Intercontinental San Juan

[Cruising89143]

Anyone have any comments good or bad about this place? We are staying here in two weeks for one night pre-cruise. Got a good deal on Priceline. Are there any grocery stores and places to dine within walking distance to the hotel? Safe area?

 

Thanks.

[Kikkycat]

It's a nice hotel. There is a small market across the street from the hotel, and several places to eat within easy walking distance. We walked down to the Holiday Inn and watched the Super Bowl while having dinner outside at Colada's restaurant. It's a very hotel-centric area, so you won't go hungry. The Italian place in the basement of the Intercontinental served a very nice breakfast buffet too.

[stones902]

Anyone have any comments good or bad about this place? We are staying here in two weeks for one night pre-cruise. Got a good deal on Priceline. Are there any grocery stores and places to dine within walking distance to the hotel? Safe area?

 

Thanks.

 

I agree w/ the previous poster and would add that they have a very nice pool in addition to being on the best beach in San Juan. There is also a small casino on property as well as a Ruths Criss Steakhouse that is top notch.

 

We love the Intercontinental and have visited several times, the last being during a San Juan flight layover on our way to St. Maarten.

 

Enjoy!

[Bluegrove]

It's a very nice hotel. Food and drink at the hotel is expensive, but there's a Starbucks nearby and also a Walgreen's down the street. We loved staying there!

[alexpress]

:D

Anyone have any comments good or bad about this place? We are staying here in two weeks for one night pre-cruise. Got a good deal on Priceline. Are there any grocery stores and places to dine within walking distance to the hotel? Safe area?

 

Thanks.

 

Totally agree with the others. It's a very nice place and very relaxing, nice beach and pool with lovely gardens. Turn left out the front gate and walk a short way, on the left is a small bar and on the other side is a sort of Mexican restaurant that should not be missed. Sorry can't remember the name but it is well known.

 

If possible I would try to stay an extra day. We did three days post-cruise two pre-cruise. The bus to San Juan stops right outside the gate. It was great.:D

 

 

2003 Radiance Of The Seas 00Southern Caribbean

1111 Brilliance Of The Seas00Mediterranean

2004 Mariner Of The Seas 000 West Caribbean

3333 Sovereign Of The Seas 0 Bahamas

3333 Carnival Destiny 0000000Southern Caribbean

2005 Explorer Of The Seas 00 West Caribbean

1111 MSC Opera 0000000000 Mediterranean

0000 MSC Lirica00000000000 Mediterranean

2006 Brilliance Of The Seas00Panama

0000 Voyager Of The seas 000Mediterranean

2007 Serenade Of the Seas 00Southern Caribbean

0000 Voyager Of The Seas 00 Mediterranean

0000 MSC Orchestra 000000 0Mediterranean

2008 Costa Atlantica 000000 0Caribbean

00000Voyager Of The seas00 Mediterranean

2009 Emerald Princess 000000Caribbean

 

Upcoming cruises

 

000

2009 Voyager Of The Seas000 Mediterranean

[Cruising89143]

Thanks to everyone for their comments. Sounds like we will enjoy the hotel. :)

[tomsmom]

We were there a couple of weeks ago and just loved the hotel. The food and drinks are very expensive. We went across the street and ate dinner and then breakfast at Mi Casa which was very inexpensive and yummy!

[sbharr]

Just back from our cruise - stayed at the Intercontinental one night post-cruise with a GREAT price from Hotwire.

 

Loved the hotel, the pool, the beach, the beach bar, and especially the service - everyone who worked there, from the front desk, the bellmen to the concierge could not do enough for you. They even printed our boarding passes and delivered them to our room for free when I inquired about what charge there would be if I did it myself in the business center.

 

Our room was fine - The only issue we had was some really loud neighbors near our room - obviously they had been drinking alot. They quieted down before I was annoyed enough to call the front desk - so no harm no foul.

 

The concierge made a GREAT recommnedation for dinner - we went to Platos - just a short walk from the hotel - turn left at the entrance and walk maybe 5-10 minutes - it is on the left - REALLY excellent local food, drinks and good service.

 

We went to breakfast at the mini-mall across the street at La Casita's - very cheap prices, food was good but not great. The Italian restaurant in the hotel has a breakfast buffet for $22 :eek: and continental breakfast buffet for $17:eek::eek:.

 

Across the street to the right from the hotel at the mini-mall is a supermarket - a sub-way, a Church's chicken place, a Burger King, etc.

 

To the left of the hotel is a Chili's, another local Mexcian place, a Palms, and our beloved Platos. There is plenty of places to eat and drink - you are in the middle of the hotel zone.

 

We'd go back to the Intercontinental in a heartbeat!:D

[TrevyMcShaw]

I agree about the Intercontinental. Very nice hotel, beautiful lobby, nice rooms, fantastic pool and hot tub, and the SAND is my favorite of any that my tootsies have ever touched! It feels like velvet under your feet!

 

There is a supermarket across the street and a Burger King. One night, we walked down the street to the left about 4 or 5 blocks and had dinner in an authentic restaurant. Make sure you try the fried plantains and the black bean soup.

