San Juan Travel Guide
Hotel Hype / Thompson Hotels / San Juan Hotels / Puerto Rico Hotels / → All Tags
The Thompson Hotel San Juan Looks Pretty But Is Not Happening
A few years ago Thompson Hotels was rumored to be working on a Puerto Rico project with hotelier Jason Pomeranc slipping to Travel + Leisure that plans were in the works. But we haven't heard anything about this hotel for quite sometime. Until yesterday.
A reader emailed us about the renderings on the Studio Gaia website which we wrote up last March. (This is the same design firm where we found the renderings for Thompson Toronto as well.) So we decided we should probably check in on this hotel again.
Sadly, there's no good news here. The Thompson San Juan is not happening anytime soon according to our sources. There was a possibility of opening in San Juan, but the property never became available.
Still, don't get too sad. Thompson London aka The Belgraves will open in May 2011 and Thompson Seoul is definitely still on for 2012.
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Workers at Hilton's Puerto Rico Hotels Ready to Go on Strike
TK.
Morgans Hotel Group / San Juan Hotels / Hotel Renovations / → All Tags
Morgans Hotel Group To Take Over San Juan Water and Beach Club
It's a San Juan-derful day! Ok lame puns aside there is some interesting news in San Juan, Puerto Rico today. First, we learned about the San Juan Marriott's YouTube Concierge and then a tipster pointed us to this press release that announced Morgans Hotel Group would be taking over the San Juan Water and Beach Club Hotel next week. The former managers were Desires Hotels.
The hotel will remain open as it undergoes renovations to transform it into a Morgans Hotel-branded property that will "boost travel and attract a more hip, rich and famous crowd." Our tipster wondered, "Rehab Puerto Rico?" Oh god, we hope not. Then again, we sort of hope so. It's a trainwreck we can't help but watch.
[Photo: San Juan Water Club's Facebook]
YouTube / Marriott Hotels / San Juan Hotels / Concierges / → All Tags
The San Juan Marriott's You Tube Concierge Makes Virtual Bragging Easy
Every time we go away, we feel pangs of guilt if we don’t bring back souvenirs for our nearest and dearest; especially, our beloved dog-sitter. As a carry-on only kinda gal, it can get burdensome, and many times we cop out with a 25¢ cookie cutter postcard with an impersonal message.
Well, the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino just launched a very cool (and complimentary) service that lets guests send a virtual shout out to the folks at home, and avoid the whole issue of having to schlep a bunch of useless tsotchkes. Plus think of all the money you’ll save on ever-increasing postage prices if you’re a postcard kinda person.
Killer View / Puerto Rico Hotels / → All Tags
Room With a Killer View: Ocean and More Ocean from Condado Plaza
We are suckers for a room with a killer view. We find that we are even more likely to forgive some minor hotel inconveniences if we can stare out the window at something pretty--yeah we are that shallow. Let's help out our fellow hotel mavens by uploading rooms with killer views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. We will feature our favorites in this space from time to time. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number of the hot view.
With thanks to HotelChatter tipster Michelle, we're pretty happy to bring you a rather nice killer view from Room 1020 of the Condado Plaza Hotel and Casino in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We're big fans of views of vast oceans, they seem to free our minds up so much ... and a few romantically waving palm trees in the distance are also good for the soul.
Apparently the hotel, which has just been renovated, is the only one that boasts views over the ocean as well as the Condado Lagoon, so it sounds like a large proportion of their rooms will have some kind of pretty impressive view.
Puerto Rico Hotel Reviews / Island Hotels / Old San Juan Hotels / → All Tags
Old San Juan's Most Famous Hotel Use To Be Run By Nuns
If you have your heart set on staying the night inside the walls of Old San Juan you will no doubt consider El Convento Hotel, which is a former convent in the middle of the historic walled town.
Be prepared, there are no ocean front rooms here, nor any beach or sprawling pool area to speak of. This is a charming old Spanish Colonial property with some updates (flat screen television and wireless access). However, the maze of terraces and quiet sitting areas, some offering day-long complimentary beverage service, along with the impossible to beat location are reasons why folks choose to stay here.
If you are looking to stay in a quiet location that is still in the midst of the Old San Juan action -- this is your place, if you are looking for ocean views and beach access, move along.
Rooms can be scored for under $200 depending on availability and the season.
Puerto Rico Hotel Reviews / Island Hotels / Marriott Hotels / → All Tags
Bonus Killer View: San Juan Marriott Penthouse
The best part of the The San Juan Marriott and Stellaris Casino? For us that would have to be the penthouse -- yes, yes, as always we are suckers for clear views of the norther and southern skies -- blame DirecTV.
