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El San Juan hotel Vs. Wyndham Old San juan hotel?

El San Juan hotel Vs. Wyndham Old San juan hotel?

Old Aug 9th, 1999, 08:00 PM
  #1  
Charlie
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El San Juan hotel Vs. Wyndham Old San juan hotel?

Planning a trip to San Juan In Jan. 2000, travel agent suggested the Wyndham old San Juan Hotel. I know that Wyndamn has two hotels (El San Juan hotel and casino and Old San Juan Hotel) just wondering the difference between the two?
 
Old Aug 10th, 1999, 09:52 AM
  #2  
Cheri
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Not much differnce. They are both crappy. I stayed at El San Juan in Dec and Old San Juan last month. Neither were worth the money and we were treated poorly in Old SJ. (Email me for more info.) I'd pick a cheaper, nicer place and use the $$$ for something else.
 
Old Aug 10th, 1999, 04:00 PM
  #3  
Decent Tropical
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Speaking of cheaper hotels in San Juan... Just curious if anyone has anything to say about El Canario or Aleli By The Sea.

The are both listed on www.where2stay.com as being 100- or less a night.
 
Old Aug 11th, 1999, 11:28 AM
  #4  
l, Scholey
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I'be been to the el san juan hotel and i feel that it is a little "tired"...you can find better.
 
Old Aug 18th, 1999, 05:51 AM
  #5  
Tom
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Charlie,
There are several Wyndham hotels in Puerto Rico, Wyndham Old San Juan, The El San Juan, El Conquistador and Condado Plaza (I'm not positive that this last one is a Wydham hotel, but I think so).
I just returned from a trip to Puerto Rico a few days ago. I stayed at the El San Juan for 5 nights and the Ritz Carlton for 4 nights. The El San Juan is a great hotel that I've stayed at several times (I cannot understand how anyone could call this hotel "crappy" or "tired"). It is on a great stretch of beach and has a beautiful pool area (two pools - one olympic and one free form). There are several excellent restaurants in the hotel (especially The Palm, Backstreet Hong Kong and La Piccola Fontana). Perhaps the best feature is the amazing lobby area. It is hard to describe but includes several bar areas (main oval bar, cigar bar, sushi bar). The whole lobby is mahogany and marble. Great for nightlife. Also a very nice casino and nightclub.
The El San Juan is located in Isla Verde, which is very close to the airport. It is a 15-20 minute taxi ride to Old San Juan (about $16) or a 45 minute bus ride ($.25). Also, it is a $12 taxi ride to Condado (another resort area with many restaurants).
I visited the Wyndham in Old San Juan and it is a nice hotel. Smaller than the EL San Juan and it has no beach. I didn't see the pool area. I wouldn't stay here for an extended time but I would consider spending a couple of nights there just to be right in the heart of Old San Juan. It is nice to walk out of your hotel and have all of the restaurants, shops and bars right there.
A couple of words of caution - If you stay at the El San Juan, try to get a room on as high a floor as possible and not on the airport side (by the way the rooms are pretty nice and all have VCRs, and stereos with cassette and cd players). Also, and this applies to Puerto Rico in general, bring nice clothes for night (i.e., not shorts and tee shirts). Puerto Ricans tend to dress up at night. In fact, at the El San Juan, you cannot wear shorts at any of the lobby bars after sunset. Khakis and a collared shirt would be fine.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to e-mail me.
 
Old Aug 19th, 1999, 06:33 AM
  #6  
Cheri
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Gee Tom, next time I'm going with you. The El San Juan you stayed at sure doesn't sound like the one we stayed in. I also don't remember not being able to wear shorts in the lobby bars in the evenings. The lobby IS spectacular, but the room was shabby and we didn't have the VCR and all like you did. It was small and dark and there were parties going on all night in the hallways.
As far as the Wyndham in Old San Juan, it isn't that close to the action and restaurants. We were treated poorly there and the room was dirty. The pool is on the roof and it was cute. In good conscience I could not recommend either of these hotels to anyone.
 
Old Aug 19th, 1999, 09:24 AM
  #7  
Tom
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Cheri,
Are you sure that you stayed at the El San Juan? It's listed as a leading hotel of the world, usually makes Conde Naste's annual gold list, and is always recommended by travel guides. We can't all be wrong.
If you were unhappy with your room and/or floor, why didn't you request (demand) to be moved? If you are polite but firm, such requests are usually heeded.
Was there anything else beside your room that you didn't like about the hotel?
 
Old Aug 19th, 1999, 11:20 AM
  #8  
Cheri
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Yes Tom, it was the El San Juan. All 380+ dollars a night. I did complain to management and was given three free nights to be used by the end of the year, but have no plans at this time to go to PR. Have been there twice already this year and that's enough. Actually, we stayed there based on our impression with the lobby the very first time we saw it.

