El Convento, San Juan - Anyone stayed there recently?
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El Convento, San Juan - Anyone stayed there recently?
We are thinking about visiting Old San Juan. We have not been there for quite a few years. The comments about this hotel here on Fodor's are over 2 years old. Some are negative ones with comments that the hotel is over-priced for what you get, small rooms, problems with the staff, etc. So I was wondering if anyone who has stayed there recently would comment on the rooms, views, food, service, location, etc. Thanks.
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I stayed there for my birthday in January as I've been for the last 6 years or so.
I love it. There aren't many amenities, but it's a beautiful building with cool, quiet rooms. The pool is not big, but perfect for a plunge to cool down and bask in the sun. I wouldn't call it over-priced considering it's the best hotel in its area and makes a trip to San Juan super-convenient. I'm sure hotels on the beach in Condado or Isla Verde are about the same price and are perfect if you want to be on the beach every day, but El Convento is a different experience.
The manager's reception, given every evening is a great kickoff to every night.
Is there something specific you want to know?
I love it. There aren't many amenities, but it's a beautiful building with cool, quiet rooms. The pool is not big, but perfect for a plunge to cool down and bask in the sun. I wouldn't call it over-priced considering it's the best hotel in its area and makes a trip to San Juan super-convenient. I'm sure hotels on the beach in Condado or Isla Verde are about the same price and are perfect if you want to be on the beach every day, but El Convento is a different experience.
The manager's reception, given every evening is a great kickoff to every night.
Is there something specific you want to know?
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We are not interested in the Condado or Isla Verde hotels on the beach since we will be at a beach resort for a week after the SJ visit. The pool doesn't matter since we are there for just a few days to explore Old San Juan - historic places, restaurants, shops, etc. I understand that the El Convento is an historic building with its own unique charm and ambience.
I was hoping to find out about the rooms and views - specifically what room(s), floor, view (bay or city), etc to request for a very nice room with a desireable view, understanding that there is no guarantee of getting it if requested.
Thanks for your comments.
I was hoping to find out about the rooms and views - specifically what room(s), floor, view (bay or city), etc to request for a very nice room with a desireable view, understanding that there is no guarantee of getting it if requested.
Thanks for your comments.
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I was there last summer, so I guess my remarks are among the older ones you found here, but I think El Convento offers a good value, considering its location, charm, and amenities. We also had the great good fortune to be upgraded to a Presidential suite upon check-in, so that's clearly coloring my impression. It was our third stay at the hotel, though.
If you're concerned about street noise, ask for a room on one of the higher floors. THough on our first visit we were just on the second floor and heard almost nothing from the street. We rather like the city view, but in the presidential suite we had a bay view, too. The city view was nicer, at least in that particular room.
We also enjoyed having breakfast at Cafe Nispero down in the courtyard. The food and service were both good, and the coffee was the best we had in the city.
If you're concerned about street noise, ask for a room on one of the higher floors. THough on our first visit we were just on the second floor and heard almost nothing from the street. We rather like the city view, but in the presidential suite we had a bay view, too. The city view was nicer, at least in that particular room.
We also enjoyed having breakfast at Cafe Nispero down in the courtyard. The food and service were both good, and the coffee was the best we had in the city.
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I must admit, I've never had anything more than a standard room with a good-enough city and partial water view.
The food at the hotel is very good, service is great but almost non-existent at the pool. There is a phone at the pool and sun deck where you can call for service, but I've had trouble reaching someone at times.
The bar/restaurant called El Picoteo is prominently located on the Cristo St side of the building and overlooks the courtyard, but the Spanish food/tapas there nearly always is disappointing and pricey for what it is. At least as a frequent traveler Spain and residing in New York City, I find it to be that way.
el Picoteo does have a great selection of uncommon rums though. I do enjoy sampling some with a Medalla light back.
The food at the hotel is very good, service is great but almost non-existent at the pool. There is a phone at the pool and sun deck where you can call for service, but I've had trouble reaching someone at times.
The bar/restaurant called El Picoteo is prominently located on the Cristo St side of the building and overlooks the courtyard, but the Spanish food/tapas there nearly always is disappointing and pricey for what it is. At least as a frequent traveler Spain and residing in New York City, I find it to be that way.
el Picoteo does have a great selection of uncommon rums though. I do enjoy sampling some with a Medalla light back.
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I have stayed the hotel recently and found out that the rooms were "remodeled" in late 2008 with new furnishings, bedding, and bath amenities. In terms of the size, however they are the same. I can also tell you that noise will not be a problem in any room, since they have installed sound proof glass pane doors that shut the room's entrance hallway, as well as another sound proof door for the outside veranda windows. The manager told me they were meant to not only block out the noise, but to keep the A/C efficiency at a maximum. If you desire a wonderful view, as kfor the Vista rooms, which are the highest ones and face the full bay (I saw cruise ships enter and leave the bay..fun) The rooms in the second floor (not sure the category) are part of the original structure, and have VERY tall ceilings (also very cool). Like mentioned in an earlier post, the wine reception is wonderful, with a great selection. If you mainly wish to explore Old San Juan, but are looking for a truly unique experience, El Convento is truly ideal. BTW, the staff was very very accommodating, so if you go in low season, try to get your Vista room as a free upgrade request. We did.. I placed the request upon reserving, and was available at check in, so the employee at the reception mentioned that they were able to upgrade us (without me asking her!) Truly great service and memorable hotel. Have fun in Old San Juan!
