El San Juan
 

El San Juan has been getting horrible reviews lately everywhere I look.
Can anyone give some feedback on a recent experience there?

The Intercontinental and La Concha are pretty reliable, but I wanted a change.

El San Juan always gets mixed reviews. Seems to be the type of hotel you either love or hate. I happen to love it and have stayed there numerous times over the last 15 years or so. I would choose it over the Intercontinental or La Concha any day. I love the lobbby, the grounds, the restaurants, the pool area and the stretch of beach it sits on. The rooms are pretty nice too although the one thing it lacks that the Intercontinental and La Concha have is a proper balcony. Most rooms just having sliding glass doors that open but no step out balcony. Plus, the way the hotel is situated, not a lot of the rooms have a good ocean view.

Interesting answer. I'm completely torn.

Anyone else?

What is making you so torn? What are you concerned about in particular?

I've got some friends saying they've stayed there and enjoyed it, but that was 6-8 years ago. The reviews are overwhelmingly terrible, with the occasional positive.

I've read through a number of reviews on TripAdvisor and I think much of the negative reviews come from people who were there during peak periods, when hotel prices are at a premium. The people who complain that they spent $400 for a room and it wasn't worth it are probably right. But ALL hotel rooms in San Juan are very expensive during high season. That's the price you pay for going over Easter, for example. If you don't want to spend that kind of money, go on off-peak times and you can get a room for $150/night.

Then I hear complaints like - you can hear the planes, there are no balconies, the restaurants are expensive, etc. All true but I wonder if these people did any research at all before they booked the hotel. Why didn't they know these things before they went there?

My question to you is - what is important to you in a hotel? Do you like quiet? If so, then maybe El San Juan is not for you since the lobby bar is packed on the weekends.

Is a large balcony with ocean views important? Again, if so, then maybe this isn't the hotel for you.

Hard to say if you will like it without knowing what is important to you.

tom42 gave you a fair picture of El San Juan.

Regarding airplane noise - For what it is worth, the Intercontinental is right next door to El San Juan so sound levels at both places will be the same. Sorry, can't comment on La Concha as I've never stayed there.

Personally, I found the rooms at El San Juan a bit "long in the tooth" but I haven't stayed there in over a year so they may have been spruced up a bit in the past 8 months or so. My spouse does't particularly like the hotel and prefers the Intercontinental. I think both are just OK and are not among my favorite places. To me they are just hotels I spend a night at on my way to/from other destinations in the Caribbean. However, both are better than staying in the Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn or the Courtyard by Marriott.

The El San Juan is a "happening spot" with lots of glitzy action in the lobby and casino, especially on weekends. On the other hand, there's plenty of restaurant choices and the staff has always been friendly and helpful.

The Intercontinental is a typical hotel, nothing overly fancy but it has clean comfortable rooms.

For a change you might want to look at El Convento or perhaps Water Club.

Like tom42 says it really depends on what you are seeking.

I usually stay at El Convento and it is among my favorite hotels anywhere.

It looks like I'm keeping my reservation for this weekend at El S.J., so I'll find out firsthand, like it or not.

I'm keeping an open mind and thinking positively.

Try Koco for dinner one night. Very cool ambience and good modern Caribbean food.