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Hotel El Convento

San Juan , 100 Cristo Street (Show on Map)

8.1

Very Good

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1 room2 guests 1 room, 2 guests

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Info Old world charm and elegance meet contemporary comfort in this Small Luxury Hotel in Puerto Rico.

Summary of reviewsHotel El Convento is a historical gem located in the heart of Old San Juan, offering an authentic and unique experience for guests. The hotel's central location is exceptional within walking distance to all major historic and cultural sites, restaurants and bars. The rooms are comfortable and well-maintained with some offering beautiful views and hidden terraces. The staff is excellent, attentive, warm and welcoming, making guests feel at home. The outdoor areas are plentiful and beautiful with a small but clean pool and jacuzzi available. While some guests experienced issues with cleanliness and breakfast, the majority found the hotel to be exquisite and beautiful. Overall, Hotel El Convento is a great choice for those interested in a unique and authentic experience in a prime location.
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Former Monastery Hotel

A landmark monument , Hotel El Convento in San Juan, Puerto Rico showcases a timeless aura of Old World charm and splendor. Befitting its origins as a Carmelite convent 356 years ago, this hotel is a loving restoration of Spanish Colonial architecture and design. As the first Carmelite Convent in the Americas, it housed the nuns for 252 years until closing a few days before Christmas in 1903. Vacant for a decade, the abandoned building served as a retail store, a dance hall, and, for the next 40 years, a flophouse without running water, sanitary facilities, or electricity. Opened on Jan. 27, 1962 as El Convento Hotel, it offered a tranquil, European-style alternative to the existing hotels.

Hotel for Honeymoon

The honeymoon experience at Hotel El Convento is an unforgettable journey into a world of tropical beauty and old-world charm. The Pablo Casals Suite, designated as the Honeymoon Suite, is a spacious one-bedroom sanctuary equipped with a King-size bed and a full-size sofa bed in the parlor. Spanish Louver doors open onto a Juliet balcony with views of the Cathedral, while antique marble floors and elegant decor add a luxurious touch. Set in the heart of beautiful Puerto Rico, with Caribbean beaches and lush tropical landscapes nearby, the experience is steeped in the enchanting Spanish colonial allure of Old San Juan. With their exclusive honeymoon packages, every couple's stay becomes a memorable exploration of a tropical paradise. Days can be spent languishing on picture-perfect beaches, evenings savored over romantic candlelit dinners for two, and twilight hours leisurely passed with strolls down the cobblestone paths of Old San Juan. An exquisite blend of relaxation and romance, the Hotel El Convento offers an unmatched honeymoon experience.

Boutique-style Hotel

Luxury Hotel

Historic Hotel

Family Friendly Hotel

Romantic Hotel

Hotel near Nightlife Spots

Hotel with Swimming Pool

Outdoor Pool

Business Hotel

Hotel with Gym

4-Star Hotel

Hotel with Outdoor Pool

Room Types

Deluxe Queen Room This room features air conditioning, seating area, flat-screen cable TV and a bathroom with bath and shower. Ironing facilities and hairdryer are available

Superior Room Featuring bathrobes, this double room includes a private bathroom with a shower, a hairdryer and slippers. This double room is air-conditioned and has a seating area with a flat-screen TV, a private entrance, soundproof walls, a coffee machine, as well as a wardrobe. The unit has 1 bed.

Deluxe Double Room This air conditioned room features a seating area, safety deposit box, ironing facilities and a desk. The bathroom comes with a shower and a bath. This suite has partial view of Old San Juan.

Queen Room with Bay View This air conditioned room features a seating area, safety deposit box, ironing facilities and a desk. The bathroom comes with a shower, bath and free toiletries. This suite has partial view of Old San Juan. Coffee maker is included.

Garden Terrace This air conditioned room features a seating area, safety deposit box, ironing facilities and a desk. The bathroom comes with a shower and a bath. A fridge and stovetop are also included.

Double Room with View of the City Offering bathrobes, this double room includes a private bathroom with a shower, a hairdryer and slippers. The spacious air-conditioned double room offers a flat-screen TV, a private entrance, soundproof walls, a coffee machine as well as city views. The unit offers 2 beds.

