Where to stay in San Juan, PR?

We are taking a Southern Caribbean cruise out of San Juan in early November 2017. We have never sailed out of this port and would like some recommendations for where to stay for the night before embarkation.

Thank you in advance for your assistance!

We are taking a Southern Caribbean cruise out of San Juan in early November 2017. We have never sailed out of this port and would like some recommendations for where to stay for the night before embarkation.

 

Thank you in advance for your assistance!

We stay at Embassy Suites or the Hampton Inn. Check out this Ports Of Call link for San Juan for other recommendations/suggestions. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=131

We stay at Embassy Suites or the Hampton Inn. Check out this Ports Of Call link for San Juan for other recommendations/suggestions. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=131

We stayed in the Embassy Suites before a cruise in 2013 and didn't care for the place much. The atrium was dull with moss over the glazed ceiling adding to the gloom. The evening 'reception' was a bit of a bum fight and was loud with lots of kids. Breakfast was good though.

Cruise terminal is a cab ride from all hotels (well almost all hotels, we walked to our hotel from port after our last cruise which was about 1/2 mile away, but we are cheap and weren't in any hurry figuring we couldn't check in that early anyway).

We usually stay at the Sheraton in Old San Juan. It is nice hotel near all the OSJ activities. If you prefer the beach there are MANY hotels between OSJ and the airport along the water.

We also used Embassy Suites...

Evening reception was fine when we were there and unless you went for breakfast at 8.30 (really busy time) that was fairly civilised too. If I remember rightly there was an Outback inside the hotel building which we used the evening we arrived when we were shattered...

Pool was fine and not too busy nothing flash but for a few days stop over we enjoyed it.

Cost wise although it initially seemed a little more expensive than other non premium hotels when you factored in the cost of breakfast and evening drinks it seemed good value for money. We also like having the two rooms and the fridge and microwave. If you are traveling with children/extra adult even more value...

We are staying at the Sheraton (not the one in old San Juan) in a club room (includes breakfast and drinks and Appetizers from 5-7pm.

Price was reasonable and you can also use SPG points.

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In 2016, my husband and I flew down the Weds before and stayed in Culebra at a bed and breakfast. Culebra is an island off the coast of Puerto Rico. Best snorkeling I have seen other than perhaps St John and beautiful beaches. No hotel chains there. Very rustic. We rented a car and drove all over the island. We flew from SJU via Air Flamenco to Culebra. We left saturday am (day of our cruise) at 7am and flew via Air Flamenco to Vieques where we rented a car from Avis. Then we drove to the rainforest for a couple of hours, then drove to Avis in San Juan, dropped off car and were onboard at 230pm (our ship left at 830pm). Really was a nice few days before our trip. Very easy driving in Puerto Rico.

San Juan has many hotels in several areas. What are you looking for? A place to spend the night? Beaches? Close to the old city? Close to the airport? Close to the port?

The Isla Verde area is closest to the airport. There are several beach front hotels there like the Intercontinental, the Ritz Carlton, and the El San Juan. There are also non-beachfront hotels like the Hampton Inn, Verdanza, and Embassy Suites.

Condado is another popular area with tourists, halfway between the airport and the port, and there are several beachfront properties as well like the Marriott, Renaissance and the Vanderbilt.

The Old San Juan area will be best if you wish to explore the old city and be close to the port. Sheraton Old San Juan is waterfront and walking distance to some of the cruise terminals. Another great property in the old city is the El Convento hotel.

The closest hotel to where the Celebrity cruise terminal is will be the Sheraton Convention Center. A bit isolated but very convenient.

Let us know if you're looking for something different or more specific. Have a great time in San Juan, the best port of your itinerary ! [emoji3]

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Actually the closest hotel to the Celebrity port is Hyatt Place San Juan/City Center.

I know because we walked there from the ship...it is right at the "entrance" to the frontage road that goes around the airport to the ship terminal.

 

The Old San Juan area will be best if you wish to explore the old city and be close to the port. Sheraton Old San Juan is waterfront and walking distance to some of the cruise terminals. Another great property in the old city is the El Convento hotel.

 

Cruises departing from San Juan do not use the pier by the Sheraton Old San Juan. That pier is only for cruises calling in San Juan for a port stop. Cruises departing from San Juan use the Pan American Pier. It's a quick cab ride from most hotels in the Condado or Isla Verde area.

