jaxgirl

Posted by bethannjax from Jacksonville, FL on 2/14/08

My husband and I were less than impressed with this supposed "resort". Please do not expect to receive the attention to detail that would come with staying at either a Four Seasons Hotel or Ritz Carlton Hotel. The term "resort" should be used loosely when referring to this property. On numerous occasions there were details that were overlooked. During one afternoon we decided to visit the main pool and were surprised when a jack-hammer was chugging away at the pool deck. Luckily, our room was not overlooking the pool. Of course the sound reminded us of a day in New York City instead of a day in the caribbean. Many of the resort restrooms had doors or faucets that did not work. Even our hotel room door did not close without force. The hotel room walls are thin and you can hear all the goings on in the adjoring room including, the phone ringing, hair dryer blowing and even the conversation of the other guests. On our first night there we tried the marina side restaurant/bar and the bartender took our order then never made our drinks. We waited about ten minutes and then left. Oh and make sure you know the charges beforehand. On our final bill we were charged $20 for the bellman (per transfer), $15 for internet service (per day) and daily resort taxes and tariffs at $100 per day. The price of the room alone was equal to that of a Ritz or other high quality hotel. On a good note, The Strip House restaurant was delicious and exactly what you would expect from a high quality steak house. All in all, we felt that resorts should pay attention to the details and this was definitely not the case at this property. We have no problem paying for the service but it truly was not money well spent in our minds. Next time we will stick with a Ritz.

ugh

Posted by nysemem from long Island new york on 3/23/07

Stayed in the villas which were very nice. Having a butler to service your needs would be great if they actually accomplished something. They take instructions very well but dont follow through. The hotel throws charges for everything. Watch your bill. After I went through it I saved my self a couple of hundred dollars by disputing their charges. Too expensive for what you get. Main hotel is like being in San Juan on New Years Eve. Restaraunts are very expensive for mediocre to lousy food. The Beech is 15 minutes away and not worth the trip. With soo many other options in the carribean in this price range why go here.

resort great-can't say the same for the rooms

Posted by myates from Florida on 2/26/07

My husband and I went to El Conquistador expecting a 4-5 star resort experience. For the most part the resort itself lived up to the expectations, but the room we had was far below the standard you would normally have in such a resort. After changing rooms twice, we were finally upgraded to a room in the area of the resort where the rooms have been refurbished-the Las Brisas wing. The room there was beautiful-but from what I understand this room would normally cost and additional $100-$160 per night, which in my opinion is a bit high. I don't think you should have to spend soooo much more money just to get a room that is livable. I cannot even begin to go into the numerous things that were wrong with our first 2 rooms. Apparently the resort has fallen in to disrepair in the last several years and it looks like they are doing many improvements, but unfortunately the guest rooms are low on the priority list. I would go back to this resort, but not for a few years, when I know that all renovations have been completed and the chance of getting a substandard room is zero. The food is also pricy, but not outreageous for a resort- and the 3 places we ate dinner (Stingray's, Blossoms, and Otello's) were very good. The private island and pools were also very nice, and the view is incredible! I would also recommend not renting a car-take the bus from the airport to the resort-they have everything you want to do right there and you'll save the $15-$20 per day they charge for parking.

Rundown and not luxury

Posted by kwtraveler from boston, ma on 2/26/07

I have stayed at many resorts and this one was by no means a luxury resort. I wonder if they are having financial difficulties. The rooms and the property are rundown. The toilet in our room, even after being fixed, was leaking water (I hope!). The rooms are at best modest, the bathrooms large but look like an urban Holiday Inn or worse. The pools are crowded and mediocre. The private island is crammed with beach chairs and crowded. Great luxury resorts make you feel special, this place makes you feel part of a herd. The worst part of this experience is the poor management. The check-in process is so frustrating. A line of 4 people means a 20 minute wait. Then, if your room is not ready, you can check-in but get to stand in line again to get your keys. I could go on but suffice it to say - Don't bother. For the money, you can do so much better. In the meantime, they should be honest and admit they are not a luxury but more what you would expect from a Doubletree or Embassy Suites resort experience only not as good.