Junior Suite Boasting a private entrance, this air-conditioned suite features 1 living room, 1 separate bedroom and 1 bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. The spacious suite features soundproof walls, a coffee machine, a seating area, a wardrobe and a flat-screen TV. The unit has 2 beds.

About Hotel El Convento

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Guest Reviews

8.1

Very Good

Location

If you're looking for a hotel with an exceptional location in Old San Juan, look no further than Hotel El Convento. Guests rave about the hotel's central location within walking distance to all major historic and cultural sites, restaurants and bars. The hotel is situated in a quiet area that still offers beautiful views and easy access to all the attractions of the city. The building itself has a rich history, providing an authentic experience for guests. Many visitors praise the hotel's ideal location in the heart of Old San Juan, calling it superb, exceptional and absolutely fantastic. The hotel is perfect for exploring the area on foot with most streets closed to traffic. Guests also appreciate the convenient access to transportation options like Uber. Overall, Hotel El Convento's location is truly a highlight of a stay in Old San Juan.

Breakfast

Guests have had mixed experiences with breakfast at Hotel El Convento. The courtyard patio restaurant offers delicious breakfast options and the breakfast at a sister hotel a few blocks away is also excellent at a good price. However, some guests were disappointed to find out that breakfast wasn't included despite being advertised and others found it overpriced or lacking in variety. The menu doesn't change, so those who have multiple days can get tired of the same food. Despite some issues, guests have also been pleased with the complimentary coffee and the wine and cheese reception in the afternoon. Ultimately, whether or not breakfast is worth it may depend on individual preferences and expectations.

Rooms

Hotel El Convento offers an old-world charm with its beautiful architecture and interiors. The rooms are comfortable and well-maintained, although some need updating. Some visitors found the rooms to be dark and noisy with uncomfortable bedding and issues with cleanliness. However, many rooms have beautiful views and some visitors loved the hidden terraces. The hotel is housed in a historic building with a lovely interior courtyard, but some visitors were disappointed with the view of an uncared-for alley from their rooms. The staff was accommodating and some appreciated the use of electronic keys. Overall, Hotel El Convento has potential and some visitors found it to be an excellent value.

Beds

If you're looking for a comfortable night's sleep, Hotel El Convento is a good choice! While some guests found the beds to be too soft or old, many others raved about how comfy the beds were. One guest even wished for a heavier blanket, but still found the bed to be very comfortable. The main issue seems to be that the hotel only provides a sheet for the bed, which some guests found uncomfortable or too cold. However, a few guests noted that the bedding was of good quality. The beds themselves vary in size with some guests finding them small or the double bed too small. There were a couple of complaints about the sofa bed being old and uncomfortable. Generally, the beds were described as old but adequate or not super comfortable, but the positive reviews outnumbered the negative ones.

Cleanliness

Hotel El Convento provides comfortable and well-maintained facilities. The hotel has a grand lobby, lovely patio area and a great rooftop terrace. Despite some rooms with mold, overall, the hotel is pretty clean and pleasant to stay in. However, there are certain neglect and dirt issues in the rooms such as lack of cleaning, stains on the floor and wall and certain abandonment issues. Housekeeping could also be improved, as some guests had to ask for their room to be cleaned multiple times during their stay. Some guests also had issues with cleanliness in the bathroom, mildew, rust and tub caulking. Despite these issues, the hotel is relatively well maintained, providing clean towels daily and cute, clean rooms. However, some guests had complaints about availability, such as the lack of blankets and towels or roaches in the bathroom. Overall, while the cleanliness could be better, Hotel El Convento provides a spacious and pleasant stay.

Staff

Hotel El Convento has a team of excellent, attentive, warm and welcoming staff, from the desk clerks to wait staff and housekeepers. The staff is known to be friendly, responsive and accommodating, making guests feel at home. Some guests praise specific individuals such as Giovanni, who provided magnífica service at the reception. The concierge service is also mentioned for providing nice suggestions. However, there are some mixed reviews concerning the quality of service. Some guests reported that customer assistance was variable depending on who they approached, while others found the front desk staff to be unprofessional, unresponsive and inefficient. Nevertheless, the majority of guests describe the staff as wonderful, great, very friendly and helpful. Baggage help is described as great as well. Guests are generally satisfied with the service and location and many recommend leaving a tip for the exceptional staff.

