Puerto Rico need advice - La Concha Renaissance vs San Juan Marriott
 

My husband, 12 year old son, and I will be going to Puerto Rico in February. We are trying to decide if we should stay at the La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort, or the San Juan Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino.

I would very much appreciate recommendations.

Thanks!

I stayed at La Concha in July two years ago. I can't compare because I do not know the other hotel, but will be happy to answer any questions about La Concha. I liked the fact that we had a small kitchen in the room...I think it was called a "tower suite."

I'm the reverse, I stayed at the SJ Marriott and not the other.

It was a really nice hotel and I loved my room (I got one with a balcony overlooking the ocean). It was a very convenient location for either going into town proper or walking around that area where there are places to eat and shop. One of my best experiences there was going into a local small restaurant about a block or two from that hotel which had live music most nights -- the band was excellent and playing a lot of Cuban music, actually, which I like. I think that cost nothing (no cover). I even walked from my hotel to the fine arts museum, which was excellent. It is on a bus line and I took it into the center once but couldn't get it back -- because the buses there were terrible in terms of not following schedules. They were supposed to come every 30 min but didn't. Luckily, taxis don't cost much.

The only thing with the SJ Marriott is the beach there is not the greatest. Just a small strip. That isn't that important to me, but if it is, I think you need to go farther away (east).

Ok, so one comparison is that the beach at La Concha (Condado) is great. But there are drownings every year so you need to take care when swimming there. La Concha has two pools, one of which (just off the beach) is reserved for adults. We never ate near the hotel, preferring to walk or taxi to SanTurce. I'd recommend at least one dinner at Jose Enrique, about a 20-minute walk from the hotel, or quick taxi ride.

I have some comments on the hotel, and dining, here:

http://www.fodors.com/community/cari...uerto-rico.cfm


http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/858140

(This should be moved to Carribbean board.)

I know La Concha has a resort fee, not sure about the other, so be sure to figure that in to daily cost.

I've stayed at the Marriott and enjoyed it including the pool and the beach. If there is a resort fee it might show up on the Marriott website when you attempt to book it.

When we stayed there was a large group of people with their children from New York and they apparently decided they owned the pool and kept shouting to their relatives BACK IN New York about how great it was. This sort of thing can, and does, happen anywhere, unfortunately. I am sure your experience will be more pleasant.

Thanks all. This was very helpful!

If you stay at the Marriott, I hope my favorite vacation (ever) local guy is there. When we were having breakfast across the street this past January, a local guy climbed the coconut trees outside the hotel. After reaching the top with incredible speed, he kicked the coconuts off to the landscaping below - much to the annoyed amusement of the Marriott security guy, who kept yelling at him in English and Spanish to get down and stop. He did not, but after the trees were bare, climbed back down, collected them in a shopping cart, bowed to the gathering crowd, and left.

If he returns, maybe he can teach your 12 year old to climb 50 foot tall coconut palms.

I think the Marriott did have a resort fee. A lot of those hotels do, I didn't book based on whether a place did or not, but on where I most wanted to stay.

The water at the Marriott is kind of rough, also, from what I've heard, due to the geography there. Some people do like the beach there, I'm sure, they were out there a lot. I just don't think it's that nice compared to many other places I've been in Mexico, for example. And it isn't that wide a strip. There were tons of kids around, of course, in the pool and beach area, you probably can't avoid that at most of these hotels where families go for vacations.