PUERTO RICO
 

Good Morning Fodorites! We are planning our first vacation for 2011 and have decided on PR. But as always, I rely on this websites do's and don'ts before I book anything! So here is what we need; a great hotel for a mid aged couple with a 7 yr old, a pristine beach, near something? Great service, not ridiculously over priced, and all purpose oasis for some much need R n R. Going in June. All suggestions n comments appreciated as we are 1st timers. Thank you all in advance for your kindness.

i don't think you'll find that in Puerto Rico, unfortunately. the best beach area in San Juan is Isla Verde, so you might start there. The Courtyard in Isla Verde is quite nice, and still within taxi distance of Old San Juan. but there are other reasonable places in San Juan. but I don't particularly like the unprotected, Atlantic-facing beaches in San Juan. You will find more pristine beaches on Vieques and Culebra, but there are no hotels on the best beaches. You need to be willing to drive (and you really have to rent a car there). my experience is also that service in PR in genial but rarely truly good.

Pristine beache in San Juan...not really for my standards. As the previous post suggested, Vieques & Culebra have great beaches in a low key environment.

The areas of the Condado and Isle Verde have many hotel options. I know the water/surf tends to be rough in the condado area. I am sure isle verde is the same.
We usually stay at the Caribe Hilton which is set off on it's own near the condado area. It is close enough by taxi to the condado and old san juan for good dining choices.
The Hilton's beach is private and the water is calmer as it has rocks breaking the water as it comes into the hotel beach. It is not pristine, but we like the fact that the hotel is set on it's own,but close to everything. It is a large hotel complex and has some nice pools, and activities for different age groups. We went for the first time to the Hilton in the 1980s and have been back several times since.

You can arrange day trips through the hotel or rent a car and head out of town to the rain forest or Lo Quillo beach. In Fajaro, you can catch a biolumescent tour.

On the Condado, the Marriott is a very nice hotel choice. In Isle Verde, the El San Juan looked nice, we only dined at both of these hotels, but the grounds and lobby areas are very nice.
I know there is also a Ritz in this area.
Now service on the island is okay. I find if you are nice, people are nice and friendly back. We had no problems. We went spring break about three years ago.
Food was pretty good everywhere we ate.
The island itself is not the prettiest island in the caribbean. There is poverty and crime. The water is also the dark blue because the resort areas face the atlantic rather than the caribbean sea. So, you don't have that light blue water.
All in all, it is usually easy to get to, reasonably priced, decent food and lay on the beach and relax vacation. There is also history in Old San Juan and some unusual sights like Lo Quillo beach (not spelling it right I know!). So go and enjoy!

<<I know the water/surf tends to be rough in the condado area. I am sure isle verde is the same.>>

Not really. Isla Verde's beach is usually a good deal calmer than the beach at Condado.

Thanks Tom. I have never been on the beach at isle verde. I have been at the hotel the el san juan, but only at night for dining and gambling.
You should weigh in on hotel choices because I know you have been to puerto rico many times and have stayed in many different of the more popular hotels.

Girlonthego - I'm not sure why the surf is calmer at Isla Verde - but it may be because the slope of the shoreline is pretty gradual. Anyway, I didn't weigh in with any hotel recommendations because I'm not sure if any hotels in the San Juan area would meet all of the criteria the OP listed (plus, I just recently provided comments on a couple of hotels in another thread and didn't want to sound like a broken record). I thought your description of the Caribe Hilton was good and also your mention of the Marriott. There is a newer Marriott hotel (Renaissance) that I would also suggest the OP look into. My concern is the part about a "pristine" beach. If that is really important, the OP is going to be disappointed with any hotel in San Juan. As to the criteria lists:

Pristine beach - no hotel in the San Juan area will have a pristine beach. Both Isla Verde and Condado are developed areas with hotels, condos lining the beach. The sand is brown and the water, while clear, is not Caribbean blue. The beaches are public and on the weekends can get crowded (not shoulder to shoulder people but also not isolated and serene).

Near something - not sure what the OP wants to be near (the rainforest, snorkeling, golf, shops, museums, etc) but Old San Juan is a quick taxi or bus ride from Condado and a little longer from Isla Verde. Also, there are a number of restaurants and some shops in the Condado area.

Great service - The hotel that comes the closest to "great service" is the Ritz Carlton in Isla Verde. But I've come to accept the fact that service is generally hit and miss in Puerto Rico.

Not ridiculously overpriced - that is relative. It all depends on what the OP considers overpriced. San Juan is not a particularly cheap destination (don't think Mexico prices).

travelbuff127 - I've been to the San Juan area of Puerto Rico many times and I'd be happy to provide more information if you have any particular questions.

tom42...i am now depressed. it took forever for my husband and i to agree on a destination 9Since he is a man of many hang-ups and demands) and once I began my search, I am now faced with your knowledge...as dissapointing as it is. BUT I am so glad you are honest. Thank you...that is why I love this board and have come to hold it bible for my travels!

