Summary of Winning Bids on Priceline, Hotwire, etc.

[CRUISNDIVA]

It's a "loophole" in the Priceline system.

 

In theory, if you wanted a resort in San Juan, you'd pick your max bid price, select the resort category and the San Juan zone, and bid away -- if the bid were rejected, you'd have to wait 24 hours to bid again.

 

In practice, however, there is a way to make multiple bids on the same day, thus allowing you to start your bidding lower and work your way up. This is known as "free re-bidding" and uses the technique of "free re-bid zones." These zones are what you refer to: other areas that don't have resorts. If your initial bid price is rejected, Priceline allows you to place another bid at a higher price simply by adding another zone to the re-bid -- even though that zone may not have a hotel in the category on which you are bidding.

 

There are four other zones in Puerto Rico that don't have resorts, so this appears to give you four re-bids. But wait -- there's more!

 

By using that algebra that's stored somewhere in our memory, 'permutations' actually give us 15 chances to re-bid here. How? Let's say you bid on zone 6, then on zones 6 & 1 -- you can then sign out, sign back in, and place a new bid on zones 6 & 2, then re-bid on zones 6, 2, and 1. This process is repeated for other zones, 6-3, 6-3-1; 6-3-2, 6-3-2-1; 6-4, 6-4-1; 6-4-2, 6-4-2-1; 6-4-3, 6-4-3-1; 6-4-3-2, 6-4-3-2-1.

 

You now have 15 re-bidding opportunities to get a resort in San Juan ... and I need to drink less coffee in the morning. :eek:

 

Thanks for all the info! Are there any zones that should not be selected if we want a resort close to Old San Juan?

[YOW]

Thanks for all the info! Are there any zones that should not be selected if we want a resort close to Old San Juan?

 

Priceline only has one zone for San Juan itself, so that's the one you'd start bidding with. Use four of the five other zones as re-bids, but in this case you'd want to avoid Rio Grande, which has resorts but is an hour or more away. Even with resorts in the San Juan zone, though, you could get the Caribe Hilton (walkable or a short cab ride to Old San Juan); Marriott (10-15 min. taxi to OSJ); or the Intercontinental or El San Juan (15-20 min. taxi to OSJ).

 

I'd make a Leafs comment here, but with Ottawa currently last in the East, we'll stay away from that subject for now. ;)

[toonjie]

I'm sure everyone is tired of us newbies coming here and exclaiming, "I'm so confused!!!!"

 

But I am. And I've read and read and read.

 

One of the biggest things I don't understand is why, if you want the Marriott Stellaris, why you select other areas that you know don't have resorts?

 

Can someone please, please, please just tell me what area to select and what level?

 

I want to stay there 5/24 and 5/25, post cruise (will fly home 5/26). Actually, I guess I should book my flights first, to be sure of when I'm leaving, shouldn't I? :o

 

I also want to arrive 5/16. For that one night pre cruise, I'm not nearly so concerned about where we stay. I'd like OSJ since Carnival sails from Pier 4 (I hope I have that right). El Convento would be fab, but don't think I want to pay that price. Sheraton would also work but have read that it's in a category that I could get something much less desireable.

 

Help me! Please help me!!

 

I see YOW already took care of your question, just wanted to make sure you understood that you always leave San Juan checked as an area since that is where you want to stay, you just add the other areas because Priceline makes you change something of significance in order to bid more than once in a 24 hour period. Since Priceline has no resorts in any other area in Puerto Rico besides Rio-Grande-Humacao, you can add those areas and re-bid.

[ken_nyc]

Hi Toonjie, I just reserved a mid-size car from Charlie's Car Rental, thanks for the tip. It will cost me $51.20. Their shuttle from the airport to pick-up the car and from Candado to the pier are free. I assume that it will save me money in a long run including going sightseeing and not paying for cabs for three people. Is there parking in Old San Juan and is it free? What is the best place to eat breakfast before returning the car and going to the ship? Thank you in advance!

[Hamptoncruiser]

Just booked Courtyard by Marriott for Feb 19th for $100 + $28.43 taxes and fees. I bid on resorts up to $150, 4* up to $130 and 3 1/2* up to $125 before getting this on first bid at $100. This is for a 1 nite pre cruise on the Galaxy.

