San Juan hotels

[BJAMINGIRL]

We are going to be sailing out of San Juan the end of March and have booked our air so we have 2 nights in San Juan. I have been trying the priceline thing, but it just isn't working.

 

Does anyone have any insider info on a decent hotel that won't break the bank. We'd like to stay between $200 to $300 for the 2 nights. I'd like to be near Old San Juan this time, but am willing to look elsewhere.

 

We aren't real picky, but want a safe area.

 

Any help would be appreciated:)

[LiLBxQt]

i would post this on the Port of Call board instead under San Juan... I'm sure you'll get plenty of responses...

 

FYI, I just bid on priceline for 2 nights at the resort level in san juan and at a bid of $125 per night (may 18-20), i received the san juan marriott resort & stellaris casino (we began the bidding at $80 b/c i saw others on here were getting those prices)

[BJAMINGIRL]

Thanks for responding.

 

I have been trying priceline every day for 2 weeks. I have done the thing with adding the areas that do not have resorts so I get 3 bids for resorts. I have gone as high as 170 and still no luck. :(

I have a back up now of the Howard Johnson only a 2 star, but good location. I will keep trying priceline.

 

Hope you have a great cruise. We will be in San Juan after you March 24 and 25.

[NTC9414]

I was having the same result at Priceline for March 30. Just yesterday, I finally won the Marriott by bidding resort level, winning bid $162. Hang in there!

[OhioJeff]

Thanks for responding.

 

I have been trying priceline every day for 2 weeks. I have done the thing with adding the areas that do not have resorts so I get 3 bids for resorts. I have gone as high as 170 and still no luck. :(

I have a back up now of the Howard Johnson only a 2 star, but good location. I will keep trying priceline.

 

Hope you have a great cruise. We will be in San Juan after you March 24 and 25.

 

Yes, keep trying. The problem you are facing is Spring Break and Passports. Since you dont need a passport to visit San Juan, many people are flying there for vacation. I know in man newspapers and travel magazines the Puerto Rican Tourism Dept is buying ad space and sending out mailers letting people know.

[karenbf]

We stayed at the Normandie Hotel. It was $234/night.

 

I'd try the El Convento if I were you. There's a two night minimum. Great location and hotel.

[texancruzer]

The El Convento is San Juans only 5 star and is right in the heart of old San Juan......we loved it !! Now we flew in on Thanksgiving Day so was considered a Holiday so we paid alot for our room for 2 nights (@ 700. with taxes etc).... but that is where I wanted to stay.

 

Their website www.elconvento.com has a pre/post cruise special which brings the price way down from what we paid - but San Juan prices are just high - period.

 

That said.... also check out www.numero1guesthouse.com This is a small boutique B&B hotel in Ocean Park area. Right on the beach and in a gated community area. We would definately stay here if and when we get back to Puerto Rico :D

 

ALSO FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT STAYING 2 NIGHTS - CALL EL CONVENTO DIRECT (800 # ON WEBSITE) AS THEY WILL SOMETIMES BOOK 1 NIGHT AT THE 2 NIGHT RATE. DEPENDS ON HOW BOOKED THEY ARE AND WHAT TIME OF YEAR.

[Big Sky Country]

A decent lower end, but clean, local bet is the Milano hotel in Old San Juan. My father stayed there a couple of months ago and it was reasonable. The bigger chain hotels are more expensive. For what you want to spend, I'd suggest the Milano with a great location.

[penneysmama]

So seriously, if I start bidding low on a resort in San Juan, it is a given that I will get Caribe Hilton, the least expensive resort in the area? And is it a nice place to stay if I do get it?

[rlkubi]

We stayed at the Hotel Milano for 2 nights post cruise 2 weeks ago and loved it! It was a great location and a charming hotel. They have 30 rooms and the rooms are not fancy but clean and a friendly staff. We were sight-seeing so weren't in the room anyway so I won't pay $350/night for a hotel. It was a couple of blocks from the pier and 5 minutes from one fort and 10 minutes from the other fort. We went with 2 other couples and all of us will stay there again when we return to San Juan!

[beachfollower]

Hi. We are staying at the Howard Johnson's Isla Verde....it's not too far from the airport. AARP/AAA for $132. It's not a fancy place but the location is great. Across the street are condos on Isla Verde beach (a beautiful long walking beach). You just cross the street and walk through the public walkway between the condo developements and you are at the beach. They have a nice top of the hotel restaurant also. Nothing fancy but a great price and decent location. We are going back next weekend before boarding the Destiny. Good luck!

