WHERE TO STAY IN SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

el San Juan hotel

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Visiting Puerto Rico again was a dream and I couldn’t have asked for a better trip. A few weeks ago, I received an email inviting me to a media trip at El San Juan Hotel. I immediately said yes! We spent 4 days at Fairmont’s El San Juan and everything was amazing. If you have been researching where to stay in San Juan, Puerto Rico – look no further because El San Juan Hotel is the place. The El San Juan Hotel is located in Carolina, which is on the northern part of the island. The hotel has direct access to a beautiful beach – Isla Verde. I would highly recommend this hotel if you are planning a trip to Puerto Rico. Also, I must note that as of now, there were no Covid-19 requirements to enter into Puerto Rico.

The Hotel

The hotel grounds are so dreamy with the most lush landscaping and beautiful flowers. The hotel is immersed in so many aspects of Puerto Rican culture. There are two lovely pools, a swim up bar and tons of cabanas. I hate when I go to a hotel and there are only a handful of cabanas. When that is the case, it always seems like everyone books them before you can have the chance. At El San Juan, there are 14 large cabanas (10 Seaside cabanas and 4 Grand. Cabanas). There are 2 bars that make the best drinks. My favorite was the piña colada! There are also cute cats that roam the property and you will see them each time you walk around.

The Restaurants on the Property

The restaurant that I loved on the property was Caña by Juliana Gonzalez, which serves authentic Puerto Rican Cuisine. We had dinner there one night with our group and we got to taste some of the best dishes. My favorite dish was the lobster and coconut rice! Delish!!

There are also a number of other restaurants on the property. Crudo Sushi at the Lobby (Sushi), RIVA (fine dining), Banyan Tree Grill (poolside restaurant featuring casual dining), El San Juan Beach Club (features live music and water to table seafood) and you can always do in room dining.

Watch my vlog of the trip. Make sure you subscribe, so you don’t miss any videos.

Things We Did 

We had so many activities lined up for us during our stay. The first activity we did was spending a day on a Catamaran sailing to Icacos Island. Our group rode to another part of the island where we boarded our catamaran. The staff on our boat were so personable and a great time! They had drinks, food, music and were very professional. 

The second activity we did was The Walking Food and Drink tour. The tour was led by the company, Spoon. Now, this was definitely my speed and everything was great. We stopped at these destinations:

La Factoria 

Deaverdura

Señor Paleta

Museo Casa Blanca 

Sights Around The Hotel

The Fairmont El San Juan Hotel is only a few minutes away from Old San Juan “San Juan Antiguo”, which I loved! Old San Juan is special in every way, known for its rich history, five century old dots, romantic vibe, old world elegance, delicious food and rich in culture atmosphere. What Pais is to Europe, Old San Juan is to the Caribbean.

If you are an explorative traveler, Old San Juan is an authentic community where you can experience the exuberant warm culture. You will find the bright colored homes on cobblestone streets with amazing bars and restaurants. Old San Juan does not disappoint! If you go to San Juan, you must visit El Yunque National Forest. It is the only tropical rainforest in the USA and it’s such a beautiful place to visit. I’d say its a must visit. We didn’t go there on this trip, but I have gone to El Yunque on a past Puerto Rico vacation.

Our Last Night

On our last night at the hotel, the hotel staff put together the most beautiful dinner planned for us! The hotel really did the damn thing with the decor and the ambiance. There were harpist, violinists, amazing meals, great drinks and the most gorgeous setting. The dinner ended with a fireworks show over the hotel, which was just awesome!

During the rest of our trip we gambled at the Casino on the property, saw live shows and went to the club! Everything was great but I really had a blast in the casino. Now, I am not the gambling type because I don’t like to throw away my hard earned money but the staff in the casino set up a mock Blackjack game for us and we had a ball!

I love that the property has a nightclub on site because once the club is over, you can literally go upstairs and you will be at your room. That is a smarter and safer option than leaving a club and having to find a taxi to get back to your hotel. Overall, I give this hotel five stars because it’s beautiful, safe, has great food, all the amenities you could possibly need and its a fun time!

Here are some more photos from our trip! Major shout out to my Fairmont family for the amazing opportunity.

Outfit Details:

Pink and Yellow Swimsuit

Blue Swimsuit with Coverup

Pink and Orange Dress

White Dress

Red Maxi

Colorful Maxi – purchased years ago and is sold out

If you liked this post, check out my Jamaica blog post!

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