Wi-Fi

The Hotel El Convento offers a charming stay in a prime location, but unfortunately the wifi can be a bit of a hit or miss. While some guests have had no issues with the strength of the signal and found it great for work purposes, others have reported poor to no connection in their rooms and throughout most of the hotel. The hotel staff does provide a wireless hotspot for those experiencing issues, but it's important to note that in some cases the wifi never worked at all during their stay. Despite this drawback, the hotel is situated on a quiet street and the wifi does work in the breakfast room. If internet access is a high priority for your stay, it's worth double checking with the hotel before booking to ensure a strong connection will be available in your room.

Pool

Hotel El Convento's pool area seems to be a mixed bag for guests with some finding it small and overcrowded while others enjoyed its rooftop location and beautiful views. The pool is described as tiny and the hot tub barely two-feet wide. However, some guests appreciated its size, which they found adequate. The rooftop pool was especially beloved with its views hailed as amazing. While there were no towels provided initially, guests mentioned that complimentary towels were eventually made available. There's no beach access on site, but the hotel offers a shuttle to their sister property for half-day beach trips. Overall, the outdoor areas were described as plentiful and beautiful with a small but clean pool and jacuzzi available.

4 Star

If you're looking for a beautiful and lovely hotel in a great location, Hotel El Convento is definitely worth checking out. Although some guests experienced issues with their room's AC and blankets on their first night, the hotel's updated facilities made up for it during the rest of their stay. Some guests did mention that the hotel is in need of some refurbishing, but overall, the facilities were described as beautiful and modern. Despite a minor issue with transportation, the helpful staff received praise from guests. And with several reviewers giving five-star ratings, it's clear that Hotel El Convento deserves a superb rating for its services and amenities.

Outdoor Pool

If you're looking for a small but charming outdoor pool, Hotel El Convento is definitely worth considering. Though compact in size, the pool deck offers lovely views and plenty of areas to enjoy. Families with kids will love the rooftop pool which is the perfect size for some splashing around. The views of the city from the terrace with pool are simply amazing and make for a pretty impressive backdrop. Though some guests have mentioned that pool towels were a bit scarce, complimentary towels are available. And while the pool may be small, there are plenty of clean outdoor areas to bask in the beauty of this historic property. Overall, Hotel El Convento is a great choice for those who want to enjoy a relaxing swim with a view.

Historic

Hotel El Convento is a historical gem located in the heart of Old San Juan. The beautiful colonial structure boasts an open-air courtyard and retains its old-world charm. It is a landmark building with exceptional historical value that was almost torn down to make a car park. The hotel offers a lovely colonial and historical experience and the building's architecture and design make it truly unique. The location is exceptional with walking distance to anywhere in Old San Juan. From the architecture to the unexpected bathroom fresco, the hotel exudes history and the feel of it is classy and warm. Despite some guests' issues with room furniture and cleanliness, the majority found the hotel to be exquisite and beautiful. Staying at Hotel El Convento is a unique and historical vacation experience that cannot be replicated elsewhere.

Luxury

Hotel El Convento is a charming and historic boutique hotel located in a great location. Despite being in need of some smart revamping, it still manages to deliver a comfortable and luxurious stay according to some guests. Some reviewers did not consider it a luxury hotel by European standards and wished for a more luxurious feel, however, the majority praised the beautiful property and rated it highly. Even though not everyone agreed with the luxury advertised, many agreed that it was one of the best hotels in the world. Overall, it's a great place to stay for those interested in a unique and authentic experience.

Yes, Hotel El Convento has pool(s) that belong to one or more of the following categories: Outdoor Pool.

No, a spa isn't available at Hotel El Convento.

No, Hotel El Convento doesn't allow dogs.

No, parking facilities aren't available at Hotel El Convento.

Yes, Hotel El Convento has a gym.

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