Need SJU Hotel Help!

[DrivesLikeMario]

If you were looking for a very quiet, very, very clean upscale hotel, which one would you choose?

 

1. InterContinental San Juan Spa Resort and Casino

The InterContinental San Juan Spa Resort and Casino is situated on two miles of white sand beach on Isla Verde, approximately eight miles from downtown San Juan, and two miles from Luis Munoz Marin International Airport. Local attractions include Historic Old San Juan, El Yunque Rain Forest, and Plaza Las Americas Shopping Mall.

 

2. The Ritz-Carlton San Juan Hotel Spa and Casino

The Ritz-Carlton San Juan Hotel, Spa and Casino is located oceanfront in Isla Verde Beach, approximately four miles from downtown San Juan, and two miles from San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International Airport. Local attractions include the Museum of Art of Puerto Rico, Old San Juan, San Cristobal, La Fortaleza, Plaza Las Americas, and Bacardi Rum Distillery.

 

3. San Juan Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino

Five minutes from the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport and Old San Juan, this luxury beachfront resort envelops guests in relaxing comfort. Situated in the Condado area, this AAA Four-Diamond hotel allows close proximity to area attractions, such as the Botanical Gardens, the Bacardi Rum Distillery, Plaza Las Americas, and El Yunque Rainforest. The Arecibo Observatory is approximately 50 miles away, the Camuy Caves about 63 miles, and Ponce, the second largest city in Puerto Rico, is 76 miles from the hotel.

 

I'm reading conflicting reviews on all the hotels. Which would you choose and why? Thanks for the input!

[lablvr2]

I would stay at the Ritz. You will be in Old San Juan and there is so much to take in there. It is directly across from the cruise ship pier. Make sure you take the water ferry over to the Bacardi plant, visit the forts in Old SJ and take the bus to see some local spots. We stayed in the Condado section and I could never recommend anyone staying over there....

The Ritz has a nice casino too. I doubt you will be disappointed!!

 

Susan

[garykool81]

Those three are all excellent choices that offer consistent quality product, whether they are four or five star properties. I am sure you won't go wrong with any of them :-)

 

Enjoy your vacation!

[amapola]

I would stay at the Ritz. You will be in Old San Juan and there is so much to take in there. It is directly across from the cruise ship pier.

 

The Ritz is most definitely Not in Old San Juan! In fact, it's next door to the airport in Isla Verde, a longish cab ride from the pier. The hotel that's across from the pier is the Sheraton (used to be Wyndham Old San Juan until recently).

 

To the OP, if you want luxe you can't go wrong with the Ritz, although I've read that it can be noisy at the beach depending on how the planes are taking off. OH, and take the "local attractions" info with a grain of salt -- the rain forest is an hour away from any of the hotels, Plaza las Americas (which BTW has all the same stores you'd find in any mall in the US, nothing special) is 15-20 mins. away, more in rush hour...

 

HTH!

[DrivesLikeMario]

Yes, that's right about the Ritz. It's in the Isla Verde section of San Juan.

 

We've done the Bacardi Factory (and loved it), and this time, we just want a really super clean hotel with excellent service that is quiet.

 

I've heard such conflicting reviews of all 3 properties, that I just don't know what to do. All I know for sure is that we won't go back to the Hyatt Regency Cerromar Beach Resort outside of San Juan!!

 

We will only be doing 1 night pre-cruise and aren't really interested in the beach or pool.

 

Does anyone know which hotel is the newest? :confused:

[raydon]

I have stayed at the Ritz Carlton, The Old San Juan Wyndham and the Wyndham Condado Plaza. Personal preference was the Condado Plaza. Ritz was nice but over priced. Condando Plaza had everything we wanted in a nice hotel.

[amapola]

The Ritz is the newest of the three. The Intercontinental is quite old (I worked there in 1981, and even scarier :D had my debutante ball there in 1973 :eek: ) but it has changed hands many times and has been renovated. I've only been there for conferences lately, and it looks nice. The Marriott is in Condado, which is a love it or hate it section. I personally prefer it to Isla Verde, though, but of that hotel all I know is the lobby too.

