Hotel El Colonial — Hotel in San Juan

I stayed for one night at Hotel El Colonial. I researched hotels for a while and this one kept popping up with the near perfect reviews which made me think maybe it’s “too good to be true”. I was hoping that wasn’t the case but unfortunately it was. One thing I will say is true is the wonderful service from staff at the hotel. From the moment you step in until you leave.

The hotel looks wonderful from the outside and the lobby is also decor heaven. Beautiful furniture, great books, lovely bar and nice architecture.

You’re greeted so kindly as soon as you walk in. For check-in we were told to relax and sit down as they helped us with the checking-in process and even made us a welcome drink. That process was smooth and welcoming. I explained that I was a light sleeper and Luis was very accommodating. He initially placed me at the top floor, as less people stay up there. Unfortunately the ac was very loud but fear not, he was very accommodating and showed me two other rooms on the 3rd floor. I chose one that had a really silent ac and was a bit bigger than the first room.

We settled in the room and began noticing it was not the most clean or the most up kept. There were a few tiles on the floor that weren’t glued on, there was dust in all the vents, and furniture. Scratches on the wall. We even found an old travel size shampoo someone must have left behind in the bathroom on the floor. Which wasn’t encouraging for its cleanliness.

The room it’s self is quite loud because you’re in the middle of Old San Juan so I expected this but I figured it would quiet down when we tried sleeping, especially on a Sunday but that was not the case. Noises at all times, in the night and early morning. From garbage trucks, people, restaurants and cars you will be surrounded by noise.

The worst part of the hotel was not the noise, but the bed. I honestly could not believe how awful the bed was. It was an old wooden and rusted frame but the mattress shouldn’t even be called a mattress. It was lumpy, uneven and so uncomfortable. Your feet were elevated of how uneven and old it was. There was no support. I honestly was so grateful I only booked one night instead of my original plan of two. The furniture is so run down as well. You would think with the beautiful lobby there would be some updates to the rooms. The room felt more like a hostel than a hotel room. & for the price you’re paying, you would really think you’d get the hotel experience.

The rooftop has a great view of the city, which was a nice plus to the stay. There are tubs and lounge chairs you can hang in. Part of the amenities are also an open bar that offers beer, wine, liquor, coffee, juice and water. Which is a good perk. As mentioned, there is no elevator so prepared for stairs. It wasn’t the worst as there’s 4 stories but definitely something to keep in mind for your visit.

The next morning, check out was at 11am. I called and asked if I could kindly have an extra 10-15 minutes as we were finishing getting ready. I would have thought this wasn’t an issue, but the employee on the phone emphasized how check out time is for a reason so the hotel could be cleaned. I understood this of course, but it seemed like such a big departure from the original welcoming service. I didn’t think 10 minutes would affect the cleaning, considering check out is at 4pm. & as I mentioned the room wasn’t even that clean.

Not sure if other rooms have different and more comfortable beds. I know some rooms are bigger and the tile and decor might vary a bit. The rooms definitely need to be updated and at least provide a solid mattress to sleep on. The bathrooms are small as you see in pictures. Lucky for us we have good water pressure and hot water.

Still grateful for my experience staying at Old San Juan. I just hope for the future, that the hotel puts as much emphasis in the decor and upkeep of the lobby for the rooms where guests spend...

As a solo traveller I last minute booked at this hotel.

I cannot recommend this place enough!

Before arrival they keep you informed and ask questions to try and customise the stay and arrival for you.

Once you arrive I walked in the door to a fabulous greeting from Miguel! The greeting went something like "Hello, let me take your bag, Rum or Vodka?"

It turns out this hotel has an open bar to guests staying, two types of cocktail, wine, beer and water, glasses in the lobby plastic if going upstairs/outside.

Miguel ran through all the useful information and clearing up things like vaccinations etc and explaining the venue.

Before I knew it I was informed my room was already ready a few hours early (not guaranteed!) and my case had already been taken upstairs, such great service.

He explained the situation in Old San Juan such as the pipework which means no toilet tissue etc in the toilet must use the bins, this is NOT avoidable in Old San Juan every restaurant had the same rules so don't be prude or upset about this, it's an old town :)

The room was great, I got a corner room with two sets of windows and a small balcony, and it's clear it's colonial era so thick walls, historic aspects such as the tiles etc. It really has been done up well :)

The rooftop is amazing, very nice views and you can take drinks up. They did have some Tinas which are essentially bath tubs and I'm sure if you were up there as a group they'd be nice in the heat, I didn't try as I had a jam packed agenda.

