Northern Miles

Any resent updates on this property? I stayed there for a week in 2003 on points and had a wonderful stay. The property was in need of a referbishment but the upgrate to a mini suite over the pool was nice and the conc. lounge was very nice (great food).

Has this place been updated? How about the upgrades (I am a plat) and I am staying on points? Anything new? Do they comp the parking on site for award stays or plats? What about the new ren property (LaCouch) down the road?

Thanks in advance!!!

GaryO3

Hopefully there will be some posts, since the Mrs. and I are booked @ xmas for 2 nights (post-cruise). I'd like to hear some recent feedback as well

Northern Miles

I will be there Dec 2 - 9 and I will update everyone after then.

I hope to here from someone before then as well.

ontravel

Just Stayed at the San Juan Marriott Last week. The main tower has been fully referbished, new patio doors, new interior, new bedding, new 32" LCD TV (no HD programing) w/jack pack. A huge improvement. The lounge on the top floor has been fully updated as well. The casino has also been remodeled.

The Cabana rooms, the rooms attached to the parking structure is closed and under going the same renovations and is expected to re-open by the end of the year.

The pool area is the same and well kept and the beach in front of the hotel is still excellent.

If the hotel is not too bloated with cruise ship passengers, you should have a great stay.

Northern Miles

The new Renn Resort will be opening in Nov but will not be fully ready until next year - no conc. lounge and limited services.

Any reports on the Marriott in San Juan?

Saint Christopher

I will be staying at the Marriott San Juan Stellaris Resort this Thursday for four nights. Is the concierge lounge open on the weekends? Any upgrade opportunities for Platinum members?

USirritated

I stayed at the San Juan Marriott & Stellaris Casino on points in April 2006 for three nights and had a very nice stay. As a Plat, the hotel was nice enough to upgrade me to a LARGE and BEAUTIFUL suite (even for a Plat, this is above and beyond the elite rules/guidelines!) with separate living room/bedroom on the side of the building, but with gorgeous full ocean view, because there was no highrise to block views. However, I offer the following provisos: 1) The street that the Marriott is located on leaves a bit to be desired when you consider that the Marriott is an upscale resort and casino, and the street does not match up to the quality level of the resort, not awful, but not great either, IMHO; 2) The casino is directly in the lobby, and quite loud at times, too Las Vegas, again, IMHO; 3) There is construction going on all around the resort, especially on the side of the building that the suite that I had was, which was noisy when I was there, but in the future, more importantly, will what is getting built immediately adjacent obstruct the views?; 4) The "concierge" was just that, not really a dedicated and trained Concierge, but just whoever happened to be at the front desk at the time, and the information that we got from whoever was there was hit or miss; 5) I thought that the beach was small, cramped and nothing special.

As an alternative, the San Juan Ritz Carlton is much nicer, and you may stay there on points redemption also. In reply to the above Marriott provisos: 1) The Ritz Carlton is on a MUCH nicer street; 2) The Ritz Carlton casino is NOT directly in the lobby, and a bit lower key; 3) There was no construction going on around the Ritz Carlton during the time that I was there; 4) The Ritz Carlton DOES HAVE a dedicated and trained Concierge, separate from their front desk staff; 5) The beach at the Ritz Carlton was larger, roomier, and quite nice in comparison. I do not know how many more points that it would cost to stay in the Ritz Carlton over the Marriott, but if the additional cost was within 30% in points, I would definitely stay at the Ritz Carlton, again, IMHO!

ontravel

And don't forget that the Ritz is 10 feet way from the airport runway so enjoy the jets landing and taking off

USirritated

Funny that I do not remember that about the Ritz Carlton in San Juan.

Northern Miles

St. Chris - The lounge was closed on the weekend I stayed there awhile back. I as a plat got an upgrade to a pool view/jr suite and it was very nice. Let us know what your stay is like when you get back. Have a great time.

Chewie

The Ritz Carlton is in Isla Verde (closer to the airport). You still have to walk around the block to get to the main street with the bars and other hotels. The next closest hotel to the RC is the Courtyard (out the front of the RC and make a left).

The Marriott is in Condado and is in a great area! Although *DISCLAIMER* to the right of the hotel (if your facing the hotel) there is quite a bit of construction (new condos and another hotel). However, there is an UNBELIEVABLE sushi restaurant, if your leaving the hotel and make a left, it is called Wasabi. There are great restaurants and bars right near both hotels. For some decent, inexpensive Criollo food, you can go to the Latin Star which is out of the hotel to the right.

I stay in the Marriott 6 times (one week per stay) per year and I think it's great. I can answer any questions you may may. Trust me you won't disappointed. Just make sure your room is above the 7th floor (so you don't hear the live music at night) and ask for a pool/ocean corner room (they have two balconies).

The new rooms are awesome! They don't Comp parking (I think it's $20 per day?).

The Renaissance LaConcha is due to open in November. If you're in the concierge lounge you can get a great view of the new hotel!

GaryO3

Great info! Thanks ^ I plan on printing this one out and taking with me for check-in. We're staying on a 2-night award; hopefully we can score some upgrades... I may have one or two of my GM friends call down there and tell 'em what a great Marriott customer I am (can't hurt!)

USirritated

I did not say that the area/street the hotel was located on was "bad," I just said that it did not quite measure up to the quality of the hotel. I will concede that the construction projects in the area might have contributed to the lower quality feeling of the street, but I repeat, the street was not at all bad, it just was not GREAT, and not what I would expect for a Marriott RESORT.

Yes, I agree, the Japanese restaurant WASABI was excellent, I recommend it highly, some nights you will need a reservation. We also ate at the LATIN STAR restaurant, which I thought was quite a good restaurant for local flavor, neighborhood food, and if I recall, the plantains were a real highlight there.

Northern Miles

Anyone else have anything on this location?

Chewie

I could go on for days about this hotel ^

Correct, the area is not "bad", it's a shame that there is so much construction.

The hotel has undergone great renovatations (believe me, it is NIGHT and DAY).

The hotel does have a great beach (which they literally rake out via ATV/Quads with a giant rake attachement every morning) and the lobby bar is enjoyable.

If anyone needs any recommendations, I'll gladly send some your way.

The CTY in Isla Verde really isn't too shabby either, but I still prefer the Marriott in Condado.

Old San Juan is a 4 minute cab ride from the Marriott... You can even stop by the Caribe Hilton (GASP!) which is right over the Dos Hermanos bridge (tiny little bridge at the end of Ashford Avenue). The Tapas restaurant their is pretty damn good! Avoid "Lemongrass" in the Hilton at ALL COSTS!

Buenos Ayres is a great Argentinian grill right behind the Walgreen, accross the street from the Marriott as well!