So i have a 7 yr old girl and a particular husband who is cheap. I really thought the El Conquistador would fit our needs but i don't want to have to rent a car nor be confined to the hotel because of saftey concerns. Please advise

You certainly do not have to rent a car if you stay in San Juan. In fact, I think you're far better off not renting one. And I would not be overly concerned about safety issues. Like any place, San Juan has crime, but it is early a problem for tourists.

I've often walked around Condado at night and not felt afraid. It's a bit harder to walk around Isla Verde, but it's not particularly unsafe.

tavelbuff127 - sorry, I didn't mean to depress you! Let me say that I love San Juan and it has a lot to offer. I just like to make sure people who have never been there understand what it is and what it isn't.

I don't think you would be confined to your hotel due to safety concerns at El Conquistador. However, it is an isolated resort that is about an hour from the San Juan area. There is nowhere to walk to from the resort. Depending on how much you want to do outside the resort, you might be able to get by doing a tour or two from the hotel and taxis to town (Fajardo, not Old San Juan) if you want to go out to dinner off site. I stayed at El Conquistador but it was quite a few years ago. I thought it was a pretty cool resort. The "beach" is a private island which you have to take a ferry from the resort to reach. The water was calm and clear - pretty good for snorkeling. Restaurants were expensive.

How long are you going for? If it is for a week or more, would you consider splitting your time between the San Juan area and some other area of Puerto Rico?

If you really would rather stay at El Conquistador rather than in San Juan itself, you can also get by with tours as long as you are prepared to eat most meals on-site. I've found that tours will get you most places you might want to go such as El Yunque or even the biobay at Vieques. You could also do a day-trip to either Culebra or Vieques by taking the public ferry from Fajardo, which is very close to the resort.

And you can certainly get into Old San Juan for a day without any problems at all (outside of Old San Juan, there aren't that many "sights" to see in San Juan). A free trolley or your own two feet will get you around nicely in Old San Juan.

In a week, I don't know that you'd want to do more than three off-site tours anyway.

The downside of El Conquistador is that without a car, it's just not feasible to eat at off-site restaurants unless you pay a huge premium for taxis. And El Conquistador does indeed charge for parking unless you rent from the on-site agency (and I can't remember what that is off-hand). If you really want to explore the island from a convenient base, Fajardo isn't the most convenient place in my opinion. If you want to relax and enjoy yourself, I think you'll do fine there.

Doug, thank you for relying. Her is my pickle; it must be puerto Rico, a all purpose resort, prefer beach on premise, 4 star accommodations, quiet location,I can rent a car if necessary, must be for a week, do not like all inclusives, can't do ritz Carlton but something like it would be good, prefer quiet beaches. Anything? Help!

Hi tom42, we are ok with renting a car if need be but prefer a resort similar to. Ritz Carlton but with a beach on the premises and one that is quiet....anything?

Hi, travelbuff! I'm a local resident of Puerto Rico, so maybe I can help you a little in your choice decision. Checking at what you're looking for, maybe your best bet could be the western part of PR. There are some fairly good hotels to choose from(Mayaguez Resort & Casino comes to mind) and some of the most beautiful beaches of PR are in the western part of the island. Renting a car is a must, but if you establish your "base" in the city of Mayaguez, you can go to the most southwestern part of the island in about 20-30 minutes to the town of Cabo Rojo, where some of the best caribbean cuisine restaurants are located; to the northwestern in about 20 minutes, where the best "surfer beaches" of the caribbean are located. In between, there are a zoo, a water parks, parasailing, scuba diving, and other ammenities that you may be interested. Hope this info could be helpful to you. By the way, crime in the west is minimal!!

Have you considered renting a house or condo? We just rented a house in the Solimar community in Luquillo. Even if you find a decent hotel rate, the taxes...12%...and food prices at the hotel add up quickly. We did have to rent a car, but the drive was super easy and it gave us the flexibility to explore other beaches and the nerby rainforest. The beaches are really pretty and calmer than the San Juan area. There are plenty of restaurants ranging in price and also grocery stores to stock up on snacks and cook some your meals. A lot of the neighborhoods in this area seem a little run down, but it never appeared to be unsafe or felt threatened in any way.

travelbuff- the only thing that comes to mind is the Horned Dorset Primavera in Rincon. I have never stayed there but it generally gets very good reviews. It ain't cheap though.

Gosh, the Horned Dorset is way more expensive than any of these options.

You might try the Wyndham Rio Mar Resort, which is between San Juan and Fajardo on the north coast. It's slightly closer to San Juan, but you still have the problem with isolation.

There's a Four Points Sheraton in the ritzy Palmas del Mar development in Humacao. It has the atmosphere you are looking for, but it's also very isolated and food options are limited there.

