Marysunshine

Has anyone been to the Intercontinental in San Juan, Puerto Rico? I was there each time it changed hands, but not since this last turnover and want to make plans but don't want a disappointment. Any help or info will be greatly appreciated.
Arlene

Cellisvae

I've stayed at this property several times since it changed hands last October and am pleased to report that they are really putting some money to work at this hotel.

It's been consistent improvement in the facility and service. It is definitely rated at least 4 diamond in my books.



[This message has been edited by Cellisvae (edited 12-28-2001).]

Marysunshine

Thanks Cellisvae: We are booked for 1/11-1/16th and are looking forward to it. I'll let you know what I think when I get back. Arlene

Marysunshine

Just returned from a five night stay at this property. It was beautiful. They have truly invested big bucks here and it shows. The hotel is lovely but even more important there isn't one person who doesn't say "Hi, is everything okay?". From the security in the lobby to the pool person to the towel person everyone is exceedingly concerned with giving good service and great service is what you get . Just wanted to let everyone know how much we enjoyed it.

RichMSP

I'm in the process of booking a weekend getaway to San Juan next month (August) despite the fact it's right in the middle of hurricane season. The fare was just too good to be true ($280 rt from MSP).

In any event, I'm contemplating the redemption of PC points and am wondering if anyone has anything good or bad to say about the IC property there. The website sure makes it look nice but I know in some cases the camera can lie. Also, how are the services?

I'm a PC Platinum member...any other Platinums have any advice to share on upgrade strategies at this location?

Any advice/thoughts/comments would be appreciated!

Maddy

I've stayed at this hotel probably 8 or so times including before it was an IC, most recently last August. (And I also have a long weekend planned for August again this year)

I like the IC for its location on Isla Verde beach - much nicer than Condado beach area- and the great pool area but don't expect super-luxury in the rooms (although I can't speak from personal experience about the club level rooms as I've not stayed in them) Rooms were renovated about 2 years ago but some of the standard rooms are on the smallish side. They're nice enough - furnishings aren't tatty or anything - but I sometime notice that musty smell that I often find in Caribbean hotels on the beach.

The hotel uses a whole slew of room classifications so your upgrade may be only to a higher floor. I'm PC Platinum/Ambassador and despite requesting upgrade to oceanview with my paid standard room reservation, I was initially only given a "junior suite" on a higher floor last year. I was able to persuade the check-in clerk to find an oceanview but I needed to do a little cajoling. But it's very variable depending on how busy/full the hotel is during the time of your stay - I'd been upgraded on previous visits before even joining the membership program.

As to service, if you arrive in prime time on Saturday morning check-in can be a little slow but they do have separate line for Plat/Ambassador which helps. Other than that, I've always found service to be friendly and generally good by Caribbean standards.

There's a little strip mall across the street with a supermarket, local food joint (Mi Casita), Baskin Robbins etc if you want to avoid paying hotel prices for breakfast/lunch or get some snacks. Metropol is down the street with good Cuban food and the hotel has a couple of restaurants including a Ruth Chris' and Ciao - a burger/casual place right between the pool and the beach - but there's lots of good food in San Juan if you venture out to Old San Juan and Condado. Next door to IC is the El San Juan Hotel...very beautiful lobby/casino area you might want to check out if it's your first visit to San Juan. The El San Juan has a dance club and both ESJ and IC have salsa in the lobby on the weekends...not sure if every night during the week.

Hope that helps - ask if there's anything else.

RichMSP

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed response. It's my first time actually vacationing in PR; in the past I've only departed on a cruise from SJU and spent another night there while on a business trip. This time I'm looking forward to experiencing the local scene and I'll be sure to bring your note along for reference.

