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Esta página no está disponible en español. Chicago Tribune Stay In San Juan Before Setting Sail By Toni Stroud, Tribune staff reporter 6 February 2005 At least 1.25 million cruise vacationers sail in and out of San Juan every year. For many, the Puerto Rican capital will be their port of embarkation and debarkation. Those cruise itineraries will allow ample time for visiting several other Caribbean islands, leaving travelers free to get acquainted with Puerto Rico on their own terms. Although cruise lines typically offer optional pre-/post-cruise hotels stays, they're usually bare-bones, covering just the hotel room and transfers. But there's nothing to keep you from making your own arrangements. Below are a couple of hotel packages, one on each end of the price spectrum, that look like they could work very nicely for a pre-cruise stay. We'll crunch the numbers to estimate their value. LUXURY DEAL Wyndham Las Casitas Village & Golden Door Spa's "Las Casitas Package" $2,175 per couple, assuming a minimum three-night stay the nights of April 10, 11 and 12. Includes: three nights in a one-bedroom casita with sunset view; continental breakfast each morning; choice of one round of golf or one 50-minute spa treatment per person; unlimited access to Golden Door Spa; private airport transfers; taxes and service. Doesn't include: transportation to Puerto Rico. Contact: 877-999-3223; www.wyndham.com THE VALUE Of package inclusions if purchased separately. Hotel: $2,994 (three nights at $818/night, plus 11 percent tax and 11 percent resort fee) for a one-bedroom casita at Wyndham Las Casitas Village, using Wyndham Web rates and assuming a stay the nights of April 10, 11 and 12. Breakfast: included in room rate. Golf: $165 for one round at Wyndham's course, cart included. Spa treatment: $115 for one 50-minute antioxidant pineapple body polish at Golden Door Spa. Spa access: free to hotel guests. Transfers: free to hotel guests arriving at the same time. Total: $3,274. Difference: $1,099 less with the package. Comments: The personal butlers and in-casita gourmet kitchens here may make a cruise seem downright shabby in comparison. BUDGET DEAL Hotel Miramar's "Pre/Post Cruise Package" $350 per couple, assuming a two-night minimum stay before April 30. Includes: two nights at Hotel Miramar; full American breakfast each morning; half-day tour of El Yunque Rainforest; taxes. Not included: transportation to Puerto Rico. Contact: 787-977-1000; www.miramarhotelpr.com THE VALUE Of package inclusions if purchased separately. Hotel: $281 (two nights at $129/night, plus 9 percent tax) for a room at Hotel Miramar, now through April 30. Breakfast: Continental breakfast included in room rate. Rainforest tour: $80 ($40/person) for half-day tour booked through the hotel. Total: $361 Difference: $11 less with the package. Comments: The package upgrades the Continental breakfast to a full American breakfast each morning and throws in welcome cocktails. That's got to be worth another $30 or so.
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