Decent Pre-Cruise Hotel in San Juan

We are booked on the Sky for January 18, 2004 S. Caribbean out of San Juan.
Last time we stayed there, we got a pretty good deal through Priceline on
the Wyndham right there at the downtown pier. $85/night. Just lucky, I
guess.

This time the ship leaves the Pan-Am Pier over near the old airport. We
want to stay in Old San Juan if at all possible, mainly because we would
like to at least be on the trolley bus route to enjoy the day before and the
day of the cruise. The ship doesn't actually leave until around 10 PM.

We would like to stay at the Wyndham Old San Juan again, but it is booked.
Besides, it's a little more than I would like to pay even if we did get a
room there - $300 per night!!! Youch!

I see on Hotwire that there is a 3.5 star hotel that is supposed to be in
San Juan (not Dorado) is near or on a beach and is an "all suite" hotel.
Does anybody know which this hotel would be? Since you don't know until you
book it, I'd like to be sure it will fit our needs. I am trying to avoid
paying more for taxi rides than I do for the difference in hotels!

Failing the hotwire.com route, can anybody recommend a nice, convenient
hotel in Old San Juan that you can get for under $150 per night. January
17th is the actual date for our precruise stay.

Many thanks in advance,
MrTractor

We just came back from the Sky's Caribbean cruise from San Juan (11/30
sailing).
Using Hotels.com we stayed the day before the cruise at the Normandie (a 5
minute 50cent
bus-ride to get to Old San Juan) and the day after at the Radisson Plaza in
Condado.
(again, about a 5 minute bus ride to Old San Juan).
We got reasonable deals on the rates. The Normandie is more convenient for
getting
to the ship from whatever you're doing that day, in my opinion. The Radisson
is more accessible to
good restaurants for the day before....
Both hotels were about $125 a night.
"mrtractor" wrote in message
t...
We are booked on the Sky for January 18, 2004 S. Caribbean out of San
Juan.
Last time we stayed there, we got a pretty good deal through Priceline on
the Wyndham right there at the downtown pier. $85/night. Just lucky, I
guess.

This time the ship leaves the Pan-Am Pier over near the old airport. We
want to stay in Old San Juan if at all possible, mainly because we would
like to at least be on the trolley bus route to enjoy the day before and
the
day of the cruise. The ship doesn't actually leave until around 10 PM.

We would like to stay at the Wyndham Old San Juan again, but it is booked.
Besides, it's a little more than I would like to pay even if we did get a
room there - $300 per night!!! Youch!

I see on Hotwire that there is a 3.5 star hotel that is supposed to be in
San Juan (not Dorado) is near or on a beach and is an "all suite" hotel.
Does anybody know which this hotel would be? Since you don't know until
you
book it, I'd like to be sure it will fit our needs. I am trying to avoid
paying more for taxi rides than I do for the difference in hotels!

Failing the hotwire.com route, can anybody recommend a nice, convenient
hotel in Old San Juan that you can get for under $150 per night. January
17th is the actual date for our precruise stay.

Many thanks in advance,
MrTractor

One of our agents just returned from San Juan, HIGHLY recommends the El
Convento in old town.

Regards, Keith

"Scott Kinney" wrote in message
...
We just came back from the Sky's Caribbean cruise from San Juan (11/30
sailing).
Using Hotels.com we stayed the day before the cruise at the Normandie (a 5
minute 50cent
bus-ride to get to Old San Juan) and the day after at the Radisson Plaza in
Condado.
(again, about a 5 minute bus ride to Old San Juan).
We got reasonable deals on the rates. The Normandie is more convenient for
getting
to the ship from whatever you're doing that day, in my opinion. The Radisson
is more accessible to
good restaurants for the day before....
Both hotels were about $125 a night.
"mrtractor" wrote in message
t...
We are booked on the Sky for January 18, 2004 S. Caribbean out of San
Juan.
Last time we stayed there, we got a pretty good deal through Priceline on
the Wyndham right there at the downtown pier. $85/night. Just lucky, I
guess.

This time the ship leaves the Pan-Am Pier over near the old airport. We
want to stay in Old San Juan if at all possible, mainly because we would
like to at least be on the trolley bus route to enjoy the day before and
the
day of the cruise. The ship doesn't actually leave until around 10 PM.

