Hampton Inn, Isla Verde???

[elaineb]

Has anyone stayed here and what is it like? We are cruising on July 4th, and this is the only place (other than the pricey) Caribe Hilton which has any rooms! I reserved the rooms and will keep trying Priceline for the Caribe until July. Just wanted to know if anyone has stayed here. How close is Isla Verde to the airport and the Pan American Pier? Also what is Isla Verde like? Are there shops and restaurants there? Should we keep trying for Condado? All your suggestions will be appreciated!

 

Nordic Empress 3/01

Carnival Triumph 4/02

Fascination 8/03

Adventure of the Seas 7/04

[10X]

We have stayed there twice and will probably do so again on our next trip. The hotel is nice, clean, and the staff is friendly and helpful. They have a pool with a walk-up/swim-up bar. They also have a LARGE free continental buffet breakfast in the morning. There are always cabs waiting outside in the morning. We never went exploring much in the area, perferring to relax after the long flight there. There are some small local shops, including a well stocked drug store, just a block away, for those last minute items. There is also a Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop a block away if you are so inclined. The Intercontinental Hotel is about 2 blocks away and houses Ruth's Chris Steak House, our favorite restaurant. Expensive though. The Wyndam El San Juan Hotel and Casino is only a block away if you want to do some gambling. If not, it's worth the walk to look at the carved panelling inside the lobby.

 

I'm not up on the pier names so I don't know how far it is to the Pan American. However, it's about a $16 cab ride to old San Juan. The hotel is only 2-3 miles from the airport, about $3 per person last time we were there.

 

If you are with a group, take a van taxi from the airport and arrange with the driver to pick up your group to go to the pier. Typically, there are not van taxis waiting outside the hotel.

 

'89 Commodore/Caribe I

'92 NCL/Westward

'96 NCL/Seaward

'99 RCI/Rhapsody Of The Seas

'00 RCI/Legend Of The Seas

'01 Princess/Ocean Princess

'02 RCI/Vision Of The Seas

'03 Princess/Sea Princess

'03 Princess/Sea Princess

 

TAHITIAN PRINCESS 02/11/05

 

[elaineb]

Thanks, 10X, for the input. Glad to hear it's clean and there are restaurants, etc. nearby. Great hint on the van cab as well. We'll be 7 of us! What about the noise factor? Others complained about the noise as it is so close to the airport. Did you go to the beach at all?

 

Nordic Empress 3/01

Carnival Triumph 4/02

Fascination 8/03

Adventure of the Seas 7/04

[10X]

We did not go to the beach, since we're not beach people. We both like to snorkel and I scuba dive, but neither of us care much for just lounging on the beach. We did take a cab to Old San Juan once, but the second time we just kicked back and relaxed. The pool bar/grill makes some huge burgers.

 

We live out in the country so we readily notice city type noises, but we were not bothered by noise from the airport at all.

 

It's funny that someone would complain about the noise at the Hampton Inn. I've never read about the noise at the Intercontinental Hotel or the Wyndam El San Juan Hotel and Casino, yet you can see the other two from the Hampton. The Wyndam is actually only about 200 yards away.

 

'89 Commodore/Caribe I

'92 NCL/Westward

'96 NCL/Seaward

'99 RCI/Rhapsody Of The Seas

'00 RCI/Legend Of The Seas

'01 Princess/Ocean Princess

'02 RCI/Vision Of The Seas

'03 Princess/Sea Princess

'03 Princess/Sea Princess

 

TAHITIAN PRINCESS 02/11/05