Caribbean - Ritz Carlton, San Juan

We (the Mr., Missus, and our Miss 3 and a half year old) are planning a vacation to San Juan later this month. I was wondering if people had stayed at the Ritz Carlton and what their experiences were like?

Whats important to us is a good pool area (a swim-up bar would be lovely), a nice clean (and safe) beach area and activities for our daughter.

Would love to get your input.

The hotel is ok, the pool is fine but the beach sucks (ie the airport is next door and aircraft noise makes the beach almost unusable). I prefer the Caribe Hilton or the El San Juan Hotel and Casino.

MisterNice

Stayed at the Caribe Hilton the last time. Wanted to go a little more upscale this time (is it even?) I loved the Hilton though-- it was all that we wanted, except a casino, I guess.

The Ritz has a good corporate rate for a Garden view room. Their website shows only a garden view suite, but I guess the rooms above the suite should be garden view rooms. I guess it falls under the City/ Airport view category. Is the proximity to the airport a huge noise issue? I'm surprised that Ritz built a (high-end) property with such an obvious problem.

It is amazing a RC was built so close to the airport. I guess most people booking it dont realize it. The soundproofing is fine though but noisy outside. I believe only the Embassy Suites is closer to SJU than the RC. You can easily walk to the slightly quieter El San Juan Hotel beach and they have some very nice plush rooms too.

MisterNice

Madame 13F and I stayed at the SJU RC at the end of Jan of this year. We were part of a group of approx 20 rooms (business trip) and the group sales manager made sure we had a junior suite.

The pool was too cold for swimming (poor weather) and the hot tub was almost too hot for soaking. We should have stayed out because our 4-yr old daughter ended up with a severe skin rash. Because the pool was cold, the hot tub was being overloaded with people and the chlorine levels should have been adjusted. Lesson: keep kids out of the hot tub.

We enjoyed the beach, and found the airport noise tolerable, maybe due to wind direction. There is a fee-based kids club, but you need to sign up the day before, IIRC.

We stayed at the SJU Hilton a few days later and found it to be much more kid-friendly. Just be aware that the Tower rooms do not have bathtubs. Our little princess needs a bath. We ended up surrendering our upgraded room for an older room with a tub.
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13F

Have you given any consideration to the IC in Isla Verde?

Any recent reports?

Any recent reports?

Stayed there a little while back. Got what I thought was a great deal with corporate rate. Airplane noise didn't bother me or Mrs. Dukenilnil at all. Noticed it occassionally, but really not loud on the beach and couldn't hear at all in the rooms. Convenient for beach spot near Old San Juan. Stayed rest of time on eastern shore aways from OSJ. Liked both experiences.