Seeking info-Howard Johnson, San Juan

[amel38]

Would appreciate any comments/feedback from anyone who has stayed at Howard Johnson in Isla Verde.
Thanks

[Sasha63]

A fellow Coloradoan:)!

A group of us stayed at the HoJo's on our last cruise, 1/03 on AOS, for 2 nights. Got a special group rate and since it is across from the beach, we thought it would be fine - knew it wouldn't be as nice as the Wyndham, but thought the $$ savings were worth it.

So....was it worth it? No. I would not recommend it, unless it is just for one night before a cruise and you only need a place to sleep. Nobody else in our party really complained, but since one of our friends booked it, we didn't want to make them feel bad. Or, should I say, this is strictly the experience my family had.

The rooms were okay, there was a mini fridge in it, but everything else was just worn around the edges, so to speak. The bathroom hadn't been remodeled at all, and was quite dirty (there was dirt accumulating in the corners). The hotel restaurant menu was limited at best, and since the waiters didn't speak English and were quite rude to boot, ordering was an ordeal. There are essentially no other restaurants around, except for Burger King next door and a Subway several blocks down. The neighborhood was very residential, so there is nothing to see in the area. And you are quite aways away from Old San Juan. The apartments across the street were, I assume, high rent since they are right on the ocean, but the neighborhood was somewhat seedy. The apt's block the beach, so the hotel doesn't have a view. You walk across the street and through this garbage and broken glass strewn pathway to the beach. Don't linger in the area under the trees, we saw some interesting paraphanelia there. The beach closer to the ocean was fine, but there are no water sports, bars, resturants, rentals, etc. And probably the last thing dissatisfactory about the hotel is the nightclub gets VERY noisy on Friday and Sat. nights; we heard the music drifting up through the floors, and we were on the 4th. But maybe if you get on the other end of the hotel it is quieter.

And this wasn't the hotels fault, but the power went off in the whole neighborhood Sunday morning as everyone was trying to get ready to head to the port. They had emergency lighting in the hallways, but the stairways were pitch black once you moved from the doorway. It was pretty interesting for all of us trying to carry tons of luggage down black staircases - but nobody broke anything.

Anyway, this was our experience; if you decide to stay there, it may be better by now. Good luck!

Oh, and it is not a very far ride from the airport (about 5 min), but it is about 20 min to the pier.