Pre and post San Juan accommodations

[Ejak927]

We are sailing out of San Juan this summer flying in the day before we sail and staying 2 days post cruise to explore San Juan- we have the Sheraton old San Juan booked for the night before but I am looking for suggestions for a post options- were not looking to spend a fortune but location is what I'm concerned about- we would like to do the rain forest el yunque- close to a beach ( not rocky or heavy waves) we have a 5 year old- and we will not have a car so we need restaurants in close proximity- I have been reading and it seems condado is the place to stay- any recommendations that would fit our needs would be much appreciated! Thank you!

[ozarkmama]

You will need a car or hire a tour guide to go to El Yunque. It is about an hour our of San Juan.

[Ejak927]

Thanks- we were looking a certain day tours.

[son3cruisers]

We are sailing out of San Juan this summer flying in the day before we sail and staying 2 days post cruise to explore San Juan- we have the Sheraton old San Juan booked for the night before but I am looking for suggestions for a post options- were not looking to spend a fortune but location is what I'm concerned about- we would like to do the rain forest el yunque- close to a beach ( not rocky or heavy waves) we have a 5 year old- and we will not have a car so we need restaurants in close proximity- I have been reading and it seems condado is the place to stay- any recommendations that would fit our needs would be much appreciated! Thank you!

 

We will be taking a cruise out of San Juan in March. It's our first time departing from here. We did visit this beautiful port as a one day stop on a past cruise.

The info I share is from the posts I have read on here.

First, you said that you are staying at the Sheridan old San Juan. That is by the old San Juan port. My understanding is that Royal cruise ships that are " visiting" the island stop at this port. Ships that are departing on cruises ( 7 or 8 days) leave from the Pan America pier, which is in the Condado area, which is also by the airport. So, we have booked a hotel near the airport ( Condado area) before the cruise, and Old San Juan when we return as that seems to be the tourist area. If you don't have a car rented, I would think taxi fare would be needed to get you to your hotel in Old San Juan, then back again to catch your cruise. You might save a bit on that fare by staying in Condado before the cruise.

Edited April 13, 2016 by son3cruisers

[Ashland]

We are sailing out of San Juan this summer flying in the day before we sail and staying 2 days post cruise to explore San Juan- we have the Sheraton old San Juan booked for the night before but I am looking for suggestions for a post options- were not looking to spend a fortune but location is what I'm concerned about- we would like to do the rain forest el yunque- close to a beach ( not rocky or heavy waves) we have a 5 year old- and we will not have a car so we need restaurants in close proximity- I have been reading and it seems condado is the place to stay- any recommendations that would fit our needs would be much appreciated! Thank you!

 

Double check your Old San Juan rates...I thought I had a great AAA rate but just a few day ago I checked and their offering a AAA hot deal....I'm now paying less for a JS than I was for a traditional category. I called Sheraton directly to get this.

[Ejak927]

Did you book w AAA? I book via book it so I don't think I can get a better rate w the hotel can I?

[slidergirl]

Did you book w AAA? I book via book it so I don't think I can get a better rate w the hotel can I?

 

 

 

I'm afraid you are stuck with what you booked. Most OTAs are prepaid/nonrefundable. You have to read the a terms & conditions you got when you booked.

Also, be sure you check the t&cs of ANY rate you want to book. Even some of the AAA rates have change and/or refund restrictions.

[Ashland]

I'm afraid you are stuck with what you booked. Most OTAs are prepaid/nonrefundable. You have to read the a terms & conditions you got when you booked.

Also, be sure you check the t&cs of ANY rate you want to book. Even some of the AAA rates have change and/or refund restrictions.

 

My first booking (made back in December 2015) was no deposit..cancel 24 hours prior to arrival. The booking I just changed to was prepaid...but I did have the option for a few $$'s more to have the same T&C's...but at this point I'm so close to my stay...May 5-6..that it was no big deal at this point to prepay. I'm now very happy to get an upgraded category for a much lower rate.:)

[Ashland]

Did you book w AAA? I book via book it so I don't think I can get a better rate w the hotel can I?

