Westin or Intercontinental?
 

We are going to PR in March and would like some advice. What is a better choice of hotels-Westin Rio Mar Ocean Villas or San Juan Intercontinental? We are perplexed as to how far out it will feel if we go to the WEstin since it is about 45 min. from town. Any thoughts? Thanks!

If you decide on the Westin most of the time will be spent at the hotel unless you rent a car. The Intercontinental is in Isla Verde, 10 minutes from the airport. Plenty of restaurants in the area including that at the Wyndham El San Juan located next door. If you are looking for a quiet experience in a lush setting go to the Westin.

Junebug, are you considering the hotel at the Westin Rio Mar or the Ocean Villas? If it's a choice between the Ocean Villas and the Intercontinental I think you would be happier at the Villas, but I would be interested to hear how you could get a similar rate at the two, as the Ocean VIllas often are quite pricey.

My family and I just got back from The Westin Rio Mar-It was lovely. The food good, service excellent, grounds are beautiful.<BR>It is about a 35-40 minute ride from the airport. If you are the type of person who likes to go into town and explore, then this is probably not the most ideal place due to the location.<BR>If you are going on a vacation, to hang out by the beach, play golf- then the Westin is ideal.

Lorraine,<BR>I read on another forum that people from cruise ships and lots of local people were overcrowding the Rio Mar. Did you experience this?

The price difference was insignificant in that we are using Diner's Club points. I do realize that the villas are pricey, but we do not want to be so isolated from all of the action and a wider variety of restaurants. Past postings have bashed the Westin's restaurants. That is why I was concerned.

the ocean villas at the Westin will be much nicer than a room at the Intercontinental but it would be difficult to say which would be a better choice without knowing what types of things you are looking for in a vacation. Have you considered spending a few nights at the Westin and a few at the Interconintental? I've done that before (at El COnquistador and the El San Juan) and found that it offered the best of both worlds.<BR>