There is no "quiet" beach in San Juan, I'm afraid. Even though the Isla Verde area is quite nice. But there are plenty of nice hotels in San Juan. I do like the Renaissance, but it's got a very small, public beach. As someone else posted, the Caribe Hilton has its own private (albeit man-made) beach, but it's still quite the party scene at times, so it's not the quiet atmosphere you seek.

I think you owe it to yourself to at least take a look at the W Vieques. It's not the island's best beach, but you can drive to others. But it's the only real resort on Vieques. There are plenty of very comfortable and charming smaller hotels, some fairly luxurious, as well as villa rentals, on the island. Culebra is even more laid back, with much more beautiful beaches but also much more modest accommodations.

Well travelbuff did ask for something like a Ritz Carlton. I wouldnt recommend a Four Points Sheraton to someone who wants a Ritz Carlton-like resort.

This is not a typical Four Points Sheraton, just like the Courtyard Isla Verde Beach Resort is not a typical Courtyard. But it is another option.

The problem with Horned Dorset is that it's dramatically more expensive than a Ritz-Carlton ... probably twice the price. If that's what the OP wants, then I agree that it's a good recommendation (it's probably the best resort in all of Puerto Rico). But it's not remotely equivalent in terms of price.

Oh wait ... a 7 year-old. I'm not sure Horned Dorset accepts children. That's another consideration.

I agree that it is more expensive, although when plugging in some dates in June, it wasn't twice as expensive. Just trying to give her another possible option. The OP hasn't really given us any type of budget for this trip. Have no idea what the Horned Dorset's policy is on children. I stand by my assertion that a Four Points or Marriott Courtyard, no matter that they are nicer than typical, is no comparison to a Ritz Carlton. I've been in the Courtyard Isla Verde beach and it is very acceptable but in a different class than the RC.

okay just to clarify, my budget had to be under $3,500 MAX! But i got so depressed over the comments that i switched locations....so it's bakc to Florida we go. Here's a thought...Ritz Carlton Gulf Coast?????

That's too bad but probably for the best because it didn't seem like Puerto Rico had what you were looking for this time around. Can't help you with the Gulf Coast of Florida. The only Ritz Carlton in Florida that I've stayed at was the one on Key Biscayne, which is very nice. You should be able to find some pretty decent deals for June. Good luck!

There is also a Ritz Carlton in Naples. Beautiful beach. Check it out.

Copamarine Hotel in Guanica on the Caribbean side of the island. Closest airport is Ponce, but if you fly into San Juan, take the toll road, Route 52, & you'll be there in about 2 hours. You are then near the Guanica Dry Forest, a UNESCO Biosphere site, and the Taino Ruins on Route 10 just north of Ponce. Ponce itself is gorgeous, with a world-class art museum - 15 minutes away. You could also visit a coffee plantation around Yauco and go to San German, which is a very special place w/ an old cathedral turned into a museum (only open Wed. through Sun.) as well as another cathedral off of its second town square.

If you don't mind driving, there is also the Areceibo Observatory run by Cornell Univ. - it was used in the films Goldfinger and Contact. Nearby, are the caves of Camuy. Then there are the beaches of Rincon, which also has a lot of good hotel options at reasonable prices.

I think you've been given bad advice by other posters to this site. Florida is boring at that time of year. FYI - I used to own a condo in S. FL. but then bought one in PR precisely bec. I wanted a year-round destination.

One more comment - the problem w/ El Conquistador is that it is a self-contained (over-manicured, IMHO) resort at the far eastern tip of the island. Once ensconced there, you're not likely to go off the resort premises...

<<I think you've been given bad advice by other posters to this site. >>

What bad advice was she given? Everyone who responded shared their experiences. It's good of you to mention a new possibility that no one else did but that doesn't make the information that was provided to her "bad."

Too bad you made your decision on only two very opinionated bloggers. Puerto Rico has to offer way too many wonders, other than just beaches and "Big Name" hotels with pricey offers and bad services. As cejnyc noted, there is a totally different PR to see if you just go a little further away from the ill- reputed hotels of San Juan and Isla Verde. The Copamarine Hotel is just one example of a good ,small hotel with very friendly personnel that give that little extra effort to make you feel at home. Their facilities are very kid-friendly. There is a complementaty small boat trip to "Gilligan's beach", an undeveloped small cay with white sand and pristine waters. There are also daily snorkeling and scuba trips to nearby reef areas. Oh, and by the way, the food is great !!! In the nearby town of Cabo Rojo(about 30 min trip by car)is the "Playa Sucia Beach";for me, the best(and YES!,unspoiled ) beach of all PR. So please, the next time you plan for a trip to a place you've never visited before, you just have to ask the locals; they always know better....Have a nice trip to Florida!

