maltasr

The Best Western in the airport is OK but can be expensive. Check rates at bestwestern.com and use one of the discounted rates (senior, AAA, government, Internet,) rather than using one of the other hotel search engines (Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, etc.). I've usually paid around $20 each way for a cab and have found the Marriott Courtyard in Santurce to be the best value at around $98.

vxmike

Also Jetblue's last flight in is from JFK at around 3am, and the first flight out is 6am so I'm not sure how they could kick everyone out of the secure area for more than 1/2 hour or so if they were so inclined.

theblakefish

There is free wifi in the B6 terminal, but I have yet to find it in the UA and AA terminals....ymmv

Although there is coverage, it is spotty in all of San Juan at best, especially in the airport building. I cannot get a VZW signal in the AA terminal to save my life but can bearly get it near a window in the UA portion, same goes with my VZW air card...it only works with a clear line of sight to the sky in my experience...


I arrived at the ESJ recently at 0500 and the casino was temporarily closed... ...it was open again that evening so maybe they have a short closing time for cleaning and maintenance? Or maybe that specific entrance was just closed?

At most major hotels, this is absolutely true! :-: I arrived at the ESJ at 0500 and it was in full swing...I have also left the Conrad Condado at around 0500 and the DJ was bumping...looks like a cold drink can be had there in San Juan pretty much anytime there is a bartender present, which =

Isla Verde can definitely be walked to from SJU -- I have seen many PR-based flight crews walking through Isla Verde on my way to the airport and then I saw them walking through the terminal later...guess they live in that area? I am not sure if I would walk it at night without knowing the way but it can be done...I will not be trying it myself, though! @:-) Something to remember when looking at hotels...add $25 r/t if staying in Isla Verde and $40+ minimum if in Old SJ or Candado...that might end up making the on-airport hotel more appealing when the hassle of transportation is taken into account.

I would hope so...even if I get kicked out of the B6 area it is probably still nicer landside than the old terminals airside! FWIW, the Admiral's Club...which is the last airline club left there (I think) opens at 545a....

vxmike

There are early ~6am flights on several airlines, so I imagine they have to start letting people through security well before 5am. The possible window for evacuation is very small, so I'm not too worried. B6 terminal will be my planned home!

fly_by_night

Returned yesterday from SJU. Sadly forgot a bag of espresso beans on AA's MIA-LAX 777 service. I trust someone will enjoy them.

My latest experience:

Per suggestions on this thread, decided to check out Isla Verde. Took cab to El San Juan hotel (Hilton) for $15 each way ($10 base + $2 fuel surcharge + $1 bag fee + $1 late night surcharge + $1 tip. PR taxi authority: nickel and dime much?)

The hotel itself was a royal miss: mediocre lounge act playing at excessively loud levels. And by "lounge act," I mean to say one guy with a Macbook Pro, an amp, and a microphone. To his credit, there were several local couples Mambo-ing up on the dance floor. Oh, and by "dance floor," I mean to say "hotel lobby." No proper dance floor as such...

Uninspired by the bar scene, and disinclined to spend time in wannabe casinos, I headed up to "Brother Jimmy's" on the 10th floor. This open-air restaurant/bar would be a decent place to kill some time were it not for their midnight closing time. Even so, I managed to pass about an hour here, as the bartender simply locked the front door at closing (rather than kick out the few patrons.) Pleasant breeze and beach view to boot. Note: $10 Don Q rum & coke. For the true penny-pinching mileage runner, I'd suggest plunking a well-timed dollar into a casino slot machine as a cocktail waitress passes by. PR may not be Americanized through and through, but Vegas's free drinks for gamblers concept hasn't escaped them.

After closing on the 10th floor, I wandered back downstairs to catch part of the Dodgers vs Giants game. Hotel staff seemed indifferent to my occupying a lobby seat (simultaneously charging phone/laptop), so I stayed until the lounge act was no longer bearable (< 30 minutes). During said 30 minutes, I pondered the advisability of a solo white guy walking several blocks to another Isla Verde hotel. Realizing that I'd sooner hang myself by shoelace than to remain in the San Juan lobby for 5+ hours, I gathered the requisite courage to explore the IV strip at 12:30am. Departed the lobby and hooked a left...ending up at the Ritz-Carlton (7 min walk.) I wouldn't go so far as to recommend those unfamiliar with the area to go exploring at midnight, but I can confirm there were indeed other gringos out on foot (also, no shortage of police).

