This is a spring break hotel masquerading as a luxury resort. Although it was recently renovated, this property leaves a lot to be desired. The rooms look pretty, but they're furnished with some fairly cheap IKEA-style furniture. I read other posts regarding the bathroom and shower doors with amusement, but the truth is that it's shoddy work and doesn't belong in a "luxury" hotel. The staff is friendly, when you can actually get their attention. Prices, as you'd expect, are somewhere between expensive and obscene, particularly for what you get in return. The restaurants and bars are inexcusably overpriced, and quite frankly aren't that good. When checking out, we were ambushed with a "bellhop fee," a "resort fee," and a "maid fee." It's insulting not to be informed about these charges in advance, particularly when I didn't use the bellhop, the maids left dirty towels lying about, and the "resort" seems to be composed of two pools. Go someplace with better value for money, where the staff work hard and appreciate your business. El San Juan just isn't it.

I have stayed at the El San Juan several times, and recent reviews made me concerned. I recommended this property for a girls getaway and knew my friends were counting on me.

I am happy to report that I was very pleasantly surprised. I knew the hotel was undergoing renovations but this was not problem. The lobby is almost finished, and the Vernada restaurant, which hosted a wedding while we were ther, looks beautiful.

We had very positive expereinces with all the staff we encountered. The concierge desk gave us several very good recommendations for off-site restaurants.

Can't wait to go back!!

My 4th time visiting over the course of 8 years. Big change to the lobby. Not favorable. Lobby is primarily old world with carved wood throughout. New owner has vamped it up with modern furniture that detracts from the upscale feel. No one seems to dress up anymore for Saturday night. Lots of jeans, high heels, short dresses with cheeks coming out etc. Not as bigger crowd either. Could have been time of year vs. winter.

Casino has taken out game tables and added high-tech screen slots. More slots than ever. Less tables are there now. Renovated rooms in the tower are modern. Really bad shower stalls with half walled glass that is truly half the length of the stall. Water runs out to the floor. Facilities is aware of these comments as we were not the first to discuss with manager.

Had a great time nevertheless. Dealer at the Roulette Table (Lizette) was fun and pleasant. Spent 3 nights at the tables and did well. Did not dine at the restaurants this trip. Previous trips did include the Palm. (Always good).

Renovated pool area is lovely. Beach is still good. So, yes go and stay there, but know if you've been there before it has changed. Talk to the manager (NefDavid) if you have any problems. He's helpful.

I got married on the 15th of September. My wife and I had our honeymoon here from September 17- September 29. The grounds of the hotel were beautiful. The pools were great, the restarants were great. But we had many problems with staff of the hotel, and how unaccomadating the hotel actually is. We didn't know that you have to pay 16.05 a day for parking. It was not disclosed on there website, and when we called to confirm our reservation a month before it was not said them. When my wife said something to them, they blew her off and told her that it is not in there interest to have free parking, they do not own the parking garage. My wife suggested that they should put that on there web site so people now, and the woman told her that it is not the hotels responsibility to notify anyone. When we got to hour room we thought that it was a mess. We didn't think it was as clean as it should be for nearly 200.00 dollars a night. There was dust on the table and the sink in bathroom was dirty. They told us that the room was just cleaned, and that we got one of the best rooms in the hotel with a great ocean view. The view may have been nice, but the balcony that was shown on the website was not there when we arrived. According to the hotel, they got rid of all balconies during there renovating. We found that a few of the staff members at the check in desk were rude and unhelpful when asking how to get to places near by. To my wife and I we didn't fell that this hotel was 5 star worthy. The new renovations made the hotel look nice, but the shower in our room leaked and when we let the front desk now they told us that not having a shower door or curtain is the new style. The problem was that water leaked out as you showered and you have the nile river running thru the room. My wife and I heard great things about this hotel, but it didn't live up to its 5 stars. If you don't deal with the majority of the staff at the hotel you;ll have a great trip. But I strongly recommend you go else were, and go to one of the other hotels on Isla Verda.