vancom Posted November 16, 2004 #1 Share Posted November 16, 2004 We are cruising out of San Juan in October 2005. We plan on arriving night before cruise leaves, and staying day after cruise arrives back at port to avoid the airport crowds. Any suggestions for an affordable hotel within a reasonable taxi ride of the pier area? Wanted to stay at Coral Princess but seems they are booked already for the night before our cruise and probably the night after. We have been to San Juan on vacation before and we are not interested in siteseeing--just a safe, clean place to lay our heads pre and post cruise. Any suggestions? Trying to stay within $100-125 per night. TIA. Vanessa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plyman69 Posted November 16, 2004 #2 Share Posted November 16, 2004 HAHAHAHAHAHA just kidding... Try priceline.. you will find something decent.. i know i got the wyndham for like$75 before. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarcraftman Posted November 16, 2004 #3 Share Posted November 16, 2004 Good luck with that rate unless you book thru hotwire/priceline and gamble where to go. San Juan is really dumpy and is really overpriced. I am trying the Radisson this year for $175 per night. I stayed the Marriot last year and its a real dump for $235 per night. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Island Lady Posted November 16, 2004 #4 Share Posted November 16, 2004 We booked our room on Priceline for $75 a night. Nice, large clean room and huge bath. Beautiful grounds! A very short ride to the pier. http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=SJNHITW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raerae Posted November 16, 2004 #5 Share Posted November 16, 2004 We're staying at the Holiday Inn Express next Saturday night (the 27th) for $96. I'll let you know when we return how it was. Cindy ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lschrage Posted November 17, 2004 #6 Share Posted November 17, 2004 I just booked via Priceline and won the Radisson Ambassador for $75/night. It's not the Caribe Hilton, but it will do. That was the cheapest I could find for the beginning of December. I still can't believe how much hotel rooms are there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismxn Posted November 17, 2004 #7 Share Posted November 17, 2004 I'm staying at the Comfort Inn San Juan for $98 an night in January. Loke you I just wanted something cheap for the night before the cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vancom Posted November 17, 2004 Author #8 Share Posted November 17, 2004 I know that San Juan is sooo expensive which is why I'd rather not have to stay there, but the stress of flying in and out (and connecting through dreaded delay-prone Atlanta) makes it a must for us. Thanks for all your suggestions--it looks like I may have to use Priceline closer in time to our trip--or does it permit bids on room reservations this far in advance? Do I find out what hotel I am "gambling" on before I bid? I used Priceline once several years ago for a flight and cannot remember how it worked! raerae--thanks for offering to let us know how your room is--have a great trip! sea island lady--I'm in Nashville--where are you in TN? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Island Lady Posted November 17, 2004 #9 Share Posted November 17, 2004 Johnson City Go ahead and try Priceline now. You can always try it later. The Caribe will not accept a bid lower than $75. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howard6933 Posted November 17, 2004 #10 Share Posted November 17, 2004 Since your cruise isn't until Oct 2005, it seems to me that this is a bit early to book a hotel. Also, (I may be mistaken about this) october is not the high season in PR and you could probably do a lot better waiting awhile to book. Priceline may also be a good way to go, but go to http://www.biddingfortravel.com and see what is doing there. Your idea of going a day early and staying a day after is very sensible. The San Juan airport is murder on normal days........on cruise days it's a veritable zoo. We were in SJ for a cruise in Oct 2003 and got the Wyndham Condado Plaza for $65 through Priceline. If you're a gambler, give it a shot.;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megr1125 Posted November 17, 2004 #11 Share Posted November 17, 2004 i agree about the SJU airport, but we were in and out on different days than cruise days....the hampton inn looked decent...didn't stay there but they were nice enough to let me do a load of laundry pre-cruise. the place looked clean and the rooms i peeked into looked comfy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeepers385 Posted November 18, 2004 #12 Share Posted November 18, 2004 We signed up w/Wyndham with their Wyndham By Request (WBR) and get email specials from them and once in awhile they send out a 72 hour sale w/really good rates. Last February we booked on a 72 hr sale and got 3 nights at the Wyndham Condado for $99/night. Might be worth signing up. You also get some little perks w/the WBR like early check in and late check out. We really liked the Condado area and hotel. Debbie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howard6933 Posted November 18, 2004 #13 Share Posted November 18, 2004 I agree with you Debbie about the Condado Area. Some people say that it's kind of run down and perhaps it is. But we enjoyed our stay at the Condado Plaza and what was nice was that restaurants are close by and we went to Tony Roma's right in the hotel. We also went to the Los Plazas de America (is that spelling right?) the HUGE shopping mall which was only a short taxi ride away. And Old San Juan isn't too far either, so we thought it was a good place to stay. I'd reccomend the Condado Plaza to anybody.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raerae Posted November 18, 2004 #14 Share Posted November 18, 2004 I too joined the Wyndham by Request. I have to say I waited for the 72 hour sale and as it got closer to the cruise we went ahead and booked the Holiday Inn since no sale was announced. The $96.00 rate had a no cancellation clause. I booked in late September. Just a few weeks ago the Wyndham had a sale and I couldn't justify losing the $96. and paying for the Wyndham. Since you have so much time till your cruise I agree with joining WBR and watching for the sales. Good luck! Cindy ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmmn Posted November 18, 2004 #15 Share Posted November 18, 2004 October is low season, so you should be able to get a very nice hotel at a great price on Priceline. I would book a cancellable....like the Comfort Inn, then try to get a nicer hotel though Priceline for the same price or less. It's seems to be tougher to get the great deals through Priceline recently. In San Juan you may need to be patient, as they seem to open up inventory only a week or two prior to date of stay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vancom Posted November 18, 2004 Author #16 Share Posted November 18, 2004 I looked at the bidding for travel website and felt a little overwhelmed. Some of the comments from the owner made him/her sound a little like Seinfeld's "soup nazi" only a travel nazi instead! Not sure I am up to all that. I signed up for Wyndam's WBR program--sounds like a good deal since I have so much time before next October anyway. <sigh> Now, I need to get crackin' on the research for the Alaska cruise we intend to book for June 2006 while we are on board AOS in October 2005! Anyone want to comment on the Alaska itinerary--best ship, whether better north or south or the glacier route?? Vanessa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeepers385 Posted November 19, 2004 #17 Share Posted November 19, 2004 Vanessa, which date are you sailing? I'm going to be booking the 10/2 sailing and will be staying either 1 or 2 days before sailing and 1 after. I'll definitely be looking at the Wyndham Condado or Old San Juan. Debbie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vancom Posted November 19, 2004 Author #18 Share Posted November 19, 2004 <<Vanessa, which date are you sailing? I'm going to be booking the 10/2 sailing and will be staying either 1 or 2 days before sailing and 1 after. I'll definitely be looking at the Wyndham Condado or Old San Juan>> We are cruising October 9... Vanessa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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