have a back up and it is queen beds. Any advise would be appreciated.

[laceyjane]

When you book through priceline are there extra fees you pay directly to priceline? We are already booked at the Marriott San Juan Casino Hotel and it is very expensive so 4 of us are sharing a room for two nights pre-cruise. If we could get it on priceline for around a $100.00 a night we could each have our own room. Do you still pay the 10% resort fee and taxes for each night through priceline?

[curlyd]

I have been researching priceline myself and last night read that when you bid, priceline will charge you taxes and "their service fee" but that the resort fee will still be charged by the resort when you register. There is a site called biddingfortravel.com that took me awhile to understand but has been very informative. We are registered at Courtyard by Mariott in San Juan for 2 pre and 1 post cruise nights. Since my pre cruise nights are still cancellable (sp) I think I am going to try priceline myself. If I bid for a "resort" category I hope to get something nice but cheaper.

 

Hopefully someone else who has used priceline will confirm the taxes, fees and resort fees info above.

 

Good luck

[vlnovak]

We have stayed at the Inn a few times. be sure and ask for a room with a balcony. the ones on the top floor have marble floors. WE paid about $100 per night, there is a aaa rate and also a senior discount. You can book it through the comfort inn site. It is nice and not noisy. Pool is small. hope this helps,

[sandikai]

Lacyjane and Curlyd

 

I just checked my bid from Priceline for the San Juan Marriot and the taxes and fees for the 4 rooms at $100 each were 63.08 which is about 16%. I wasn't aware of the resort fee and looked that up on my receipt from Priceline and it states that the hotel requires a major credit card at check in for incidental expenses, of which one is resort fee. I went to the Marriot site and it says resort fees are 10%. I would imagine that would be 10% of their regular price, which is about $295. It is still a bargain. I started my bid at $100, and resort. If I return again I think I would try for a hotel in Old San Juan.

 

Sandi

[sandikai]

P.S.

 

When I called the Marriot a couple of days after winning the Priceline bid to comfirm our reservations, request king size beds and non-smoking rooms, they said that one of the reservations had been cancelled. I told them that we didn't cancel and to reinstate it. I was told that I could reserve it at the regular price, at which I said Priceline reservations could not be cancelled and they made a mistake. I was then told that I would have to call during the day, and ask for the manager to have it corrected, which I did and it was. Now I am paranoid and plan to call every week to check.

 

Sandi

[laragc]

Sandi:

 

I got one room for two nights at $99/nt plus taxes for a total of $238 or so at the Marriott San Juan Resort and Casino. But I will now call to confirm religiously for the next week or so until we leave. Thanks for the tip!

[sandikai]

laragc:

 

Did your price with Priceline include the resort fee?

 

Sandi

[Airb330]

anyone stay at the comfort inn? we are crusing 4/06 and made a reservation for comfort inn.......about the only hotel with availability at a reasonable price. any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

My mother and I are on 1/20 for our RCCL Seranade cruise on the 21st. It seemed like a good deal, though I may try priceline.com for a resort. It can't hurt. Came out to like 116 or something like that.