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I appreciate the help and advice - thank you! We only intend to explore Old San Juan and this hotel seems to be a perfect choice for us. We have booked a Queen Deluxe room. Our initial contact with reservations did mention a chance of an upgrade so perhaps I should make sure it is noted as a request. The people I have spoken with are very helpful. The wine reception does sound lovely!
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Ejcrowe, I took a quick look at the suite accommodations (Casals and Vanderbuilt) - just beautiful! I did not see Presidential listed but could that be the one bedroom suite? We would be happy with a lovely Queen Deluxe room on an upper floor (4th or 5th?) with a pleasant view so if anyone has specific room numbers, that would be helpful. Thanks.
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What a lovely suite, ejcrowe! We had that happen to us at a hotel in Prague. The two suites we got were just beautiful with great views of the river, Charles Bridge and the castle. It did make our visit there very special.
We are looking forward to our visit to Old San Juan!
We are looking forward to our visit to Old San Juan!
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We returned a few days ago from our trip to PR and visit to Old San Juan. Overall, we enjoyed our stay at the El Convento. We were assigned to a nice room with a nice view, but did have a cleanliness issue with the room when we arrived.
It appeared to us that we were basically unexpected guests as the room was dusty and not thoroughly cleaned. We could have handled the dusty furniture (more than dust from a day or two) and a not so clean tiled floor, but the less than clean bed situation was just not right for a luxury hotel.
Having said that, the front desk people, the housekeeping supervisor and the hotel manager each did what they felt or knew they had to do to resolve the problem for us.
It appeared to us that we were basically unexpected guests as the room was dusty and not thoroughly cleaned. We could have handled the dusty furniture (more than dust from a day or two) and a not so clean tiled floor, but the less than clean bed situation was just not right for a luxury hotel.
Having said that, the front desk people, the housekeeping supervisor and the hotel manager each did what they felt or knew they had to do to resolve the problem for us.
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Wow, I've never been shown to a dirty room before, in any hotel. I'm glad the issue was resolved, certainly, but that can leave a unpleasant first impression.
I stayed at El Convento again in October this year when my husband, granddaughter, and I were delayed unexpectedly in San Juan. Had another great stay, but alas, we were not upgraded to the Vanderbilt suite this time...
I stayed at El Convento again in October this year when my husband, granddaughter, and I were delayed unexpectedly in San Juan. Had another great stay, but alas, we were not upgraded to the Vanderbilt suite this time...
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I have checked reviews at TA (even before making the reservation) and I think the El Convento management has some issues at times with room cleanliness. Not sure what the problem is - perhaps cleaning staff doesn't know how to do it properly or their standards are not what one would expect at a hotel known as a small luxury hotel. They did make quite a thing out of the room they assigned us as it is often requested. Who would have thought it would not be clean!
It was clear that the room was not prepared the way it should have been been for newly arriving guests. We were appalled when in the presence of the housekeeping supervisor, and while I was showing her our concerns about the bed linens, we discovered other problems - a worn out, ripped, old mattress pad which appeared to have just been turned over (it appeared to have a few remnants of the other guest tucked under the sheets at the foot of the bed) instead of removed and washed after the last guest.
We left the room for several hours and when we returned, it was thoroughly cleaned - floor, furniture, bed linens, mattress pad, etc. - the way it should have been in the first place. They even put in the second plush robe which should have been there when we arrived since they knew for months there would be two guests.
As I said above, housekeeping did do what they should have done before our arrival and the manager also rectified this situation himself in another way.
On the positive side, the front desk people were very pleasant and helpful from the reservation process, to questions about restaurants and also with the room problem. We also enjoyed the wine and cheese reception.
It was clear that the room was not prepared the way it should have been been for newly arriving guests. We were appalled when in the presence of the housekeeping supervisor, and while I was showing her our concerns about the bed linens, we discovered other problems - a worn out, ripped, old mattress pad which appeared to have just been turned over (it appeared to have a few remnants of the other guest tucked under the sheets at the foot of the bed) instead of removed and washed after the last guest.
We left the room for several hours and when we returned, it was thoroughly cleaned - floor, furniture, bed linens, mattress pad, etc. - the way it should have been in the first place. They even put in the second plush robe which should have been there when we arrived since they knew for months there would be two guests.
As I said above, housekeeping did do what they should have done before our arrival and the manager also rectified this situation himself in another way.
On the positive side, the front desk people were very pleasant and helpful from the reservation process, to questions about restaurants and also with the room problem. We also enjoyed the wine and cheese reception.
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Jan 3rd, 2004 04:17 AM