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Cervantes: Traveler Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating:
  • A summary score based on quality, quantity and age of traveler ratings.
3.5 of 5 stars 16 reviews
16 Reviews
5.0 of 5 stars
7
4.0 of 5 stars
4
3.0 of 5 stars
0
2.0 of 5 stars
2
1.0 of 5 stars
3
TripAdvisor Popularity Index:
  • Measures overall traveler satisfaction based on ratings, reviews and other sources.
#17 of 38 hotels in San Juan
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  • Hotel class: 4 of 5
  • Rooms: 12
Description: The Cervantes boutique hotel at the gateway to Old San Juan is for sophisticated travelers that appreciate the fine art of hospitality. Inspired by... This description is based on information provided by the hotel.
Address:
Recinto Sur #329
Old San Juan
San Juan 00901
Puerto Rico
Check Rates: $226 Avg. Price
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TripAdvisor Traveler Reviews

Reviews of Cervantes

( 4-8 of 16 )
“Absolute Bliss”

Cervantes

Mar 11, 2008

We searched for a small quaint hotel near the water. The Cervantes certainly fitted the description. Sometimes searching and choosing a hotel is a shot in the dark but this experience was absolute bliss. Hotel was small just as we liked. The restaurant had a small menu, but GREAT FOOD and a continental breakfast was served daily. My husband, who brought me here for my birthday, and friends from California stayed here from March 3 - March 10. The shops, restaurants, and vendors selling their ware were all close by. The staff Luise, Amy, Nelmary and the front desk staff were friendly, helpful and exceptional beyond belief. We would all stay here again.

THE MILLERS, From Ohio

  • This TripAdvisor Member:
    • Liked — I like it all
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
TwinsburgOzzie's Summary
Date of Stay: March 2008
Traveled with: Family (extended)
Visit was for: Quality time with friends
Age group: 50-64
Member since: March 11, 2008
  • My ratings for this hotel are:
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Check in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
    • 5 of 5 stars Business service
Would I recommend this hotel to my best friend?
absolutely!
I recommend this hotel for:
Young singles, An amazing honeymoon, A romantic getaway, Girlfriend getaway, Older travelers, Families with teenagers, Tourists
I selected this hotel as a top choice for:
Beach / Sun, Outdoor / Adventure, Great food / Wine, Shopping, Golf, Spa
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Average price*: $226 (year-round)
“Inspired decor”

Cervantes

4 of 5 stars
Easton, Maryland
Mar 7, 2008
1/1 found this review helpful

My wife and I stayed at Cervantes for four days and had an excellent experience. The decor in this small boutique hotel is unique. It is the work of an outstanding Puerto Rican designer, and although I don't generally like contemporary style, this motif is done so well that anyone would be impressed. We stayed in a junior suite, which was quite commodious. Our adult children stayed in standard rooms, which were a bit small but very comfortable. Appointments are first-class: marble tiled bath, comfy bed, attractive furniture, flat screen TV. (The standard rooms and junior suites are available only with queen beds.)

The restaurant on the first floor was ideal for breakfast--quiet and elegant and with a continental breakfast of many types of fruit and cheese. On two of the days I ordered white egg omelets, which were done with a flair by the chef and added little cost to our bill. The restaurant also has a very attractive bar, which was a perfect spot to relax after our busy days of sightseeing.

The staff is very accommodating on day and evening shifts. They speak excellent English and do whatever they can to be of assistance (e.g., using their PC to print out airline passes and copy documents). The reservations manager, Luis Correia, contacted us a couple of times by Email prior to our stay just to confirm that all was in order.

The only negative to our experience is that the attractive restored wood doors to each room's balcony are relatively sound porous. As a result, the noise from a construction site across the narrow street was very intrusive from 7:00 on. From what I could see of the building site, the work should be completed within a few months.

Overall, Cervantes provided a nice blend of luxury accommodations with value received. The cost is about 20%+ below El Convento, and the experience is far more personal.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
EasternShoreman's Summary
Date of Stay: February 2008
Member since: November 23, 2007
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Average price*: $226 (year-round)
“Don't stay here!”

