Are you interested in breaking up your trip? There are some amazing B&Bs in the rain forest. That's what DH and I did and it was great. It is super easy to rent a car and figure out the roads so traveling around is no problem.

we stayed in Intercontinental over the winter break-- the hotel is great, and so is the beach, but it is about 15 min (=$20) by cab from Old San Juan.

OP here, thanks to all for your inputs, much appreciated.

Ritz carlton nearest to old San Juan

Embassy Suites(the orange building) in Isla Verde district! Awesome pool and walk to the beach.
Beaches in San Juan are not that great, you'd miss the pool!

If you stay at La Concha, make sure you stay in the suite tower -- newer and every room has a compact but full kitchen and table/eating area with a little couch and second TV viewing area. Very nice.

The lovely hotel in Old San Juan is El Convento. El Conquistador is an hour east of the airport near the rain forest (where you must visit).

We liked La Concha - lots of non-chain restaurants to eat at. La Bonita Linda? By the post office across the street was so good (Mexican) we ate there twice.

Resort was nice. Cab to Old Town was $12-15, drive to the rain forest was 45min.

Stop saying conquistador is in old San Juan. It is a good hour from old San Juan.

We have stayed at la concha and the stellaris. Both marriott. We preferred the stellaris, better pool and beach area, and rooms IMO. But we're not into modern stuff, la concha has a more modern vibe.

Anonymous wrote:El Conquistador is right in the town of Old San Juan. Looked lovely and is highly recommended. We ended up staying at the La Concha Renaissance in SJ, directly on the beach with a "local" feel to the neighborhood which was perfect for our family. If money is no problem, I'd go to the Dorado Beach, Ritz Carlton Reserve.

We have stayed at both El Conquistador and La Concha. Both are lovely and have their own pluses. La concha is definitely more chain feel (think casino in lower level), it is on the beach but often you can not go into the water b/c of the water conditions. El conquistador is in old san juan which we really enjoyed, but not walking distance to a beach.

The El Conquistador is not in Old San Juan. It is 45 minutes from the airport near the rain forest.

It is huge and the food is not so great. If you stay out this way, it is pretty far to get into Old san Juan.

If you want to be on the beach, staying in Isla Verde is pretty convenient.

The hotels you night like would be the Ritz, the Intercontinental or the Water Club. They are all on the beach.

In Condado, La Concha Renaisance, or Olive are nice. The beach is not as great in this area. The restaurants are pretty good including Pikayo and BudaThai.

In Ol San Juan, El Covento might fit the bill. No beach but you can walk to lots of stuff (El Morro, restaurants, shopping)

Have fun

We stayed at La Concha a couple of years back and had a great time. Excellent service and location worked very well.

El Conquistador is right in the town of Old San Juan. Looked lovely and is highly recommended. We ended up staying at the La Concha Renaissance in SJ, directly on the beach with a "local" feel to the neighborhood which was perfect for our family. If money is no problem, I'd go to the Dorado Beach, Ritz Carlton Reserve.

We've booked a 4 nights trip to San Juan this spring break, only myself and DW (first DH+DW trip without the kids in 7yrs) and wanted some input on hotel recommendation? Preferably something with walking distance to beach and in vicinity of a good choice of restaurants. Also, does not need to be chain hotel, prefer something mid-sized and personal (boutique hotel?). Pool would be nice but can do without.