Caribe Hilton vs Embassy Suites (San Juan)

[Bonnie Voyager]

We are going to be using HiltonHonors points for a pre-cruise night in San Juan and are eligible for a "free" room at either of these two hotels. We don't gamble and aren't drinkers (so the casino and "happy hour" at Embassy Suites is not a big draw for us), but do like to hang out by the pool. We will be doing a little sightseeing in Old San Juan (mainly taking our Son to see the two forts, as we have been to San Juan before and toured most of the area). We will be sailing on Adventure of the Seas so will need to take a cab from the hotel to the Pan Am Pier on cruise day. Has anyone been at both of these hotels that may have some feedback as to which one might be preferable for a short stay? Anyone stayed at either of these hotels that has useful feedback of any kind? Thank you for your help!

 

Bonnie Voyager...a.k.a. "Bon Voyage"

 

“Enjoy whatever cruise you choose....just be sure and choose to cruiseâ€

 

Inspiration 9/99

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...and more in the works :-)

 

[thereuare]

Embassy Suites - major advantage is that it's near the beach and close to airport

 

Hilton - nice pool area and close® to Pan Am pier, as well as closer to Old San Juan and El Morro(??)

 

Last August the Hilton offered HHonor members a continental breakfast and evening manager's reception. I understand you won't use the manager's reception, and although the breakfast is less extensive than one at the Embassy Suites, it was sufficient enough to have coffee and a muffin to carry us until buffet lunch at the Windjammer.

 

Any more specific questions feel free to ask

 

-thereuare

<font size="3">BetterBidding</font>

[Zimmy]

I've only stayed at the Hilton, so I don't know about the Embassy Suites. However, the Hilton has a great pool, and a lovely beach. It is very much a full service resort. There is a restaurant poolside so that your kids do not have to leave the area to have lunch. You probably won't have time to use it, but there is a nice spa. The roooms are just O.K. - there's nothing wrong with them, but they're not at the level of the rest of the hotel. It's a very short cab ride to Old Town, so dining in the evening is convenient. Enjoy.

[Bonnie Voyager]

Thank you for the feedback I've received thus far! I am leaning toward the Caribe Hilton, but am still interested in hearing about both hotels. We just want a relatively nice (and clean) room to spend the night in and a nice pool area for the day. Convenience to Old San Juan is a plus. We don't care about the beach as long as there is a nice pool, but it is a bonus with the Caribe Hilton! I know we will have to take a cab at some point no matter which hotel we book, but it seems like the Hilton is a bit more convenient for just about everywhere we need to go (airport, cruise port, and Old San Juan). Also, the photos I've seen of the Hilton make the grounds look very attractive. I understand that the rooms are nothing special. As long as they are clean we are okay with that. I haven't really read much about Embassy Suites though, so I don't want to rule them out entirely! I've stayed at other Embassy Suites and they were nice. When we cruise out of Miami and other Florida ports we usually just fly in late the night prior and look for a cheap, clean room to sleep in and then we check out early the next morning and head to the pier. We don't normally consider the vacation in full swing until we board the ship I am hoping for a more "resort-y" type feel though for this trip since we consider our pre-cruise day in San Juan to be day 1 of our vacation!

 

Bonnie Voyager...a.k.a. "Bon Voyage"

 

“Enjoy whatever cruise you choose....just be sure and choose to cruiseâ€

 

Inspiration 9/99

Triumph 6/00

Victory 8/00

Victory 6/01

Regal Empress 7/01

Explorer of the Seas 4/02

Triumph 6/02

Carnival Legend 10/02

Norwegian Dawn 12/02

Disney Wonder 3/03

Pride 7/03

Explorer of the Seas 4/04

Victory 6/04

Voyager of the Seas 7/04

Carnival Legend 10/04

Majesty of the Seas 6/05

Adventure of the Seas 4/06

...and more in the works :-)

 

[thereuare]

I've never personally stayed at the ES, but i have heard a lot thru some members of my travel board.