Cervantes

Feb 19, 2008
1/1 found this review helpful

We live in the Caribbean and visit Puerto Rico roughly once a year. We were excited to stay at this hotel as it looked gorgeous and was centrally located in Old San Juan. What a disappointment! It has been stylishly renovated but that is about the only good thing I can think to say about it. The staff were unwelcoming, the restaurant was utterly without atmosphere, breakfast wasn't served until 8am (although when we went down at 8:45am there was no sign of any staff at all and the coffee wasn't even on!) and the breakfast itself was just a slice of bread and some fruit served on filthy plates. The (standard) room was small with a closet-size bathroom featuring a shower with only cold water and a broken a/c unit (it turned out we were supposed to phone the front desk if we wanted to use the a/c but nobody bothered to tell us that!) The TV only worked after a member of staff had spent 10 minutes trying to coerce it to life and then offered a paltry selection of about 5 English-speaking channels, none of which provided news or movies. No tea or coffee making facilities in the room either. To top it off, the noise throughout the night was staggering, even by Old San Juan standards, with neighboring construction work kicking-in almost as soon as the bars had finished kicking-out. We didn't sleep a wink so we checked-out the next morning, although had to fight our corner to stop them charging us for the second night we had booked. Stay somewhere else!!!

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
CaribbeanMadge's Summary
Date of Stay: February 2008
Member since: February 19, 2008
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Management Response
TheCervantes, Hotel Manager
(Management representative)
Mar 11, 2008
As Manager of The Cervantes, I would like to assure guests that The Cervantes values guest feedback as we continually look for ways to upgrade our facilities and improve customer service.

I would, however, like to address some of the issues this guest raised:

There are times when a hotel guest can have issues with mechanical systems (TV controls and/or air conditioning) not responding as expected. A call to the front desk can and, in this case, solved these issues. We have a zoned air conditioner system and if a guest would like a room cooler than the standard range provided by the system, the front desk can increase the range for that zone on request. However, we appreciate the comment and have now instructed our staff to demonstrate the TV and air conditioner controls when bringing guests to their room. Our TV system has 24 Satellite stations with CNN/Fox and many international cable stations. We appreciate that many travelers have a favorite station, so based on the comment by this guest, we will update our website with the exact stations offered by the cable service. This should help future guests when specific cable program access is part of their hotel selection criteria.

The Cervantes does not have coffee-makers in each room. Upon arrival, guests are provided bottled water and ice which are replenished on request. Coffee or Tea service is provided on a complementary basis anytime the restaurant is open. Guests can have coffee/tea in our bar or we deliver it to the room. The restaurant is normally open for breakfast at 8am. We are not sure why this guest did not find a hotel employee as described, but we appreciate the comment and based on this review we will implement an expanded continental breakfast buffet so that guests can enjoy coffee, etc. at their own pace each morning without the need to wait for an employee.

The Cervantes is located in a historic building in Old San Juan so the bathrooms tend to be smaller than in many 'new construction' hotels (think European bathroom size). Hot water may take some time to circulate through the system for the first room that used it in the morning - but again, we appreciate the comment and will have our engineering staff check this.

It is difficult to control the 'natural' sounds of a historic city like Old San Juan. The streets are narrow and sounds travel. However, we appreciate that people come to The Cervantes to sleep and relax, so when this guest complained - the front desk offered a complementary upgrade to a suite on the other side of the hotel building. This guest declined and choose to move to another hotel the next day (with a full refund of their second night charge).

While we regret the negative experience this guest reports, our staff at The Cervantes is trained to be responsive to any situation that a guest brings to our attention. If for any reason the front desk clerk does not resolve an issue - please request to speak to me or another manager personally.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Average price*: $226 (year-round)
“Exquisite”

Cervantes

Feb 11, 2008
1/1 found this review helpful

Reminded me of a classic small European hotel: restaurant in the lobby, attentive and unobtrusive service in restaurant and hotel. Knew us when we walked in. Room the most elegant I have seen in North America. I was very tired and never awakened to noise which some may have heard.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
xyzxyzBoston's Summary
Date of Stay: February 2008
Member since: February 11, 2008
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Average price*: $226 (year-round)
“Never again”

Cervantes

1 of 5 stars
San Juan, P.R.
Jan 4, 2008
2/5 found this review helpful

Bad managment , the service was ok but there are some things they need to improve. To much noise at nigth, can't sleep at all, and if you travel with kids not recomended, they don't have place for kids, nothing to do, the hotel is too expensive and do not offer anything. You Know... Luxury it's not everything.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Calypsso's Summary
Date of Stay: December 2007
Member since: October 12, 2007
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Average price*: $226 (year-round)

Reviews of Cervantes

( 4-8 of 16 )
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Cervantes Address

Recinto Sur #329 | Old San Juan, San Juan 00901, Puerto Rico