[TeamGunga]

We stayed at the Normandie Hotel. It was $234/night.

 

I'd try the El Convento if I were you. There's a two night minimum. Great location and hotel.

Karenbf,

 

How did you like the Normandie? My husband and I won two night's stay there. Any advice, warnings, etc? Also will be our first time in PR, so if anyone has any recommendations, I'm all ears!

[devinc]

What about the Holiday Inn Isla Verde? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[hjcpmeek]

we are staying at a "little" hotel we got the room from priceline and will be there 17mar and sail 18 march on the destiny

[BJAMINGIRL]

DEVINC

 

We stayed at the holiday Inn Isla Verde last year...got it on priceline....It is a nice hotel a couple of blocks from the beach. The Asian resturant in the hotel was excellant...Wish we had eaten dinner there, but had soup and appetisers there for a later snack after walking the beach.

 

Easy access from the airport. The day we checked out they let us check our luggage and use the pool till we left around 2:30 to go to the ship.

[Ditch]

Stay away from the Sheraton Old San Juan...I stayed there back in June prior to sailing on the Adventure of the Sea and had my credit card billed this January for expenses that did not belong to me. It seems they keep your CC number on file and make random charges after the fact.

 

We booked two nights there prior to sailing with RCCL and made all reservation, including air directly with cruise line. When we checked in, provided front desk a voucher and upon checking out, I verified there we no charges against my room (we made none), just double checking.

 

I have read on this board and others that people should keep an eye on their CC statements after their stay at the Sheraton in Old San Juan. I am glad I took their advice. I will never stay there again

!!!!!!!:mad:

[devinc]

DEVINC

 

We stayed at the holiday Inn Isla Verde last year...got it on priceline....It is a nice hotel a couple of blocks from the beach. The Asian resturant in the hotel was excellant...Wish we had eaten dinner there, but had soup and appetisers there for a later snack after walking the beach.

 

Easy access from the airport. The day we checked out they let us check our luggage and use the pool till we left around 2:30 to go to the ship.

 

 

Thx. Sounds like this will work. We prob will arrive late afternoon and relax by the pool...

[sbc98grad]

I just got the Sheraton OSJ on Hotwire for $134. I have read about the issues there with credit cards....I can fight those charges no problem if they would arise at that price.

[Jiminw]

We cruised Carnival's Destiny in Sept. 06. We chose to extend our stay in Puerto Rico an extra day after the cruise. We chose to stay in Dorado right outside of San Juan. We rented a car and drove there to Hyatt Hacienda Del Mar. It is a beautiful resort. Our cost for a Two bedroom twin apartment was $200 a night. My Dear Hubby and I stayed on one side of the apartment. My daughter and girlfriend stayed in the other bedroom apartment. It had a common entrance with washer/dryer. The larger of the apartments had a master bedroom with living area and full kitchen. A bathroom with jetted tub and separate shower room and dressing room. The other bedroom apartment had a smaller living area and smaller kitchen with bathroom. It had Two balconies. The property itself had several hottubs on site. A very large fountain and snack bar that you could get beach chair and sea floats. it is on the beach. Also there is a beautiful lazy river that twines around the property. This contains a hugh Waterfall that houses a hottub. several small water built in slides. all along the river are seating areas. It is built among palm trees and flowering bushes and sculpures. It has a current that it turned on during the day and large area for swimming. It was a true expierence to stay there and wished we had booked for a longer time. We got our cheap rate by using points from a credit card. But sometimes the advertise cheaper rates for "time of year"of members of AAA or AARP. Check with site like Hotel.com and priceline for cheap rates and this may work for you. We definately plan to return. We usually fly free with airmiles on American so it won't be that costly. here are pictures of the rooms. http://escape.topuertorico.com/pr-bin/lodgingshow.cgi?listing=0034

Hope this helps

Jimi

[SantaCruzer]

Hi there sbc98grad! I'd like to know what exactactly you put in to get that rate on Priceline? I have rooms held regular pre and post cruise for $275 + tax which comes to a total of $340 per night for the Sheraton OSJ. I'd like to get it for cheaper, but I'm afraid of getting something else, --that I don't want. How does it all work--and what do you think will come up if other that the Sheraton OSJ? Thanks for any information you can give! Santa Cruzer