San Juan Water and Beach Club photos

On top of the hill in Old San Juan stands this fun bar and restaurant. When cruise ships are not in port this place is mostly empty by day.

I understand from the bartenders that this is the place to be for nightlife and partying in Old San Juan.

I stopped here for a cold beer and lunch during my visit. When ordering food I was given 2 menus; one for Nono's which offered sandwiches and lighter fare and one for Auriola which is a more formal restaurant a few doors down owned by the same man.

I opted for the chicken sandwich with apple bacon and creole mayo served with plantain chips. The food was prepared in the Auriola's kitchen. The flavor was among the best chicken sandwiches I had ever experienced and that took me by surprise! For only $9.95. Lunches on the menu ranged from about $6.95 to $10.95 - a reasonable price. I highly recommend this place! We were a few of only a 10 people who were there over the period of an hour. I cannot forget to mention that Carlos, the bartender who was filling in that day was as hot as the sun! He normally works at Auriola's, so it must have been my lucky day!

The bathroom here was funny because it was so primitive. The woman's toilet didn't even have a seat... I chuckled as I wasn't quite expecting that.

The Bacardi wall is pretty famous. This wall appears in every picture in sets collected by those who pass through. I have seen it several times before and was happy to realize now where this famous wall is.

The mint mojitos are delicious here, too!

The El Morro Lighthouse in San Juan has been restored since my last visit in 2004 and it rests at the top of the fort overlooking the coastline. Simply beautiful views from this location.

El Morro was one of 2 fortresses that protected the city of Old San Juan since the 16th century from attack by sea. Today it is part of the National Park Service and has been added as a World Heritage Site.

Tours throughout the fort are less than $5. Visitors can approach the lighthouse but the tower is closed to the public.

Though I did not stay at this hotel I scoped out this hotel during my stay and asked questions of the stay.

The interior was very clean and crisp, nicely renovated. A restaurant, bar, and shops dot the interior courtyard.

The main bus terminal is close by making for convenient and cheap travel to the Isla Verde beaches.

Staff seemed attentive and friendly. I did not see the rooms so will refrain from commenting on the status. I would give this hotel a try if you are looking to stay in Old San Juan. It is a reasonable distance from the port so it should be a bit less crowded here than the hotels along the port when cruise ships come through.

I have attached a photo of the beautiful residential street in front of the hotel that also boasts what looked like inviting restaurants.

The hotel is also across the narrow street of the old Franciscan Church and is just a few hundred yards from one of the Old San Juan city gates.

While staying on Isla Verde I walked down the beach and explored this hotel for next time.

First of all, it is a huge place and beautiful. With a full staff constantly grooming the grounds and cleaning the lobby, I suspect that it is a clean place to stay.

The pools are next to the beach and are elaborate complete with a man-made waterfall. Cabanas are available for rent near the ocean-side pool.

With a number of great restaurants inside to choose from, this place had many families staying here and there was a lot of action. I understand that the Ruth Chris Steakhouse is now closed. A staffer said it was closed for renovation while someone from another hotel said that the Ruth Chris chain pulled out altogether.

There were several other restaurants in the hotel (other than Ruth Chris) including a hibachi-style restaurant, Italian, and a Mediterranean.

One restaurant inside where I did eat was Alfredos. It was somewhat formal and delicous. See the review under a separate page.

Fresh flowers and healthy foliage were everywhere here so it truly felt like a tropical paradise.

I understand from others that they were able to get a room by bidding through priceline.com and won the room for about $105 per night and that an extra $20 /night resort fee was collected at check-in. However, it looks like a place that would offer a family many things to do right on site and would be a good choice for a family vacation with plenty of space on the beach for kids to run around and burn off energy. Parasailing, sailing, and jetskis are also rentable right on the beach.

This boutique hotel was converted from condos in about 2001. It was a featured in Architectural Digest in 2002 and Conde' Nast Traveler a couple of times for Top 10 hot hotels in the world.

Located on Isla Verde (near the airport).

I used priceline.com to book the hotel and this 3 1/2 star hotel is the one I bought; $85/night, which is a great rate. An $11.40 "resort" fee was added on upon arrival, but was worth it since they took such great care of me there.