We would like to stay at the Wyndham Old San Juan again, but it is booked.
Besides, it's a little more than I would like to pay even if we did get a
room there - $300 per night!!! Youch!

I see on Hotwire that there is a 3.5 star hotel that is supposed to be in
San Juan (not Dorado) is near or on a beach and is an "all suite" hotel.
Does anybody know which this hotel would be? Since you don't know until
you
book it, I'd like to be sure it will fit our needs. I am trying to avoid
paying more for taxi rides than I do for the difference in hotels!

Failing the hotwire.com route, can anybody recommend a nice, convenient
hotel in Old San Juan that you can get for under $150 per night. January
17th is the actual date for our precruise stay.

Many thanks in advance,
MrTractor



There is a Hotel / Casino near the ship pier. I can't give you any info on the rooms, as
we did not stay there, but the restaurant was excellent, the casino was a diversion, and
the longe/bar was OK. About a 4 or 5 story building. We saw everything other than the
inside of the rooms, and it looked good. Walking distance to the ship.

Thanks for the tips everyone. Keep 'em comin'. I still haven't found
anything yet....

Dick,
I think you may be thinking of the Wyndham Old San Juan. Unfortunately it's
booked or it's out of out price range. Is they something else I'm missing?
MrTractor
"Dick Mahar" wrote in message
om...

"Scott Kinney" wrote in message
...
We just came back from the Sky's Caribbean cruise from San Juan (11/30
sailing).
Using Hotels.com we stayed the day before the cruise at the Normandie (a
5
minute 50cent
bus-ride to get to Old San Juan) and the day after at the Radisson Plaza
in
Condado.
(again, about a 5 minute bus ride to Old San Juan).
We got reasonable deals on the rates. The Normandie is more convenient
for
getting
to the ship from whatever you're doing that day, in my opinion. The
Radisson
is more accessible to
good restaurants for the day before....
Both hotels were about $125 a night.
"mrtractor" wrote in message
t...
We are booked on the Sky for January 18, 2004 S. Caribbean out of San
Juan.
Last time we stayed there, we got a pretty good deal through Priceline
on
the Wyndham right there at the downtown pier. $85/night. Just lucky, I
guess.

This time the ship leaves the Pan-Am Pier over near the old airport.
We
want to stay in Old San Juan if at all possible, mainly because we
would
like to at least be on the trolley bus route to enjoy the day before
and
the
day of the cruise. The ship doesn't actually leave until around 10 PM.

We would like to stay at the Wyndham Old San Juan again, but it is
booked.
Besides, it's a little more than I would like to pay even if we did
get a
room there - $300 per night!!! Youch!

I see on Hotwire that there is a 3.5 star hotel that is supposed to
be in
San Juan (not Dorado) is near or on a beach and is an "all suite"
hotel.
Does anybody know which this hotel would be? Since you don't know
until
you
book it, I'd like to be sure it will fit our needs. I am trying to
avoid
paying more for taxi rides than I do for the difference in hotels!

Failing the hotwire.com route, can anybody recommend a nice,
convenient
hotel in Old San Juan that you can get for under $150 per night.
January
17th is the actual date for our precruise stay.

Many thanks in advance,
MrTractor



There is a Hotel / Casino near the ship pier. I can't give you any info
on the rooms, as
we did not stay there, but the restaurant was excellent, the casino was a
diversion, and
the longe/bar was OK. About a 4 or 5 story building. We saw everything
other than the
inside of the rooms, and it looked good. Walking distance to the ship.

In the winter Puerto Rico hotels basically go up by about $100 to $200
per night. No way to get around that.

And... in Puerto Rico, there are the "very nice" hotels like the Hilton,
Ritz Carleton, Marriott, Embassy Suites and El San Juan. The next batch
down are generally significantly lower in quality. There really isn't a
"nice Sheraton" type hotel there that I'm aware of. It quickly drops to
the "below Motel 6" quality. And typically, the lower grade hotels
there are not nearly as well cared for as the lower grade hotels in the
US. They tend to be damp, mildewy, sometimes without decent air
conditioning. Bugs and ants would not be un-common. It's the tropics.
Once I even had a small lizard on my bedroom wall... he took care of any
bug problem, and that was at a very nice hotel.

I don't suspect that you're going to find much in what you're looking
for, unless you get lucky with one of the nice hotels with something
like Priceline.