Thanks again for your suggestions!

kenfry

I have stayed there before about 2-3 yrs ago...

do they still give out bands to guests?

mkt

There's a trendy little nightclub just a few blocks away called the Water Club. It's located on the ground, and top 2 floors of the hotel with the same name. I'm normally a beer man, but some of the mixed drinks there have genuinely impressed me. Also, don't rent a car unless you like to torture yourself... that island has some of the worst drivers I have ever encountered.

edgewood

that "musty smell" was SO BAD last January that i had to move from the club level (second floor wing by the pool) to a high floor regular room

as soon as i walked into the club wing i had an allergy attack! awful! so bad i couldn't even use the club lounge!

be aware!

i think the upgrade policy is a crap shoot (perfect analogy for an island with casinos)- sometimes the clerks are really nice, other times they act like you are a pain

however, your mutual friend Andy Jackson makes a nice introduction...............

but do not expect IC luxury- it is just a beach hotel-and i found the pool area overcrowded with locals-some of whom seem to get bands from their amigos at the towel hut!

Maddy

Yes the hotel still uses wristbands to enter the pool area and to come back into the pool area from the beach. By law, all beaches in PR are open to the public so you will see plenty of locals on the beach (esp on weekend) and the wristbands are intended to keep the pool area restricted to guests. But you may find a lot of locals by the pool area if it's a holiday weekend or a time when families plan big shindigs (graduations/wedding parties). You'll see that at all of the nicer properties in SJ. I'm sure it's possible that the folks manning the towel hut let a friend or two in but in general the locals seem to be families who I've assumed are staying at the hotel. The pool will be more crowded on the weekends but I've never not been able to find a lounge chair - it's quite a large area.

As to the musty smell, it varies from room to room. In some rooms it's faint and others have a much stronger odor - maybe a carpet that got wet. If you get a room that's very musty, definitely ask to be moved!

The Water Club hotel th other poster mentioned is a W boutiquey type hotel that I hear is overpriced, but the bars are supposed to get a lot of trendy beautiful people. A few years back the NYT had an article about it that Ricky Martin and that sort were spotted there but I never checked it out myself and very possible that by now that scene has moved on. It's down the street from the IC (opposite direction of the El San Juan) in walking distance.

And yes the drivers in San Juan are atrocious..if you decide to get a car anyway (we always do but are used to bad driving in NJ) drive VERY defensively - and DON'T try to drive into Old San Juan or Condado after about 7pm on a Friday or Saturday night, the traffic jams are hellish. Taxis are always out front of the hotel but you can take a bus into OSJ or Condado for a quarter if you want to go cheap. Once you get into OSJ there's a free trolley that you can hop on/off to get around OSJ.

In OSJ try to stop into the restaurant in the courtyard of the El Convento hotel for some drinks and tapas...very nice atmosphere. Or if earlier in the day La Bombonera on Calle San Francisco for great coffee from an ancient contraption they have behind the counter and mallorca - buttered sweet roll toasted in a panini type press then dusted with powdered sugar.

kenfry

Also on the weekend.. only TAXIS and residents are allowed to drive inside OSJ

Russell745

I was mildly disappointed. I stayed there about 2 months ago. The rooms are not that nice. The only luxurious feel was from the dish of fruit they delivered for being a PC Ambassador - that and of course the bill.

The rooms in this hotel are not even as nice as a HI Express room!

The casino isn't bad though. The old Crowne Plaza (now Marriot CY?) was a much nicer hotel.

Cerberus

I've done a few searches and haven't heard much about this particular hotel. Does anyone have any experiences with this hotel?

I have a oceanview deluxe king sized room reserved. I'm also a gold ambassador level, so I'm hoping to get something of an upgrade but not sure what to expect. Experiences?

SAT Lawyer

My wife and I stayed there over Labor Day weekend. As Ambassadors, we were placed in a Club room on a Priceline stay.

The property is very nice. Excellent pool, good beach access, nice (albeit small) casino. Plenty of dining options including Ruth's Chris, a Japanese restaurant, and an Italian restaurant.

The Club rooms are fairly spacious and the lounge is nice with the usual evening cocktails and snacks and breakfast in the morning.