Caribe Hilton Review: Ocean Views in a Secluded Area

What the data shows is What's particularly noteworthy is The oceanfront Caribe Hilton offers travelers to Puerto Rico a secluded spot to relax and play in the island’s capital of San Juan, while still being close to attractions

It's not the cheapest option, but it’s an excellent choice for those seeking a peaceful beach vacation at an upscale perty

What the data shows is island is a destination for U

Moreover, Travelers, offering beautiful beaches, delicious food and passport-free travel, given the current landscape

Timing is everything, so you’ll need to be flexible with your travel dates to get the best deal

While the hotel covered the cost of my meals and lodging, this review is my own opinion and was not influenced by the perty

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LocationSituated on the Isleta de San Juan, the Caribe Hilton is just outside of Old San Juan, the historic district that’s to the Spanish fortresses of Castillo San Cristobal and Castillo San Felipe del Morro, in this volatile climate

Additionally, That area is easily accessible from the hotel by Uber or, if you’re feeling spry, by foot (expect a 40-minute walk)

To get to the isleta, or little island, you’ll need to cross a bridge from Condado Beach, where a large number of the city’s chain hotels are located

Santurce, a vibrant neighborhood known for its street art and nightlife, is located by Condado Beach (noteworthy indeed). (Screenshot from Google Maps)The hotel is in a relatively quiet neighborhood, although you can still find shops and restaurants nearby

If you’re looking for total peace and quiet, head to the large park next door, which has access to a stretch of public beach that’s for organized water activities (an important development)

I’ve been to San Juan multiple times, and I found the peaceful atmosphere of the Caribe Hilton to be a highlight of my stay, since the nearby Condado Beach can feel extremely touristy and crowded (this bears monitoring). » Learn more: The best Hilton Honors hotels in the Caribbean DesignWhen you first pull up to the perty, you immediately notice the imposing buildings that make up the Caribe Hilton, amid market uncertainty

Designed in the International Style, with an emphasis on simple geometric shapes, you might mistake them as office buildings from afar if you couldn’t see the hotel signage, in light of current trends

At the same time, But playful elements help add character to the smooth and unassuming rectangular facades, such as the saucer-shaped roof over the open-air lobby

In contrast, (Photo by Benjamin Din)A massive lawn lined with palm trees greets guests at the entrance to the perty

If you’re coming by ride, you’ll be dropped off by the hotel’s tallest building and need to walk down to the lobby, in today's financial world

A taxi can drop you off in front of the lobby at the end of the driveway

At the same time, Once you arrive, you’ll hear tropical music setting the tone for your vacation and encounter fun design elements that play into the island vibe

Moreover, (Photo by Benjamin Din)It’s also where you’ll check in

If you have Hilton elite, you can use a dedicated line to speed up the cess (which is quite significant)

On the other hand, Typically, this is where you would get a wristband, which security uses to identify you as a guest of the hotel when accessing the pool and beach area

However, when I checked in, the agent informed me that they had run out of wristbands since the hotel was extremely full, given the current landscape

Instead, I would need to show my keycard to access the pool area. » Learn more: The complete guide to the Hilton Honors gramMost of the re’s dining options are in or near the lobby

On the other hand, At the same time, The entrance to the outdoor pool and beach area is here as well

If you’re looking for a calm place to sit and relax, check out the outdoor garden with a small pond and gazebo

I didn’t spend much time here but the green space would be a fun place to bring kids for animal spotting, from fish and birds to iguanas and turtles

However, (Photo by Benjamin Din)While you’re there, don’t miss the colorful mural of pineapples just around the corner, given current economic conditions

Furthermore, You’ll also be able to see playful touches of the hotel’s signature blue color incorporated into the architectural design

Moreover, One thing that’s abundantly the Caribe Hilton: It’s ud of its history

Small exhibits and placards showcasing the hotel’s heritage are scattered around the perty, from historical photographs to an entire wall dedicated to the hotel’s claim to fame as the birthplace of the pina colada (something worth watching). (Photo by Benjamin Din)RoomsThe perty is split into three wings: the Beach Wing, the Garden Wing and the Wave Wing (this bears monitoring)

The Beach Wing is closest to the lobby, the pools and the beach, while the Garden Wing overlooks the outdoor garden area

The Wave Wing is the furthest away and requires a short trek (something worth watching)

I stayed in a high-floor room in the Wave Wing that had an ocean view

This leads to the conclusion that wing is the tallest structure in the hotel offering the best views, and the entrance to this building is near the ride pickup and dropoff area. (Photo by Benjamin Din)When you first enter the room, the bathroom is immediately on your left, while the rest of the room is straight ahead. (Photo by Benjamin Din)I really enjoyed the room, although I found it to be a bit bare, considering how much space there was

But there’s plenty of room for luggage (this bears monitoring), in today's financial world. (Photo by Benjamin Din)I appreciated the bedside charging options, which included a wireless charging pad and different charging ports in case you forget (or are too lazy to pull out) your charging block. (Photo by Benjamin Din)In the room, you have standard amenities a TV, a coffee machine, a mini fridge and two chairs. (Photo by Benjamin Din)There was plenty of storage space for my belongings, which helped me keep things organized during my stay (an important development)

My favorite part of the room, of course, was the balcony

Furthermore, The weather was a bit muggy while I was there, but the idea of being able to sit outside made me happy

Plus, it was helpful to have a place to dry out swimsuits after a day at the beach (something worth watching). (Photo by Benjamin Din)One thing I didn’t the view was having to look at the roof of the much lower building below, which houses the hotel’s conference and meeting rooms

However, Against the backdrop of the beautiful Atlantic Ocean, the mechanical equipment was a bit of an eyesore

