Isla Verde Hotel-Puerto Rico
 

Hi-

I am looking at two hotels in Isla Verde-The Hampton Inn & Suites and the Embassy Suites. Both are not on the beach but within walking distance to the beach.
I am a big beach person. Most vacations I am on the beach from 9am to 5p. Is one hotel closer to the beach than the other? Does one have better beach access? I read the reviews on trip advisor and am trying to figure out which one is the best for me based on the beach. I realize there are other hotels right on the beach in Isla Verde but these two fit my budget best.

All comments are welcome!

Thanks for your help!

Those hotels are near each other and access the same stretch of beach. Hampton Inn is about 2 blocks from the beach and Embassy Suites is about 3 blocks. Really not much difference between the two as far as the beach access is concerned.

Thanks!

Do you know if its a big production to get on the beach? Do you have to walk through a hotel to get to the beach or are there public walkways onto the beach? Can you rent beach chairs?

The are public access walkways every couple of blocks so it's very easy to get on to the beach. There are various places along the Isle Verde Beach where you can rent chairs and umbrellas - just don't use any that belong to the beachfront hotels as they are 'for Guests Only" and are so marked.

If memory serves me right there's public access walkways just down the streets from both of the hotels your are considering.

Thanks for great info!!!

You might also want to take a look at the Courtyard Isla Verde Beach Resort, which is directly on the beach. Rates are sometimes similar.

Thanks Doug for the response! I looked into the Courtyard as well. The price is pretty similar to the other two hotels. I read reviews on trip advisor and some people have commented on the sand fleas at the beach. I never know how much value to put into other people's comments on trip advisor but that would be a big issue for me.

Sand fleas are a problem throughout the Caribbean, not just in Puerto Rico (and not just on this particular stretch of Isla Verde beach), so they won't be avoided by choosing a different stretch of beach, particularly if you are going to remain in the same general area. The Courtyard is close to the Ritz-Carlton, so you can at least scratch in the comfort that you're not paying nearly as much as those guests.

But in all seriousness, if sand fleas are a dealbreaker for you, you are going to be disappointed in the Caribbean generally. To avoid them entirely, you'd have to go to Hawaii where they aren't found.

I have stayed in Isla Verde close to twenty times over the last 20+ years and have never had an issue with sand fleas on the beach.

I love the Courtyard Marriott on Isle Verde. The beach is beautiful there. I have stayed there twice and going back again in December. Sand fleas were not a problem for us. I love the baby palm trees with the hammocks right on the beach. The pool is great. The food at the restaurant is great. Pastries, coffee and lunch are also options in the smaller cafe. There is a casino and bar and they have Salsa nights! They also have concierge service to set up tours that will pick you up right at the hotel.
I love this property and the price was much cheaper than similar hotels on Isle Verde. They have AAA / CAA rates.

If the prices are similar, I would definitely choose the Courtyard Marriott over the Hampton or Embassy Suites, as it is right on the beach. Just a word of caution, however. It is practically on the runway of the airport so you will hear planes taking off and landing. I mention this because I have seen people complain of this over the years. I've stayed at the Ritz Carlton, which is on the same stretch of beach as the Courtyard, and it doesn't bother me but you should at least be aware of it before going.

Yes the runway is right behind the property. I could also see that it would bother some people. Doesn't bother us in the least either. We like watching planes take off.
Good point to mention.

I was looking at hotels in this area, also, and thought it looked great until I figured out it was right across the street from the airport.

How can this not bother someone? I would really be interested because that is the main thing about it I don't like. I just would have to imagine that is very noisy and if it is the main international airport, there must be lots of planes taking off and landing all day and perhaps even all night? It isn't the visuals, it is the noise I am wondering about. I have known people who had the misfortune to live within a short distance of a major airport and the noise was terrible.

This is actually something that I've cautioned about before on this site. The "city view" rooms at these properties, and especially the Ritz Carlton, are runway/airport views.

Although SJU is a large Caribbean airport, it isn't JFK. It's not like their are flights taking off every 5 minutes. Many of the flights are actually smaller jets and planes, which aren't too loud. Every so often there is a jumbo jet that will be quite noisy for a short period of time. I've never stayed at the Courtyard so I can't speak to the noise specific to that hotel. I have stayed at the Ritz Carlton, which is only a little further away and the noise is hardly noticeable.

tom42 - no disrespect meant, but if I'm traveling to the Caribbean, it's simply not a runway view I'm seeking. My point is to pay for the upgrade to oceanview.

That said, flights to and from major cities like New York, Atlanta, Chicago and Miami are common and constant. Those are not small planes coming in.

Agree with Continental_drifter. I've stayed at Courtyard. Y Marriott, El San Juan, Ritz Carlton and Intercontinental - all are near the airport. The one time I stayed in a city view room I could hear planes landing and taking off well into the night and they restarted early in the morning. All other times when I had ocean view rooms the nose from the airport wasn't an issue.

<<no disrespect meant, but if I'm traveling to the Caribbean, it's simply not a runway view I'm seeking. My point is to pay for the upgrade to oceanview.>>

Okay. I am not arguing with you. I am just describing my experience. That's why I pointed out that the hotel is next to the airport in the first place. That would bother some people.

At the Isle Verde Courtyard Marriott I've always stayed in an ocean front room. The view is awesome. The planes taking off are not constant as tom42 says. There is nothing quiet about this part of Puerto Rico. It's very close to San Juan. It's a vibrant area. I'm expecting to hear a plane. If you want a more relaxed pace, a quiet Caribbean getaway, this is not where you want to stay. Think Waikiki Beach but on a smaller scale. It's what I like about the location. It's not a secluded getaway.
I wouldn't want to look at a runway view either.

Annikany,
I may be wrong but the way the hotel is situated, it looks like all the rooms are either oceanfront or oceanview. Are there some full city view rooms there too?