El San Juan Hotel Or Ritz Carlton

[dwdowns]

Am sailing on AOS 9/9/07. DW and I are flying in on 9/6. We can get El San Juan Hotel for $179 per night, and the Ritz Carlton for $239, is the Ritz worth almost $200 more for my stay? My wife likes the beach and I like the beach and bars. Also I heard it was best to get to the bio bay tour just before dark any comments on both would be appreciated. THANKS

[cs1]

I have stayed at both properties. We liked the Ritz much better because the service was far superior (attitude at the EL) and the room itself was newer and more comfortable. I did hear the El was getting a room refurb so if this has happened I would still consider staying here again.

 

For us, we liked the pool at the Ritz but the pool area at the El was much more lush and tropical with lovely palm trees and it was bigger too. In our opinion, both beaches were not great compared to Caribbean beaches. The water was dirty and not clear and blue. The El is a bigger property and has a casino (not thinking the Ritz does) and the El has a bigger selection of restaurants. We ate at the gourmet restaurants and both hotels and preferred the Ritz to the El. The fantastic thing that is not to be missed about the El, even if you stay at the Ritz is the fabulous lobby/bar area. It is a spectacular space and lots of fun the have a drink and enjoy your vacation.

 

I think that the El is bigger and decorated more in the San Juan style with the Ritz being a more refined typical Ritz style but I like Ritz service and that sway my opinion.

CS

[dwdowns]

thanks cs1, I may end up booking at El San Juan. I like the sound of the local atmosphere. I assume they are close enough that if we wanted to eat at one of the Ritz's restaurants that it should not be difficult. Hopefully the service at the El will be good.

 

Thanks again