San Juan Hotels...

[JBlock54]

We usually fly in the day before our cruises and stay at a hotel for the night. We have never left out of San Juan before, what are some hotels that pick up from the airport and also will drive us to the cruise ship the following morning? Thanks!

[Clarea]

I've not heard of any hotels that have both free airport and cruise shuttles. From the airport, the cost of a taxi to the port is around $25.

 

You should also ask on the San Juan forum:

 

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

[AtlantaAlly]

So this may not be at all helpful, but we stayed at the Marriott Stellaris. No transport, but there are tons of vans and cabs that you can easily get at the airport for 20 bucks and same 15 to the port.

 

Hotel was clean, modern, in the beachy/condo act. There was a good restaurant on the lower level. Fun swim up bar. Close to bars and restaurants. Organic shop across the street.

[davekathy]

We stay at Hampton Inn or Embassy Suites. No shuttle service for either properties. It's my understanding none of the San Juan hotels offer a shuttle service.

[Virtopia]

I stayed at the Doubletree Hilton in 2013 and I really enjoyed it. The rooms are modern, but a bit small. I didn't notice it too much as I was traveling alone.

 

For my upcoming sailing, I'll be staying at Condado Plaza Hilton. I've heard good things about it so I'm looking forward to it.

[bigque]

You are going to have to take a taxi to your hotel. There are a galore of taxi's at the airport and that hang out in front of the hotels that can take you to the ship. The closest hotels to the pier are in the Condado area and the convention district.

[UNV-IT!!!]

We always stay at the Ritz Carlton. It's very close to the airport and not far from the port.

[jimmyzwei]

Research seems to say that San Juan is a taxi only city for hotel and airport transfers. The good thing is the rates are set by a zone map. Maybe theses sites will help.

 

TAXI - per trip charge fixed rates - see

http://sanjuanpuertorico.com/taxis/

Current info

http://aeropuertosju.com/en/transportacion/taxis/

Based on fairly cheap cab fare any hotel in zone should do

[Brigbound]

We stayed at the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino. You are within walking distance to a lot of great restaurants and cafes. They have night markets on the weekend along the Calle Marina and seemed to be enjoyed by locals and tourists. There is also a CVS a short walk from the hotel for any last minute items and reasonably priced wine. Taxi/vans are readily available at airport and hotel. Just let the doorman know you want a cab for the port and they'll hail one for you. I don't think it's more than a 15-20 min ride to the pier.

[JUST TRIPPIN']

No hotels offer airport pick up...taxis only. Since this will be your first visit to PR, be aware that not only are the hotels expensive, many also charge a "tourist fee" upon checkout over and above your hotel rate. Why? Because they can I guess.

[Stinger-pr]

No hotels offer airport pick up...taxis only. Since this will be your first visit to PR' date=' be aware that not only are the hotels expensive, many also charge a "tourist fee" upon checkout over and above your hotel rate. Why? Because they can I guess.[/quote']

 

Please define "tourist fees".

[JUST TRIPPIN']

Sorry, perhaps the phrase tourist fees was unfair. I am referring to the resort fees that many hotels charge. To many tourists, these fees are seen as a money grab and the fees themselves are very loosely defined. Generally in North America, you pay for your hotel room once with no fees upon departure. As you may guess, I'm not a fan.

[Stinger-pr]

Sorry' date=' perhaps the phrase tourist fees was unfair. I am referring to the resort fees that many hotels charge. To many tourists, these fees are seen as a money grab and the fees themselves are very loosely defined. Generally in North America, you pay for your hotel room once with no fees upon departure. As you may guess, I'm not a fan.[/quote']

 

The "resort fee" covers everything you don't get with a regular hotel stay. "free" beach chairs, umbrellas and other amenities. That's the premium everybody, tourist, locals, etc have to pay to stay in a hotel where you walk a few steps and get sand in your feet. They're not hidden, they're just not popular.

[JUST TRIPPIN']

I guess all of those angry travellers on Trip Advisor should have read the fine print. In fairness, only recently, due to customer and government pressure, have some of the resorts starting adding these fees into the taxes and fees link.

 

Right off of the Marriott Stellaris site, do you know a basic room offered up at $319 comes with a resort fee of $57. They must be some nice beach chairs.

 

In the end though, we are all on vacation and we all need a hotel room so we pay what the hotels ask. Our fault for loving San Juan so much.

[Stinger-pr]

I guess all of those angry travellers on Trip Advisor should have read the fine print. In fairness' date=' only recently, due to customer and government pressure, have some of the resorts starting adding these fees into the taxes and fees link.

 

Right off of the Marriott Stellaris site, do you know a basic room offered up at $319 comes with a resort fee of $57. They must be some nice beach chairs.

 

In the end though, we are all on vacation and we all need a hotel room so we pay what the hotels ask. Our fault for loving San Juan so much.[/quote']

 

They definitely should've read the fine print. I searched for 12 hotels from Old San Juan to Isla Verde on one of the top travel sites. From the Caribe Hilton to the Ritz Carlton and the Courtyard by Marriott and ALL listed the resort fee clearly as having to be paid at the hotel even when pre-paying for your stay. Fee is set at a hefty 18% across the board. Some properties list what the fee includes others don't. I guess that when people pre-pay using one of the travel sites and get charged at the hotel for this fee, they think it's a hidden ripoff. Trust me, in some properties it might be a ripoff but they are in no way hidden. You found it didn't you?? And I say that with all due respect. No intended flames.

[JUST TRIPPIN']

I think we both agree on some points. It has gotten better with regards to hotels and their 3rd party sites finally revealing the resort fees. It wasn't that way a few years ago ( when I found out about it after our visit ) and this is a good sign. I think we even agree that the 18% resort fee is hefty to say the least. I do not see any reason for flaming at all. We just had an eye opening discussion which is good for many tourists as well as the hotel staff. Nice chatting with you and we can not wait to visit your beautiful island.

Edited August 25, 2015 by JUST TRIPPIN'

[snyniew]

Last year I stayed at the Condado Plaza Hilton and it was nice but want to explore more of OSJ. This year I'll be staying at the Chateau Cervantes in Old San Juan. I choose this one since it's right in Old San Juan and will give my niece a lot of things to explore within walking distance. Depending on what cruise line you are sailing on some of the hotels in Old San Juan are within walking distance of the pier. If you are on RCCL or X they go out of Pan American Pier so you'd have to take a taxi.