Hotel Recommendation in San Juan

[wublaze]

Hey, my wife and I are going on the Adventure of the Seas for my birthday in Man. We have decided to stay there a few days after but we don't have any ideas on where to say. Just wanted to get some ideas from of you guys that have been there before. Thanks for your help.

[ronandannette]

Hey, my wife and I are going on the Adventure of the Seas for my birthday in Man. We have decided to stay there a few days after but we don't have any ideas on where to say. Just wanted to get some ideas from of you guys that have been there before. Thanks for your help.

 

We stayed a night there pre-cruise in 2012, at a super-charming little boutique hotel called At Windchimes Inn. It's in Condado (the beach area) and about a $15 cab ride from the airport; less back to the pier area. I highly recommend it.

[Corndog819]

I stayed at the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino a number of years ago. Nice hotel.

[greensnow]

We are flying into Puerto Rico, and staying 3 nights pre-cruise.

Interested myself.

[jkrislc]

The Doubletree was nice and has a shuttle to a beach with an attendant on hand, reserved loungers, etc. easy walking to eateries and a short bus ride into Old San Juan.

[sippican]

It really depends on what your personal preferences are. Do you want to stay on a beach or in the heart of historic Old San Juan (where everything is within walking distance)? Either location will mean a taxi ride to the other.

We have stayed in San Juan three times and always choose a place right in the Old City (we get enough of the beaches during the cruises). Either way, there are tons of choices.If you are set on OSJ, El Convento is the very best, and they offer beach privileges at their sister resort. It is also very expensive. We love Caleta 64, right across the square; large charming accommodations, kitchen and laundry facilities, great prices and perfect location.

You may even want to consider staying away from the San Juan area at one of the gorgeous beach resorts of PR.

Checikng our reviews on the Tripadvisor site or posting this question on the "Ports" boards may be helpful.

[PORT ROYAL]

Hey, my wife and I are going on the Adventure of the Seas for my birthday in Man. We have decided to stay there a few days after but we don't have any ideas on where to say. Just wanted to get some ideas from of you guys that have been there before. Thanks for your help.

 

For class and to experience the essence of Old San Juan, consider El Convento

 

Friends have stayed, and had good reports of CASA BLANCA in the heart of OSJ. It has a great roof terrace

Edited February 22, 2015 by PORT ROYAL

[Clarea]

Another vote for the Stellaris.

[Tiggercat]

We have gone to San Juan many times pre-cruise and our favorite place is the InterContinental. It has a great pool area and awesome location on the beach. When we have tried other places (Marriott, Courtyard, Embassy Suites) we were always disappointed.

[bouhunter]

Condado Hilton, Caribe Hilton and Embassy Suites have all worked well for us. Of course it helps that we've always stayed "free" with Hilton points:D

 

If you don't care about being on or near the water, staying in Old San Juan as someone recommended would be nice too.

[Folk Singer]

I stayed at the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino a number of years ago. Nice hotel.

 

Would recommend this one as well. 15.00 or less to the Port.

[DragonOfTheSeas]

Check out this link:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=131

 

There is all sorts of information on San Juan.

 

Where you stay should be decided by not only selecting a good hotel--but, also what you want to do while you are there. [i.e walk around the old city, lay on the beach, etc]

 

There are 3 main areas to stay in--Old San Juan [walk to historic sites/ restaurants but no real beach area], Isla Verde [lots of hotels and restaurants and best beach area JMHO] and Condado [nearest the departure port with some hotels and a beach]

 

Enjoy your cruise. :D

[cruizers]

We have stayed at the Hilton Condado. It has a choice of restaurants, a casino and beach access. The area is also beautiful.

 

Have a great time!

[Jaxsonbrownie]

I stayed at the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino a number of years ago. Nice hotel.

 

I second this recommendation! We stayed there and it was wonderful! Right on the beach, very clean, excellent staff. That Saturday evening, we sat in the lobby watching a wonderful Marriachi band, and all the locals were dressed to the nines, having a wonderful time Salsa dancing. Loved it!

[CRUISEFAN0001]

Condado Hilton, Caribe Hilton and Embassy Suites have all worked well for us. Of course it helps that we've always stayed "free" with Hilton points:D

Agree - we've stayed twice at the Caribe Hilton - and it was one of the best hotel stays anyplace anytime. A fantastic place...great service.

[wanderlust79]

Love, love, love the Caribe Hilton! It's not in Old San Juan, but the bus stop is just around the corner and it's only about 75 cents to take the bus.

[Sunny AZ Girl]

We have stayed in Condado area and at a nice lttle B&B in a residental area between Condado and Isles Verde called Tres Palmas, across the street from the beach. We loved that and a full review is in my Jewel revew in my signature, beginning with Post #2.

