Caribe Hilton, Lagoon Villas or Conrad Condado?

[Ron_L]

I'm going to use Hilton points for our hotel pre-cruise in December. We're thinking about coming in on Wednesday for a Saturday cruise. All would be the same number of points.

 

Which of these hotels do you prefer and why?

 

Thanks!

[bouhunter]

The Hilton and Villas are essentially the same property and we've stayed at both multiple times (6 trips to SJU). The Villas are more of a low-rise (6 floors?) off to the side of the Hilton. A bit of a walk if mobility is any problem. I think they're a little newer. The Hilton is several towers and you never know what you'll get (upper floor, lower floor, etc). In March we were at the Villa's pre-cruise, and the Hilton post (3 nights each). Both were nice rooms. The room in the Hilton was newly renovated and in great shape. Bottom line, I guess we like both and I wouldn't really recommend one over the other. I guess both have been good enough that we haven't stayed elsewhere when in SJU:) At least once we had booked the Hilton and they put us in the Villas and we were fine with that.

 

The Conrad isn't far away and some would probably say a "better location" because it's in Condado. However the Hilton is probably only a 1/4-1/2 mile away and it's very walkable to the Condado area. We've considered the Conrad before, but it gets mixed reviews on tripadvisor and we've been happy at the Hilton/Villas.

 

FYI I see your cruise is stopping at Dominica and St. Kitts. I'd give good recommendations for Beno on Dominica and Thenford Grey on St. Kitts for excursions!

[Ron_L]

The Hilton and Villas are essentially the same property and we've stayed at both multiple times (6 trips to SJU). The Villas are more of a low-rise (6 floors?) off to the side of the Hilton. A bit of a walk if mobility is any problem. I think they're a little newer. The Hilton is several towers and you never know what you'll get (upper floor, lower floor, etc). In March we were at the Villa's pre-cruise, and the Hilton post (3 nights each). Both were nice rooms. The room in the Hilton was newly renovated and in great shape. Bottom line, I guess we like both and I wouldn't really recommend one over the other. I guess both have been good enough that we haven't stayed elsewhere when in SJU:) At least once we had booked the Hilton and they put us in the Villas and we were fine with that.

 

The Conrad isn't far away and some would probably say a "better location" because it's in Condado. However the Hilton is probably only a 1/4-1/2 mile away and it's very walkable to the Condado area. We've considered the Conrad before, but it gets mixed reviews on tripadvisor and we've been happy at the Hilton/Villas.

 

FYI I see your cruise is stopping at Dominica and St. Kitts. I'd give good recommendations for Beno on Dominica and Thenford Grey on St. Kitts for excursions!

 

Thanks for the information on the hotels and on St. Kitts and Domenica! I've heard good things about both of those tours from others as well.

[bouhunter]

FYI if you stay at the Hilton, to save a little money there is a liquor store and a subway sandwich shop very close near the entrance to the propery. Taxi to Old San Juan is 10-12.00

[Ron_L]

Thanks!

 

Someone posted a review in the Carnival forum who stayed at the Conrad before their cruise and the Caribe after their cruise and they preferred the Conrad. She said that he Caribe was busier but not as nice.

[MDSue]

I've stayed at the Conrad a couple of times and love the hotel and the location. It has a nice protected cove beach, 3 pools- one salt water, and one with a swim up bar. It has a handful of nice restaurants, bars, and cafes on the premises and is within easy walking distance of other eating places and shops. They also have a nice casino.

There is also a bus stop right outside the premises that you can catch into OSJ which is super easy and cheap. They also have cabs waiting to take you anywhere.

If you stay in the "city view" rooms, you might hear some street noise and partiers at night, but some of the rooms have a great view of the ships in port.

The lagoon view rooms are across the street (but attached by a walkway) have a nice view and are quieter than the city view rooms. I haven't stayed in an ocean view yet.

It has beautiful grounds and is a nice place to stay. I haven't stayed at the other places to compare, though.

[Ron_L]

I've stayed at the Conrad a couple of times and love the hotel and the location. It has a nice protected cove beach, 3 pools- one salt water, and one with a swim up bar. It has a handful of nice restaurants, bars, and cafes on the premises and is within easy walking distance of other eating places and shops. They also have a nice casino.

There is also a bus stop right outside the premises that you can catch into OSJ which is super easy and cheap. They also have cabs waiting to take you anywhere.

If you stay in the "city view" rooms, you might hear some street noise and partiers at night, but some of the rooms have a great view of the ships in port.

The lagoon view rooms are across the street (but attached by a walkway) have a nice view and are quieter than the city view rooms. I haven't stayed in an ocean view yet.

It has beautiful grounds and is a nice place to stay. I haven't stayed at the other places to compare, though.

 

Thanks!

 

I decided to book the Conrad. I can always cancel it later. When I went to the Hilton Honors site to look at the "cost" in points they had a special on Ocean View rooms and it ended up being less points that the Caribe for an upgraded room, so I went for it.

[MDSue]

Thanks!

 

I decided to book the Conrad. I can always cancel it later. When I went to the Hilton Honors site to look at the "cost" in points they had a special on Ocean View rooms and it ended up being less points that the Caribe for an upgraded room, so I went for it.

 

I think you'll like it! The only thing that it doesn't offer is a swimming "oceanfront" beach, but the little cove beach is great because you don't have the rough waves of the ocean.

 

One thing I really enjoyed was watching the departing ships sail by at night. About 45 minutes after they depart from the Pan Am pier, you can watch them sail around the tip of the island and often sail right by the hotel all lit up.

[Ron_L]

I think you'll like it! The only thing that it doesn't offer is a swimming "oceanfront" beach, but the little cove beach is great because you don't have the rough waves of the ocean.

 

One thing I really enjoyed was watching the departing ships sail by at night. About 45 minutes after they depart from the Pan Am pier, you can watch them sail around the tip of the island and often sail right by the hotel all lit up.

 

That sounds nice! We're not worried about an oceanfront beach. The cove beach sounds nice but I'm not sure how much time we'll have time to use it.