Favorite Hotel in San Juan, PR

[Annefran]

Hey Everyone,

 

My daughter & I are cruising on Adventure of the Seas next Easter out of San Juan, PR. Trying to decide whether to go the day before and stay at a hotel in San Juan area. What is your favorite hotel, was it reasonable and close to the Pier?

[katiel53]

I have a few favorites. For economy, I like the Hampton Inn. It's a great hotel and has a breakfast included with the room. There is a nice pool bar and it's across the street from a great Mexican restaurant called Lupe's. It is not close to the ship, but there really aren't any hotels that close to the Pan Am Pier.

 

I also like the Marriott Stellaris as it is a resort. It is pricier and has a beautiful pool and nice restaurants and is right on the ocean. I have stayed in other hotels but I like these two best. There are hotels that are closer to the Pan Am Pier but these two have been our favorites.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[jeffaggy]

Hotels such as the Marriott and Caribe Hilton which are both pretty good can be had for $80-$100/night on both Priceline and Hotwire.

 

I got the Hilton for $82/night pre-cruise for 2 nights and I am staying at the Ritz Carlton for 1 day post cruise for $239, I'm splurging for 1 night.

[mdeane]

Sheraton Old San Juan and the Caribe Hilton are our favorites. The grounds of the Hilton are beautiful with peacocks, fish ponds, etc. Also has a beach area. The Sheraton is such a great location in old San Juan and everything is in walking distance there.

[ckrobyn]

This thread is going to be moved!

 

I really liked the Courtyard by Marriott in Isle Verde :)

[maggieq]

El San Juan for a week in 2002. I believe it's gone downhill since then.

 

Caribe Hilton - stayed in April 2005. Not impressed. Room was full of rust. The whole resort in and out needs attention.

 

Intercontinental - stayed here April 2006. We liked this one. Yes it's expensive but worth it for us. Nice workout area, breakfast area and pool area.

[summercruise2015]

We stood at the Wyndham El San Juan last February. It was a very happening hotel in the evening. The pool and grounds were beautiful, spa was great, although the rooms were just OK. I would recommend this hotel...

[KKeeganS]

We also really liked the Intercontinental. Beautiful pool area, nice rooms.

[The Moyers]

For us its the Caribe Hilton!! Just love to stay there!

[MJonTravel]

We were at the Marriott Stellaris this past May for 2 nights. Liked it just fine, and will stay there again next time we sail from San Juan. There's a Starbucks directly across the street, a Walgreens or something like it 1 block away, it's on a private beach, has a casino, and a large lobby bar with live music (on Friday and Saturday night I think). I hear it's undergoing some renovation right now though.

[1stAnnivCruise]

My wife and I stayed Post Cruise AOS for 4 days at the Intercontinental. Nice rooms...."oceanview"....AMAZING POOL AREA.....

 

I remember I booked online, but the guy at the desk that checked us in said had we called the hotel we could have gotten a better rate and breakfast included....worth giving it a shot.

 

With other hotels in the area, you have your choice of fine restaurants.

[The Big Booper]

We have stayed at the Caribe Hilton several times before when cruising out of SJ and have always liked it. The trick is to stay in the original building which was renovated in the last few years. The "new" glass tower, built in the 70's, looked like it could use a makeover; the new building is now the old building in terms of condition. The hotel stands on a peninsula and is isolated from the noise and commotion going on at hotel row across the bay.

 

We also stayed at the Caribe in the 70s twice on land trips when it was in it's glory and PR was the "hot" spot to go to.

 

The government is very protective of this property because it was the first modern hotel built on the island after WW II (the original section, now mostly gone or totally renovated and modernized) and will go to great lengths to keep it up. This is what was told to us by several island businessmen the last time we stayed in 2004, who were at the hotel for a meeting.

[Annefran]

Thanks for the recommendations and sharing your views/insights. Great information from everyone and I truly appreciate it.

 

Happy cruising!

