San Juan questions

[busted knuckles]

We are booked 3/9 on AOS, will be going in on 3/8. Need a good hotel that doesn't cost an arm and leg.

 

Also, if we catch a taxi from airport to hotel, can the driver speak enough English to get us where we need to go?

 

Is it safe to eat the food, drink the water, drink the liquor, etc.?

[warmwatersailor]

El Canario by the Sea

www.canariohotels.com

Directions from the airport are on the website, so print them out just in case.

yes and yes

[buchie614]

We stayed at the Embassy Suites, not sure about the cost, we used our hotel points, has a nice casino, won a little $$, food was excellent in the resturant, only drank bottled water. Cab driver spoke very good english and was very nice

[Alexis]

We are booked 3/9 on AOS, will be going in on 3/8. Need a good hotel that doesn't cost an arm and leg.

 

Also, if we catch a taxi from airport to hotel, can the driver speak enough English to get us where we need to go?

 

Is it safe to eat the food, drink the water, drink the liquor, etc.?

 

This website below was created by Cruise Critic Clubber. He has done a great job of putting information there for all of us to use..

Here is a map of San Juan. Click on the hotels on the map and they will open to show you their sites and prices.

There is information in there about the taxis also. Information about lots of restaurants too.

 

Sorry the map did not print. Here it is.

http://www.langland.org/cruises/sanjuan.asp

 

 

I am staying at this hotel in the Condado area of San Juan. It is fairly close to the Pan American Pier that you will be sailing from.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sjupr-san-juan-marriott-resort-and-stellaris-casino/

 

 

The taxi drivers speak enough English to take you wherever you wish to go.

Puerto Rico is not like Mexico. You can eat and drink whatever you wish on their island and you will be fine.

[busted knuckles]

Thanks guys. Will check these suggestions out.

This is first cruise in a couple of years, and I can't wait.

Bet there's some real good rum in P.R.....I'm gonna find out.

[love2cruiseseattle]

We stayed at the Marriott that Alexis suggested and loved it there. We booked the room early and were able to get a great price tha included the breakfast buffet. The beds were so comfortable and the staff was great. We ate in their restaurant by the pool for both dinner and breakfast and had no problems with the food or water. They was a bar looking out at the beach that is cover, the night we arrived there was a big rain storm and a lot of people were hanging by the bar, it is covered. There is also a casino in the hotel.

[Obaybee..tryingthisagain]

I started a thread on the latest warning regarding dengue fever in Puerto Rico which is now an epidemic. It got yanked for some reason.:confused:

Anyway, for those of you going to the island MSNBC has some reassuring facts and good common sense suggestions on avoiding the virus.

My thread was intended to show how cruising to Puerto Rico could be safer then staying there for more then 2 days. Oh well :confused: The title was "Yet another reason to cruise"

For those interested http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20181559/

[gadiamondgal]

Thank you, Obaybee - We will be there in December for the AOD 12/2 sailing. We will be there overnight before sailing! I will take my spray!

[Alexis]

I started a thread on the latest warning regarding dengue fever in Puerto Rico which is now an epidemic. It got yanked for some reason.:confused:

Anyway, for those of you going to the island MSNBC has some reassuring facts and good common sense suggestions on avoiding the virus.

My thread was intended to show how cruising to Puerto Rico could be safer then staying there for more then 2 days. Oh well :confused: The title was "Yet another reason to cruise"

For those interested http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20181559/

 

Thanks for the heads up. I did not see that article.

I will be staying there for a few days before my cruise in November and I will also bring along the proper spray to use.

I am glad to have seen and read this. ;)

[Pootle]

Need a good hotel that doesn't cost an arm and leg.

 

I'm flying to San Juan tomorrow and have the Comfort Inn in Condado booked after having it recomended to me on here :) Less that $140 a night, realitvly near the cruise ship pier and it's got pretty good reviews on tripadvisor.com.

 

As for taxis, as I understand it when you exit the airport there is a taxi stand where you tell them where you want to go, pay a set price at the stand and of you go with your driver.

 

Hope that helps!

[wishful thinking]

We are booked 3/9 on AOS, will be going in on 3/8. Need a good hotel that doesn't cost an arm and leg.

 

Also, if we catch a taxi from airport to hotel, can the driver speak enough English to get us where we need to go?

 

Is it safe to eat the food, drink the water, drink the liquor, etc.?

 

We stayed at Hotel Miramar on Ponce de Leon Avenue in February (very near pier). Very nice place for the money. Staff were brilliant and helpful. Fantastic view from the roof top! Just type in Hotel Miramar Puerto Rico and check it out. Have a great time wherever you stay :)

[uksimonusa]

I'm flying to San Juan tomorrow and have the Comfort Inn in Condado booked after having it recomended to me on here :) Less that $140 a night, realitvly near the cruise ship pier and it's got pretty good reviews on tripadvisor.com.

 

As for taxis, as I understand it when you exit the airport there is a taxi stand where you tell them where you want to go, pay a set price at the stand and of you go with your driver.

 

Hope that helps!

 

 

That's correct, there is a taxi dispatcher at the airport, you tell them where you are going, how many people and how many bags, they then give you a written invoice, to give to your driver, it shows everything including the set fare, when they allocate you a cab, they write the cab license number on the invoice, give one copy to the driver and keep the 2nd copy.

[ckrobyn]

I started a thread on the latest warning regarding dengue fever in Puerto Rico which is now an epidemic. It got yanked for some reason.:confused:

Anyway, for those of you going to the island MSNBC has some reassuring facts and good common sense suggestions on avoiding the virus.

