Hotels
Best hotels in Puerto Rico: nine places to stay in San Juan, Dorado and by the rainforest
In Old San Juan you walk on blue cobblestones between colourful colonial houses, up to the El Morro fortress above the sea. An hour to the east lies the El Yunque rainforest, and at night you can paddle in a lagoon that glows blue in the dark. Puerto Rico has a city, beaches and nature on one island.
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Puerto Rico is an island in the north eastern Caribbean and a territory of the United States. The capital, San Juan, has a 16th-century old town with fortresses on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the beach districts of Condado and Isla Verde lie close by. The island is around 170 kilometres long, with rainforest, mountains, beaches and small islands off the coast.
We have picked nine hotels in three areas and say who each one suits. All have a guest rating of at least 8.8 out of 10 and more than 50 reviews on Expedia. Our links go there, and the hotel is always chosen before the link. Puerto Rico has some of the best luxury resorts in the Caribbean, but also good city hotels where you can walk to restaurants and nightlife.
Quick answer: where should you stay in Puerto Rico?
For city and beach, stay in Condado. For history, stay in Old San Juan. For luxury and calm, stay in Dorado west of the city or around Rio Grande in the east, where the rainforest meets the sea.
Best for luxury: Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Best in San Juan: Condado Vanderbilt Hotel
Best in the old town: Alma San Juan
Best by the rainforest: Four Seasons Resort Puerto Rico
Best for families: El Conquistador Resort
How to choose the right hotel in Puerto Rico
City or resort: in San Juan you can walk to restaurants and the beach. The resorts in Dorado, Rio Grande and Fajardo are 30 to 60 minutes away, and you tend to stay put once there.
Hire car: you do not need a car in San Juan, but to see El Yunque, Luquillo and the west coast it pays to rent one for a few days.
Entry: Puerto Rico follows US entry rules. Most European visitors need an ESTA before they travel, just as for the mainland US.
Season: driest and most popular from December to April. Hurricane season runs from June to November.
Offshore islands: ferries to Culebra and Vieques leave from Ceiba in the east. Book tickets well ahead at weekends.
Condado Beach
The beach and palms in Condado by the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel.
San Juan
San Juan is made up of several districts. Old San Juan sits at the tip of a peninsula, with blue cobblestones, squares and the El Morro and San Cristóbal fortresses. Condado lies between the ocean and a lagoon, with hotels, restaurants and a beach. Isla Verde lies near the airport, with a long sandy beach.
Condado Vanderbilt Hotel: a classic on the beach
The Condado Vanderbilt opened in 1919 and is one of the best known hotels in San Juan. It sits right on the beach in Condado, with a pool, cabanas, a spa and several restaurants, and the lobby has chandeliers and a grand staircase.
This is our pick in San Juan, if you want an elegant stay with both the beach and the city right outside. The restaurants of Condado are within walking distance, and the old town is a short taxi ride away. Stroll along Ashford Avenue in the evening and eat at one of the restaurants by the lagoon.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Condado Vanderbilt Hotel
The shell above the pool
The shell-shaped restaurant above the pool at La Concha Resort.
La Concha Resort: the shell above the pool
La Concha is known for the shell-shaped restaurant that hangs over the pool, a Condado landmark. The resort sits on the beach, with a casino, a nightclub, two beach bars and a spa.
It suits you if you want some life around you, with music, a bar and the beach in one place. It is busier than the Vanderbilt, and many come here for the nightlife. Have a drink by the pool at sunset, then head on to the restaurants of Condado.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at La Concha Resort
The rooftop terrace
The rooftop terrace at Olive Boutique Hotel in Condado.
Olive Boutique Hotel: small and adults only
Olive is a small adults-only hotel in Condado, with a bar, a restaurant and a rooftop terrace. The hotel is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and was renovated in 2024.
It suits couples who want a personal, quiet stay in the middle of Condado. It is not on the beach, but the sand is only a few minutes' walk away. Sit on the rooftop terrace in the evening and watch the lights over the lagoon and the sea.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Olive Boutique Hotel
The rooftop pool
The rooftop pool overlooking Old San Juan at Alma San Juan.
Alma San Juan: a rooftop pool in the old town
Alma sits in the middle of Old San Juan, within walking distance of the harbour, the squares and the fortresses. The hotel has a rooftop terrace with a pool and views over the old town, two restaurants and a café.
This is our pick in the old town, if you want to step out of the door and straight into history. There is no beach here, so you take a taxi to Condado or Isla Verde. Walk up to El Morro early in the morning, and try mofongo, the island's famous dish of mashed fried plantain, in one of the streets around Calle San Sebastián.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Alma San Juan
The beach view
View over the beach in Isla Verde from The Royal Sonesta San Juan.
