9 Best Hotels in Greater San Juan, San Juan

The rooms have a modern look (with shades of blue, white, and cream), but elsewhere, this hotel's classic appeal remains, including in the lobby, which has intricately carved mahogany walls. Beneath a coffered ceiling are three bars, among them the iconic Chandelier Bar, down a few steps from the lobby and set below a massive oval, two-ton chandelier. The pool area has a trio of poolside cabañas with indulgent amenities like televisions and four-poster beds draped in curtains (some guests opt for breakfast in these beds). Rooms are larger than most on the island and have modern furnishings.

Not many hotels can boast about having their own fort, but Fortín San Gerónimo del Boquerón, which once guarded the entrance to San Juan Bay, is on the grounds of this 17-acre sprawling resort. It has a private beach, a multilevel pool with a swim-up bar, and a luxurious spa. The airy and iconic Oasis lobby bar makes one of the more legitimate claims to having invented the piña colada; it holds an official government certification.

This adults-only hotel sits right on Condado Beach and has rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows facing either the Atlantic or the lagoon. The interior is awash in hues of ocean blue, white, and light gray. Take a dip in the infinity pool, and book a massage at one of the oceanfront cabanas. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served at the on-site SOCIAL.

Slightly geared to business travelers, the DoubleTree offers attractive rooms and an excellent value for anyone who doesn't need to be in central Condado or on the beach. It's across the street from a 24-hour supermarket and wine shop, near the on-ramp to a major highway, and within walking distance of lots of main attractions and restaurants. The immaculate rooms are modern yet warm, decorated in rich reds and browns. Some also have a Murphy bed (of the same mattress quality as the main bed). There's a coffeemaker in each room, ergonomic desk chairs, warm cookies at check-in, and a free shuttle to the beach. There's clearly an emphasis on comfortable details that make a hotel stay more pleasant.

Minutes from the airport, this hotel is known for its friendly staff, its perks, and its glass elevators that rise amid a plant-filled atrium with a pond and waterfall. Outside is a lagoon-style pool and an adjacent bar. The suites are not luxurious, but they are spacious enough for a family. The location makes the hotel popular with business travelers. Note, though, that although the beach is nearby, you have to cross some busy streets to reach it.

If you don't mind a short walk to the beach, you can get a room at this friendly hotel for much less than its competitors across the road. The palm-shaded pool is so pleasant that you may not even make it to the beach. The guest rooms are decorated in tropical prints with dark wood furnishings. Free coffee and tea are available around the clock in the lobby. The Guacamayo Pool Bar & Grill has a basic menu of hamburgers, quesadillas, ribs, and the like, and also serves as a swim-up bar.

Owned by Sylvia De Marco and presented as an an urban Shangri-La, this hotel is a vegan wellness center. It is decorated in a Bohemian style, much like its sister retreat Finca Victoria in Vieques. Guests are treated to morning yoga, a daily vegan breakfast, and filtered water, tea, and coffee during their stay. The hotel is walking distance to the beach and feels intimate, for those wanting a more local experience.  

This relaxing inn is so close to the beach that you can hear the crashing waves. Catch some rays on a patio beside the small pool behind a whitewashed wall, enjoy a cocktail at the bar, or dine at the oceanfront restaurant. The simple rooms are decorated in shades of cream, brown, and blue, with custom-made furnishings, including sleek writing desks.

Although it's somewhat dowdy on the outside, the Royal Sonesta's remodeled guest rooms are spacious and contemporary, done in soothing shades of white, cream, and brown. Some have pleasant ocean or city views; others overlook the palm-shaded pool.