Crown 7/5...San Juan beach recommendations..please help

[crissyp]

can anyone recommend a beautiful beach with facilities ( snack bar, chair rental....) in San Juan...We'll be on the Crown in July and stopping in San Juan from 10 am to 11 pm...and looking for a nice place ( maybe even a hotel) to hang out at. I checked over at Ports of Call, found alot of info, but not quite what we're looking for. I understand that the beaches at hotels are all public, but I am wondering if we can also use their facilities.

Would be willing to pay for day passes if we had to.

Would love to swim, sun and even do alittle shopping all in one area, so all you experienced Princess cruisers that have been there, I would really appreciate your suggestions.:)

thanks

Crissy

[karena1]

From the ship you can either go to the Isle Verde area or the Condado area. We have been to the beach at Isle Verde and it is nice. We rented chairs, but I don't remember where the restrooms were. I know there were bars/restaurants across the street.

 

Condado has a park and beach areas too, but we have not gone to those. Maybe someone else can help you out with that.

 

After the beach, come back into Old San Juan (where the ship will be). You can walk all over the place, lots of stores, shops, restaurants, bars within walking distance from the port.;)

[crissyp]

thanks Karen....are these beaches near the port ( I believe we dock at Crown Bay). Any shopping areas within walking distance..

 

Anybody else:cool:

[karena1]

In San Juan you are docking at Pier 4 right in Old San Juan. That's why you can walk all over old San Juan and not have to take cabs.

 

Condado beaches are probably about a 10 minute taxi and Isle Verde probably 15-20 minutes depending on traffic.

 

Crown Pier is where we dock when we get to St. Thomas.

 

At Pier 4 in San Juan, when you get off the ship there will be taxis all over the place, so you can just grab one and go. Since you will be there for a good period of time, you should be able to enjoy the beach and get in some walking around Old San Juan.

 

Have fun

[crissyp]

oops....too much cruise stuff on my mind....guess I have too many ports, piers and bays on my mind. I guess with the ice hitting my windows right now...( big storm in New York right now) all I'm thinking about is my upcoming cruise...:D :D

Thanks for your advice, very much appreciated!

Crissy

[Colo Cruiser]

Try La Quillo beach it puts the Hotel beaches to shame. :)

[zippnby]

crissyP- We are also booked on the 7/5 on the crown. I asled myself the same question, since Princess doesn't offer alot at this port. I don't know if you will be traveling with kids, but one suggestion was to have the kids in Bathing suits apparently there is a gyser water fountain that all the kids play in. Then go see the forts and such.

[karena1]

I agree that La Quillo is nice, but it is quite a bit farther away than Condado or Isle Verde. We are going to the Rain Forest before we board this year and plan to stop for a few minutes just to show my sisters/husband the beach at La Quillo since we will go by it on the way back to San Juan.

[crissyp]

how far is LaQuillo Beach from the pier? Can you tell me alittle about it..

Sounds beautiful...and we have all day...:)

thanks

Crissy

[crissyp]

zippnby....traveling with teens....and yes, I will still tell them to put their suits on under their clothes:D

[smeyer418]

how far is LaQuillo Beach from the pier? Can you tell me alittle about it..

Sounds beautiful...and we have all day...:)

thanks

Crissy

La quillo is about 45 minutes from the Pier. Its a great beach. we rented a car from Avis they picked us up(and dropped us off at the ship). During the week its will be empty. Snack bar etc...chairs were $5.00 for all day and there are plenty of shade canopies. I have pictures...if I can find them(from February)...

 

You can do the rain forest too on a long day...

 

http://www.share.dell.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AbsWrRu1ctGR4

[traveling1969]

I recommend Isla Verdi. We stopped at the Ritz Carlton after lunch. We just walked into the lobby and through to the pool for a cool drink at the pool bar. We went for a swim on the beach then had a drink at the swim-up bar at the Marriott Courtyard on the same bay. We had a beach bag with a change of clothes and just walked in from the beach. We were never asked if we were staying there. We gambled at both casinos as well. You can take the A5 bus from the bus station in Old San Juan which is about two blocks from the dock. The cost is $.75 (exact change please) each way. Ask the driver to let you off at the Metropol restaurant. We had lunch there. It is two blocks from the Ritz Carlton. Great Cuban/Puerto Rican/Caribbean food at reasonable prices. Family friendly too. Bon Voyage!

[Sandytoes]

Would not recommend Ritz Carlton at all. First, they do not rent lounge chairs on the beach to outsiders...Only guests.... Plus the beach had a bad smell...foul one at that..... We went near the pool...Which is beautiful... Because all the guests had Ritz towels we were afraid to take out Princess's thinking they would know we weren't guest & might not have wanted us there as well....

[traveling1969]

Would not recommend Ritz Carlton at all. First, they do not rent lounge chairs on the beach to outsiders...Only guests.... Plus the beach had a bad smell...foul one at that..... We went near the pool...Which is beautiful... Because all the guests had Ritz towels we were afraid to take out Princess's thinking they would know we weren't guest & might not have wanted us there as well....

 

I agree with most of what Sandytoes said. We did not use the pool at R C; just had a drink there. We walked up the beach toward the Marriott Courtyard; did not notice any bad smell. The beach was clean but not really fine sand everywhere; just a bit coarser. We swam in the ocean for a bit then went to the Courtyard for a drink in their swim-up pool. Soaked up some rays on loungers by the pool while we enjoyed our drinks. When we were dry, we put on shorts and shirts and gambled in the casino for a couple hours. My wife won a small jackpot. Then we walked back to the Metropol and caught the bus back to the ship.