In any event, this penthouse is not just for high rollers, and no you can not actually make a reservation to stay in the penthouse, there are no beds. If however, you are a Marriott Rewardie, or someone that has made a reservation in one of the hotels Ocean View rooms (and paid the resort fee), you get key access to this sky box, of sorts.
Up here you can have a continental breakfast, inside or al fresco, and take in the the sights and sounds of San Juan. On a clear day you can easily see all the way to Old Town San Juan, or scout out your beach spot from above.
Puerto Rico Hotel Reviews / Island Hotels / Marriott Hotels / Hotel Video Tours / → All Tags
Hotel Video Tours: San Juan Marriott and Stellaris Casino
Take a look inside room number 605 at The San Juan Marriott and Stellaris Casino.
What we found inside...
Warm Weather Hotels / Warm-Weather-Hotels-Map / Puerto Rico Hotels / → All Tags
Warm Weather Hotels: Big But Beautiful in Puerto Rico
It's big, but it's still good. We're talking the luxurious Caribe Hilton San Juan between historic San Juan and Condado in Puerto Rico. Yes, there are 814 rooms or suites, but that means they've got 9 restaurants as well. There's even a Starbuck's, although the jury's still out on whether that's a good thing when we're on vacation. We don't want places to look too much like home.
Anyway, the Caribe Hilton San Juan is basically equipped to deal with everybody, be it a family trip, a romantic couple's vacation or even business travel. Of course, it's not always easy to keep your service standards high and appropriate to all those different kinds of guests, and we won't pretend things run perfectly there.
Guest feedback does show, however, that the vast majority of stays work out well, and the friendliness of the staff and the great beach are recognised by all. And a lot of people praise the comfortable beds. The main problem at the Caribe Hilton tends to be the relatively high costs in some of the restaurants.
A nice touch is that the hotel complex includes tropical gardens and a bird sanctuary, so you don't have to go far at all to find something to do (once you've done all your shopping in the hotel's boutiques). There are lots of different deals to be had so shop around when you're booking to make sure you don't pay full price--at a minimum, there are usually free night deals available for longer stays.
[Photo: WorldTravelerKY]
Puerto Rico Hotel Reviews / Hotel Renovations / → All Tags
Despite Sneaky Surcharges, GQ recommends El San Juan Hotel for its Havana 1959 Vibe
Everyone's already on the lookout for their winter getaway and winter isn't even here yet. That's how much we either hate winter or just love going to warm-weather locales.
At Men.Style.com, aka GQ's website, they suggest the El San Juan Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico if you want to feel like you're in Havana circa 1959 (hasn't everyone always wanted to feel like that?):
Havana 1959: El San Juan Hotel, San Juan. Channel your inner Latin playboy at this grand old modernist masterpiece, which has recently received a pricey makeover that its new owners flag as fifties Cuba-meets-nineties South Beach.
Sounds like a hotspot of cocaine and cigars if you ask us but in truth, staying here does guarantee warm weather, beautiful beaches, a spa and casino.
Rooms are high quality and include luxury linens and WiFi. But forget not, we wrote this place up back in February to alert you to their sneaky surcharges. Two bucks will be added to your bill a day for maid gratuity here. Maybe that's just how it was done in 1950s Cuba?
Related Stories:
· Sneaky Hotel Charges [HotelChatter]
· MEN.STYLE.COM Finds the Hottest Getways When the Weather Gets Cool
[Press Wire]
· El San Juan Hotel Reviews [TripAdvisor]
Hotels / → All Tags
Ritz Carlton Nice to Wall Streeters
The Ritz Carlton San Juan has pretty much everything you could want from a luxury resort. Prime beachfront location, a spa, casino and a Chinese restaurant.
And they are apparently not judging you or your outfits.
Service at the front desk, lobby lounge, restaurant, poolside, etc. were excellent. My husband and I have stayed at similar 5* hotels and at some, we felt looked down upon because we don't "look" wealthy...we're not flashy at all...just grounded wall street bankers in our mid-20s that happen to like nice hotels. At the RCSJ, though, we were always made to feel welcomed and didn't get a pretentious look from anyone....
The only thing that we would have liked to see was more dining variety. RCSJ has a steakhouse, a Chinese restaurant that didn't look that good, and an American/seafood restaurant. It would have been nice to have maybe a Latin/PR restaurant.
Awww...that's really nice to know that the Ritz doesn't mind if you're just a lowly Wall Street banker in your 20s. This and opening a hotel in White Plains must mean the Ritz is trying to reach more "average" people.
Related Stories:
· Ritz Carlton San Juan reviews [TripAdvisor]
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