[superjerryw]

There really are no hotels that close to the pier except the Sheraton in Old San Juan, but you will still need a taxi. I stayed in the Marriott last time and it was very nice.

[texancruzer]

We stayed 2 nights precruise last Nov. at the El Convento. www.elconvento.com

 

 

It is right in the heart of old San Juan and was built 350+ years ago as a Carmelite convent. It has a long and varied history but was renovated in the late 1990's and is now San Juans only 5 star hotel...... it is pricey but OHHHHHHHH so worth it...... walking distance to all the sights, shops, restaurants so only taxi costs are from airport and then to ship (nothing around the Pan Am pier so a taxi is a must no matter where you stay).

 

Have a great time no matter where you stay !!!! We loved San Juan.

[Lee & Melissa]

I'm on a late flight and will not arrive in San Juan until after 10:00pm. Since it will probably be close to 11:00 before I get checked into a hotel, I'm looking for something fairly inexpensive without all the bells and whistles. Has anyone had any expierience with the Holiday Inn Express near Coronado Beach?

[KKeeganS]

I'm on a late flight and will not arrive in San Juan until after 10:00pm. Since it will probably be close to 11:00 before I get checked into a hotel, I'm looking for something fairly inexpensive without all the bells and whistles. Has anyone had any expierience with the Holiday Inn Express near Coronado Beach?

 

Hi Lee & Melissa,

 

I haven't stayed at this hotel. If you don't get any responses, you might want to look it up on tripadvisor.com and read some of the reviews. That might help.

[kwregg]

My husband and I stayed at the Intercontinental in February. It is not very close to the cruise pier, but it wasn't a very expensive or long cab ride (if it wasn't for the road construction we hit on the way). I really enjoyed this resort and it was almost empty when we were there. Fantastic pool area - there is this BEAUTIFUL tree within the courtyard that I took several photos of because I was so enthralled with it. The pool is very nice. Also - the breakfast buffet in the restaurant right off the pool area is not to be missed! It allowed us to explore San Juan all day before we boarded the ship without stopping to eat.

[SAS21]

We Have An Executive Room Booked At The Hilton. Does Anyone Know If This Is In The Renovated Tower Or The One That Could Use A Facelift? Thanks For Any Help.

[bgg]

We stayed at the El Convento. We had a beautiful suite. There's a wonderful restaurant on site and a wine/cheese hour each night. It was a great way to start a cruise.

[irish rabbit]

We've stayed at the Marriott Stellaris 1x for a full week vac, & 5x's (2 nights for pre-cruise), and we just love it. Safe, clean & staff is fantastic. Nice beach. Taxi from airport took about 15-20 minutes & cost about $24 for 2 people, & taxi from hotel to OSJ took about 10-15 minutes & cost about $20. Can't say enough good things about this hotel.

[Brig&Luc]

anyone stayed there lately ? Would you recommend it ?

 

Thanks :)

[kydale]

El Convento is the best way to experiance Old San Juan. No beach, on large pool, (very small one), no koa pond, no Walgreens on the corner. Just all spanish flavor. Nice

[capecruzer]

LEE & MELISSA: I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express two years ago and thought it was just fine for a short overnight for the $$. I think I paid less than $100 then. You can easily walk to the beach "boardwalk" and the main boulevard that is loaded with restaurants or, in your case, coffee shops, etc. (I think there was a Dunkin Donuts just around the corner).

 

FWIW, post-cruise we stayed at the Embassy Suites and Casino and thought it was also really nice for the $$. They had a lovely pool, great free breakfast buffet, small casino and I believe it was an OUtback Steakhouse on the premises.

 

So, I recommend both these hotels. There was a nice little hotel in Old San Juan that I had read about here on the boards but I can't think of the name right now. I actually went in and checked it out, grabbed brochures, etc. It was very inexpensive and right in the middle of the action. Maybe someone else would know the name? It had an outdoor center plaza where the lobby was located.

[kydale]

Hotel Milano. http://www.hotelmilanopr.com