 

That said, I just reserved the Sheraton Old San Juan for October. We love Old San Juan and wanted to stay right there next time. We would have chosen El Convento, but the prices were a little too steep for me. We used Last Minute Travel Club and got some great prices.:)

[pcur]

For class and to experience the essence of Old San Juan, consider El Convento

 

Friends have stayed, and had good reports of CASA BLANCA in the heart of OSJ. It has a great roof terrace

 

I booked my two sons and DIL at the Casablanca for 3 nights pre-cruise, and they loved it. Here's the information I sent them:

 

Casablanca Hotel, 316 Calle Fortaleza

- hotel is old charm SJ, no elevator (staff carry luggage), café on site with 20% off prices; service is slow

 

- Along free trolley route between stops 15 and 16

- About $15 for taxi from airport

- Nearby restaurants (copied from an article I found online):

a. SoFO: York City has SoHo; Old San Juan has SoFo, or South Fortaleza Street. This small stretch of the city is located close to Plaza Colón and boasts some of the best restaurants in San Juan. Visitors and tourists alike gather here for delicious fusion cuisine and late-night hangouts.

So, where to go, and what to eat? Here’s an introduction to a few of SoFo’s best bets:

 

Parrot Club: One of the early trailblazers of the SoFo scene is the Parrot Club, which has a colorful menu that blends Latin classics and local flavor. Favorites include the house quesadilla topped with chicken chicharrones (fried chunks) and pan-seared grouper with Caribbean spices and sweet potato croquettes.

 

Dragonfly: Across the street, Dragonfly is a cozy restaurant that serves creative and delicious Asian-Caribbean cuisine. Start with the menu of Latin-inspired sushi rolls like the Forbidden Boricua Roll, made with crab, avocado, ripe plantains, and cream cheese. From there, move onto house specialties including the signature Peking Duck nachos and Asian-marinated churrasco (skirt steak), which comes with a side of crispy and spicy wasabi “dragonfries.”

 

Aguaviva: Next door to Dragonfly is Aguaviva, which specializes in inventive seafood. The restaurant is known for its char-grilled oysters covered in a layer of melted pecorino cheese, and its ceviche-tasting menu, which is served with tostones, or baked plantain patties.

Toro Salao: Around the corner lies Toro Salao, home to Old-World Spanish tapas with New-World twists. Examples include Serrano ham croquettes with a guava rum glaze and the classic tortilla Española made with yucca. (They also make killer churros with chocolate, so save room for dessert!)

 

Trois Cent Onze: If you prefer clean, classic French cuisine, make your way to Trois Cent Onze, or 311 (its street address on Fortaleza), a fine dining institution located a few steps away from the Parrot Club.

From tapas to tuna rolls to tartare, the restaurants in San Juan’s SoFo district offer a choice of gourmet dining and the charm of the old city. Enjoy a taste of Puerto Rico on South Fortaleza Street!

 

My kids love the outdoor food counters with bar stools along the street at night for a quick dinner.

 

- Taxi to Pan American Pier is $12 from Casablanca Hotel

[griffy116]

Stayed twice at Embassy Suites and loved it. Loved the nice cocktail hour (free). Loved the big breakfast (free). Loved having the large, clean, comfy rooms with a coffee maker and microwave. The staff were fabulous and directed us to where we were able to walk to drug stores and wine shop to get a few extra little items we needed for the cruise. The hotel staff arranged for our transportation to the cruise ship. We were well rested and ready for our cruise.

[julesbeara]

We love & prefer the Old San Juan area. If you are staying a few extra days I'd stay in Old San Juan. Lots of restaurants, shopping & historical sites to visit. We like the Sheraton Old San Juan and get good rates by booking via AAA & American Express. If you want to explore something unique on the island I'd recommend the Bio-luminescent Bay Kayak trip.

 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147320-d147759-Reviews-Old_San_Juan-San_Juan_Puerto_Rico.html

[wublaze]

wow thank you guys for the information so far. this is why this board is the best on the net by far.

[snoop-a-loop]

I'm a big fan of La Concha Renaissance in Condado, just got back from a long weekend there. I like the vibe and the rooms in the Ocean Tower have great views. Location is great (just down the street from Marriott Stellaris), pools and beach are nice, and they really have everything you could need.

[steveru621]

For class and to experience the essence of Old San Juan, consider El Convento

 

Friends have stayed, and had good reports of CASA BLANCA in the heart of OSJ. It has a great roof terrace

 

Another vote for the Stellaris.

 

If you choose the Marriott go with Priceline. We got rooms for $99/night.

 

CASA BLANCA is an excellent boutique hotel. Get a room on a lower floor because there are no elevators.

Edited February 22, 2015 by steveru621

[queenschick9b]

I'm a big fan of La Concha Renaissance in Condado, just got back from a long weekend there. I like the vibe and the rooms in the Ocean Tower have great views. Location is great (just down the street from Marriott Stellaris), pools and beach are nice, and they really have everything you could need.

 

 

I was looking there for next year. I always stay at the Marriott, but we spent some time in the lobby bar a year ago and I really like the vibe. I heard the pool is much smaller than Marriott, do you know if that is true? Did you have a balcony?

[payitforward]

It's been a number of years, but I will still swear that the Marriott San Juan is the BEST bed I've EVER slept in.