<<So please, the next time you plan for a trip to a place you've never visited before, you just have to ask the locals>>

Or a public relations person for the Copamarina. ; )

Sorry, Tom, no public relations person here, just a retired doctor living in Adjuntas, PR, a small town, about 13 miles to the north of Ponce, the second largest city of PR, which, by the way, has a Hilton hotel, with no beach, but with a great golf course. The hotel restaurant food is good,but a little pricey. Any way, there are very good restaurants in the area to choose from, specially in the "El Tuque" village(about 10 minutes from the hotel). Downtown Ponce offers some very good upscale restaurant, if you're into fine dining. You know what, after all, maybe I'm a public relations person, but not for the ritzy-bitsy, break your bank account- hotels that other people promote, but for the other side of Puerto Rico that few people know, and has so much to offer. But yes, you're right, no 5 star hotels in this area, so maybe you will never take the chance to come over here... but at least, you should give it a try. Have a very nice day, Tom.

There are no 5 star hotels anywhere in Puerto Rico. I don't "promote" any hotels or any particular part of Puerto Rico. I give people information on the hotels and the area that I know about. I'm glad you decided to post here. There isn't too much information out there about the Caribbean side of Puerto Rico. Maybe I will get out that way one of these times.

Actually, there are several 5-star hotels in Puerto Rico, but it didn't sound like that's what Travelbuff was looking for. I, too, have zero affiliation w/ the Copamarina & my condo is actually in the Condado area of San Juan. But when I have had friends stay in my apt. who want to see more of the island, I've suggested Copamarina - they go there & never leave, just keep extending their stay. I also go there sometimes - it's just a different kind of experience. In Rincon, there is the Horned Dorset - at one time, it was THE 5-star hotel of the entire Caribbean (not just PR). It's not quite as elegant as it once was, but still has that gorgeous tile work & still has a wonderful kitchen.

Pls start from the premise that PR is 2 islands - greater San Juan & everything else. If you only stay in San Juan, you're missing a lot. You can do every type of physical activity imaginable on PR other than snow ski (which you can do on Maui in Hawaii).

I hope travelbuff is still checking these posts.

I suppose I also ought to add that I am not of Puerto Rican ancestry at all - & only speak a few words of Spanish despite having visited PR pretty regularly since 1974. Having visited almost every Caribbean Island since the 1970s (I'm an avid SCUBA diver), I just find the range of activity and history options far more extensive on PR than any other Caribbean island (even thought there are several other islands with much better SCUBA diving). I'm never bored there - & the weather is wonderful (unless you get caught in a hurricane - Aug. & Sept. are the months to avoid if that is your concern). Ocean breezes keep it pleasant year-round, even in the summer.

Not to beat a dead horse but.. I guess it depends on who is rating the hotels. There are a number of 4 star hotels but even the best hotels in Puerto Rico don't seem to generally get a 5 star rating. I think travelbuff was looking for that type of hotel since she indicated that she wants a Ritz Carlton-type hotel.

There is a Ritz-Carlton in Isla Verde. It's quite popular.

I know. I've stayed there numerous times. Travelbuff did not want to stay there - but wanted something of that caliber.

Wow...ladies and gentlemen,
I am overwhelmed at the ruckus my bequest/search has caused this posting. This is one of the characteristics I adore most about Fodorites; their passion for travel always exceeds my expectations! You all never cease to amaze me with your knowledge and vigor for the places you love. Thanks so.much for all of your input. And gentlemen let's be fair and agree that; somehow, and in someway, in every corner of this big wide and amazing world lies some kind of beauty that is loved and cherished by someone!

Just want to hop onto this post...

We are looking to go to PR in February and have found many great villas in Palmas del Mar/Humacao. Anyone have any feedback about this property? I know that it is a gated, enormous community. I plan to take the family off property to explore the island and other restaurants.

Thanks!

Well I have never been to PR but rented a nice condo in Isla Verde right on the beach. We save money on taxes and hotel fees as well as being able to save money on eating out sometimes. Too bad Travelbuff changed there destination based on everyone elses opinion. It's always nice to experience places for yourself. One persons experience may not be anothers and I hear that PR is a beautiful island. I can't wait to get there.
Incase Travelbuff is interested I found a very nice condo for $800 for the week. It's actually located next to the Ritz Carlton sharing the same exact beach for way less. I found the website in the Fodor's Carribean travel book www.vrbo.com They have rentals available for just about anywhere you can think of including Florida. My husband and I are also in a budget and I don't want to spend more that $2500 between flight and hotel. As far as renting a car, you don't have to rent one for the entire time you are out there if you still want to visit PR. You can rent day by day or even for half the day if you want to explore outside San Juan. Wherever you end up I hope you have a blast!!!

We have rented a codo in the luquillo area just a half block from the beach. The beach was wonderful and we practically had it all to ourselves. We did rent a car and explored different areas of this beautiful island.