molc54

I will be on a cruise and have a full day to spend in Puerto Rico. I have been to Old San Juan many times on other cruises. I would like to visit a beautiful beach that is an easy cab ride from the cruise ship. Are there hotels that offer day passes to cruise ship passengers?

Any suggestions how to optimize our stay in Puerto Rico would be greatly appreciated. We would love to explore another aspect of the island.

Muchas gracias

RoamsAround

I believe the El San Juan and the Intercontinental offer day passes.

doug_stallings

You can also go to the area around the Marriott in Condado and rent beach chairs there. There are restaurants within walking distance of the beach, and vendors bring by drinks. I've done that many times.

There's also a public beach at the very end of Condado by the Condado Plaza, but it's rather small. But I've spent several really fun days there. It's a busy beach, though.

I think the beach in Isla Verde is better, so if the El San Juan or Intercontinental offer day passes, that might be your best bet. None of the Atlantic-facing beaches in San Juan is that nice because there can be surf, a steep drop-off, and not so clear water. But that's true everywhere in San Juan, even in Isla Verde.

tom42

All the beaches in Puerto Rico are public so you don't need a day pass to go to any of them - whether in Isla Verde or Condado. There are beach chairs to rent at both Isla Verde and Condado. I would avoid the beach by the Condado Plaza. It really is the pits. If you are looking for a day pass so that you can use the facilities of the hotel (pool area, restaurants, shower facilities) then I would recommend you check El San Juan Hotel or the Intercontinental (they are right next to each other) in the Isla Verde area (as RoamsAround recommended). In the Condado area, you can check the Marriott Stellaris and the Renaissance La Concha. I prefer the Isla Verde beach over the Condado Beach. It is a better walking beach and it usually doesn't have the surf that Condado Beach has.

molc54

Thank you all for your suggestions. Isla Verde it is.