San Juan hotels

[dc4]

We will probably stay in San Juan a few extra nights after a southern caribbean cruise - does anyone have a recommendation for a good hotel?

[Puerto Rican Cruiser]

Marriot Hotel in Condado Area is a very nice and clean hotel. Some good restaurants near the Hotel and maybe 5 to 10 minutes from Old San Juan in taxi.

 

Other option is Hotel El Convento. This maybe will cost you a little more than Marriot but it is in the heart of Old San Juan. It all depends of what you will going to do.

 

Enjoy your trip in Puerto Rico.

[dolphincruiser404]

W're staying at the Caribe Hilton before our November cruise on the Serenade. This option was a little $$$ but I think well worth it.

[sbgrace]

We enjoyed the Sheraton Old San Juan. It's very conveniently located; we could walk around OSJ anywhere we wanted to go. Great views from the rooftop pool area, too. Have a great time!

Chris

[texancruzer]

We stayed at El Convento 2 nights precruise before our November Serenade cruise.

 

On their website http://www.elconvento.com they have a pre/post cruise special. On the home page scroll all the way down and click on the white area at the bottom for internet specials.

 

If you are staying 2 nights or more it is worth checking out. Depending on when you are going the specials can sometimes provide you with a cheaper rate than most of the other hotels..... and El Convento is San Juans only 5 star hotel.

 

It is located in the heart of Old San Juan - within walking distance of all the historic sites, shopping and restaurants/clubs.

[dolphincruiser404]

So my mind was made up on the Hilton, but now all this talk about the El Convento...I am confused. We are looking for a great beach!!! Which is better???

[cruzincanuck]

So my mind was made up on the Hilton, but now all this talk about the El Convento...I am confused. We are looking for a great beach!!! Which is better???

 

El Convento is centrally located in Old San Juan and consequently not by the beach. Hotels taht are by the beach are situated in the Condado and Isla Verde areas. I cannot speak abou the the Hilton other than the fact that I have often read that cruisers succeed in getting great rates via Priceline. I have stayed at the Marriott in the Condado area and enjoyed the beach there. Nice hotel with casino and a great pool area.

 

This time we are goinf to be staying at the El Convento for its location and sightseeing opportunities. I did read on their site that guests have access to the El Convento Beach Club in Isla Verde.

 

Maybe someone who took advantage of this privilege can comment on the beach there. I am curious as well.

 

Enjoy your stay in San Juan.

[lovemylab]

Our 2007 Serenade cruise leaves from San Juan and we plan to stay at El Convento. It receives great reviews from everyone who stays there and the hotel is simply gorgeous.

 

Depending on the time of year, it may not be that much more expensive. When I priced it for next November it is comparable to many other hotels in San Juan.

[daaling]

We will probably stay in San Juan a few extra nights after a southern caribbean cruise - does anyone have a recommendation for a good hotel?

wonderful restuarant in SJ PR if it is still there..La Zaragozanas..a great blue/ w/cutout *s, in it, and campfire paintings..be sure to order the Tapas too..down town from pport..walking..old part.. good luck, enjoy..daaling

[hermang]

We enjoyed the Sheraton Old San Juan. It's very conveniently located; we could walk around OSJ anywhere we wanted to go. Great views from the rooftop pool area, too. Have a great time!

Chris

We have stayed there three times and have been very satisfied with the hotel and location. Melvin the bellman was great - recommended a great place to eat lunch. We stopped back on debarkation day and asked if we could have some bags watched ( for a fee of course) he said he could not but he told us about a "luggage vault" two blocks away that held our bags for $4.00 for the few hours we needed to dump them.

 

Great places to eat - La Bombonera - 259 Calle San Francisco ( Rachel Ray recommends it and we ate there twice -

 

Cafe de PuertoRico 208 O'Donnell, Plaza Colon (recommended by Melvin)

 

Tantra - on Calle Forteleza - ate there three times as well

[wrp96]

We have stayed there three times and have been very satisfied with the hotel and location. Melvin the bellman was great - recommended a great place to eat lunch.