 

The bus that runs down the main drag will take you to Old San Juan. It's about a 20 minute ride and ends in the Old San Juan terminal. From there just hop off the bus and ride the trolley around the old city until you want to hop off.

 

We did find out that one of the nights while we were there that there were 7 murders that night. We never had any problems, but we were a large group and stuck to the well lighted areas on the main drag.

 

Just use your common sense and you'll be fine.

[J & G]

Just back from our cruise - stayed at the Intercontinental one night post-cruise with a GREAT price from Hotwire.

 

We'd go back to the Intercontinental in a heartbeat!:D

 

Did you find that there was an additional "resort fee" charged by the hotel, since you booked via the internet? I have read about that another board.....

[Kikkycat]

We booked through Priceline and yes, they added a resort fee. It was about $25-30.

[nursenan]

Would this be a safe hotel for mother/daughter precruise stay before our cruise on the Adventure of the Seas in July. It looks like we could get a good rate by booking on hotwire. Also are taxis available to go to pier(Pan Am).Any info would be appreciated.

[TrevyMcShaw]

Yes, the two of you should be just fine. You really don't have to leave the hotel if you don't want to. They have room service, 2 restaurants, a casino, that beautiful pool. They lock the gates to the beach after dark since it's a public beach. The taxi drivers were friendly. It seems like it was about $20 for 2 people to get from the hotel to the pier by taxi. Unfortunately, I don't believe the hotel provides any transportation.

[TNCruzer]

and have to add my two cents. Along with aggreeing with all the above comments, The beds have a 3 inch pillow top pad on top of a pillow top mattress and comforter. I DID NOT want to get out of that bed!!!

Very safe area, however two females should not exit the property after dark. There is a Pueblo grocery store about 3 blocks away to stock up on beer, H2o, Pepsi, booze whatever...and yes it`s true the security at the SJ port could care less about bringing any liquor aboard. In fact it was that way the entire trip. I always like to bring a few local beers back from each stop and the x-ray crew never said a word.

[sbharr]

Did you find that there was an additional "resort fee" charged by the hotel, since you booked via the internet? I have read about that another board.....

 

 

There was - for us it was $14 for the one night.

[TNCruzer]

apx 13% at checkout. Ours was $25.

[Kikkycat]

Yes, the resort fee is a percentage, so it'll be based on what you paid through Priceline or Hotwire.

 

A woman and her daughter will be perfectly safe. There are always taxis out front to take you anywhere. Enjoy Adventure - she was our first cruise and I fell in love with her and sailing!

[burnstracey]

I'll be at the Intercontinental next month.

Can't tell you how much I appreciate the tips & advice here!

I JUST LOVE THIS PLACE!!!

Thanks all!

[J & G]

Yes, the resort fee is a percentage, so it'll be based on what you paid through Priceline or Hotwire.

 

A woman and her daughter will be perfectly safe. There are always taxis out front to take you anywhere. Enjoy Adventure - she was our first cruise and I fell in love with her and sailing!

 

I went to the Intercontinental's online chat today to ask about the resort fee. The person I "spoke" with was VERY nice and said that the fee is now 14%. Even with that, our room is cheaper than anything else we could find.....we are happy with it!

[baby]

what is the intercontinental chat line?

 

carol

[baby]

how far from the marriott from the intercontinental

 

can you walk - I believe they have salsa music at night??????????????

 

 

Also, did I read somewhere you have to pay a fee to go to the El San Juan hotel night club if you are not staying there

 

one more - did I read somewhere and now I can't find - the intercontinental has rooms with no windows????????// I hope not - I booked on priceline - what kind of room will I end up with

 

thanks

Carol

[Kikkycat]

They are not within walking distance - it's over two miles. Marriott is in the Condado district and the Intercontinental is in Isla Verde, near the airport.

 

I had a room at the Intercontinental booked through Priceline and it was perfectly fine - not only a window but a (very) small balcony. They won't give you an ocean view booked the way you did though - just the city view, which really isn't so bad.

[gerig]

Anyone have any comments good or bad about this place? We are staying here in two weeks for one night pre-cruise. Got a good deal on Priceline. Are there any grocery stores and places to dine within walking distance to the hotel? Safe area?

 

Thanks.

 

We stayed there in February. Not far from the hotel is a supermarket called Pueblo - you can buy water, soda, wine, beer and liquor and snacks. It's a 10 -15 minute walk.

 

I also booked on Priceline. I wrote the hotel and informed them that I was a priority member and we were arriving on my birthday. We received a 15th floor oceanview room. Great view. They also sent up a bottle of wine, a cheese platter and small birthday cake. We ate at Ruth Chris' and it was great.

[verodoodle]

We'll be staying two nights pre-cruise in Sept. Got a good deal through Priceline.

Do they run Bioluminescent tours from the hotel?

 

Thanks

Dave

[lknight27]

I'll be staying here two nights pre-cruise as well. $95 a night for 1/22/10 - 1/24/10 won on priceline. Doesn anybody know if they offer a shuttle service to the port? Also, is it true that Ruth Chris is now closed? TIA