With only 84 units this was a gem of a hotel. Though it sounds now that it has changed quite a bit since opening I loved this place and found it quiet, relaxing, and a wonderful tropical hideaway. At one time it had a dance club on the main floor and a great sushi restaurant; neither exist anymore. The hotel today does still offer Tangerine, it's Tapas menu and is now located on the main floor. Free continental breakfast is served daily for guest from 7am to 11.

The hotel is white on the outside and is famous for the blue glowing windows at night. Blue neon lights bathe each room in an etherial light.

Also, WET is the name of the upstairs bar. It, too, is very quiet except from 5-6pm daily where guests are treated to a free happy hour.

William, the valet parking attendant/doorman is a sweetheart and a wealth of information to help you find whatever you need around town. Virna, who is in charge of their Desires Club, makes sure guests have maps, restaurant names in Old San Juan, and will give you shortcuts to getting around town. She helped make my stay a welcoming one; I left feeling as though I had known her for years.

Just a few steps out of the lobby the white sandy beaches are before you with the bluest water I have seen in a while.

***Tips:
Taxi's to Old San Juan run about $20 each way. Either #1) haggle with the driver (as none of them use their meters) or #2) take either bus A5 or C53 into town for 75 cents. The trip takes about 20 minutes by bus and it is a comfy ride while seeing more of the city. Buses are safe and run until 8pm. There are bus stops on the street right in back of the hotel (front of hotel faces the beach).

To save on your bar tab, meet at 5pm at the top floor bar every day for happy hour. Drinks are free, as much as you can hold. Drinks are strong and delicious (I had mojitos). After happy hour walk about 300 feet down the block to Third Base or one of the other local cantinas facing the beach. Cheap, safe, and fun. Or, go to the supermarket or minimart just about 1 block from the hotel and buy your own libation. They can be brought into the hotel without a problem.

Old San Juan: Parking is a nightmare here and can get expensive. Once you take a bus into the city take the Free Trolleys all over town. There are 3 routes which will cover any touristy location you are interested in. Maps for the routes are located at the tourism building near the port.

Bring earplugs on your trip. Room air conditioners work very very hard here and sometimes they are particularly noticable when it is extra hot outside. Earplugs will prevent your sleep from interruption when the unit turns off and on and the water from condensation gurgles through the unit.

The Water Club is pet friendly, so be sure to ask for a non-pet room if you have allergies. I found each of the rooms I visited (a small hotel allows travelers to meet others and creates friendships) were clean and none had any sign of pet hair or smell in them.

This Puerto Rican restaurant was on Isla Verde but away from the beach. It appears that it may have at one time been located right on the water but now sits on a busy street on hotel row instead.

The restaurant is open 24/7 and is full of locals at any given time of the day. Mofongo is one of their specialties but the menu is extensive. Mofongo is mashed plantains infused with lots of garlic and served with pork, shrimp, beef, or chicken. A great deal, too, at $8-11 per entree'.

The night we were in the restaurant there were some issues in the kitchen and it took about an hour to get our food. However, when it arrived it was hot and superb with each of us ordering something different in our group of 5. All was delicious and worth the wait.

Mofongo here was about 1/2 the price of other caribbean restaurants within the hotels and from what I understand from other travelers, twice as good.

Also suitable for groups and children.

My hotel was supposed to have a sushi restaurant in it but Shogun closed about 6 months ago.

So, the checkin clerk told me about a couple of other places in other hotels where I could get sushi nearby. When I asked him where he goes for it he recommended Nagoya, which was just a few blocks from the hotel in a non-glamorous strip-mall.

Inside the restaurant was clean with Japanese decor. We were greeted promptly.

The menu was sizable with some creative sushi roll offerings.

I ordered some basic stuff; maguro nigiri ($5.95 for 2 pieces) and a spicy tuna roll ($7.95). Prices were very reasonable, similiar to sushi I've ordered in other cities. The quality was good - fresh. For a good value for the budget conscious I suggest this place in lieu of the nearby hotels.

On the lower level from the lobby is this hidden Italian restaurant.

Though its first appearance is very formal my companion for the evening was dressed in jean shorts and a Margaritaville tee shirt and no one looked twice.

Before we were seated we were both given champagne flutes with a rose champagne (complimentary).

