The Caribbean - Advice on San Juan hotels & things to do?

I'm going to San Juan for 4 days later this month. Is the Marriott Courtyard Isla Verde Beach Resort a good choice? Other than the horrendous $25/day parking, the it seems like a good choice, based on comments I've heard. Re things to do, are the Bacardi Distillery and Arecibo Observatory worth going to? Both have tours from what I've read. Any other suggestions? Good places to eat? Thanks for any info you can provide!

Dining: http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdining_forum/Forum47/HTML/000003.html

As far as hotels, what are you looking for in a hotel? on the beach, must be a chain, pool, casino? etc etc.

------------------
Visit FlyerTalk Dining http://flyertalk.com/diningfr.shtml

I haven't been to San Juan for a number of years, but I loved the El San Juan Hotel (stayed on a combo business and pleaure trip). I haven't heard anything really about it recently -- I hope its still nice.

I liked the Rio Camoy caves (no idea if I am spelling that right) -- reletively recently opened to the public and one of the largest underground rivers in the world. Old San Juan was interesting, but only for an afternoon or evening -- you don't need a lot of time to explore that area. I also did my open water scuba diving certification there -- not real diving, but I understand there is some good real diving there. I also took a plane trip to Calebres (sp?) island, which was very nice and unspoiled -- we just went for the day -- flew out and ferry back. Nice trip.

I hesitate to recommend restaurants since it was 1994 when I was there last. I understand a restaurant in Condado (near Isla Verde) with a name which sounds like "ah-healy mo-healy" -- really, don't laugh -- is still around. Locals took me there for Puerto Rican food -- seemed to be popular with tourists and locals. I took the Bacardi tour and through it was worthwhile, although not exactly amazing. They did have free samples.

I hope 9 year old info is some help. I'm sure others will be more so.

Right next door to the El San Juan Hotel which is quite expensive is the Intercontinental which is also a very nice hotel and can be gotten at a more moderate rate. Very often there is a Best Buy offered on www.Luxurylink.com (http://www.Luxurylink.com) for about $750. for five nights in an oceanview room with champagne and such. Don't know if it's still available though and there are date restrictions usually. But we stayed there and it was lovely.

I've had good luck at the Condado Plaza. Stayed there during peak season for about $125 a night, and received a suite. Very good location and very nice hotel with beach and excellent pools. Morton's Steakhouse at the Caribe Hilton is very good, as is Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. Arecibo is worth a trip, and if you drive that way, be sure to see the Rio Camuy caves nearby. Also worth a drive are El Yunque rainforest and Luquillo beach.

[This message has been edited by hhonorman (edited 08-07-2003).]