San Juan Intercontinental or Hilton Caribe
 

We are headed to San Juan in November for a 4 day rest, relax and "warmer-upper" before heading into the Northeast winter :-)

Looking for a nice place to stay with pool, beach and amenities but close to restaurants, sights and nightlife

Money is a factor -- but I have gotten a very affordable rate for a oceanview balcony room at the Hilton and a bit more expensive rate for a standard room at the Intercontinental -- Anyone got an opinion?

The Intercontinental is on Isla Verde beach, a long strip of good beach lined with hotels and condos. It's next to the Wyndham El San Juan. It has attractive grounds with a beachfront outdoor cafe and an adquate, but not spectacular pool. Isla Verde is a very developed, busy sector. That makes it not a pretty area to walk in, but gives you the conveniences of plenty of restaurants, bars, casinos, grocery stores, etc., right outside your hotel.

The Caribe Hilton is more isolated because it's on a point at the entrance to the Condado lagoon. It has larger grounds with very attractive, recently redone pools & a spa. The beach is a private, small, man-made beach. Good for sunning and wading, but not much else. There's not that much near the Hilton. Once you leave the Hilton grounds, there's the Normandie Hotel on one side and a few businesses, including a restaurant or two and a liquor store, on the other. You can walk to the Condado area, but you have to walk past these businesses and cross the lagoon bridge. There's lots more restaurants, bars, hotels, etc. in Condado, but the thing is that the part of Condado closest to the Hilton has lots of renovation and construction projects going on now. You have to get past lots of boarded up buildings in order to get to the more active part of Condado. Although I generally find the Condado are more pleasant to walk around in than Isla Verde, right now it's not very appealing because of the construction. If it were my choice, I would go for the Intercontinental, unless you're happy with staying in the hotel grounds and not having much of anything within walking distance.

Also, the Hilton is closer to Old San Juan.

Thanks! that's exceedingly helpful...

Now the San Juan Marriott is also in the running -- anyone have any thoughts on that property?

The Marriott is in Condado, but in the (currently) nicer end of Condado, a few blocks away from the major construction projects. It's probably the best location in Condado. Bus line right in front takes you to Old San Juan. Lots of restaurants nearby. There's often live music and dancing in the lobby (like in most of the bigger hotels). But, the beach is smaller and not as nice as Isla Verde and there's still some abandoned or under-renovation condos a few buildings down. I've heard only good things about the Marriott from people who've stayed there.

PR native has given you good advice. Have you checked to see if the Wyndham El San Juan and the Ritz Carlton , both in Isla Verde, are offering any specials at the time you will be in PR.