The menu had a nice selection - pricing ranged for dinner between $17.95 for the lasagna to $39 for surf and turf - average pasta dishes were about $22-$26.

Bread service was nicely presented while we were waiting.

As an appetizer we ordered baked eggplant with cheese (can't remember the name of it though!) and it was very tasty.

I ordered a shrimp and scallop dish with asparagus risotto and was very pleased with the full flavor. My companion ordered lasagna and it, too, was very good.

Though I did not order wine I evaluated the wine list. I am kind of a wine snob and the choices won with my approval.

With linened tables and a hundred pictures on the wall behind me from celebrities to presidents who had eaten with this 3rd generation of Alfredos, this place is a safe bet for good food at a reasonable price.

First I'll start by saying that it is safe to travel here alone as a solo female. There are plenty of police stationed day and night to insure that walking is safe here.

Tourists are at the mercy of cabs in this city. Taxis never-ever run their meters - they just throw out a number that they want to charge you, and it is usually exorbitant. Here are some ways I have discovered to get around them.

Within the city of Old San Juan:

1) Walking: Old San Juan is quite walkable if you are in average shape. With many hills and uneven surfaces it is a good idea to start in the morning leaving plenty of time to rest along the way.

Walking is safe in OSJ except it is not advised to go into the crowded settlements between the old city wall and the ocean along the stretch from El Morro and Cristobal. Those neighborhoods were settled generations ago and those who live there are always pressured to leave the land... so they defend it vigorously and are not welcoming to visitors (particularly visitors who are Puerto Rican.)

2) Free Trolleys: A map for the routes and stops is available at the tourism bureau which is located across from the port in the gray building on the corners of Calle Cristo and La Princesa Promenade.

There are 3 routes for the free trolleys that will take you to most typical tourist sites in the city. Traffic is generally congested so there are no time slots specified. When the trolley arrives is when it comes :o) They seem to circulate about every 45 minutes(ish).

The green route takes rides around the perimeter of the city past the port, Cristobal, and El Morro.

The blue route cuts through more of the interior city streets as well as overlapping the castle and fort sites.

The orange covers the port area and central city streets.

All of the trolleys are free and have designated stops. Riders MUST wait until the trolley stops completely and then enter from the right side. The drivers take their jobs very seriously and will kick you off right then and there if you don't wait for the complete stop......I've seen it done!

To the Beaches of Isla Verde and the Airport:
1) Walking is not advised as a long bridge must be crossed and it is not set up for walkers. The distance from Old San Juan and Isla Verde is about 7 miles and is a 12 or so minute drive by cab.

2) Public Bus: The bus system is decent here to get back and forth. The cost is .75 cents. Bus stops are located all along Ave. Isla Verde (behind the hotels which face the ocean). Again, no designated times, but one of 2 routes to OSJ come approximately every 30 minutes to an hour. The earlier you go after rush hour the more likely the trip to OSJ will go as buses are less crowded after say 8:30 and before 11:00am. If the bus is full it will pass the bus stop without stopping and there is no telling when the next bus will arrive!

**Note, to avoid the 2 hour crush of rush-hour, be sure to head back to Isla Verde before 4pm or after 6pm, otherwise the bus ride (or cab ride) could take 2 hours.

To get into Old San Juan take routes A5 or C53. Both end at the bus terminal in OSJ and you cannot miss it, as the route ends.

Buses run until 8pm daily.

3) Cabs cost $20 one way. Haggle with the driver, they WILL go down in price. If you see others in your hotel waiting for a cab offer to share a cab and split the expense. Cab drivers hate that!

4) Rental Car: Instead of paying more through Travelocity or Expedia, rent a car once you get to the island. A common place to rent from is Charlie Car Rental which as 2 locations on Ave. Isla Verde. They are very reasonable and have just about any kind of car to choose from. If you rent a car still leave it parked at the hotel when entertain Old San Juan because parking is tough and it still has steep charges at parking garages ($2.40 per hour).

5) Tours: I recommend planning for and taking a tour early in your stay. Transportation is included from the hotel and you will get a view of areas outside of the city. From there you can choose what to see next and determine how far it is from Old San Juan or Isla Verde. There are waterfall tours, rainforest, coffee tours, snorkeling, zipline, etc.