We stayed at Ciqala Suites. Great rooms. Rooftop pool and bar. We were travelling with another couple, so it was cheaper to get a 3 bedroom fully equipped suite (the kitchen in it was better than my kitchen at home!), washer/dryer, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths. Free breakfast in morning. Items in the refrigerator (pop, juice, water, candy) were only $1.00 each. I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again.

We stayed in the Embassy Suites before a cruise in 2013 and didn't care for the place much. The atrium was dull with moss over the glazed ceiling adding to the gloom. The evening 'reception' was a bit of a bum fight and was loud with lots of kids. Breakfast was good though.

We've experienced nothing like that. We've stayed at the Embassy suites a few different times including this April for our B2B cruise on the Jewel. Agree with a good breakfast. Try the Hampton Inn next time. They have a mangers reception every evening (which offers wine, beer,a couple of different mixed drinks and snacks) except for Sunday evenings. Their complementary breakfast is good but Embassy Suites offers more variety.

I highly recommend staying in Old San Juan area and the El Convento Hotel. This is on the square with the cathedral and is walking to everything in OSJ. The hotel is a converted building from a convent. It is charming, quaint and very comfortable.

Cruises departing from San Juan do not use the pier by the Sheraton Old San Juan. That pier is only for cruises calling in San Juan for a port stop. Cruises departing from San Juan use the Pan American Pier. It's a quick cab ride from most hotels in the Condado or Isla Verde area.

 

 

Hey Happy Cruiser! There are two Sheratons in that area. The one that I recommended for where Celebrity and Royal Caribbean ships depart from is the Sheraton Convention Center. As you mentioned and as I wrote on my previous post, the Sheraton Old San Juan is within walking distance to the other cruise terminals but I should've clarified that those are used by departing ships from other cruise lines (like Carnival, Norwegian and others), as well as by most ships stopping in San Juan as a port of call.

Happy Sailings!

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El Convento or El San Juan

As others have said, a taxi is a must regardless of where you stay. If you are only staying one night, but arriving in the day, the Sheraton Old San Juan would be an excellent choice. From there it is easy to walk to just about anywhere in OSJ. They have a small casino, & a rooftop restaurant that is reasonably priced with good food, a great atmosphere, & views of the port area. There is also a rooftop pool.

Have a great cruise!

We love Plaza de Armus. Right on the square in OSJ. Not fancy, but we love being right in the middle of the old San Juan area where we can watch the world go by. we always stay in a ground floor room. No windows, but easy access and don't have to deal with the tiny elevators. Only hotel we use pre-cruise in San Juan anymore.

we stayed at the Marriott and it was great. Pools and beach were excellent.

As others have said, a taxi is a must regardless of where you stay. If you are only staying one night, but arriving in the day, the Sheraton Old San Juan would be an excellent choice. From there it is easy to walk to just about anywhere in OSJ. They have a small casino, & a rooftop restaurant that is reasonably priced with good food, a great atmosphere, & views of the port area. There is also a rooftop pool.

 

Have a great cruise!

Had a small casino...it is now a Walgreens!

We have sailed 3 times out of San Juan on the Summit. We have stayed in Old San Juan at the Sheraton, Sheraton convention centre and Condado. Our favourite is La Concha for beach and close to restaurants.

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We have done 4 cruises from San Juan. Once we took the chance and flew in that morning the other three we stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, it was ok, then the Doubletree that was very nice and the last time the Hampton Inn, right next to the cockfighting ring....Those were both fine. We were just looking for one night to sleep and walk a bit. The prices dictated our choices as much as anything.

I would also suggest the El Convento. Looking forward to returning there for three nights in October.

Haven't stayed in a hotel in OSJ the last few stays. At twice the size, and half the price not to mention right in the old city, there are lot's of apartments available. AirBnB has been a great choice for us. Not just in San Juan either.....

Had a small casino...it is now a Walgreens!

Really? Bummer! Walgreens, wow! As I recall there is a CVS within one block. It's been a few years since we stayed there. Do you know when they closed it?

Wanted an authentic OSJ experience & stayed at the Casablanca ...... Walked to the Carnival cruise dock easily from there and loved the place. Not fancy but has rooftop deck and bar with restaurant on site. Loved it!

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