Every time I walked through the lobby I was offered water or alcohol, remember they don't expect tips but tip your servers :) (that's from a British person).

The staff are full of knowledge if you have questions and they're always happy to chat to you or answer any questions, make suggestions etc.

Friendly welcomes each evening. They know you're staying there as they give you a lovely bracelet to wear, it's not one of those horrible cheap plastic festival bracelets either, it's quite subtle with a metal charm attached.

Its a relatively modern approach to a hotel for example if you need anything just text/whatsapp the front desk, there's no in room phones, it's certainly nice, each day they'll check if you want your room serviced.

I'm pretty sure nothing was too much bother for the staff, I didn't have any odd requests to try but I challenge anyone to find something that Miguel and the rest of the team can't solve :)

They're also very clear pre arrival that the hotel has stairs, don't let this put you off it's not too many but obviously not suitable to someone in a wheelchair, I'm not sure they could every convert it to be suitable, old buildings.

There's a bonus, a brilliant micro brewery and Korean fusion food down behind the hotel entrance, about 50m from the front door, both businesses should highlight the other :)

Location wise you are in the heart of Old San Juan, close enough to walk everywhere which is useful because seriously the traffic is horrible so don't both ubering/driving unless you have to, the streets aren't setup for it.

A note, it can be loud outside late at night as people go home from late night drinking, not sure that's avoidable anywhere in a busy Puerto Rico area.

Just to highlight how good Miguel is, I was in a Mexican bar grabbing a drink and food and he walked in (must be his local) and he still knew my name and said hello, I would imagine most staff want to ignore life once finishing work :)

Honestly if I ever come back to Old San Juan or even just Puerto Rico i think I'd have to stop here for a night it's so good :)

Kudos to all the staff I met, I didn't get everyone's name so apologies but you've all made it a wonderful stay.

Brilliant hotel, keep doing what...

Glorified Hostel

Hotel El Colonial attempts to capitalize on its historic Spanish colonial architecture but fails to deliver a satisfying experience. While the building's facade maintains some period charm, the interior reveals years of neglect and minimal investment in modernization. The 3-star category feels generous given the numerous issues guests consistently report.

The biggest asset they pitch on all their listings across all the booking platforms is the so-called “Open Bar” which is part of all packages available to all booking customers. Sadly, this is not a great offer. They have a very limited selection of alcohol that will put even the lousiest Airport Lounge beverage selection to shame! So don't be fooled by it. Also, the hotel's lack of an on-site restaurant can be inconvenient. For meals, you'll need to venture into the city, and while there are excellent dining options nearby, this setup might not suit those who prefer in-hotel dining, especially for breakfast or late-night cravings

LOCATION: The hotel's position in Old San Juan is perhaps its only saving grace. Situated within walking distance of major attractions like El Morro and the San Cristóbal fortress, the location is undeniably convenient. However, the immediate surroundings can be noisy, particularly on weekends when nearby bars and restaurants are active until late hours. Street parking is non-existent, and the hotel doesn't offer valet service.

DINE + DRINK: The biggest asset they pitch on all their listings across all the booking platforms is the so-called “Open Bar” which is part of all packages available to all booking customers. Sadly, this is not a great offer. They have a very limited selection of alcohol that will put even the lousiest Airport Lounge beverage selection to shame! So don't be fooled by it.

ROOM: We stayed in Room 309, so this review is based on that; Room conditions were a major point of concern: Air conditioning units are old and either too loud or ineffective, Furniture is dated and sometimes damaged, musty odors and humidity issues; SIZE: Barely spacious enough for 2 adults and simple baggage; VIEW: No View whatsoever, almost a WINDOWLESS room! ; AIR-CON: Perfectly functioning cooler that helped in setting the perfect room temperature; BED: , Bed felt uncomfortably firm with worn linens; BATHROOM: Bathroom showed significant wear, with reports of mold and poor water pressure; TOILETRIES: Random quality Toiletries FACILITIES: No Gym or facilities on site.

SERVICE: Friendly staff that cared for our needs with a smile and made us welcome, but nothing more than that.

HOW WIRED YOU WILL BE: Free Wi-Fi that works well all over the property, and the...