The Royal Sonesta San Juan: the beach at Isla Verde
The Royal Sonesta sits right on the long beach at Isla Verde, a few minutes from the airport. The hotel has a pool with a swim-up bar, two beach bars, a spa and six restaurants.
It suits families and anyone who wants a classic beach holiday a short ride from the plane. Isla Verde is livelier than Condado by day, with water sports and beach bars. The old town is a taxi ride of around 20 minutes.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Royal Sonesta San Juan
The pool by the sea
The pool among the palms by the sea at Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.
Dorado
Dorado lies on the north coast west of San Juan, around half an hour's drive from the airport. The area was developed as a resort in the 1950s and today has golf courses, villas and one of the most exclusive resorts in the Caribbean.
Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve: the island's most exclusive
Dorado Beach sits on an estate that Laurance Rockefeller developed as a resort, with several kilometres of beach, golf courses and pools among the palms. The spa is called Spa Botanico, and the rooms are low-rise buildings along the beach.
This is our luxury pick, for a special occasion or a honeymoon. It is expensive, but the service and setting are among the best in the Caribbean. Walk along the beach early in the morning, and have dinner looking out over the sea.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
The terrace by the sea
The terrace with a sea view at Four Seasons Resort Puerto Rico.
The east coast: Rio Grande and Fajardo
East of San Juan lie the El Yunque rainforest, the famous Luquillo Beach with its food kiosks along the road, and Fajardo with boats to the small islands. This is also home to Laguna Grande, one of the island's lagoons where the water glows blue at night.
Four Seasons Resort Puerto Rico: between rainforest and sea
The Four Seasons sits at Bahia Beach in Rio Grande, on a large estate with a golf course, a beach and nature areas between El Yunque and the sea. The resort was formerly the St. Regis Bahia Beach, and has a beach bar, cabanas and a spa.
This is our pick if you want luxury and nature in one place. It is calm and spacious, and you need a car or taxi to get around. Take a morning walk in El Yunque before it gets hot, and see the waterfalls and the views from the towers in the forest.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Four Seasons Resort Puerto Rico
The beach and rainforest
Wyndham Grand Rio Mar by the beach with the rainforest behind, seen from the air.
Wyndham Grand Rio Mar: golf, casino and beach
Rio Mar sits on the beach in Rio Grande with the rainforest right behind, and has a golf course, a casino, three beach bars and free entry to a water park. The rooms are large, and many face the sea.
It suits families and golfers who want plenty to do in one place, at a lower price than the Four Seasons. Drive to Luquillo and eat at the food kiosks by the beach, a short trip away.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Wyndham Grand Rio Mar
The resort above the sea
El Conquistador Resort on the cliff above the sea at Fajardo, seen from the air.
El Conquistador Resort: on the cliff above Fajardo
El Conquistador sits on a cliff above the sea at Fajardo, with a marina, a golf course, a water park and its own beach. The hotel has eight restaurants, and boats leave the marina for Palomino Island, where guests have the beach to themselves.
This is our family pick, for children who want water slides and parents who want a beach and a view. It is big, so expect some walking or shuttle rides between areas. Book an evening kayak trip on Laguna Grande nearby and watch the water glow.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at El Conquistador Resort
When should you book?
December to April: high season, dry and warm. Book early, especially around Christmas and Easter.
May and June: lower prices and fine weather, before hurricane season really begins.
August to October: the lowest prices, but the greatest risk of tropical storms.
Frequently asked questions about hotels in Puerto Rico
How many nights do I need in Puerto Rico?
A week is a good starting point. Spend three nights in San Juan and four at a resort in Dorado or near El Yunque. With ten days you can add a trip to the islands of Culebra or Vieques.
Where should I stay on a first visit?
Condado is the easiest choice, with a beach, restaurants and a short ride to the old town. For more history, stay in Old San Juan and take a taxi to the beach.
Do I need a visa for Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico follows US entry rules. Most European visitors need an ESTA, an electronic travel authorisation, before they travel. The currency is the US dollar.
How do I get to Puerto Rico from Europe?
Most routes go via a city on the US east coast, such as New York, Miami or Boston. From Miami the flight to San Juan takes around two and a half hours.
Are hotels in Puerto Rico expensive?
City hotels in San Juan are cheaper than on many other Caribbean islands. The big luxury resorts in Dorado and Rio Grande are expensive, especially from Christmas to Easter.