Can't seem to decide on which resort to go to on our July 4th weekend trip to Puerto Rico. My husband and I are looking for an elegant and quite place that is all worth the $$$ we are spending. Any suggestions?

Of the two places in question, I would pick El Conquistador. It is a beautiful property. If your want a more secluded location check out Doral Palmas del Mar on the East coast. In town (San Juan) the Ritz Carlton sounds exciting. We have been to the other three locations.

My husband and I just returned from the El Conquistador (5/19-5/23) and had a FANTASTIC time. Food is highly priced at the hotel but if you rent a car you can find several native-style places off the hotel grounds to eat. The service is outstanding at the hotel and everyone is very friendly. The hotel itself is beautiful....I've not been anywhere quite like it (we usually travel to different places in the Caribean and stay inexpensively) There is a small casino and numerous restaurants on the hotel grounds. Our room was right on the marina (2002) and that wouldn't have been so bad but the boat to the beach pulls up right outside your window in this room. If you stay at the marina try to get a room closer to the pool. My only small complaint was that the beach is a 15 to 20 min. ferry ride away on Palomino Island, where we're used to just stepping out onto the beach. I would all in all highly recommend this resort as the perfect place to stay in PR. Have fun.

El Conquistador - is the biggest disappointment for us in the Caribbean and we've traveled extensively. Our room had not been updated for years, our bed was so soft that they put a board between the mattress and springs for a mere $365 a night. Our friends' room was terribly outdated as well. The staff was quite friendly and the food good but the rooms sucked.

P.S. on the El Conquistador--our friend had her watch taken from her room and another woman had hidden her safe key which was found and had her safe cleaned out.

Trish -- we went to Hyatt Dorado in March 99 and loved it so much we bought a timeshare at its twin resort the Hyatt Cerromar. We had an upper beachfront room at the Dorado and were so close to the water it was like we were on a ship! We loved the sprawling nature of the resort (the rooms fan out in little buildings all along a beautiful beach) We loved hearing the ocean from our room. It was quiet (in March) sometimes I would be alone at the pool. You might find it busier on July 4th. It is my understand that many of the rooms at the Conquistador are not close to the beach so if that is important to you I would choose Dorado and get a beachfront room.