LODGING AROUND PUERTO RICO
Pet Friendly Lodging:
Wildane Kennels boards and ships cats and dogs with a pick up service. Tel 787-887-2140. Both of these boarding kennels are well established and very reliable.
Green Isle will allow your pets in Isla Verde.
Hacienda Alegre Inn, in the foothills of El Yunque allows pets and children. They have a lovely pool, spacious graounds and serve breakfast.
Old San Juan Hotels: . . Fine Dining: try my favorites, Pikayo and Aguaviva.
Most Luxurious:
Chateaux Cervantes is a small boutique hotel recently opened in Old San Juan. The rooms are gorgeous! Dining room in lobby is fun as well. On Cervantes Street. $225. and up. Tel.787-724-7722
El Convento Hotel. A beautifully restored convent. Great staff and security. $240. and up. Look for internet deals. Tel 1-800-468-2779 local 787-723-9020. Their restaurant, 'Panza' is world class.
Very Nice:
On the way into Old San Juan are two hotels, side by side. The Normandie and the Caribe Hilton. The Normandie is nice and you can access all the dining facilities of the Hilton next door. Check internet for better deals.
The Gallery Inn, San Juan. Guesthouse. Historic 300 year old rambling buildings with interior courtyard, artists residence and studio. Art, antiques and views. Lots of stairs to rooms, fairy tale labyrinth, quite unique. Some rooms are rather small with steep steps. pricey. Tel. 787-722-1808.
Sheraton Hotel Old San Juan. Large new building, but fits in architecturally. Across from the Cruise Ship Dock, very convenient location, small pool on an upper floor. Casino off the lobby. Nearby restaurants are among the best in San Juan. Aguaviva, Parrot Club and Dragonflies. $185. and up.
Mid Range:
Best choice: Howard Johnson Plaza de Armas Hotel is right on the plaza. Tel. 787-722-9191. Rates start at $95. plus tax, with AC. Single and Double rooms have no windows, yet are clean and comfortable and quiet. There are two rooms that overlook the street, with a balcony, which are more expensive. Good location.
El Milano is a reasonably nice hotel in the medium price range. On Fortaleza Street. Can be noisier than Plaza de Armas and about the same price range.
San Juan Suites Hotel. New. Fortaleza Street. Tel. 787-725-1351
'Da House', 312 Calle San Francisco, (787) 366-5074 Nice rooms start at $80. very good for a modest hotel. However; some of the rooms can be very very very noisy.
Budget Lodging in Old San Juan: Don't expect to walk into a budget lodging in Old San Juan 'in season' and get one... there is a much greater demand for rooms than there are rooms. Most of the rooms are reserved in advance, even the cheapest rooms.
La Fonda El Jibarito Restaurant has 2 upstairs guest rooms w/kitchen. On Sol Street 280. $75. a double ( or even 4 people) tel (787) 725-8375. Ask for Mr. Ponce , usually do not take one nighters. Good value. You should reconfirm a few days ahead.
Next door ( to the right facing the building) is a semi-dive that rents rooms for a week. Very cheap, shared bath, not for single women.
Guesthouse on Tanca Street (halfway up the block above Fortaleza St. (above the Chinese Restaurant). Starting at $25. one person or $35 for two persons. With AC one person $40., two $58. Group rate for student groups etc. All rooms plus tax. Vicente "Quique" Castro. tel. 787-722-5436 write: PO Box 9020947, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico USA 00902. Don't expect to show up and get a room here. They are now often booked way in advance. Be sure you reconfirm a few days before.
Around the corner on Fortaleza Street is the 303 'Fortaleza Guest House'. tel. 787-721-7112. A little cheaper than the one on Tanca Street. New management is supposedly doing a little better job. $35. double, $50. with AC. plus tax. Be sure to reconfirm before coming
Please note: A great budget lodging in the small beach town of Luquillo!
San Juan - Condado to Isla Verde:
Ocean Park (San Juan) Casa Boriqua - 1 bedrm vacation apt., near beach. AC and TV . will pick up at the airport if needed.
Acacia Seaside Inn has an excellent reputation.
Coral Princess Inn in the Condado. Small hotel with good reviews. Rooms start at $99. plus SC $7. plus 9% tax. Coral Princess Inn Website.
Olimpo Tel. 787-724-0600 ( modest) and Hotel Miramar 787-977-1000 (nice rooftop restaurant) are good alternative places to stay in Miramar, which is not on the ocean, but near Old San Juan and the Condado.
Ocean Park:
Casa Boriqua. Spanish decor, one bedroom, ground floor apt, safe, small terrace, AC. Just off Loiza Street in the Ocean Park area of Santurce. Excellent business location, near the Hotel Pierre. 4 blocks to a nice beach. Street parking, or 2 blocks to buses and taxis. Complete kitchen . . . this neighborhood is filled with trendy restaurants. Ocean Park (San Juan) Casa Boriqua Price ranges from $80 to $95 per night plus 7% tax.
'Tres Palmas Inn'. Tres Palmas Inn is located on one of the nicer sandy beaches in the San Juan area only 10 minutes from the airport. Major hotels and casinos are nearby, as well as restaurants and shopping malls. Phone: (1-787-727-4617) or (1-888-290-2076) There is NO public transportation in the area, this is nice a choice, but only if you have a rental car.
'Hosteria del Mar' is another good choice on the beach, same lack of transportation. Tel. 787-727-3302 . . . So is 'Numero Uno' Guest House. Tel. 787-726-5010
The International Airport Hotel Best Western has been remodeled and can be a very convenient place to stay, although a bit overpriced. Rooms start at $165. a night off season, it is now a Best Western Hotel. Very convenient for late arrivals and early departures.
Most hotels in San Juan are in the Condado or Isla Verde areas.
El San Juan Hotel- Luxury Hotel in San Juan is in Isla Verde on the beach ( pools) and has always maintained a good reputation and an excellent casino. Terrific night life.
The Condado Plaza Hotel is nearer to Old San Juan in the Condado area and has a small beach with calm water. Pools and Casino too.
More modest is the small Luquillo Sunrise Beach Hotel in Puerto Rico East of San Juan, . across the street from the ocean and beach, watch the break from your balcony!
Eastern Puerto Rico has the El Conquistador Resort and Golf Course and Casino. They have a small ferry out to Palomino Island that has a pretty beach with turquoise waters and white sand. El Conquistador also has the Las Casitas Village on the property.
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