 

The ES is a new(er) hotel and i hear the atrium area is beautiful. With the Hilton the hotel spends most of its money on maintaining the public grounds. It also has more of a resort feel do to the 'open air lobby' and atmosphere. As others have said the rooms are 'nothing special' but ours was recently renovated and had a nice view of the ocean (as well as the roof of the building next to ours, but we didn't look down)

 

As far as a clean room i don't think that you can go wrong with either, BUT your cab fare from the ES will be more expensive to Old San Juan (and the pier).

 

I have written a review of my stay at the Caribe Hilton but unfortunately due to rules here i can't post the link but you may be able to find it on your own. If you're interested in 'dining with locals' you may want to check out a restaurant called "La Casita Blanca" which is off the radar screen of the tourist books but well known by the locals. A review of this restaurant can be found HERE (which i can link to).

 

-thereuare

<font size="3">BetterBidding</font>

[lgt]

If you are traveling with kids, Embassy gets my vote. The larger room for all the luggage and some privacy are tops in my book. This place is really pretty and there are lots of places to eat (fast food for kids) nearby along with Outback Steakhouse on premises. Cab fare is not much different from ES or Caribe ($3-$4). Have a great trip.

[TheParrotHeads]

Would also like to hear about the Embass Suites San Juan. It appears to be one of the newer hotels which has not received any negative remarks. www.tripadvisor.com has whown only positive comments, despite the other older more appealing hotels: Caribe Hilton, Ritz-Carlton, Wyndham El San Juan, etc. I am very pick of the room (cleanliness, freshness-not moldy, and I don't really want to crammed in a basement room). These are all things I have read about in the hotels previously mentioned, but not the embassy suites.

 

My main concern is the POOL since their is no beach on the premises. Anyone who has stayed here, could you please comment on the pool area?? I am leaning right now toward the Embassy Suites.

 

The PH'S (Lauren & Andrew)

 

<img src=http://www.caribbeansoul.com/images/animation.gif>

<img src=http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&prgb=000080&cdt=2004;6;6;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500> 'Till the AOS

 

2001 NCL SKY-Western Caribbean

2001 NCL Sun-Exotic W. Caribbean

2004 RCCL Navigator of the Seas-Western Caribbean

[skigirl]

Bonnie - I posted a reply to a similar question on the Royal Caribbean board - but just in case you can't find it, we have stayed at the ES twice pre crusie and would happily stay there again. With teens it is so great to have the space and not pay for 2 rooms. It's a good ES, very much like others I have stayed in. It has a lovely, large pool with a waterfall and a nice bar and outdoor eating area beside it. It is an easy 2 block walk to the beach if you want to swim in the ocean - we've done it both times. The Outback in the lobby is convenient and there are lots of other restaurants nearby. Hope this helps.

[ccnwater]

If you do a search on the Hotel board, you will find my reveiw..Loved the Embasssy!

 

AOS 3/14/04

Grand Princess 3/2002

[Bonnie Voyager]

Thanks everyone! Sounds like a win/win decision. The most important factors for us are a nice pool area and ease of getting to and from El Morro and from the hotel to the ship the next day. Size of room is not an issue as it is just us and our 9 year old Son. We won't have tons of luggage to worry about as we are light packers. Sounds like we can find a bite to eat at either location too. Apparently as HiltonHonors members we may get the breakfast included even at Caribe Hilton? I know we will get it at ES. I may have to just flip a coin. If I can find photos of ES's pool area I will just show all the photos to my Son and see which pool he wants to swim in He's already seen photos of Caribe Hilton and was quite excited about that pool! Thanks again for all the feedback! cnnwater, I am going to search for your review now!

 

Bonnie Voyager...a.k.a. "Bon Voyage"

 

“Enjoy whatever cruise you choose....just be sure and choose to cruiseâ€

 

Inspiration 9/99

Triumph 6/00

Victory 8/00

Victory 6/01

Regal Empress 7/01

Explorer of the Seas 4/02

Triumph 6/02

Carnival Legend 10/02

Norwegian Dawn 12/02

Disney Wonder 3/03

Pride 7/03

Explorer of the Seas 4/04

Victory 6/04

Voyager of the Seas 7/04

Carnival Legend 10/04

Majesty of the Seas 6/05

Adventure of the Seas 4/06

...and more in the works :-)

 

[Italy52]

