Craig

We are planning a trip this Memorial Day weekend to San Juan. Is the El San Juan Hotel a good choice to stay at? Any better? Any fun things to do while we are in San Jaun that we should not miss? Any tips or suggestions would be very helpful!!! Thanks! Craig

julianne

Have been to Puerto Rico 3 times and have really enjoyed it. The most recent time we were there, we went to a restaurant called Chef Marisoll's in Old San Juan - superb! We always stay at the Hyatt Dorado Beach Resort which is 30-40 minutes away from the airport. It is absolutely gorgeous.
There is also a neat art gallery called the Galleria San Juan that is very unique. It is in Old San Juan.
Have fun!

Diane

The El San Juan Hotel in Isla Verde? Is this the really BIG one? it is awsome.
Young people get all dressed up (think lycra and tropical suits)to hit the dance floors. Great live music. The Ritz Carlton is also super. Do visit Old San Juan and El Morro. But you may be happy just to enjoy all the super hotels have to offer.

searching

The Galeria de San Juan is also a guest house! I stayed there, and thought it was wonderful. Mind you, it's not a four-star kind of place, but I'm not a four-star kind of person, so I loved it. If I were to go back, though, I'd rent the suite instead of one of the rooms.
El Morro is definitely a must see. There's also another fort (at the opposite end of town); I think it's called San Cristobal, and it's well worth seeing, too.
Oh, and do NOT go wandering down into the picturesque-looking cemetery (not far from El Morro) unless you're with a group. I almost walked down there by myself, but got a bad feeling on the way in so decided against. Good thing, too...I later read that it can be quite dangerous. There's only one way in and out - through the slum
(La Perla), so once you're in there, they've got you!
You'll probably want to allow some time to just walk around other parts of Old San Juan, though - it's
fascinating! Also, you can take a ferry over to the Catano and see the Bacardi Rum Factory (don't bother hanging around Catano - it doesn't look too safe - just take a bus directly to the factory). I took the factory tour, and it was quite interesting.

Christine

Craig:
We stayed at the Sands which is next to the El San Juan Hotel. The El San Juan was beautiful but if money is an issue check out the Sands. Don't miss the rainforest! It was great! Enjoy!

Christine

Craig:
We stayed at the Sands which is next to the El San Juan Hotel. The El San Juan was beautiful but if money is an issue check out the Sands. Don't miss the rainforest! It was great! Enjoy!

Katie

I've read somewhere that the Sands has changed its name (and possibly its management), so you won't find it listed in the current hotel data base for San Juan. I can't remember what the name changed to ... anyone out there to add to this????

Cheri

It's called the San Juan Grand and I wish we would have stayed there in Dec. instead of the El San Juan. True it has the most beautiful lobby you may ever see, but the rooms left a lot to be desired for the price. I have stayed in hotels where their bathroom was bigger than the room we had at the ESJ. Save your money, stay someplace else and walk to the ESJ to admire their lobby.