My thread was intended to show how cruising to Puerto Rico could be safer then staying there for more then 2 days. Oh well :confused: The title was "Yet another reason to cruise"

For those interested http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20181559/

 

Now I can add dengue to the worry list, right beside Noro Virus :(

 

Thanks for the heads up.

[A Sixth?]

If you don't need a swimming pool, and want to really enjoy Old San Juan try the Hotel Milano

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review?geo=147320&detail=151961&from=HACSearch&inMonth=01/2008&inDay=4&outMonth=01/2008&outDay=6&adults=2&hs=bak07w:10023

 

We liked it very much but because they have a two night min are trying the SJ Suites this January.

 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review?geo=147320&detail=549750&from=HACSearch&inMonth=01/2008&inDay=4&outMonth=01/2008&outDay=6&adults=2&hs=bak07w:10023

 

Both are a short stroll to all of the sites and spots in Old San Juan and only a few blocks from the piers where most of the cruise ships dock.

 

The worst hotel stay we've had in decades BTW was at El Canario by the Lagoon, in San Juan. It gets fairly good reviews but our experience was the pits! Stay away

[stones902]

We are booked 3/9 on AOS, will be going in on 3/8. Need a good hotel that doesn't cost an arm and leg.

 

Also, if we catch a taxi from airport to hotel, can the driver speak enough English to get us where we need to go?

 

Is it safe to eat the food, drink the water, drink the liquor, etc.?

 

Many choices on the hotel. I like the Embassy Suites and Intercontinental but the Water Club would be great too. It all depends on what you are looking for.

 

Most everyone speaks at least some English so you will have no problem navigating.

[tjatczak]

Hey busted knuckles....

 

Where are you from in Tennessee?

 

We are on the same cruise and flying out of Nashville on Saturday morning March 8.

 

We have reservations for Saturday night at the Radisson Ambassador Plaza AND the Courtyard by Marriott. We will dump one of them as we get closer or if we find a priceline or some other deal.

 

Come over to the roll call boards and say hello. It has been a quiet roll call, but may pick-up as we get closer to March.

 

Ted

[Alexis]

If you don't need a swimming pool, and want to really enjoy Old San Juan try the Hotel Milano

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review?geo=147320&detail=151961&from=HACSearch&inMonth=01/2008&inDay=4&outMonth=01/2008&outDay=6&adults=2&hs=bak07w:10023

 

We liked it very much but because they have a two night min are trying the SJ Suites this January.

 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review?geo=147320&detail=549750&from=HACSearch&inMonth=01/2008&inDay=4&outMonth=01/2008&outDay=6&adults=2&hs=bak07w:10023

 

Both are a short stroll to all of the sites and spots in Old San Juan and only a few blocks from the piers where most of the cruise ships dock.

 

The worst hotel stay we've had in decades BTW was at El Canario by the Lagoon, in San Juan. It gets fairly good reviews but our experience was the pits! Stay away

 

Except if you are sailing on RCCL ships which dock across the water from Old San Juan at the Pan American Pier.

RCCL ships usually do dock at the Old San Juan piers when they visit the port just for a day.

[karena1]

We have stayed at the Milano, and the Howard Johnson Plaza de Armus buth in OSJ and both very reasonable. This year in April we stayed at El Canario by the Lagoon. Very inexpensive, walked a block and we at the water. Manger very friendly. Old hotel, tiny elevator, but we did just fine.

[albertiger]

I stayed at the Comfort Inn this past April for less than $100 and it was great for the price, and a great location for the Pan Am Pier also. Book on their website, they have discounts for AAA, AARP, etc.;)

[amapola]

I started a thread on the latest warning regarding dengue fever in Puerto Rico

 

Dengue is endemic in PR, though there is indeed an outbreak currently. Not to make light of it (I had dengue 15 years ago and it's awful), but it's easy to avoid by using an appropriate bug repellent.

 

As for taxis, as I understand it when you exit the airport there is a taxi stand where you tell them where you want to go, pay a set price at the stand and of you go with your driver.

 

One small correction: they do give you the price for the ride as described by a PP, but you pay the driver directly at the end of the ride.

[A Sixth?]

Except if you are sailing on RCCL ships which dock across the water from Old San Juan at the Pan American Pier.

RCCL ships usually do dock at the Old San Juan piers when they visit the port just for a day.

 

True, that realy is a terrible pier, but staying in Old San Juan is IMHO a great treat

[love2vacation]

We stayed at the Marriott Stellaris post cruise last year. I bid on this through priceline. Pre-cruise we stayed at the Coral Princess Inn; I think we paid about 145.00 per night. Nice boutique hotel a couple blocks from the beach. Both places are close the Walgreens for those last minutes items and Starbucks. :D

 

Neither are in Old San Juan but it is just a short taxi ride away.

Enjoy your stay, we can't wait to go back in 2008. We are spending 2 night pre cruise and 1 post; so we have more time to explore.

[volvo99]

We are booked 3/9 on AOS, will be going in on 3/8. Need a good hotel that doesn't cost an arm and leg.

 

Also, if we catch a taxi from airport to hotel, can the driver speak enough English to get us where we need to go?

 

Is it safe to eat the food, drink the water, drink the liquor, etc.?

 

 

 

You do know you are in United States territory, correct?

[busted knuckles]

You do know you are in United States territory, correct?

Maybe so... but... I'll bet San Juan is a little bit different from what I'm used to here in good ole TN.:D

 

PS.. We also don't have this "dengue fever". Better bring me some OFF!

[0ldog]

The speak better English than most taxi drivers in New York City. We stayed at the Westin took a taxi from the airport and told the driver to pick us up at 11:00 AM next morning. He was there right on time and took us right to the pier.