We sailed the Dawn Princess on 4/4/04. We did a pre-cruise stay at the Embassy and loved the hotel. The hotel room was very nice, very new and not run down at all. I liked the fact that there was an in-room safe with a key that I kept in my control. The pool is quite lovely and better than some ES that I have seen. We liked the idea of the Outback Steakhouse being right in the hotel. We enjoyed a great dinner the night before we cruised. One suggestion, if going to Outback, get there early as it gets crowded fast. The hotel had a nice giftshop. The hotel resturant was fair; however, the breakfast buffet was very nice. Just down the street from the hotel are lots of fast food options as well as a drugstore. We liked the idea that the hotel was a short distance from the airport. We traveled from the west coast and appreciated the fact that we didn't have to travel too far after arrival in San Juan. We are like you, we are Hilton Honors people and had the option of the Caribe Hilton and Embassy. I had heard some negative about Caribe Hilton (being a little run down) and decided to take our chances on ES. We didn't regret our choice. In fact, if we ever return again, we will go back to the ES. That's only our opinion, you have to do whatever makes you happy. Have a great cruise.

[jagmanss1]

Hi, Has anyone who has stayed at the Embassy Suites remember if there is a liquor store and a store where we could get Pepsi and other soda products within walking distance of the hotel? Thanks for any info...........

 

UNTIL OUR NEXT ADVENTURE

 

Adventure of The Seas 11/14/04

Enchantment of the Seas 11/1/03

Sovereign of the Seas 11/28/02

SS Oceanic (Big Red Boat) 10/98

 

 

[cruise4vacation]

Great Info on the Embassy Suites!! We love the chain, but have not done Southern Carib. nor San Juan Embassy. Can you tell me how far the hotel is from the airport and then to the pier?? THANKS!!!!!

 

Destiny / Fantasy / Victory / Triumph / Voyager / Enchantment / Sovereign / Grandeur / Navigator / Grand Princess / Disney Magic

 

 

Days 'till Caribbean Princess

[Italy52]

From the airport, the Embassy is just a few minutes away. The cab fare was $8.00 plus $1.50 for three pieces of luggage...Total $9.50 plus tip. We were on the Dawn Princess so I don't know if hotel-pier time would be the same. For us, it seemed like maybe a 10-15 minute commute. Cab fare was $16.00 plus $1.50 for three pieces of luggage...Total $17.50 plus tip.

[cruise4vacation]

Thanks... just booked the Embassy Suites for next March. I only wish I didn't have to wait soooooo long. FIRST Southern Caribbean cruise after MANY East/West.

 

Destiny / Fantasy / Victory / Triumph / Voyager / Enchantment / Sovereign / Grandeur / Navigator / Grand Princess / Disney Magic

 

 

Days 'till Golden Princess!! Princess

[lgarner]

When I searched Caribe Hilton on the web, I found very conflicting reports - some really great and some really bad. In photos I found on the web, it looks like there are two separate "towers", I am guessing that if you are lucky you get the recently renovated tower and if not you get what the folks with bad experiences had... rooms with mildew, bugs and broken sliding glass doors - ugh! However, it sounds as if the renovations are soon going to be complete through out the hotel.

 

All that being said, I booked it on priceline for $65 per night for September and am going to take my chances. I figure for a short stay it can't be that bad and maybe the renovations will be completed by then. When I return I'll be sure to post my report, of course it will be to late for Bonnie Voyager but it might help others to decide.

[Bonnie Voyager]

lgarner, you won't be too late for me! I won't be headed to San Juan until April of 2006! I will look forward to your report! Thanks!

 

Bonnie Voyager...a.k.a. "Bon Voyage"

 

“Enjoy whatever cruise you choose....just be sure and choose to cruiseâ€

 

Inspiration 9/99

Triumph 6/00

Victory 8/00

Victory 6/01

Regal Empress 7/01

Explorer of the Seas 4/02

Triumph 6/02

Carnival Legend 10/02

Norwegian Dawn 12/02

Disney Wonder 3/03

Pride 7/03

Explorer of the Seas 4/04

Victory 6/04

Voyager of the Seas 7/04

Carnival Legend 10/04

Majesty of the Seas 6/05

Adventure of the Seas 4/06

...and more in the works :-)