Prices on San Juan Hotels

[bencruzN]

I realize Feb is high season for San Juan, but my goodness. I can't find anything decent for one night pre-cruise. We will be arriving in SJ at 11:pm and will only need somewhere (clean) to get a few hrs sleep before cruising the next day. Post cruise, I don't mind spending the extra dollars. Tried priceline more than a few times and NOTHING. Any suggestions!!

[4FRCruising]

I'm in the same boat (only end of April)...I should be getting to hotel by about 11 p.m.

 

Comfort Inn & Holiday Inn Express were about the cheapest I've found. Comfort Inn didn't have too bad a rating/reviews on tripadvisor.com

 

I'm still trying priceline....but thinking I'm going to book Comfort Inn (just in case).

[lmmn]

I would definitely book a back up. This year it's been impossible to get a good rate through Priceline in San Juan. We had no problem this time last year. I have been trying for the last six months for the end of January. I have booked the Comfort Inn as a back up, and it's looking like this is where we'll be staying unless something last minute comes up.

[cruisinaz]

We just returned and did pre-cruise in San Juan. I had booked at the Marriott in Condado a few months out but kept checking to see if anything would open up at lower rates. About a week out, a few opened up. I would suggest booking the best you can now, but make sure they have a decent cancel policy and then if something cheaper opens up later you can cancel the other.

[naylenk]

I am sitting in my room at the Coral Princess Inn in the Condado area of San Juan right now. My husband and I are very happy with this small hotel. I think the website is http://www.coralpr.com The rates are incredibly reasonable. I would strongly recommend this hotel - San Juan's best kept secret!

[4FRCruising]

Hi

 

I just booked Comfort Inn for 4/23/05 for $71.20/night plus taxes/fees. Found that deal through smarterliving.com :D

[crisp1]

I've been checking everywhere for over three months and all the rates have been thru the roof. It was recommended ( by Betterbidding) that I wait until around 6 weeks or so to see if any inventory is released. I've been chcking hotwire daily.4* hotels are still close to hotel sites rates, 3.5* over $240 until today (just over 7 weeks out) I got the Sheraton OSJ for $98.95 including taxes!

[Bruin Steve]

Every time I read a thread about hotels in San Juan and read of the difficulties most people seem to be having finding those bargain prices on nice hotels, I'm sort of glad that I decided to give up on Priceline long ago...

 

For our one night precruise on March 18, I had tried several times putting in bids on Priceline on "Resort" or Resort and "Boutique" hotels...at $100, $120...up to $140...with no luck whatsoever...

 

At the same time, I kept reading bad reviews on certain hotels...My fear was waiting around for something to open up--only to find it never opens up--especially since this is a Friday Night of "Spring Break" week for a lot of people...I could picture ending up paying through the nose for a substandard hotel...

 

So, I finally went ahead and booked one the "old fashioned way", directly through the hotel...And ended up with the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino...for only $189...Yes, I'm paying more than some are paying at the Comfort Inn or others "lesser" hotels...but, according to TripAdvisor.Com, they have this as the #2 rated hotel in all of San Juan...I'm paying thousands for my cruise, why do I care that much to go through stress to look for a bargain by which I maybe save $90???

 

I just went on to various sites to see what I could get this same property for if I waited until now...

For a complete "apples to apples" comparison, my rate is $189 plus 11% city tax (20.79) or a total of $209.79

 

The current best rate is through Marriott or Expedia.com:

$259 Plus a 10% "Resort Fee" ($25.90) plus 11% tax ($31.34) for a total of $316.24!!!

 

The way I look at it, it's all sort of like gambling...and there's a point where return on investment isn't worth the stress...

 

If I were going to San Juan for a week's vacation, a possible $100 a night means $700 in my pocket...But, where it's only a one night pre-cruise, and a hundred bucks is my total maximum possible upside, what's the point? I was never going to get the Marriott for any sufficiently lesser price...So, what if I'd waited, saved $50 and Priceline put me into a lesser hotel? Worth it? I think not...What if I waited and waited and still got denied on bids up to $150? What if I never got a bid accepted and tried to book the Marriott now?

[crisp1]

Bruinsteve, We travel with our 16 yr old son and that is one reason why I don't use Priceline ( they only guarantee a room with a double or queen sized bed) however researching and using a site like betterbidding allows you to figure out what hotel you are getting before the end. With Hotwire you check off how many adults/ children are traveling so you know there will be 2 beds.I knew that I was getting the Sheraton before I was commited to the purchase.

[VanessaC322]

I use Hotwire to get cheap hotel deals and I got a three star hotel (the Normandie) which is undergoing renovations right now for just over $100. From what I have heard the hotel is only decent but okay for a one night stayover. It's located right next to the Caribe Hilton. I couldn't find any that looked decent for less than $300 due to it being a Saturday night so it will have to do. The good thing about Hotwire is that you can view the categories and prices before you book. I got a beautiful Wyndham in downtown Washington DC (near all the sights!) for $50 per night last summer!

[lovetovak]

I recently got the Radisson Ambassador for $122 a night on priceline. Not sure if it is a good deal or not but it does beat paying $200 and $300 for one night.

[lmmn]

I recently got the Caribe Hilton for $150 on Hotwire. They did not lower price until one week prior to stay.

[vbacht]

Decided I would try priceline 11 months out, not thinking I would get anything.

We are cruising Nov 6/2005 and got the Hyatt dorado for $75, and a mini van for $45. So we decided to have a mini holiday before our cruise and stay 3 days at the Hyatt, we also decided to go early because we are taking our children 3 & 5 and thought traveling all day, then getting up the next day and standing in line to get on the ship. My children are usually well behaved but I do not want to test them on back to back travel days. Also on return I booked a mini van through http://www.charliecars.com in the condado for the same price as priceline.

[Clubber]

We stayed at the Marriott last year for $118. A group deal setup through our TA.