singer8

Hi we are going to the el san juan hotel for 6 nights on April 10th with 3 teenage girls. Everything is booked, but now I am very nervous after reading the very mixed reviews. Does anyone have anything positive to say about this resort? Also, any restaurant suggestions? thanks so much for your help. Singer

coqui_07

Not been there for a while, so hopefully someone else will offer opinion.

As for restaurants there are plenty in the Isla Verde / Condado areas: Miro's, Metropol, Ropa Vieja to name a few + plenty in Old San Juan. Thjis page has a list of more with links to websites if available http://www.visit-the-coqui.com/restaurants/

Consider having a car of a couple of days so you can explore outside of San Juan:

El Yunque rainforest + Luquillo Beach + food kiosks near the beach

Moon phase on April 12 onwards is good for a Bio Bay tour at fajardo or over on Vieques http://www.visit-the-coqui.com/place...n-puerto-rico/

The Camuy caves have re-opened

Weekends are good for Guavate if you want to sample some local roast pork http://www.visit-the-coqui.com/2008/...of-the-lechon/

Have a great time here

singer8

Thanks Coqui, we won't be renting a car, but I was planning on doing an excursion to the El Yunque Rainforest through the hotel. Is that a bad idea? Also, we were thinking of going to the Bacardi Rum factory. Is the Bio Bay tour all day or part of the night? Thanks again for your help. Singer

girlonthego

Singer, I was only in the lobby a couple of years ago and it was a very nice looking hotel. We ate in the Japanese restaurant and the food was good. Have a good time.

coqui_07

Can't really comment ona hotel tour of the rainforest. The amount you see and do will depend on how long the tour lasts. It should take about 60mins to get to the rainforest from the hotel. So factor about 2hrs driving + rest will be at rainforest.

The Bio bay is an evening tour. If you do the bio bay at Fajardo its a couple of hours. If you do the evening cruise over to Vieques it's from about 5pm - 10pm (but dinner is including).

Never done the Bacardi tour, but from what I have heard, it's more of a museum / display tour, not an actual tour of the plant.

tom42

People seem to either love or hate El San Juan. I am definitely in the former category. The lobby is spectacular, the entertainment is excellent, very good restaurants and a beatiful pool area and the best beach in the San Juan area. The rooms are nice - they have recently been remodeled into a South Beach type of decor - white, oranges, yellows. Pretty cool, but not sure how lasting the decor will be. There are no balconies and, due to how the hotel is situated, not many rooms have great views. At certain times of the year it can be grossly overpriced but at other times it can be a great value. Service there has always been a little spotty (I have stayed there at least 15 times in the last 20 years) but there is something special about the place.

free2b4862

Hi, just back from PR, and we didn't stay at the El San Juan, but we stayed at the Marriott Stellaris, and we took the El Yungue tour offered through the hotel to avoid having to rent a car, and it was very nice and organized tour, they pick you up in a small van. It was about a 5 hour tour, 35 mins driving time to and from the rain forest, and the tour covered the highlights of the rain forest which was plenty for us. Tour guide was fun, and he even stopped to pick us up some of that great PR coconut candy vendors were selling along the way.

singer8

Thank you for your help. I will let you know all about my trip when I get back.. My girls, age 17 and 14 just want to lie in the sun all day and do nothing, but I'm interested in seeing the Rain forest.