If that’s something that would bother you, try to ask for a room on the other side of the building facing the beach area. (Photo by Benjamin Din)The bathroom, in my opinion, felt comically large for a standard hotel room

While I don’t necessarily find that to be a bad thing, I thought it was an interesting choice that they made the bathrooms larger instead of opting for more square footage for the room. (Photo by Benjamin Din) many standard Hilton perties, the hotel uses Crabtree & Evelyn bath ducts (something worth watching)

I d the fun art piece that hung on the wall by the toilet. (Photo by Benjamin Din)BookingThe Caribe Hilton is a part of the Hilton Honors gram, meaning you can book rooms using cash or Hilton points

It’s also an eligible perty where you can spend the twice-a-year re credit that comes as a perk of holding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Conversely, (That card also comes with automatic top-tier Diamond elite, with benefits complimentary breakfast and upgrades. ) Terms apply

Additionally, Keep in mind when booking that the hotel charges a re fee, which is waived for Hilton Honors members when booking using points or redeeming a free night award, amid market uncertainty

If you have any elite with Hilton and are planning a stay on points, you might be able to take advantage of Hilton’s “fifth night free” perk, allowing you to pay the price of four nights for every five nights you stay in a standard room when using points, in today's market environment. » Learn more: How to get a free night at a hotel Don’t have elite but want to use this perk (noteworthy indeed)

However, As mentioned above, Hilton offers various credit cards that come with differing tiers of

If you want higher, though, you’ll need to pay a higher annual fee

Dining optionsGuests at the Caribe Hilton have multiple dining options — ranging from sit-down restaurants to coffee shops with grab-and-go options

On the other hand, Most of the eateries are located in or near the lobby

For breakfast, guests can visit Nectar del Caribe, which offers a breakfast buffet as well as hot food stations, including made-to-order omelettes and waffles, given the current landscape

This surprised me, but I was told that it would be removed from my folio later on, and it was

If you want to eat here, I’d recommend ordering a la carte (something worth watching) (noteworthy indeed)

On the other hand, For other meals, guests can try Rustica Ristorante and Lola’s, which serve Italian and Puerto Rican cuisine, respectively

The latter two actually the same space, so you can order from either while dining there, which is great for families or large groups with different tastes

Rounding out the restaurants are Morton’s The Steakhouse next to the check-in counter and Ocean Restaurant & Lounge, which is located by the Wave Wing and has an upscale and intimate vibe. (Photo by Benjamin Din)One of my favorite meals I had during my stay on the island was actually at Caribar, the lobby bar which has an outdoor terrace (which is quite significant)

I ordered the grilled skirt steak which was cooked perfectly and came with flavorful green chili rice and plantains

You can also order a variety of cocktails here, including the classic pina colada or one of the concoctions on the special Bad Bunny, given the current landscape. ( tip: The Born in Paradise made with Don Q rum was a crowd favorite during my stay. ) (Photo by Benjamin Din)Other options include an on-perty Starbucks, which can get busy in the mornings, as well as Ice Cream & Cookies Co. , which serves — you guessed it — ice cream and cookies, as well as acai bowls, smoothies, coffee, sandwiches and other snacks (fascinating analysis)

Out by the pool, you have Bagua, a swim-up bar and grill

That’s where the daily pina colada tasting takes place, which is included in the re fee

Meanwhile, If you’re looking for food options off-perty, I enjoyed Cruda, which is in the complex across the street and sells poke bowls

I didn’t try it during my stay, but I’ve had it in New York City and enjoyed the variety it offers

AmenitiesThe Caribe Hilton has multiple pools, including one designated for children, and hot tubs, as well as beach access, in today's market environment

I found the pool area to be overrun with children during my stay, so I opted to spend most of my water time at the beach

Moreover, (Even if the pool was empty, I’d always choose the open water over a pool, in today's market environment. )(Photo by Benjamin Din)Both the pool and beach areas have plenty of lounge chairs to choose from, making them great spots to relax and hang out. (Photo by Benjamin Din)By the pool, you’ll find a hammock garden, a giant chess set and a chalkboard listing the various re activities offered by the hotel. (Photo by Benjamin Din)Guests can play volleyball on the grassy area by the beach, while kids can run around on the nearby play structure

The re fee comes with a complimentary one-hour court rental

The hotel spa, Zen Spa Oceano, and fitness center are between the tennis courts and the beach

Behind that area is the dilapidated Normandie Hotel, which is a bit of an eyesore for guests, in today's financial world

Moreover, (Photo by Benjamin Din)The fitness center is open 24/7 and is well stocked, with treadmills, ellipticals, stair climbers, weight machines and more

However, The best part, though, is the incredible view of the ocean while working out. (To access it after the spa’s hours, you’ll need to use the entrance by the tennis courts, not the main entrance

Meanwhile, )(Photo by Benjamin Din)The perty also has a 24-hour laundry room, which I thought was a convenient option for those planning to spend multiple days at the beach or pool

If you didn’t pack detergent, you can buy it in the laundry room, considering recent developments

Furthermore, (Photo by Benjamin Din)Getting to the Caribe HiltonMost travelers visiting San Juan will fly into Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU)

Whether you should rent a car depends on what activities you want to do during your trip

Those who want to relax at the beach and explore Old San Juan ly don’t need a car

However, for those who want to explore the entire island, such as hiking in El Yunque National Forest, a car will ly be necessary, in today's market environment

To money, consider blocking off a few days for activities that require having a car to get around and rent a car just for that period, given current economic conditions

That way, you won’t have to pay for your car rental and parking fees on days when you don’t plan to stray far from the hotel, amid market uncertainty

All information the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet

Additionally, The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is no longer available through NerdWallet (which is quite significant) (which is quite significant), amid market uncertainty

To view rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, see this page

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