 

Cafe de PuertoRico 208 O'Donnell, Plaza Colon (recommended by Melvin)

 

 

We stayed at the Sheraton OSJ both Pre- and Post- Cruise this past March and were very pleased with the hotel, especially the view of the ships from the rooftop pool. We also ate at Cafe de Puerto Rico at the advice of the bellhop, and enjoyed it so much we went back post cruise.

[The Big Booper]

The Caribe Hilton is off by itself, no marching hotels along Ashford Avenue. If you stay there, stay in the main building which was renovated a few years ago. Huge beach area.

[happysinglemom]

Caribe Hilton is great - we must have stayed in the "good tower". :-) Did not check out the beach, tho it is on the water. Gorgeous pool area.

 

The Radisson Ambassador was okay last time, better this time. Very close to Old San Juan so definitely a big pro there.

 

The El San Juan was better than I expected, but they are undergoing a major renovation (rooms sorely need it) so it should be stunning by Christmas (though pricey!!). It is right on the beach. beautiful pools, grounds, and beach!!! But nearer the airport than Old San Juan....so keep that in mind.

[bouhunter]

Another vote for the Caribe. We spent a week there in Feb 2005 - very nice, private beach, beautiful pool area.

 

Highly recommend the Parrot Club for dinner in Old San Juan.:)

 

Make sure you check out one of the huge forts in OSJ also.

[texancruzer]

This time we are goinf to be staying at the El Convento for its location and sightseeing opportunities. I did read on their site that guests have access to the El Convento Beach Club in Isla Verde.

 

Maybe someone who took advantage of this privilege can comment on the beach there. I am curious as well.

 

 

 

Was not aware of the Beach Club in Isla Verde when we stayed there last November..... however - we spent ALL OF OUR TIME exploring old San Juan and still had more to see. We felt we would get plenty of "beach time" while on the cruise. Anyone else out there who has done the Beach Club ????? Let us hear from you ! Would be nice info for when we go back :)

[Sailor Gal]

Hi "sbgrace"!

 

Would you mind sharing some more details on this hotel? Anything you can tell me would be appreciated. On the website it looks pretty nice. How are the rooms and did you have any difficulty getting to the pier? Can you sit outside and watch the boats? Is it close to the forts, etc.? Any restaurant recommendations within walking distance? THanks

[wrp96]

Hi "sbgrace"!

 

Would you mind sharing some more details on this hotel? Anything you can tell me would be appreciated. On the website it looks pretty nice. How are the rooms and did you have any difficulty getting to the pier? Can you sit outside and watch the boats? Is it close to the forts, etc.? Any restaurant recommendations within walking distance? THanks

 

I stayed there in March both pre and post cruise. The hotel is nice. The lobby is small but they have a casino attached plus a bar area. The rooms are nice. The beds are comfortable - Sheraton Sweet Sleeper beds (similiar to Westin's Heavenly Beds). The rooms were clean and the staff was friendly. One thing, if you want two beds instead of one queen, all the rooms with two beds are in the back of the hotel above Senor Frogs, and all the rooms with kings are in the front of the hotel. Unless you need the two beds, ask for a room with a king size bed when you check in. The rooftop pool gives you a great view of the harbor and the ships.

 

San Cristobal is only a few blocks easy walk from the Sheraton. El Morro is farther and uphill all the way so I would recommend taking a taxi there and then walking back to the hotel through Old San Juan.

 

Getting to the pier, we had RCCL transfers arranged but didn't want to wait, so we walked outside and the bellhops literally had cabs waiting for us. It was $15 for us to get to the Pan Am Pier, took maybe 20 minutes.

