Money aside, which is the better resort? People on tripdavisor seem more pleased with the Intercontinental but that could be because Ritz customers have higher standards. Which is the better pool area (more shade, larger, better swimming)? Which has the better beach? I don't care much about which is more chic. But if Ritz is a meaningfully more luxury experience and the pool areas are as large and enjoyable as the Intercontinental's, that's useful to know.

Or should I consider a third choice?

Much thanks!

I'm looking in the same direction. Want a place that's easy to get to from NYC - San Juan fits the bill - and I don't want to schlep around waiting for connections or long taxi trips to get from the airport to the hotel.

I am also looking at El San Juan and the Caribe Hilton, in addition to the Ritz-Carlton. Which is best for peace and quiet, lazing by the pool, and sufficient anonymity so that I can protect my privacy?

"Alles Gut!"

ttt

I can offer at least some advice on some of the other questions you asked (I used to live in San Juan). The Caribe is on its own little peninsula. It has a private beach with a breakwater, so there are no waves. This sounds great, and it does make for more gentle swimming, but the beach itself isn't as attractive and the water is a little soupy looking. On the other hand the water can be a bit rough during the winter at the rest of the San Juan resorts (this is the Atlantic, not the Carribean) so if ocean swimming is important to you, it's easier at the Caribe.

The pool area and pool restaurant are nice. There are hammacks under palm trees and that's nice too. I have heard that the rooms are a little tired.

The El San Juan has been renovated and may be great. It always looked a bit overcrowded to me but it is a beautiful facility.

Money aside, I would easily pick the Ritz Carlton over the Intercontinental. I prefer the pool at the Ritz Carlton but the Intercontinental has a nice pool too. The rooms are significantly nicer at the Ritz. Additionally, it has a couple of very good restaurants. I would say that the beach area is comparable - although the beach at the Ritz is closer to the airport so if you stroll down the beach you will hear planes taking off.

(El San Juan is a beautiful property and the redecorated rooms are pretty cool but it is much more bustling than the Ritz and the service is often spotty).

Thanks Tom42. The airport thing is part of what bugs me about the RC. No doubt you're right about the rooms though. Let me ask another question: am I right that the Intercontinental has a more sprawling, lush pool area and estate? The Ritz pool area seems very elegant but a little spare. If they're about the same in that respect, though, maybe I'll go with the RC after all.

I actually really like the Ritz Carlton pool area. I wouldn't call it spare - nice vegetation and palm trees but I would agree that it is more elegant than lush. Intercontinental's pool area (free form pool) is also very nice - probably the best feature of the hotel. I am not sure that the difference between the two is so significant that I would use that upon which to base my decision.

(By the way, I am always a bit perplexed by the mixed reviews of the Ritz Carlton in San Juan - I have been to several Ritz Carltons and I think this one is equivalent, although not as sprawling as some others may be. I was recently at the Ritz Carlton in Cancun, which everyone seems to rave about and was underwhelmed. So maybe I am not a good judge of these things.)

Tom42, thanks! Last question: is the El San Juan as problematic as the tripadvisor reviews make it out to be? And how would you compare pool area to Intercontinental in terms of tree cover, shade, pool size, bar area, etc.

Thanks again for very useful advice.