This hotel was a Priceline “win” and my first visit to one in the brand. Interesting fact is that Priceline and other travel sites like Expedia list the hotel with 4 stars but on the hotel’s homepage they list 5 stars. So I’ve taken it upon myself to settle the dispute on whether or not it’s 4 or 5 stars. First I’ll tell you about the stay and then give the verdict!
There were many interesting things about the stay one being the absolute grind of my gears when people do not disclose resort fees. It’s just incredible. Although, this is the opening paragraph so I should just talk about how pretty the hotel was for a minute. It was really pretty…
Read and learn about how we booked this hotel and about Priceline bidding in the post “How to Use Priceline“.
Actually the self proclaimed 5 star hotel does have a fantastic property. I love beach resorts like this: a beach resort not in the city. Big open air lobbys, big rooms, plenty of beach front… Really, I think I love hotels spread out enough that they have golf carts to take you to the room instead of lobbys. It’s not the golf cart itself, it’s just going to be my short descriptor for these properties.
The InterContinental is a beach resort.
The Gran Melia is a “golf-cart resort”.
Can I do that? Can I coin “golf-cart resort”? But this isn’t to be confused with a “golf resort” although golf resorts are often golf-cart resorts. Never mind…
This self proclaimed 5 star golf-cart golf resort has spread out into two story house-like buildings with some of the largest standard rooms I’ve ever seen. Kind of reminds me of the InterContinental Fiji in that respect. The open air lobby was kind of romantic with the canopied lounge beds spread across marbled floors. And the 24/7 pool (which is how it should be) was bigger than some hotel properties. Lounge chairs, colonial fountains, gardens and alcoves all within the pool. Impressive.
Yet, one thing distinguishes a 4 star hotel from a 5 star most of the time; service.
For starters, I emailed the hotel 24 hours before with my rewards number and stuff and got no response. Which, at a 5 star hotel, I expect an email reply. It’s not that hard really. When I checked in they didn’t have any information ready and I wasn’t in the computers because they weren’t up to date with Priceline. I’m not a Priceline expert and all, but I’m pretty sure the internet is fast enough that my reservation and email should have gotten there within 24 hours. And even if they had just gotten the email (which had my reservation number) they could have prepared the room and all… but nothing.
Why do hotels not check emails!? Just like the InterContinental Fiji.
But back to my pet peeve of all peeves. Resort fees. Not only that, neither Priceline nor my confirmation email ever disclosed a fee. It included all the fees in the priceline price… except the resort fee. Wich according to the FDA is illegal. I for some reason brought it up with the front desk agent- don’t know why, I wasn’t trying to complain. Maybe in hopes that she would pass along the information that undisclosed resort fees are illegal. But she got super defensive and told me that I should take it up with Priceline. Whatever…
Other than my check-in experience and my hidden resort fee check out experience, I had no interaction with staff except for my ride to the room and giving the towel boy my towel cards (they charge like $30 for losing your towel card). So over all not so good. And that is the difference between this absolutely beautiful 4 star property and a 5 star property- service.
We didn’t spend too much time at the beach there as the nicest beaches on the island are just to the east and we were close to the El Yunque Rainforest entrance. So we made the most of our eastern location, which is why we wanted to be there. We would have gone further east where the Waldorf hotels were but I’m boycotting Hilton (not a joke). That being said, the water was calm, and under-developed with pristine rock forms just below the surface (some hate some love). But there was plenty of beach front space as the beach kind of wraps around the property given the hotel is located on a point.
Verdict: 4 star, but they could make a good argument for 4.5 with the current property and responsive staff.
Still, resort fees are from the devil. Would I go back or recommend it? $89 plus taxes, plus $20 resort fee. It turns out to be like $130 instead of $180-$250. I wouldn’t have done it in hind sight but I am super cheap. It is the most I’ve ever spent on a hotel. Ever. If you’re one who spends $130 on a hotel, it’s a steal. Priceline FTW!
The Caribbean Hopper:
- Where and how we booked it
- Renaissance Aruba
- Radisson Decapolis Panama
- Exploring Old City Panama
- InterContinental San Juan
- Exploring Puerto Rico
- Gran Melia Golf Resort Puerto Rico
- Radisson Ambassador Plaza Hotel San Juan
- Conclusion
Hi Drew. This is a marvelous review of this hotel. Thanks to you, we’re about to head to PR. I haven’t had any luck getting the BRG with the Intercontinental San Juan (or for any IHG hotel) Worse, the San Juan HIE is closed til next month. So with not IGH’s in the north/east of the island, this hotel/resort is coming up @ around $100 per night via “hotwire” promotions. How do I know it’s this resort? Well, you taught me that too — the 20.1 miles from the airport (SJU) was the giveaway.
But after congratulating myself for this bit of Carrie-Drew sleuthing, I balked at the reservation process. (via hotwire) They want to nail me for 35% in unspecified “tax recovery charges + fees.” I asked hotwire what this 35% covered. They dodged it, and said it was fully the taxes estimated by the hotel. (and worse, that the resort fee — also unspecified, was not included!!!!) Bottom line, I’d have a hotel allegedly at rack rate for $239 a night, discounted to $100, but then with hidden fees, unspecified taxes & resort fees, it could be back close to $200 a night. (outrageous, and hotwire reps. got very defensive when I accused them of participating in very unethical, if not illegal business practices)
Maybe I’m just too inexperienced with this. Does this jive with your experience? Are hotels with casinos in PR really assessed 35% in taxes? Any pointers from the gallery?
Will
Quick footnote — Priceline & Travel-is-free to the rescue. Went to priceline, followed your steps and tips, and got the same hotel (via bidding) for (it turns out) same price you did. Little fyi to future hunters, priceline via it’s pre-negotiated secret bids was also offering this same property for just over $100. But unlike Hotwire, priceline charged about 18% in taxes up front — rather than the 35% hotwire was asking. (the pre-negotiated price did note that a resort fee would be added on check out) Bottom line, in this case, priceline served me better than hotwire. (realize your original posts on these matters are half year old — but still “priceless”)