 

I booked (both times) directly with Sheraton using a AAA discount. The only time I use a booking site is with http://www.lmtclub.com and they have a great cancellation policy usually anywhere from 3 days to 24 hrs from stay date and easily let you cancel for a full refund quickly to the credit card used. I've never had to cancel a reservation with them but many on these boards have and this was their experience.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Ashland

[Ejak927]

I am happy w the rate we paid pre were staying at the Sheraton 1 night for about $200 and post we are staying at the Vanderbilt condado for $140 a night which I thought was a great rate

[slidergirl]

I am happy w the rate we paid pre were staying at the Sheraton 1 night for about $200 and post we are staying at the Vanderbilt condado for $140 a night which I thought was a great rate

 

 

 

Good rate for the Sheraton. Their rates went up a tad for stays starting 4/10 - maybe the start of the cruise season. If I could have gone a week earlier, I could have had the 1 night at the employee rate ($89), but the boss made me do my vacation a week later. No employee rate available, so I'm paying $200, too.

[slidergirl]

If you can, ask for room 832. It is a corner room with three Juliette balconies; one looks toward one of the forts, one down to the Pan Am docks (Summit and AOS docked now) and the Old Town dock right in front. It's a Deluxe Room...

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[ptf2009]

I am happy w the rate we paid pre were staying at the Sheraton 1 night for about $200 and post we are staying at the Vanderbilt condado for $140 a night which I thought was a great rate

 

 

 

do your rates reflect the taxes and RESORT FEES? I just don't want you unpleasantly surprised when you see the TOTAL amount

[Ejak927]

For the Vanderbilt unfortunately they do not but for the Sheraton we included the resort fee

[Stinger-pr]

Good rate for the Sheraton. Their rates went up a tad for stays starting 4/10 - maybe the start of the cruise season. If I could have gone a week earlier, I could have had the 1 night at the employee rate ($89), but the boss made me do my vacation a week later. No employee rate available, so I'm paying $200, too.

 

Actually, the cruise season in Puerto Rico is from October to February. That's the period of time when we get the most cruise visits with as much a 5-6 ships in port. The summer season has good movement but not as much as winter. Maybe it's because the average temperature during the day in winter here is in the 80s:D. It's also the second time during the year (other than Sept.-Nov. which is hurricane season) with the lowest prices. Sometimes prices for summer cruises out of San Juan are almost double than those in the winter/hurricane season.

[khm1]

We will be taking a cruise out of San Juan in March. It's our first time departing from here. We did visit this beautiful port as a one day stop on a past cruise.

The info I share is from the posts I have read on here.

First, you said that you are staying at the Sheridan old San Juan. That is by the old San Juan port. My understanding is that Royal cruise ships that are " visiting" the island stop at this port. Ships that are departing on cruises ( 7 or 8 days) leave from the Pan America pier, which is in the Condado area, which is also by the airport. So, we have booked a hotel near the airport ( Condado area) before the cruise, and Old San Juan when we return as that seems to be the tourist area. If you don't have a car rented, I would think taxi fare would be needed to get you to your hotel in Old San Juan, then back again to catch your cruise. You might save a bit on that fare by staying in Condado before the cruise.

 

 

 

If you are staying in Condado, you will still need to take a taxi to Pan American Pier. The fare is similar whether you come from Condado or Old San Juan. The Pan American pier is not considered to be in the Condado area. The airport that is next to the Pan American pier is not the one that you will fly in to. It is just a municipal airport for private and small planes. There are no hotels that are easy walking distance from the Pan American pier. The Sheraton San Juan resort and Casino is closest, but separated from the pier by a runway for a small airport and is a very industrial area. There is fencing that surrounds the pier area and a LOT of traffic on boarding days. I would never try to walk it.

Edited May 14, 2016 by khm1