Other things, yes, there was a lot of construction going on after my TA was assured there wasn't any. You could barely get to the beach for all the work going on.

I also wasn't pleased, but was rather amused by the number of ladies of the night cruising the lobby every night.

I am not some hoop that just left the sticks to go to the Caribbean. I have gone at least three times a year for the last 15 years and can speak with a certain degree of experience. Both of these hotels were a major disappointment and weren't worth the money.
 
Old Aug 19th, 1999, 12:17 PM
  #9  
Tom
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I promise that this is my last response on this subject:
$380/night for a standard room?! I hope that you went on either New Years Eve or over Christmas. If not, you might want to find a new travel agent. I have never paid even close to that amount for a stay there (and never would - for any hotel). I just paid $190/night with the fifth night free. Now I realize that this is low season, but even in high season, you shouldn't be paying more than the mid $200 range.
As far as ladies of the night "cruising" the lobby, I don't know what you're talking about. I would be interested to know how you determined this.
Yes, there was construction going on by the pool/beach area. The hotel was building a row of ocean suites. The construction is now complete and the suites are open. So any future travelers won't be inconvenienced.
 
Old Oct 2nd, 1999, 01:42 PM
  #10  
Joe Raphael
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Cheri is unfortunately a victim of culture clash. Yes, you can't wear shorts at the El San Juan in the evenings.Some places like the Caribe Hilton, the El san Juan and the Hyatt are very dressy. By the way Cheri, this is true in just about every grand hotel in the world.
And there is no comparison between the Radisson in Old San Juan and the El San Juan. The El San Juan is a glorious Old Dame on the beach. A very elegant place. Granted that Cheri had a bad experience, discotheques everywhere have a dress code. And although you probaly have pretty legs to show, they have a dress code as well.
Hawaii is a place you don't have to dress up while paying similar prices.So consider that nextime.I responded because travel and filming is my life and I've never heard anyone call the El San Juan "crappy". It's just not for YOU Cheri.
 
Old Oct 3rd, 1999, 04:54 PM
  #11  
Cheri
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Re:El San Juan...
a) I wore a dress. I actually picked the cow crap out of my toes and wore shoes too.

b) there were people there in the evening in the bars and casino in shorts. Merely a statement. Period. They were there. (Maybe you should suggest alternate destinations for them as well.)

c) I may not travel the world as you do, we have to slop the hogs now and again, but I do manage to get to the caribbean about 3 times a year and feel as though I can speak with some knowledge on various hotels.

d) Hawaii...been there, dun that, bought the shirt.

Oh, and BTW, we have stayed at far classier places than the El San Juan.... and don't you have anything better to do than to drag up 3 month old discussions?
 
Old Oct 20th, 1999, 04:53 PM
  #12  
Cindy Whitaker
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We stayed at the El San Juan for two six-day periods this past July. We had two small children with us, also. Both times were absolute HEAVEN!! We took advantage of the "stay five nights, get one free" deal. You can only check in on Friday. The only complaint we had was when we faced the airport. You do get lots of noise even during the early morning hours; however, you're going to get that at any hotel room that is right across from a major airport. It got to be comical for us! The view made up for it, watching all the night life

Another nice part of our package were meal vouchers. The kids ate three free meals a day, while we got free vouchers for two of our three meals. Granted, you couldn't use them at every restaurant in the hotel--but, the ones that honored them were wonderful.

The beach and pool was beautiful. The staff was great! And, every night, there was entertainment in the lobby area that you wouldn't believe. Each Sunday evening, the Puerto Rico Symphony puts on a free 2 hour concert, so get there early! Yes, I was able to wear shorts in the lobby. But, I was unable to purchase drinks. That bothered me because I had on NICE walking shorts and sandals (compared to some of the other women there).

Hope you have a great time! I can't wait to go back!!
 
Old Oct 27th, 1999, 05:41 PM
  #13  
Chris
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Cheri,

You should not go back to the El San Juan - IF you really were at the El San Juan. Why are you so vehement in you dislike for this grand hotel? You're experience is unfortunate and unbelievable. Get on with you next vacation to a Holiday Inn. and get a new travel agent
 
Old Oct 29th, 1999, 02:38 AM
  #14  
jean
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Lighten up you idiot. If you happen to follow this board closely other than just trying to flame someone you would know that Cheri is well traveled in the Caribbean and her advice is usually right on the mark. So they had a bad experience at a hotel. No need to get nasty just because someone elses views differ from your own. May I suggest YOU try Motel 6.
 

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