BAGoldEx From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 296 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 250 times:
A few friends and I are going for a quick weekend trip to San Juan next month and I wanted to know if anyone can recommend a decent hotel to stay at. They have nothing in terms of the usual brands I prefer to stay in, but I assume there must be some sort of reputable local place. I have heard the El San Juan is decent, but know of nothing otherwise. Also, does anyone know of any alternative airport to SJU where a private plane (Gulfstream 550) can be operated in and out of, or would SJU be the only option?
DeltaRules From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 3252 posts, RR: 15 Reply 1, posted (2 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 246 times:
Depends on what the "brands you prefer to stay in" are.
I know the most about the Isla Verde area, as I've stayed there each of the 10 times I've been there. I can't remember any off the top of my head, but there are a few local places on the lagoon side of highway 26 near SJU (meaning across 26 from Isla Verde Ave.) Some of the local places I've seen there may be reputable, but the ones I've seen don't have more than 7 or 8 rooms & not a whole lot in terms of amenities if you're looking for something other than a bathroom, a tv & a bed. Along Isla Verde, there's a Hampton Inn, a Ritz-Carlton, an Embassy Suites, an Intercontinental (former "Sands" hotel) & a Courtyard by Marriott, located in a former high-rise Holiday Inn. As for the ESJ, I've heard it's not that great honestly. One of their pools looks like it's fresh out of the 1960s, although there appeared to be some renovations going on when I was in PR in November.
If you go downtown or towards Old San Juan, there's a Marriott and a Wyndham, among others. There are also several hotels in Condado, but I've never really been down there, so I'm not sure exactly other than the Caribe Hilton. There's another hotel adjacent to the Caribe, but I can't remember what it is.
The only alternate airport would be Isla Grande (TJIG), located near Old San Juan, but I don't know if you could get a Gulfstream in there or not. The next closest commercial airport would probably be PSE, on the other side of the island.
DeltaRules
Edit: Forgot about the Best Western at the airport, located on top of the AA terminal.
DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 6999 posts, RR: 27 Reply 2, posted (2 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 238 times:
Quoting BAGoldEx (Thread starter): I have heard the El San Juan is decent, but know of nothing otherwise.
I stayed at the El San Juan last May and was quite underwhelmed. The place does have history, but it is a shadow of its former self. The rooms were shabby, and certainly not up to the standard you'd expect of a high end resort. Pretty much any dining choice on site is expensive. Granted it is (supposed to be) a high end resort. But a lower cost lunch place would have been nice. Though there is a decent selection of restaurants in the immediate area.
If I were to pick a place to stay in San Juan I'd look at something in Old San Juan, there are quite a few boutique hotels. I suppose Isla Verde is ok, if you never leave the resort. B/c it isn't particularly close to anything else, besides the airport.
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
The ESJ Towers - last time I stayed there - reminded me of something right out of a bad 1960s James Bond Movie - absolutely unimpressive (well, okay, no such thing as a bad Bond Movie).
I never stayed in Old San Juan, but it is DEFINITELY a must see destination.
BAGoldEx From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 296 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (2 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 225 times:
Thanks, we ended up deciding on the Ritz-Carlton is Isla Verde. We're there for only three days and can always get a cab into Old San Juan, but we were more concerned with having a quality beach than anything.
DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 6999 posts, RR: 27 Reply 6, posted (2 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 213 times:
Quoting BAGoldEx (Reply 4): we were more concerned with having a quality beach than anything.
As far as San Juan's beaches go, Isla Verde is supposed to be the nicest. Several of my Puerto Ricans friends have said that the beaches in and around San Juan are not the greatest. You need to get out of the San Juan area to find the nice beaches in PR. But the water is warm, which is always a plus.... especially if you are going in the spring.
FWIW I thought Isla Verde was a bit of a downer after being in Clearwater Beach a few months earlier. The sugary white sands on the Florida Gulf coast are so very nice. Too bad it was too cold to enjoy it.
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
DeltaRules From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 3252 posts, RR: 15 Reply 7, posted (2 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 209 times:
Quoting DesertJets (Reply 6): As far as San Juan's beaches go, Isla Verde is supposed to be the nicest.
I like the stretch of beach where the Ritz is located, mostly because it's less crowded. With the exception of immediately in front of the Ritz, which is jammed especially on weekends.
Quoting ANCFlyer (Reply 3): The ESJ Towers - last time I stayed there - reminded me of something right out of a bad 1960s James Bond Movie - absolutely unimpressive (well, okay, no such thing as a bad Bond Movie).
The pool reminds me of the one from the Fontainebleau at the start of Goldfinger.
TZ757300 From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 2502 posts, RR: 8 Reply 8, posted (2 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 202 times:
Quoting ANCFlyer (Reply 3): The ESJ Towers - last time I stayed there - reminded me of something right out of a bad 1960s James Bond Movie - absolutely unimpressive (well, okay, no such thing as a bad Bond Movie).
Hahaha, I've stayed there twice. The whole place is straight up 60's retro. Nice people, shitty rooms. But, I'll add that if you get a high enough room on the right side of the hotel, you can get a nice view of the approach into SJU. I have pics from the room I was in of a TW 757 and a Eagle ATR-42 flying in.
Ren41 From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1519 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (2 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 197 times:
Two weeks from now I will be spending a week at the Ritz Carlton, it'll be my second stay there. I've stayed at the El San Juan many times and feel the rooms are getting a little outdated and always seemed to be dirty. Though nothing beats the lobby of the El San Juan, it's a better idea to stay at the Ritz. The casino at the Ritz is a lot better in my opinion (Three Card Poker), there's a lot less kids around the pool during the day, and the beach is a lot quieter. Make sure you go to the El San Juan one night and eat at the Italian restaurant there, I believe it's called La Piccola Fontana- order the Veal Parmigiana, it's incredible.
Edit:
Try to get a room facing the airport for the best view (honestly, who would want an ocean view when there's an airport on the other side). Nothing beats sitting by the pool at the Ritz listening to the roar of the jets taking off.
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