EnhancedByCO

As far as the noise, I stayed at the ES for two weeks this January, and the only time I heard the planes landing was when I was using the pool outside...even though my room directly faced the final approach path for the two runways at SJU (it's not quite under the flight path, but almost directly adjacent--you can definitely do some fine planespotting from the hotel pool). Occasionally, I could faintly hear a plane, but it was so muted I had no trouble sleeping or doing anything else.

Can't speak about the Hampton Inn.

TrojanHorse

Priceline can get you a resort for $75 to $80 before tax and fees on average which includes the Caribe Hilton, Condado Plaza (if you get this, its the joker card and you lose) Marriott, Interncontinental and one other. Intercont. is by the airport. good luck

Sweet Willie

Days Inn $90

MisterNice

I will agree the ES is quietier, but still too noisy for this light sleeper. One wing is but 50 feet from Rt 26, a major highway. The Hampton Inn is much older and much noisier.

MisterNice

afrugal1

Howdy, Eastbay! Mrs. Frugal and I enjoyed our visit to the Caribe as well. Even still, the new property at Los Cabos kicks Caribe's butt.

hedoman

If it's a quick overnight stay, I do the ES. It's nice, clean, quiet and most important....close to airport. Next stay there will be 12/21. Too risky using PL for a fast overnight stay.

Gandalf

I have stayed at the Hyatt and Emabssy in Dorado. Traffic is a bear heading back into San Juan in the morning as well as heading back at the end of the day. The beach at the Hyatt was awesome and the Embassy was close to brand new.

Does anyone have comments on the Hilton in Ponce? The website pictures don't show the beach, so I am wondering if there is a problem.

Thanks.

Sweet Willie

The Hilton Ponce is a nice resort Hilton, but the beach is a dark coarse sand beach and not large at all, maybe 20' wide X 90' long

The Ponce Hilton is surrounded by a tall wall (maybe 8'), this wall extends around by the beach area. To get to the small beach you walk through an iron gate from the resort property.

I'm a Hilton shareholder and loyal frequent stayer at Hilton, but when on the south side of Puerto Rico, stay at the Copa Marina Resort in Guanica (20 minutes to the east of Ponce on the coast). There is info on the Copa Marina in the Flyertalk Travel Forum in the Caribbean section. See also: http://www.copamarina.com/

edited to add link to the Flyertalk Travel Caribbean link for Copamarina: http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...ML/000029.html


[This message has been edited by Sweet Willie (edited 10-20-2002).]

lizzie

I agree 100%. The pictures on Copamarina's website doesn't do it justice. A 4-night Copamarina stay at $170/night, bed and excellent breakfast with free upgrade to oceanview room = divine mini-vacation. Also, they will pick you up at the airport for $65, a very good price for the 2 hour trip.

writetorich

I had thought that the "casino" was closed.

If this is not the case then, At the Carib is the casino operrated by Hilton or is a concession.

If it is truely run and managed by Hilton that I have no doubts ion the fairness and integrity. But I have heard Bad stories about P.R's Casinos, esp. the slots.

MisterNice

The casino at the Caribe Hilton is closed and the area is being used for other functions. I was told the license was turned back to the PR govt. One of the hotel asst mgr said they will be re-applying for another license soon. I dont know what this means as dealing with the PR govt is a very fluid situation.

I believe all the PR slots are owned and all profits go to the PR govt. Payouts have never been large but then they have many 5 cent machines too. Most players are local PR elderly ladies especially on the weekends.

There are plenty of casinos in PR. The Hyatt Cerromar in Dorado has a huge new one. The nearest one to the Caribe Hilton is at the Condado Plaza Hotel (it was a Holiday Inn, then a Williams, then a Wyndham etc) about 0.5 mi away. You can walk to it during the day, but absolutely take a taxi or drive to it at night. This should be a valid link: http://anyhotelanywhere.com/findhotel3.cfm/115517

MisterNice

Eugene

Hmmm... Perhaps I should've known better, but I've crossed that little bridge from Hilton to Condado on foot and walked way past that Condado Plaza hotel at night on several occasions, and never felt unsafe.

Sweet Willie

Condado is the nicest w/in walking distance IMO. We never have taken a cab when making this walk at anytime of the day/night and have not felt a need to.

The most luxurious casino (looks like a casino from Monte Carlo (not the vegas hotel)) is the casino at the El San Juan, simply beautiful.

writetorich

well , The Carib Hilton "offered" to upgrade me to an executive floor for a "supplement" of $75 nightly. Boy am I glad that I have a HHonors Gold card

In the way of disclosure my stay is a priceline booking. Should that make any diffrenence?

Eugene

Yes, it should make a difference. According to the information in HH Diamond VIP package, Priceline stays are not eligible for any elite benefits. This has been posted by Beckles in this thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum57/HTML/004477.html