malaysia

We will be in San Juan for just a day.Our first trip. Interested in seeing Old San Juan. Question is do we stay in Old San Juan or at the Marriott in Condado? Beach is not important but a safe place is.
Like to be where there are restaurants for dinner , walking distance. Thanks.

mymoosie

Definitely stay in Old San Juan. There are many restaurants to choose from for dinner, all within walking distance. 3 main hotels, depending on budget, are:
El Convento - luxury
Sheraton - mid-priced
Milano - inexpensive

Enjoy! OSJ is beautiful!

tom42

Condado is a quick taxi ride to Old San Juan, but if you have no interest in pool/beach and you have only one day, I would also recommend staying in Old San Juan. Safe to walk around, lots of restaurants.

jacketwatch

Either one I think as the taxi ride from the Marriott is short. However if you like to get out in OSJ say in the morning, rest in the afternoon then hit it again in the evening then staying there would be better I think. OSJ has some nice designer outlet stores too BTW if you like to shop.

prinsider

With just one day, stay in Old San Juan! It is a walking city with much to see and tons of restaurants to choose from.

ejcrowe

Definitely stay in Old San Juan, and I second mymoosie's suggestions for hotels, also in that order.

malaysia

Thanks for all the great input...so will plan on staying in OSJ.Thinking of staying at the Sheraton as El Convento is unavilable. Any thoughts re the Sheraton??

malaysia

Sorry I put it in the wrong postt

ejcrowe

I've stayed at the Sheraton and found it perfectly fine. It's in a great location for people watching (love to gawk at the cruise ship passengers) and for getting around OSJ. Inside it's pretty impersonal--you could be anywhere--but it's comfortable and our room looked brand new.

jacketwatch

We were there one day pre-cruise. Its pretty nice really and the advantage is the location right next to the pier as well as being w/i walking distance of several nice restaurants. Also they upgraded us free of charge to what basically seemed like an apartment! We have a dining room, a living room w/ a large flat screen TV, another one in the bedroom and I think we have about 4 balconies.

mymoosie

I've also stayed at the Sheraton. I agree it's in a great location. Here are some photos of the room we had:
http://imageevent.com/kajugo/2007oldsanjuan

daisytcam

i've stayed at the sheraton twice and you can't beat the location. Hotel still looks new although when i was last there in March '08, there was construction across the street so i don't know if it is still noisy. Don't worry about safety. In either location, you are perfectly safe. Also, if you are a nonsmoker, verify that you are not on the 3rd floor as we got smoke smells in the vent from other rooms on that floor that were for smoking.They even have a nice casino on street level and a cute rest. right across from the entrance.

samjaime

i live in san juan. great recommendations by all. sheraton is a good 2nd choice as stated above. but, keep trying for el convento for cancellations up until your departure, it will be worth it.
The awesome shopping and restaurants are a given. Try El Castillo San Felipe del Morro ("el morro&quot fort and San Cristobal fort tours, The "paseo la princesa" (walkway la princesa in english). They are all nice sightseeing recommendations. google them and you'll see what i'm talking about as well as get some history on each. take care and have fun.

malaysia

Thank you all for your help. I will still look into El Convento, but if not will stay at the Sheraton...any restaurant suggestions that one can walk to for dinner, and breakfast....

mymoosie

For a local breakfast experience, try La Bombonera, or Cafeteria Mallorca. Nothing fancy, but very popular with locals. Great fresh squeezed orange juice.

samjaime

How is your palate. I've experienced the following personally: (these descriptions are from WWW.FROMMERS.COM) -

Best Burgers -- Patrons freely admit that "EL PATIO DE SAM", Calle San Sebastián 102 (tel. 787/723-1149), is not always on target with its main dishes. But they agree on one thing: The hamburgers are the juiciest and most delectable in San Juan. The Old Town atmosphere is also intriguing -- you almost expect to encounter Bogey and Bacall.

Best for a Romantic Dinner -- Out in Miramar, "AUGUSTO'S CUISINE", in the Hotel Excelsior, Av. Ponce de León 801 (tel. 787/725-7700), lies on the 15th floor of this hotel, offering a stunning and panoramic view of San Juan at night. Not only that, it serves one of the best French and international cuisines in the Caribbean, backed up by an extensive wine list. (YOU;LL HAVE TO TAKE A CAB TO THIS ONE, BUT, WORTH IT.)

Best Ice Cream -- On a cobble-covered street in Old San Juan, BEN & JERRY'S, Calle del Cristo 61 (tel. 787/977-6882), is a block from the landmark cathedral, Catedral de San Juan, across from the entrance to the El Convento Hotel. This North American chain offers the best ice cream in San Juan. Any of the 32 flavors -- 10 of them low-fat -- taste particularly good on hot, steamy days, when their names, such as Chubby Hubby and Phish Food, seem especially ironic and/or flavorful, depending on your point of view.

Best Drinks -- Even when we're just in San Juan waiting for plane connections and have time available, we take a taxi to MARIA'S, Calle del Cristo 204 (tel. 787/721-1678), in Old San Juan, for the coolest and most original drinks in the city. On a hot day, there is no finer place to enjoy a mixed-fruit frappé; a banana, pineapple, or chocolate frost; or an orange, papaya, or lime freeze.

Finally as stated in previous post by MYMOOSIE and right on target as great breakfast locals are La Bombonera and Cafeteria Mallorca.

Enjoy..however, they are suggestions, walking and finding some others on your own can be fun as well. but if time is an issue, there you are.

¡Buen provecho!

¡Buen provecho! (bvooehn proh-bveh-choh!) ("Enjoy your meal!" or "Bon appetit!" [Literally: Good profit!])

Imagine that you're sitting at the table, soup spoon in hand, ready to begin your meal and about to dip it into a cup of steaming soup. In order to sound like a native, you want to say — at this exact moment — "¡Buen provecho!" before someone else does.

"¡Buen provecho!" is also the right thing to say when you set a tray of food in front of your guests.

mymoosie

You're making me hungry, samjaime! LOL. We are itching to go back to OSJ. Love those pastries from La Bombonera. Also want to try Casa Botin. Da*mit, too many restaurants to try, not enough time, not enough calories to spare!

jacketwatch

I tried one of those pastries from that place one day when we were meandering OSJ. Pretty good and so in the PR style coffee too. I tried some that is grown there and really liked it. Larry