After the Hilton, the tranquil Ritz was just my speed. Spent the first hour drinking the casino out of rum via nickel slots (at a net cost of $5), followed by another two hours split between pool lounge chairs and lobby arm chair (more electronic device charging + reading). No bags permitted in casino, laptop bag included. Left bags with front desk.

*Isla Verde side note: Hilton doorman indicated that the nearby Denny's is not 24/7. He seemed to think they reopen for breakfast around 0600 (though he didn't know when they close.)

Got back to the terminal with four hours to go before my 0645 dept. I swear the time passed quicker on my last SJU turn (when I planted myself in a chair at pre-security B6.) AA moved the 0600 MIA dept to 0645--perhaps the extra 45 minutes is what got me.

As I've already given my SJU impressions a few posts up, I'll just say that on this occasion, I discovered a local Rican sandwich shop that cooks up decent breakfast pitas (among other things) for about $2. Coffee will set you back a dollar. Be prepared to habla espańol. Located near McDonald's and Subway (near Delta check-in/B), this local spot appears to cater to the graveyard shift airport employees.

Back to SJU in a few hours, tropical storm Isaac permitting.

fly_by_night

This isn't a Best Western now. I tried to book it at Best Western's website, but their nearest hotel is several islands away. lol.

I didn't bother to note the name of the hotel when I walked past, though I think it is a local/non-chain establishment now. Looked crummy. I'd sooner rough it in the terminal than to overpay for a dive.

vxmike

I'm at SJU now just got up from my first night. The airport is fantastic for sleeping. The AA terminal is deserted at night, and I found a pile of cots down by gate 4. I arrived at 11:30pm and got a solid five hours of sleep before worker noise began around 4:30am. All the rum on the flight in helped too. I didn't even investigate the other terminals. Today i've got SJU-MIA-LAX-HNL looking forward to the 777 in business. 51 hours on the ground in HNL before going back to SJU on Delta.

andol469

I'm in San Juan currently. In SJU (the actual airport), Sprint service is almost nonexistent. The signal drips frequently. Outside of the airport, voice and data service is fine in San Juan. I'm writing this post on Sprint's 3G in Old San Juan.

vxmike

I didn't have any problems using Sprint on my Galaxy S2 in the AA terminal.

andol469

I had service in the UA terminal near the windows, but the further in toward security, I lost the signal. I frequently lost signal even at the (outdoor) taxi stand

JMN57

If anyone has any info on the Marriott Courtyard Isla Verde, please post. I just made a points reservation for a night in late October when I start a MR there. I'll get there around 11PM & flight out at 6:40AM.

Questions:

1) how hard to get cabs (airport / early at hotel - 5AMish)
2) hotel site says cab $12 each way - is that right?
3) comments on quality ( shower and a nap)

Anything else?

Thanks

Burj

This is good news....

So where exactly where the cots? Where they set up all ready or "collapsed" and you set one up to be able to sleep on it.

Did you ever end up leaving airside or did you stay there the whole night?

vxmike

Right next to AA gate 4. They were assembled and stacked in piles...all you have to do is grab one off the stack. I'm assuming these were out for displaced Issac travelers, so I'm hoping they're still in place Saturday night for my second overnight.

I stayed airside the entire night. With ~6 hours in between flights, having been up since 4:45am and on four flights to arrive in SJU, and having plenty to drink....I slept great in the terminal

IflyfromPHX

I have two SJU MRs scheduled in in September. The first is this weekend. Overnighting in SJU both trips (slightly extended stop +/- 18hrs each trip). Going to explore the city (first time going to SJU).

This weekend Fri 7th - Sun 9th
PHX>LAX>JFK>SJU>ATL>DTW>PHX
Arrive in SJU - Sat at 12:35pm
Depart - Sun at 9am
Staying at the Embassy Suites - hotel and Casino

Sept 29 - Oct 1
PHX>LAX>JFK>SJU>JFK>SLC>PHX
Similar arrival/departure
Staying at the DoubleTree

Anyone travelling tito SJU these days?

Mr. Roboto

Plus US$1.00 baggage charge (per piece)