San Juan recommendations
Feb 18th, 2004, 10:16 AM
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San Juan recommendations
We're a couple in our 30s looking to go to San Juan for a quick getaway (Thursday - Sunday). First time anywhere in the Islands (with the exception of Grand Bahama).
Can anyone recommend a nice (3 star or better) hotel around late March - early April. Preferably few kids, nice clean, upscalish rooms, decent food. We're basically planning on traveling light and lying around the beach.
Also, is there Spring Break down there?
Any suggestions from those in the know?
Can anyone recommend a nice (3 star or better) hotel around late March - early April. Preferably few kids, nice clean, upscalish rooms, decent food. We're basically planning on traveling light and lying around the beach.
Also, is there Spring Break down there?
Any suggestions from those in the know?
Feb 18th, 2004, 12:18 PM
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If you want beach and city action all in one, your options are to stay in the Isla Verde or Condado areas. Both have hotels and condos lining the beach, lots of restaurants, casinos, bars, and nightclubs, and easy access to Old San Juan via cheap public buses or not too expensive taxi rides.
Condado is closer to Old San Juan and is an older, more walkable neighborhood. It has more quiet and attractive spots than Isla Verde, although some spots are run down or under renovation (lots of construction projects toward the west end of Condado). Isla Verde is a larger, newer strip of condos, hotels, and a busy main street lined with businesses of all sorts and small strip malls.
The Isla Verde beach is better than Condado beach: longer, wider, cleaner, and generally a little gentler water. But, once you step away from the beach and the beachfront resorts, the Isla Verde area is not attractive.
Hotels:
The best hotels in Isla Verde are probably the Wyndham El San Juan and the Intercontinental right next to it. Both are pretty upscale, although the Wyndham probably has more newer or renovated rooms. The Wyndham lobby and pool facilities are also more luxurious than the Intercontinental and the Wyndham is the hub of the Isla Verde nightlife. There is also a Ritz Carlton in Isla Verde, but is on the fringe of the Isla Verde area, not as central location as the Wyndham or the Intercontinental.
In Condado, the best place to stay is the Marriott. It's very centrally located to most of the Condado restaurants and shops and has a better beachfront than most of the other Condado hotels.
I'm not sure when the peak of college and school spring break season is this year, but PR is not a big spring breaker destination. The local spring break, however, will crowd the beaches. The local spring break always coincides with holy week, which I think this year means that locals will be flocking to the beaches around April 2-12. Good Friday is 4/9 and many businesses will probably be closed that day. My advice would be to try to avoid going the weekend of 4/1 to 4/4 or 4/8 to 4/11, unless you don't mind a crowded beach.
Condado is closer to Old San Juan and is an older, more walkable neighborhood. It has more quiet and attractive spots than Isla Verde, although some spots are run down or under renovation (lots of construction projects toward the west end of Condado). Isla Verde is a larger, newer strip of condos, hotels, and a busy main street lined with businesses of all sorts and small strip malls.
The Isla Verde beach is better than Condado beach: longer, wider, cleaner, and generally a little gentler water. But, once you step away from the beach and the beachfront resorts, the Isla Verde area is not attractive.
Hotels:
The best hotels in Isla Verde are probably the Wyndham El San Juan and the Intercontinental right next to it. Both are pretty upscale, although the Wyndham probably has more newer or renovated rooms. The Wyndham lobby and pool facilities are also more luxurious than the Intercontinental and the Wyndham is the hub of the Isla Verde nightlife. There is also a Ritz Carlton in Isla Verde, but is on the fringe of the Isla Verde area, not as central location as the Wyndham or the Intercontinental.
In Condado, the best place to stay is the Marriott. It's very centrally located to most of the Condado restaurants and shops and has a better beachfront than most of the other Condado hotels.
I'm not sure when the peak of college and school spring break season is this year, but PR is not a big spring breaker destination. The local spring break, however, will crowd the beaches. The local spring break always coincides with holy week, which I think this year means that locals will be flocking to the beaches around April 2-12. Good Friday is 4/9 and many businesses will probably be closed that day. My advice would be to try to avoid going the weekend of 4/1 to 4/4 or 4/8 to 4/11, unless you don't mind a crowded beach.
Feb 19th, 2004, 09:36 AM
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The Wyndham El San JUan is the place! We had a very romantic time staying there. The grounds are lush & beautiful and there is a nice beach just feet from the two pools. Lots of night life right in the lobby. Restaurants & stores to walk to & a bus right outside the hotel that takes you to old San Juan.
Feb 19th, 2004, 09:50 AM
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Thank you for the very helpful information.
I am surprised, though, at the prices that I'm finding at the "better" hotels. $200-300 per night. Does that sound right? We're looking at dates in late April.
It's also very strange that there's such a diversity in opinions about the same hotel. The El Conquistador, for example, has gotten stellar reviews from some and then been panned by others. And not on just this website, but others like frommers.com, tripadvisor, etc. I didn't think a quick island weekend would be so complicated to put together!
I am surprised, though, at the prices that I'm finding at the "better" hotels. $200-300 per night. Does that sound right? We're looking at dates in late April.
It's also very strange that there's such a diversity in opinions about the same hotel. The El Conquistador, for example, has gotten stellar reviews from some and then been panned by others. And not on just this website, but others like frommers.com, tripadvisor, etc. I didn't think a quick island weekend would be so complicated to put together!
Feb 20th, 2004, 04:01 AM
#5
If you're looking at the El San Juan, Ritz-Carlton and El COnquistador, then the $200-300 range does seem right. You're planning in on going right at the peak of high season. I don't know if they are currently running one but Wyndham often has a five for free special (stay four nights, get the fifth for free).
Your title indicates that you're looking for accomodations in San Juan but then you ask about El Conquistador. You may already know this but El Conquistador is about a 30-45 minute drive east of San Juan. It is a very big, very expensive, secluded resort. I think for these reasons, you get a lot of different opinions. I stayed there several years ago and thought it was great for a three or four day getaway (I combined it with five days in San Juan).
Your title indicates that you're looking for accomodations in San Juan but then you ask about El Conquistador. You may already know this but El Conquistador is about a 30-45 minute drive east of San Juan. It is a very big, very expensive, secluded resort. I think for these reasons, you get a lot of different opinions. I stayed there several years ago and thought it was great for a three or four day getaway (I combined it with five days in San Juan).
Feb 22nd, 2004, 05:58 AM
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Hi - I'm writing to all those veteran PR travelers. Myself and 2 friends are traveling down there in a few weeks. I've read that Condado and Isla Verda are the best places to stay if one wants close access to beach and downtown/old san juan. I've been researching accomodations and seeing some great places but priced pretty high ($250+). I'm looking for more affordable lodging and was curious if anyone had stayed in a quality hotel/inn/b&b in those above areas. We are semi-budget conscience but don't want a dump. Any information/recommendations please post! Thanks,
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