[toonjie]

[quote name='ken_nyc']Hi Toonjie, I just reserved a mid-size car from Charlie's Car Rental, thanks for the tip. It will cost me $51.20. Their shuttle from the airport to pick-up the car and from Candado to the pier are free. I assume that it will save me money in a long run including going sightseeing and not paying for cabs for three people. Is there parking in Old San Juan and is it free? What is the best place to eat breakfast before returning the car and going to the ship? Thank you in advance![/QUOTE]

Great, you will see a rental car will save you loads and allow you more freedom to cruise around at will. There is parking in OSJ, depending on the day and time, it can be limited to slim or you may have to walk a bit. There are parking garages behind the Sheraton and a large lot down by the water with the entrance near Princessa fountain and the exit close to the cruise ship piers. Here's a link to a great map: [url]http://www.travelmaps.com/OldSanJuan.html[/url]
This will show you all the major sites in OSJ. Make sure you go to the information page of this web site and request a free paper copy be sent to you. It's nice to have in advance although you can get it at Charlies and the airport. For breakfast on the day of the cruise we have always just gone to the coffee shop at the Marriott since our plan was to board early and go to the Windjammer. You could try a classic authentic local place in OSJ, La Bombonera. If you go, you have to try the Mallorcas, an authentic Puertorican breakfast treat. The coffee will grow hairs on the back of your neck, as my grandfather used to say, and the place is nothing fancy, but is a nice place to go to experience a local breakfast. Edited November 20, 2008 by toonjie

[CarolRick]

[quote name='Hamptoncruiser']Just booked Courtyard by Marriott for Feb 19th for $100 + $28.43 taxes and fees. I bid on resorts up to $150, 4* up to $130 and 3 1/2* up to $125 before getting this on first bid at $100. This is for a 1 nite pre cruise on the Galaxy.[/quote]

Is the Courtyard by Marriott a 3 star or a 3.5 star?
thanks

[ken_nyc]

[quote name='toonjie']Great, you will see a rental car will save you loads and allow you more freedom to cruise around at will. There is parking in OSJ, depending on the day and time, it can be limited to slim or you may have to walk a bit. There are parking garages behind the Sheraton and a large lot down by the water with the entrance near Princessa fountain and the exit close to the cruise ship piers. Here's a link to a great map: [URL]http://www.travelmaps.com/OldSanJuan.html[/URL]
This will show you all the major sites in OSJ. Make sure you go to the information page of this web site and request a free paper copy be sent to you. It's nice to have in advance although you can get it at Charlies and the airport. For breakfast on the day of the cruise we have always just gone to the coffee shop at the Marriott since our plan was to board early and go to the Windjammer. You could try a classic authentic local place in OSJ, La Bombonera. If you go, you have to try the Mallorcas, an authentic Puertorican breakfast treat. The coffee will grow hairs on the back of your neck, as my grandfather used to say, and the place is nothing fancy, but is a nice place to go to experience a local breakfast.[/quote]
Toonjie, you are the man!! You are a real wealth of information and I do really appreciate your help!! Thank You!

[toonjie]

[quote name='ken_nyc']Toonjie, you are the man!! You are a real wealth of information and I do really appreciate your help!! Thank You![/QUOTE]

Thanks! :) No problem!

[Hamptoncruiser]

It was a 3*.It was my first bid on a 3*. I might have been able to get it for less but I couldn't rebid using other areas because they had 3*s also. Brian

[cookie225]

TOONJIE HERE U ARE I'VE BEEN LOOKING 4 u!!!! Well never mind this priceline algebra 101, im not even gonna go there.....I read somewhere that u had 4 favorite hotels in san juan....was the intercontinental one of them? OK so this is the deal...after reading diff reviews at diff sites, i think ill stay at the Intercontinental for the room & the svce & go next door & boogie at El San Juan clubs /Bars (the reviews on the rooms & svce is not that great) but the nightlife is good!
What do u think....GODFATHER:p

[toonjie]

[quote name='cookie225']TOONJIE HERE U ARE I'VE BEEN LOOKING 4 u!!!! Well never mind this priceline algebra 101, im not even gonna go there.....I read somewhere that u had 4 favorite hotels in san juan....was the intercontinental one of them? OK so this is the deal...after reading diff reviews at diff sites, i think ill stay at the Intercontinental for the room & the svce & go next door & boogie at El San Juan clubs /Bars (the reviews on the rooms & svce is not that great) but the nightlife is good!
What do u think....GODFATHER:p[/QUOTE]

Well my favorite is the Marriott. I think the number 4 came into play because Priceline now has 4 resorts in San Juan, I would rank them, 1. Marriott 2. Intercontinental 3. ESJ 4. Caribe Hilton. Yes the Intercontinental is very nice, but for rack rate I would always risk it and use Priceline since all 4 possibilities are very good hotels. Sounds like you have it down right for the Intercontinental and ESJ, the beach and pool areas are awesome as well.

[cookie225]

thank you Godfather....lol well maybe ill read more on this priceline thing and try...well of course not anytime soon, ill let u know...

[CarolRick]

We just won the Wyndham Rio Mar for three rooms for $96 per room plus $23 taxes. One night precruise, Jan 29.
We bid 3.5 stars for San Juan and rebid including Rio Grande and were upgraded to this resort. $96 was our first bid with Rio Grande so you may be able to get it lower. A little far out but doable with a rental car.