Keep looking, but in the end you might want to bite the bullet and book
the Hilton or similar hotel.

--Tom

mrtractor wrote:

Thanks for the tips everyone. Keep 'em comin'. I still haven't found
anything yet....

Dick,
I think you may be thinking of the Wyndham Old San Juan. Unfortunately it's
booked or it's out of out price range. Is they something else I'm missing?
MrTractor
"Dick Mahar" wrote in message
om...

"Scott Kinney" wrote in message
...
We just came back from the Sky's Caribbean cruise from San Juan (11/30
sailing).
Using Hotels.com we stayed the day before the cruise at the Normandie (a
5
minute 50cent
bus-ride to get to Old San Juan) and the day after at the Radisson Plaza
in
Condado.
(again, about a 5 minute bus ride to Old San Juan).
We got reasonable deals on the rates. The Normandie is more convenient
for
getting
to the ship from whatever you're doing that day, in my opinion. The
Radisson
is more accessible to
good restaurants for the day before....
Both hotels were about $125 a night.
"mrtractor" wrote in message
t...
We are booked on the Sky for January 18, 2004 S. Caribbean out of San
Juan.
Last time we stayed there, we got a pretty good deal through Priceline
on
the Wyndham right there at the downtown pier. $85/night. Just lucky, I
guess.

This time the ship leaves the Pan-Am Pier over near the old airport.
We
want to stay in Old San Juan if at all possible, mainly because we
would
like to at least be on the trolley bus route to enjoy the day before
and
the
day of the cruise. The ship doesn't actually leave until around 10 PM.

We would like to stay at the Wyndham Old San Juan again, but it is
booked.
Besides, it's a little more than I would like to pay even if we did
get a
room there - $300 per night!!! Youch!

I see on Hotwire that there is a 3.5 star hotel that is supposed to
be in
San Juan (not Dorado) is near or on a beach and is an "all suite"
hotel.
Does anybody know which this hotel would be? Since you don't know
until
you
book it, I'd like to be sure it will fit our needs. I am trying to
avoid
paying more for taxi rides than I do for the difference in hotels!

Failing the hotwire.com route, can anybody recommend a nice,
convenient
hotel in Old San Juan that you can get for under $150 per night.
January
17th is the actual date for our precruise stay.

Many thanks in advance,
MrTractor



There is a Hotel / Casino near the ship pier. I can't give you any info
on the rooms, as
we did not stay there, but the restaurant was excellent, the casino was a
diversion, and
the longe/bar was OK. About a 4 or 5 story building. We saw everything
other than the
inside of the rooms, and it looked good. Walking distance to the ship.

T&L,
That's pretty much what I'm finding. But I'm not giving up yet! I may yet
let priceline or Hotwire do the looking, but for right now, I'm just trying
to identify the hotels that are acceptable. I had a fiasco last February
booking a hotel online that was described as a "2 star boutique" property.
Never again.

I'll pay for a nice hotel, but I'm always looking for a deal!

MrT
"Tom & Linda" wrote in message
...
In the winter Puerto Rico hotels basically go up by about $100 to $200
per night. No way to get around that.

And... in Puerto Rico, there are the "very nice" hotels like the Hilton,
Ritz Carleton, Marriott, Embassy Suites and El San Juan. The next batch
down are generally significantly lower in quality. There really isn't a
"nice Sheraton" type hotel there that I'm aware of. It quickly drops to
the "below Motel 6" quality. And typically, the lower grade hotels
there are not nearly as well cared for as the lower grade hotels in the
US. They tend to be damp, mildewy, sometimes without decent air
conditioning. Bugs and ants would not be un-common. It's the tropics.
Once I even had a small lizard on my bedroom wall... he took care of any
bug problem, and that was at a very nice hotel.

I don't suspect that you're going to find much in what you're looking
for, unless you get lucky with one of the nice hotels with something
like Priceline.

Keep looking, but in the end you might want to bite the bullet and book
the Hilton or similar hotel.

--Tom

mrtractor wrote:

Thanks for the tips everyone. Keep 'em comin'. I still haven't found
anything yet....

Dick,
I think you may be thinking of the Wyndham Old San Juan. Unfortunately
it's
booked or it's out of out price range. Is they something else I'm
missing?
MrTractor
"Dick Mahar" wrote in message
om...