The REAL Pirates of the Caribbean

Posted by BettyKat from New York, NY on 11/30/06

This was the worst vacation of our lives--and we have stayed at everything from Motel 6 to luxury hotels. "Highlights" of the trip included all guests being rounded up and kicked off the beach so the resort could close it early; billing errorsin the hotels' favor, natchto the tune of thousands of dollars; and $350 per night rooms with photocopies of old room service menus and dirt so thick, we longed for the Ramada in El Paso, Texas. This resort is undergoing a renovation, but the real problem is the attitude of the staff: lots of "it's not my job" and no one will help you if something breaks. Broken funiculars, non working internet (it's 2006--get wireless!), the beach is a 25 minute ride away (no beach on the actual premises)--we wasted thousands for a 8 night trip here in November of 2006, and I a writing this to urge you not to do the same!

EL CONQUISTADOR- How to have a GOOD time

Posted by Julio from San Juan, Puerto Rico on 8/16/06

I just returned from 3 days/2 nights stay at El Conquistador and I have to say that we had a wonderful time. If I paid attention to the reviews posted here I would NEVER try to stay here, but this was our fourth time. I will try to be as impartial as possible. The positive: the view, one of the most beautiful I have ever seen the hotel itself is very beautiful: the architecture, the meeting rooms, pools areas, gardens, golf lawns, lobbies, art is everywhere (original paintings, sculptures, etc.). No matter where you walk everything is nice. If you want to be located near the main building the best choices are Las Brisas or La Vista. These 2 areas have breathtaking views and according to my experience nice accommodations (all with a very convenient cooler). The staff is very friendly and always has a smile for you. Palomino Island has excellent crystal clear beaches. You can also explore the island on foot or ride a horse, do water sports or simply relax by just listening to the waves. Blossoms Restaurant which I consider it is reasonable for the quality & quantity of the food they serve. Their Shrimps with sesame seed were fantastic and very generous. The negative: the price, not of the rooms (we stayed at La Vista at a rate of $139.00 + taxes) but the prices of the food. The restaurants (except Blossoms) are very expensive and the least expensive offer average food. The drinks are also very expensive. Recommendations: Take the funicular to the Marina, walk to your left, pass 2 Condos and exit the property, that road will take you (less than 5 minutes walking) to Las Croabas, a small fishing village. You will find unpretentious small restaurants, some look more like kiosks; they sell very fresh seafood at a fraction of the price youll pay at El Conquistador. You can also have all the beer you want at less than $2 per bottle. When you finish, return to your beautiful hotel with a full stomach and not so empty wallet and keep enjoying the good life.

Beautiful but tired. In need of a facelift!

Posted by Deborah from Cincinnati on 5/3/06

We just got back from the El Con. I will preface my comments by saying that we stayed for 4 nights on the corporate dime, as we were attending a conference. So while we had little cost for our stay, we can still judge the value. I must also say that the hotel has recently changed management hands, and I understand that many of the ills we found will soon be corrected. (I am sure with a requisite price raise too). The property is beautiful, and nicely maintained. The common areas are quite nice. The rooms are tired at best. We were first assigned to a suite in Las Casitas (the bungalows). We declined the suite and asked for a downgrade to a deluxe sea view room. A living room and kitchen are not only unnecessary for us, but we felt as if the kitchen reminds us of home and duty! The bungalows are nice, but so far from all the action of the main hotel, that it is hard to manage. One must call for a golf cart each time one wants to go to the main property.... this is annoying. The room with which we ended up was ok, nice view in particular. But the furniture was tired and the room not totally clean. The main thing about the El Con that stood out to not only my husband and me but also to our entire corporate group, was that the service overall was really not good. Throughout the property it was clear that the folks who worked there DID NOT want to be there and really did not care about the level of service they offered. They were at best competently cool and at worst, surly. And finally, I agree with other commenters that this place is QUITE pricey in terms of the ammenities offered. $6 for a beer indeed, and $16 for a burger. If the service was not so good, the food was downright bad at times. To sum it up, this is NOT A WORLD CLASS RESORT. Be careful what you expect and what you pay for the pleasure.

The Place is Gorgeous but....

Posted by Jennifer from Westwood, New Jersey on 4/9/06

First of all they lost our luggage for 5 hours--it was still at the airport while we were looking for it. Then one night after a bad rainstorm, our ocean front room flooded. They have hidden charges($20 for the bellman, $4 a day of maid service) and I am still trying to dispute the charges 2 weeks later!