[sunworshiper1998]

I am happy I have this thread to look at, I would have never tried to bid on Priceline had I never been informed of the strategies.

I want to thank everyone for their input, I just finished my bidding for pre and post cruise stays. I was able to get the Marriott for both, for $180 per night + taxes for 3 nights total.

It is over spring break and I did not think I would get such a good price given the holiday so I am very pleased. :D

With the wealth of information on this page, can someone recommend transportation to the Marriott? We get in after 9 pm and will not be using a rental car (our ship departs the next day.) Does the hotel have a shuttle, or do we take a cab?

Thanks again for all your help!!

[MomtoCCC]

All

We've tried unsuccessfully to bid on PRiceline for 1 night (Feb 15, 09) for the first night of our land trip to Puerto RIco. We've rented a condo for most of our stay but since we arrive so late (11pm) the first night - we decided to just get a hotel room that first night in SJ before heading out to our Condo.

I got an update from Hotwire and there are 2 options for about $100 each.

3 star - near beach with continental breakfast

3 1/2 star with casino - no beach.

Anyone know which hotels these are??? I've tried reading through some of the old posts to see if I can figure this out.

Thanks!

[MomtoCCC]

I looked at some more posts and figured out that the 3 1/2 star is probably the Sheraton San Juan which would be fine for us...

does anyone know if they charge for parking? We are trying to decide if we want to rent a car when we arrive that first night or just take a taxi to this hotel.. We will need a car for the rest of our vacation so not sure if we can rent a car near the Sheraton or if we will need to go back to the airport. (we will be returning car at the airport).

Thanks again!

[toonjie]

[quote name='sunworshiper1998']I am happy I have this thread to look at, I would have never tried to bid on Priceline had I never been informed of the strategies.

I want to thank everyone for their input, I just finished my bidding for pre and post cruise stays. I was able to get the Marriott for both, for $180 per night + taxes for 3 nights total.

It is over spring break and I did not think I would get such a good price given the holiday so I am very pleased. :D

With the wealth of information on this page, can someone recommend transportation to the Marriott? We get in after 9 pm and will not be using a rental car (our ship departs the next day.) Does the hotel have a shuttle, or do we take a cab?

Thanks again for all your help!![/QUOTE]

Taxi is your best bet. There are no shuttle busses to hotels in San Juan. [url]www.cabspr.com[/url]

Congrats on getting the Marriott, you will love it!

[MomtoCCC]

Just to let everyone know - I got Sheraton Old San Juan on Hotwire (3.5 stars) for $92 for Feb 15, 2009 (with fees it is approx $115)

Thought it was a good deal!

[jd2jc]

Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino
101 Brumbaugh Street
Old San Juan, 00901
Puerto Rico
(787) 721-5100

Check-in: Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Check-out: Fri, Jan 30, 2009 at 12:00 PM

Hotel rate per night: $79.00
Nights: 4
Rooms: 1
Subtotal: $316.00
Tax recovery charges and fees: $69.87
Total price: $385.87

[jd2jc]

Wyndham Rio Mar Beach Resort
Rio Grande - Humacao
6000 Rio Mar Boulevard
Rio Grande, Puerto Rico 00745
787-888-6000

Check-In Date:
Mon, Feb 9, 2009 / After 04:00 PM
Check-Out Date:
Tue, Feb 10, 2009 / 11:00 AM

Your Offer Price Per Room, Per Night: $90.00
Subtotal: $90.00
Taxes & Service Fees: $25.11
Total Charges*: $115.11

[royal_flush]

[quote name='MomtoCCC']Just to let everyone know - I got Sheraton Old San Juan on Hotwire (3.5 stars) for $92 for Feb 15, 2009 (with fees it is approx $115)

Thought it was a good deal![/quote]

Thanks I was wondering what that hotel was.

[d&a Delaware]

Successful Priceline bid for Sheraton Old San Juan, 4/11/09 (Saturday of Easter/Spring Break weekend), one night pre-cruise, $120 -- with taxes and fees comes to $152.80.

Began bidding 3.5* level Zone 6 (San Juan) at $100, worked up in $5 increments using free bid zones. This was available for base rate $162 on Hotwire, and $259 on Sheraton web site.

I'm very happy:). I figure we'll also save on taxi fares getting to Old San Juan that evening if we had been staying somewhere else. Now I have to figure out some restaurant possibilities in OSJ for dinner.

David

[caribbeanchickie]

Just Won the Sheraton Old San Juan 3* for 2 nights, Jan 1 & 2 for $100 a night.

[rockymtn]

Just got the Gran Melia for 3 nights at 98 per night. Anyone been there