Caribbean - San Juan PR hotel for pre-cruise night w/no resort fees?

I'll be traveling with my DH and two kids and need a room with two double or queen beds. I am accustomed to purchasing using Hotwire in order to get this bed configuration but am frustrated by the extra resort fees that "may" be applicable depending on the property. Currently, the only property that is coming up is the Sheraton SJ Hotel and Casino for $153 incl resort fee.

Quite frankly, I would be happy to get a Holiday Inn Express type of property with the complimentary breakfast, but rates there are $181 (incl taxes!). I can't use PL because I can't chance not getting the bed configuration. How do you get good rates in San Juan?

Being a bit more specific with your request could help you get better quality replies to your request.

Do you want to be in Old San Juan and walking distance from the Cruise Ship Terminal? This will save on taxi fare, perhaps enough to justify the Sheraton.

Do you want a beach? pool? 3* or higher? free breakfast?

Do you have any hotel program status?

Approximate dates?
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Arriving at night on 3/18. No hotel status. Only AAA discount. Would love to save on taxis and have schlepped our bags plenty of places, but I have read somewhere that you can't walk to the Pan American terminal. Sheraton Old San Juan is not avail in any case. Free breakfast a plus. No need for a beach, pool or casino. Looks like the best deal I can get is at the Radisson Ambassador Plaza in a Club room that includes continental breakfast for $159.70. I'm not expecting miracles, but FT members seem to know the most.

I have only stayed there (Radisson Ambassador) once and will not go back. After two calls to the front desk complaining about a too cold AC unit, the staffer who responded gave up. There was no engineering staff on duty. I ended up removing the cover with a coin and disconnecting the power to keep from catching frostbite. Casino on the ground floor is not a place for kids. Sorry for the rant.

How about:
Holiday Inn Express, Condado $162 (about halfway from airport to Old San Juan)
Embassy Suites, Isla Verde $228 (big rooms, free breakfast, Outback Rest. on site, very close to airport))

All rates seem high on those dates. Peak travel time.
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13F

Have you checked the Sheraton Convention Center, and the Courtyard Marriott Miramar? Both of those are as close as one can get to the Pan American Terminal.

My husband has about 9000 miles on Continental One Pass that will be leftover next time he redeems for a flight. I'll investigate as to whether that can be converted to hotel programs, where he has 4000 from Hilton. The Hotwire property is in all likelihood the Sheraton Convention Center for a total of $153 so I may go that route. Thanks for the comments on the Radisson. I'll avoid that one.

Hi!

I believe that the only hotel with no resort fees is the Hampton Inn, how ever I've been ther at theres nothing to do. There is a pool in a courtyard but I feel like it faces the parking.

Hope to be of some help

Just stayed at the Hampton for an overnight layover en route to Punta Cana. Nice room and very clean by PR standards. Very reasonable rate (found a nice discount code on retailmenot). Excellet buffet breakfast. Highly recommended for an inexpensive overnight stay. ^ That said, the short taxi ride to/from the airport was pricey (about $30 round trip).

As others have mentioned, the Hampton Inn in the Isla Verde area does not charge resort fees. It has a small pool and it is a short walk from the Hampton to the beach. Breakfast is standard Hampton.

Down the street from the Hampton there is an Embassy suites. It charges a resort fee, but I have found their rates typically reasonable. With a family of four the extra (suite) space and breakfast may make it worthwhile to consider. The pool is pretty good and it is a short (two block) walk to the beach.

Both the Hampton and Embassy Suites are within walking distance of fast food (Wendy's, BurgerKing, Taco Bell, KFC, a few others - but no MCD's) - in case that is important for the kids. (The Embassy is closer to these than the Hampton).

There is a Doubletree the Condado area (not near the ocean) has had reasonable rates, but I think has a "service charge" as well. There is no free breakfast and really nothing to do in the area besides going to a grocery store.

There is a Doubletree the Condado area (not near the ocean) has had reasonable rates, but I think has a "service charge" as well. There is no free breakfast and really nothing to do in the area besides going to a grocery store.

Sorry but I disagree. It is only three or four blocks from the ocean which I think is still pretty near. I happen to live in a nearby apartment building and see people walking from the hotel every day (I walk to the beach as well). There is also a number of good restaurants around the hotel also within walking distance. Lastly, it is also pretty close to Ashford Avenue which is the main strip for dining/nightlife in San Juan and has a lot of good stores for shopping including the high-end places such as Gucci, Cartier, and Louis Vuitton. You can actually walk to Ashford or just take a 2 or 3 min. cab ride.

Sorry but I disagree. It is only three or four blocks from the ocean which I think is still pretty near. I happen to live in a nearby apartment building and see people walking from the hotel every day (I walk to the beach as well). There is also a number of good restaurants around the hotel also within walking distance. Lastly, it is also pretty close to Ashford Avenue which is the main strip for dining/nightlife in San Juan and has a lot of good stores for shopping including the high-end places such as Gucci, Cartier, and Louis Vuitton. You can actually walk to Ashford or just take a 2 or 3 min. cab ride.
Hey there neighbor.

Yeah, it's about a 10 minute walk to the beach from the Doubletree.

Just stayed at the Hampton for an overnight layover en route to Punta Cana. Nice room and very clean by PR standards. Very reasonable rate (found a nice discount code on retailmenot). Excellet buffet breakfast. Highly recommended for an inexpensive overnight stay. ^ That said, the short taxi ride to/from the airport was pricey (about $30 round trip).

I stayed at the same Hampton Inn after bailing out of previous accommodations, which were a dump. Hampton was a 5 star by comparison and welcome relief. As HikerT says, clean, reasonable, food fine and across the street from a beach. Only downside is the taxi - but what you save on resort fees you spend on taxi so it all boils down to priorities. Have fun on your cruise.