Puerto Rico is hot. Like Ricky Martin hot. Or Luis Fonsi hot.
The island has been captivating the hearts of travelers from around the world for years with its colonial architecture, tropical climate, live music, salsa dancing and traditional cuisine.
For travel-starved Americans it is an easy flight to an exotic destination that (A) doesn’t require a passport, (B) accepts dollars and (C) produces Bacardi rum. What more could you ask for?
There are indeed more low-key resort areas located outside of the capital of San Juan, but why not stay in the city and experience the food scene, the culture and the nightlife that you can’t get anywhere else?
Three hotels in Historical Old San Juan – This district is a National Historic Landmark District and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the “Old San Juan Historic District”. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You won’t get a beachfront hotel here, but you’ll be surrounded by colonial architecture, great restaurants and lively nightlife.
Hotel El Convento
This is San Juan’s iconic historic hotel, opening as such in the early 1960’s after a complete renovation by an heir to the Woolworth fortune. The original building was built in the 1600s as Americas’ first Carmelite Convent. Today much of the ambiance remains, from handmade Andalusian tiles to mahogany beamed ceilings and one-off antiques, including every wood-carved bed in the guest rooms. Member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. (58 rooms).
100 Cristo Street
Phone 787-723-9020
Palacio Provincial
This is San Juan’s newest hotel, opening in January 2021. Set within a storied Colonial-era building just one block away from the Hotel El Convento, the hotel has been meticulously restored and reimagined with an attractive mix of old and new including original curated art from local artists. Member of Preferred Hotels. (43 rooms)
Calle Cristo Esq. San Francisco
Phone 787-425-0166
reservations@palacioprovincial.com
https://www.palacioprovincial.com/
The Gallery Inn
This fascinating inn has a commanding view of Old San Juan’s northern bastions and, with plant-bedecked courtyards, fountains and sculptures, is one the city’s most pleasant accommodations. Artist Jan D’Esopo, whose artworks decorate the interior, has owned The Gallery Inn since its renovation in 1961. Composed of six intertwined town houses, this intriguing property beckons guests to wander through its gardens, patios, parlors and porticos. Equally unique are the guest rooms, decorated with everything from silk screens and watercolors to sculptures and paintings. (25 rooms)
204 Norzagaray Street
Phone 787-722-1808
reservations@thegalleryinn.com
https://www.thegalleryinn.com/
Four hotels in Condado – An upscale neighborhood located on the beach east of the historic colonial barrio of Old San Juan. The first three hotels listed are located waterfront on the main street (Ashford) within a block of one another. The fourth hotel (O:live) is located in the same area one block off Ashford by the lagoon.
Condado Ocean Club (formerly Serafina)
This is one of the newer hotels in San Juan (opening spring 2018 and rebranded autumn 2020). The ocean-inspired design and overall vibe is very “South Beach”, drawing an all-adult crowd to its lively yet sophisticated pool deck. It’s small enough to be intimate but not quiet enough to be boutique. (96 rooms, adults only)
1045 Ashford Avenue
Phone 787-625-6000
https://www.condadooceanclub.com
Condado Vanderbilt
At Condado Vanderbilt, a pink-marble, Art Deco lobby sweeps you into a bygone era where San Juan’s elite once summered and was the lavish abode of a famous Condado family, the Vanderbilt’s. Originally opened in 1919, the Vanderbilt was Puerto Rico’s first luxury resort hotel. The property underwent a $270 million renovation and reopened in 2014 restoring the public areas to their former grandeur and adding two additional room towers. Upon its 100th anniversary, it still reigns as San Juan’s premiere stay. Member of Preferred Hotels. (319 rooms)
1055 Ashford Avenue
Phone 787-721-5500
https://www.condadovanderbilt.com/
La Concha Resort
La Concha first made a splash on the Condado beach scene when it debuted in 1958 with its midcentury modern interiors and eye-catching poolside restaurant housed in a giant seashell. After a $220 million revamp by Renaissance Hotels for its 50th anniversary, the hotel is even more of an architecture-lover’s dream with a white marble lobby featuring an entire wall of glass that lets in the light from the beach. A Renaissance Hotel by Marriott. (483 rooms)
1077 Ashford Avenue
Phone 787-977-3399
reservations@laconcharesort.com
https://www.laconcharesort.com
O:live Boutique Hotel
This upscale boutique hotel somehow manages to feel rustic yet luxurious—a winning combination that lures romantics seeking the best of both worlds. The owner, an avid traveler, has amassed a global collection of French, Italian, Moroccan, and Spanish pieces that comes together beautifully. All rooms come with terraces, some of which look out towards the Condado Lagoon. The beach is two blocks away, but that’s okay: the real scene is found on the rooftop terrace, where a bar-café keeps conversations flowing. Member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. (15 rooms, adults only)
Aguadilla Street #55
Phone 787-705-9994
reservations@oliveboutiquehotel.com
https://www.oliveboutiquehotel.com
Don’t forget to check out my recommendations on how to choose the perfect hotel here.
