Where to stay in San Juan the night before

Wha time of day do you arrive in SJU? Have you ever been there before?

If you arrive eary in the day and have been there before-- go for a hotel in Isla Verde. It is a nice area with lotds of places to get wine and water and good restaurants near a nice beach.

If you have never been to SJU stay in Old SJU. It would be a shame to go there and not see the old city at all. [Even if you arrive late] If you stay in the old city wait to check out of your hotel as long as you can and see a little of the city on embarkation day, too. I think the ship leaves at 8:30 pm.

PS--we stayed at the Marriott in Isla Verde the last time we were in SJU.

Wha time of day do you arrive in SJU? Have you ever been there before?

 

If you arrive eary in the day and have been there before-- go for a hotel in Isla Verde. It is a nice area with lotds of places to get wine and water and good restaurants near a nice beach.

 

If you have never been to SJU stay in Old SJU. It would be a shame to go there and not see the old city at all. [Even if you arrive late] If you stay in the old city wait to check out of your hotel as long as you can and see a little of the city on embarkation day, too. I think the ship leaves at 8:30 pm.

 

PS--we stayed at the Marriott in Isla Verde the last time we were in SJU.

Can you give rci your luggage, check in, embark the ship and then disembark and take a ride back to the city? Then reboard?

Can you give rci your luggage, check in, embark the ship and then disembark and take a ride back to the city? Then reboard?

Yes.

Can you give rci your luggage, check in, embark the ship and then disembark and take a ride back to the city? Then reboard?

Yes--you can do that. but, remember that the ship docks at the Pan Am pier. Royal Caribbean only uses the Old Town pier for port days So, you would need to take a taxi from either Isla Verde/Condado or Old town and drop luggage. Then take a taxi back to the Old town area to tour and then taxi back to the ship. [~$20 each way]

edit:sorry--was typing when Bob posted. :)

We stayed in the Embassy Suites. Very convenient and there is an Outback restaurant on the premises. :)

Yes--you can do that. but, remember that the ship docks at the Pan Am pier. Royal Caribbean only uses the Old Town pier for port days So, you would need to take a taxi from either Isla Verde/Condado or Old town and drop luggage. Then take a taxi back to the Old town area to tour and then taxi back to the ship. [~$20 each way]

 

edit:sorry--was typing when Bob posted. :)

You're answer was more informative.:) Important to know about the difference in piers.

We stayed in the Embassy Suites. Very convenient and there is an Outback restaurant on the premises. :)

Better yet some great local restaurants nearby. Nothing wrong with Outback, but why not try something local?

Is there a hotel close to the Pan Am pier? Thanks

Is there a hotel close to the Pan Am pier? Thanks

Closest would be the Sheraton Convention Center, but still not walking distance to the pier.

Try the Verdanza in Isla Verde. Nice hotel and decent price.

We always stay at Plaza de Armus. Nothing fancy, we always request a ground floor room. No windows in the first floor but who cares, I am sleeping there. Older hotel but clean. You are right on the plaza which is great as you can pretty much walk everywhere. Staff is so friendly, we have never had any issues.

 

Grocery and a drug store on the plaza so able to pretty much pick up whatever you need. Any restaurant within walking distance. Great people watching. We love it there, it is the only place we stay at in San Juan

 

We grab a cab the morning of the cruise and head to the port. Very easy.

We stayed here back in 2011. Charming. Pictures look as if it's been updated some. When we were there there was no breakfast nook or dining available as it was being renovated. Just across the Plaza was a Subway that served breakfast. There's a Walgreen's (??) right next to it where we purchased a couple bottles of wine. Staff was very helpful in recommending restaurants that served Puerto Rican fare. It was fun to walk around at night - lots of people and stuff going on in Old Town.

The Hotel is very old. The elevator runs V-E-R-Y S-L-O-W. It was easier to walk our bags up the stairs. And unless they renovated the stairway, it's very narrow, made of old stone and very worn in the middle where everyone steps.

It's easy to walk to the 2 Forts, there's a great Mexican restaurant on the water for a late night drink. Easy to get a cab to the port.

BTW, this hotel is also known as a Howard Johnson's. We would stay there again!

Haven't stayed there personally, but it gets very high praise on the San Juan forum.

Thank you! The reviews on Trip advisor didn't look to bad. But man is it pricey to stay in San Juan!

Yes.

Awesome! Thanks!

What is the taxi rate to the Embassy Suites from the airport and then to the port. Is it per taxi or per person?

They do it by zones. I want to say it was $12 to $24 a taxi (we had two people) and I think when we were given our receipt it checked the number of passengers on it.

stayed at Hotel Miramar in 2013 - had no issues:)

Hampton Inn near airport is fantastic! Great outside cabana bar and grill by pool

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