 

Also, have you heard of the Water Club hotel? http://www.waterclub.com/home.php I haven't been there, but it gets outstanding reviews.

[sammyjo882]

I stayed at the Marriott in Condado in May. It was fine - a typical Marriott. Had a great breakfast buffet that was included in our price. Be sure to check for special promotions. If I remember correctly, there were signs up saying they were going to be undergoing a major renovation & the balconies would be closed for about 6 months. Check their website for info on it. They had a very lively lobby bar. The Ritz & Inter-Continental are both very nice & in a more upscale neighborhood. Also in Isla Verde is the El San Juan (not to be confused with Old San Juan). It had a magnificent lobby - lots of mahogony & chandeliers. Check their website also - I think they are a Wyndham Hotel. Tripadvisor.com has a great number of reviews on San Juan Hotels.

 

Have fun ...

[DrivesLikeMario]

I just looked at the Water Club link, thanks! I think it's a bit chic for a family of 4 though, but you're right, it does look very nice!

 

Tripadvisor.com & Travelocity are where I'm reading the conflicting reviews. I'm starting to lean towards the InterContinental right now. Had originally planned the Ritz, but I'm not too sure about the location and ofcourse, the prices are high when you have to book 2 rooms (2 of us in each room).

 

I've tried to find the El San Juan, as I remember from 2002 that it had received some very good reviews, but haven't found it on Expedia or Travelocity. Will check out the Wyndham site - good advice!

 

Thanks so much everyone! I'm so glad to get all this great input! :)

 

(edited for a typo!)

[Linda CruiseDiva]

We've stayed at Condado Plaza twice and had a room on the concierge floor the second time. It was quite nice and I'd book that again.

 

Otherwise, El Convento is a charming hotel in a historic convent building right across the street from the cathedral. You might want to check it out as well.

[bhopal21]

We stayed at the Marriott Stellaris in March and liked it and the Condado district a lot. We could walk to our fabvorite seafood restaurant "Miro" and could easily see the Golden Princess from our room.

 

Mike

[regnig]

What ship are you taking? It is my understanding that the Golden uses the Pan American Pier, somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, so Old San Juan might not be the location you want. I found this link on the Ports board which might be helpful http://www.langland.org/cruises/sanjuan.asp

to check out actual locations of some of the hotels. The Ports board also has comments regarding many of the hotels used for pre/post cruises.

[donna5]

If you are renting a car and going site seeing make sure you take lots of change for the toll roads. Last year my husband laughed at me taking my qtrs, nickels, and dimes. But not anymore. A small car is advisable if you are going to areciebo, since the roads are quite narrow after you get off the highway.

[bhopal21]

You are correct Larsen, in that The Golden Princess uses the Pan American pier which is located in Old San Juan and The Marriott Stellaris (where we stayed) is in the Condado district. There are very close, as we could easily see the Golden Princess, Adventurer of The Seas and the Carnival Destiny from our hotel balcony with the naked eye. I would not want to walk to the Pan American Pier from Condado; but the taxi ride took about 5 min.

 

Mike

[CruisinChris]

The Ritz would be nice but my understanding is that this particular property doesn't necessarily live up to brand. As previously mentioned, it is noisy and at the end of the runways at the airport.

 

I stayed at the Intercontinental at Christmas in '03. I too wanted a very nice property. I wasn't disappointed. The room was immaculate and the pool is especially beautiful. The service was also VERY good here and far exceeds the neighboring property the El San Juan. I have also stayed at the El San Juan and everything there is very overpriced. The property is extremely busy and very popular with the local who host many parties and events and frequent the restaurants of the resort. The room was small and on par with heavily used Marriott. BTW you can visit the restaurants here from the Intercontinental or you can visit the Ruth Chris Steakhouse which is in the Intercontinental. The Intercontinental also has a nice beachfront casual restaurant. They have a 2-story wing of deluxe rooms with real balconies. They're a little pricey but I would do that next time.

 

I've also stayed at the Marriott. It was an okay hotel, noisy and very family oriented. The entire pool is shallow to accomodate kids. Also if you're supersticious this hotel had a major fire some years back and a number of people died. That said, the hotel is perfectly adequate and I thought the service was better than the El San Juan.

