sleeepy

Cruising out of San Juan in February on RCCL; planning to arrive the day before; need recommendation for nice hotel (but not too pricy) and must see/must do (anything but Old San Juan) in 2 half-day increments (our flight arrives around 1:15 on Friday and the ship leaves Saturday night so we have Friday afternoon and most of Saturday for excursions). Thanks! (I have posted this message on the cruise forum as well, but find I get quicker/better info on the regular forums).

A_Traveller

Regarding hotel recommendations, what is your definition of "not too pricy". For starters check out the following:

El Canario Inn
El Canario By The Sea
El Canario by the Lagoon
Holiday Inn Exoress
Howard Johnson
Comfort Inn

As for tours and excurisions if your flight arrives at 1:15 it will be well over an hour 9and possibly closer to 90 minutes) before you deplane, claim your luggage, take a cab and check-in at your hotel so it is doubtful you'll be ready to do anything before 3PM. Most of the organized 1/2 day tours or excursions will have departed by around 1:00PM so you may just be faced with spending what's left of the afternoon hanging around the hotel pool or going to the beach (since you said you don't want to visit Old San Juan.

There are plenty of things you can schedule for Saturday but bear in mind that you'll have to check out of your hotel sometime late morning (usually before 11:00AM) so you'll have to make arrangements to store your luggage or take it with you on the excursion. Check with the hotel concierge to find a 1/2 day tour that interests you and those in your party.

sleeepy

Thanks. I have 2 options for the luggage: there is a place across from the cruise pier that will hold your luggage for the day and indications are that we can get checked onto the ship around noon (I'm surprised at how many people do so). We may just, as you say, hang around the pool/beach on Friday. The couple we are traveling with have already seen Old San Juan and my husband is not much for window shopping unless it involves speakers, televisions or other such items I'm hoping for a room under $200.

A_Traveller

The hotels on the previous list should be in that budget range. Also check out the ESJ Towers. It's an older (1970's style) high rise condo that sometimes rents rooms by the day. It's clean but a little "dated", it's on a nice beach and within walking distance of casinos, shops and restaurants (anything from fast food to upscale steak houses).

For you Saturady half day excursion, think about a tour of the rain forest. It's not too far from San Juan and you can experience quite a bit of it including a liesurely stop for luch and still be back in plenty of time to board your ship.

lotusflower

Last year I stayed at the InterContinental and I would recommend it to anyway going to the area. We got a good deal through Orbitz. Rooms are on the small side, but clean and the hotel has all of the resort amenities. Also, it's right next door to the "El San Juan" which is a cool place to go to for drinks, dinner and gambling/nightlife.