"Scott Kinney" wrote in message
...
We just came back from the Sky's Caribbean cruise from San Juan
(11/30
sailing).
Using Hotels.com we stayed the day before the cruise at the
Normandie (a
5
minute 50cent
bus-ride to get to Old San Juan) and the day after at the Radisson
Plaza
in
Condado.
(again, about a 5 minute bus ride to Old San Juan).
We got reasonable deals on the rates. The Normandie is more
convenient
for
getting
to the ship from whatever you're doing that day, in my opinion. The
Radisson
is more accessible to
good restaurants for the day before....
Both hotels were about $125 a night.
"mrtractor" wrote in message
t...
We are booked on the Sky for January 18, 2004 S. Caribbean out of
San
Juan.
Last time we stayed there, we got a pretty good deal through
Priceline
on
the Wyndham right there at the downtown pier. $85/night. Just
lucky, I
guess.

This time the ship leaves the Pan-Am Pier over near the old
airport.
We
want to stay in Old San Juan if at all possible, mainly because we
would
like to at least be on the trolley bus route to enjoy the day
before
and
the
day of the cruise. The ship doesn't actually leave until around 10
PM.

We would like to stay at the Wyndham Old San Juan again, but it is
booked.
Besides, it's a little more than I would like to pay even if we
did
get a
room there - $300 per night!!! Youch!

I see on Hotwire that there is a 3.5 star hotel that is supposed
to
be in
San Juan (not Dorado) is near or on a beach and is an "all suite"
hotel.
Does anybody know which this hotel would be? Since you don't know
until
you
book it, I'd like to be sure it will fit our needs. I am trying to
avoid
paying more for taxi rides than I do for the difference in hotels!

Failing the hotwire.com route, can anybody recommend a nice,
convenient
hotel in Old San Juan that you can get for under $150 per night.
January
17th is the actual date for our precruise stay.

Many thanks in advance,
MrTractor



There is a Hotel / Casino near the ship pier. I can't give you any
info
on the rooms, as
we did not stay there, but the restaurant was excellent, the casino
was a
diversion, and
the longe/bar was OK. About a 4 or 5 story building. We saw everything
other than the
inside of the rooms, and it looked good. Walking distance to the ship.

MrTractor inquired:

I see on Hotwire that there is a 3.5 star hotel that is supposed to be in
San Juan (not Dorado) is near or on a beach and is an "all suite" hotel.
Does anybody know which this hotel would be?

I checked, and the hotel I believe you are seeing (3.5*, San Juan zone, with
the following icons: Suite, Beach Access, Casino, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness
Center, Complimentary Breakfast, Kitchenette, Business Center, Laundry
Facilities (the last two are hidden unless you click the "view amenities"
link) is almost certainly the Embassy Suites.

For a listing of the reported hotels on Hotwire in San Juan, try
www.BiddingFun.com

Amber

Great site, Amber. Thanks!

I read all the info available on San Juan. Then I looked on Hotwire and
found a 2.5 star for $107 plus tax. You don't mention any hotels in that
range. It shows beach access, pools, complimentary breakfast and laundry
facilities.

Any idea what it could be?

MrTractor
"Amber" wrote in message
...
MrTractor inquired:

I see on Hotwire that there is a 3.5 star hotel that is supposed to be
in
San Juan (not Dorado) is near or on a beach and is an "all suite" hotel.
Does anybody know which this hotel would be?

I checked, and the hotel I believe you are seeing (3.5*, San Juan zone,
with
the following icons: Suite, Beach Access, Casino, Restaurant, Pool,
Fitness
Center, Complimentary Breakfast, Kitchenette, Business Center, Laundry
Facilities (the last two are hidden unless you click the "view amenities"
link) is almost certainly the Embassy Suites.

For a listing of the reported hotels on Hotwire in San Juan, try
www.BiddingFun.com

Amber

Mr. Tractor followed up:

I read all the info available on San Juan. Then I looked on Hotwire and
found a 2.5 star for $107 plus tax. You don't mention any hotels in that
range. It shows beach access, pools, complimentary breakfast and laundry
facilities.

Any idea what it could be?

Unfortunately, I have no reports on that property. If you decide to purchase
it, will you let me know what you get so I can update the site?

Amber