 

Another upscale option to consider is the El COnvento previously mentioned. IT's a lovely property right in the heart of Old San Juan. There is a pool, but it is quite small and on the rooftop - so this is not a resort. There are several very nice restaurants in the hotel and other fine dining options are within walking distance of the hotel as are all the major sites.

 

Let me know if you have other questions.

[lablvr2]

I am so sorry - it is the Wyndham that is across from the piers. Sorry for that incorrect info.

Thanks to all that corrected it.

Susan

[amapola]

Also if you're supersticious this hotel had a major fire some years back and a number of people died.

 

You know, I almost mentioned that! Not because I'm in any way superstitious, but because I thought it might be interesting. The fire was set intentionally on Dec. 31, 1986, by disgruntled union members, while the hotel ballroom and casino were full of people celebrating New Year's Eve. The men who set the fire were convicted of 96 counts of homicide. I knew people who worked in the casino and I remember being glued to the TV watching the helicopters pluck people off the roof and all the horrifying scenes that accompany something like this.

 

The hotel was closed for a very long time, but it was (obiviously!) renovated from top to bottom. That said, though, I know many people who've stayed there and liked it, and I wouldn't hesitate to stay there (if I didn't live here already :D ). Actually, I have stayed at the Condado Plaza and I second the recommendation for it.

 

Well, that was mostly off topic :rolleyes: , but I guess I'm using it as an excuse to avoid working on a proposal I have to finish :p . Better get to it!

[amapola]

I am so sorry - it is the Wyndham that is across from the piers. Sorry for that incorrect info.

Thanks to all that corrected it.

Susan

 

No problem! I think these chain hotels are almost interchangeable anyway :D :eek: :D

[Richard]

Amapola

The hotel across from the piers is the SHERATON Old San Juan. It was a Wyndham hotel a while ago but is now a Sheraton

[atlcple2]

While it has been a long time since I have been to San Juan, We stayed in the Beach Zone. The El San Juan Hotel is beautiful! Lots of mahagony wood, several restaurants (which were great), nice pool and on the beach. It was expensive, but worth the money. This hotel also has a casino, so expect the taxes to be a little higher than a hotel without one. They have excellent service as well. I found the link...it is apparently owned by Wyndam now:

 

http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/SJUES/main.wnt?aff=wyn02

[Northender]

We have book ElCanario by the Sea for next precruise stay. Has anyone stayed there before and is it near some nice (not necessarily fancy) restaurants, shops, etc.

 

TIA

[donna5]

My husband walked by there when we stayed at the Radisson(about 2 blocks away) and said it looked nice. There is pizza hut nearby, we ate at a italian rest. that had a patio on the street near there. We went into town and had Tapas and mojitos at the El Convento. There are a lot of rest. around.

[lablvr2]

I cannot recommend El Canario by the Sea. I stayed there for one night and checked out. It was infested with cockroaches and I mean BIG ones. Our luggage pre cruise was on the floor and I left one opened. I am so thankful that one of those large buddies didn't follow us on to the ship. The beach outside the hotel is rough (heavy surf) and had alot of locals and thugs that hung out there. We did NOT feel comfy there at all. My best advice is not to go there.

[Northender]

I cannot recommend El Canario by the Sea. I stayed there for one night and checked out. It was infested with cockroaches and I mean BIG ones. Our luggage pre cruise was on the floor and I left one opened. I am so thankful that one of those large buddies didn't follow us on to the ship. The beach outside the hotel is rough (heavy surf) and had alot of locals and thugs that hung out there. We did NOT feel comfy there at all. My best advice is not to go there.

 

Can someone please confirm what poster is saying. I am not worrying about rough seas, just cockroaches (no matter what size) and thugs hanging around. A few of us are staying there and will cancel and move to new place if this is definately true. :eek:

 

Thanks In Advance

[ssapiers]

We stayed at the Hilton in San Juan. Its about 15 min drive to the pier. It has it own beach As well as a 2 level pool wiht a swim up bar. It was nice and comparatively priced. It is not in old San Juan but only a short cab drive.

 

Bill