[em_in_murphy]

Was not aware of the Beach Club in Isla Verde when we stayed there last November..... however - we spent ALL OF OUR TIME exploring old San Juan and still had more to see. We felt we would get plenty of "beach time" while on the cruise. Anyone else out there who has done the Beach Club ????? Let us hear from you ! Would be nice info for when we go back :)

 

Sorry for the off topic but I've been hoping you could answer a question about Hertz in Antigua that I posted on the port board...

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=289994

 

thanks.

[texancruzer]

Em: sorry - check the Antigua thread - I posted your answer today :)

[hermang]

Hi "sbgrace"!

 

Would you mind sharing some more details on this hotel? Anything you can tell me would be appreciated. On the website it looks pretty nice. How are the rooms and did you have any difficulty getting to the pier? Can you sit outside and watch the boats? Is it close to the forts, etc.? Any restaurant recommendations within walking distance? THanks

Now that it is a Sheraton - bedding has vastly improved.

You can see ships from the Pool area - small pool but nice - 2-3 blocks from the "old" ship terminal - still used by Princess and othere - RCCL and Celebrity are acreoss the Canal and Carnival I believe is down a mile or so.

 

Not crazy about the casino - small smoley old machines.

 

Sr.Frog across the street

 

Great places to eat - La Bombonera - 259 Calle San Francisco ( Rachel Ray recommends it and we ate there twice -

 

Cafe de PuertoRico 208 O'Donnell, Plaza Colon (recommended by Melvin)

 

Tantra - on Calle Forteleza - ate there three times as well

[em_in_murphy]

Em: sorry - check the Antigua thread - I posted your answer today :)

 

Thanks so much Texancruzer! Congrats on the diamond. My b-day is week after cruise...maybe DH will surprise me with something to make up for the last decade of no gifts!:rolleyes:

 

I believe my booking is with the main office so I will call them a week before I leave!

[sbgrace]

Hi "sbgrace"!

 

Would you mind sharing some more details on this hotel? Anything you can tell me would be appreciated. On the website it looks pretty nice. How are the rooms and did you have any difficulty getting to the pier? Can you sit outside and watch the boats? Is it close to the forts, etc.? Any restaurant recommendations within walking distance? THanks

 

wrp96 did a great summary of the hotel. There are a lot of restaurants in Old San Juan...and I can't remember any of their names at the moment. LOL :o The bellhops at the hotel know the area--they can give you some recommendations. I do remember a Hard Rock Cafe about a block away, if you're into HRC.

 

We walked all over OSJ, even uphill to El Morro. :) The walk along the harbor mouth to the sea is nice, except for the wild cat smell. :eek:

 

Have a great time!

Chris

[wrp96]

wrp96 did a great summary of the hotel. There are a lot of restaurants in Old San Juan...and I can't remember any of their names at the moment. LOL :o The bellhops at the hotel know the area--they can give you some recommendations. I do remember a Hard Rock Cafe about a block away, if you're into HRC.

 

At the suggestion of the bellhops we ate at the Cafe de Puerto Rico the night before the cruise. We enjoyed it so much we went back after the cruise (it was also very affordable). Definitely talk to the bell hops for suggestions.

[Sailor Gal]

Thanks to all for the info on Sheraton/Old San Juan. Makes me feel much better.

 

wrp96: I'm curious about the transfers. We booked them also. How do you arrange to get from the hotel to the pier and why was there a long wait? I'd hate to pay for the transfer and a taxi.

[texancruzer]

With transfers you have to wait until the bus fills up..... if you are the last one on it's no big deal but if you are the first - well.......

 

Taxis are EVERYWHERE in old San Juan..... especially at the hotels.... the doorman will hail one for you and let the driver know where you are going.... the rates are fixed and it is just soooo much easier :)

 

We had transfers from hotel to ship that was part of the package... air/hotel/cruise but we got tired of waiting for the van to show up. Was told 1:00 pm but we waited maybe 30-40 minutes and then just took a taxi. But it was not like we paid extra for transfers....but even if we had we would have done the same thing..... I'm not sure it ever showed up