Just got back from a quick one-night stay after doing El Conquistador in Fajardo for two nights. This was my first visit ever to an Intercontinental, and wow, was I unimpressed. I got the IHG card for the annual free night anywhere for $49, planning to use them exclusively at Intercontinentals (and maybe try an Indigo in there), and now I'm just straight-up thinking about cancelling the card.
To be fair, I am just not a fan of IHG properties in general. I would never stay at a Holiday Inn or HIX unless forced to for some reason, and the Crowne Plaza stays I've done (Portland, Pittsburgh, Anchorage) all left me feeling completely blase. I had the hope that maybe the ICs were different.
Check-in was quick and very expedient (in stark contrast to almost everything else in P.R.). The FD agent indicated that we'd been "upgraded" as Platinum members (yay!) to a standard room RIGHT NEXT to the elevators (non-yay). The room was ok, but it was old and 1970s-reminiscent, down to the grungy tub (hotel bathtubs should be banned) and tiny bathroom. We did have a nice ocean view from the approximately 3 square foot balcony (not even exaggerating), which is probably what our upgrade was.
I can say, too, with great confidence, that I had the worst pillows I've ever encountered at a hotel here, and that's really saying something. Kleenex-thin and worthless. Coupled with the intensely hot comforter (appropriate for MSP, not SJU), I think I got like an hour and a half of sleep here before our 4:00 AM wake-up call for the 7:15 AM flight.
Did I mention that we had no cable TV the whole time, either, just static?
Wasn't really impressed with the jacuzzi and pool area here, either. The pool looked nice for kids but was just too cold when we were there. The jacuzzi was alright but was small and packed the entire time. The beach was... just a beach. Both my GF and I very strongly preferred the Courtyard Isla Verde down the street, and it goes without saying we also preferred the La Concha (the two places we stayed the last time in San Juan). If I'm very unfavorably comparing this IC to a Courtyard, that should be saying something.
Not grossly awful but I was left completely underwhelmed, pretty much like every experience I've ever had at a IHG property. I'm glad I used points and didn't pay anything out of pocket.