Best Hotels in Puerto Rico

Occupying a preserved 17th-century convent, Old San Juan's most glamorous boutique hotel is filled with Andalusian tiles, mahogany beams, and lavish antiques (like four-poster beds in all 58 guest rooms). Happily, though, these historical details share the space with modern conveniences like plasma-screen TV's, Bose stereos, and a decadent hot tub on the fourth-floor terrace. A complimentary cocktail-and-hors d'oeuvres hour is held every evening in the garden before dinner.

Cloaked in marble, crystal, dark woods, brocade fabrics, and gilded moldings, the 416-room Ritz is easily San Juan's most opulent resort. The property, set on eight beachfront acres, is approached from a long, circular drive, where guests are immediately met by crisp valets and whisked up to their large, plush rooms (all overlook either landscaped gardens or a pretty swimming beach). Among the resort's amenities are two fabulous restaurants—New York outposts of BLT Steak and Il Mulino—as well as the Island's most glamorous casino and a 12,000-square-foot spa offering treatments like papaya-and-mango facials.

The Hyatt Hacienda del Mar sits on a private section of Dorado Beach, just 25 miles outside of San Juan. The hotel’s lobby and guest rooms are decorated in bright, tropical colors; the lobby has bright yellow walls and blue chairs, while the guest rooms are outfitted with brightly colored, tropical linens, light wood furnishings, and tropical plants. The on-site Spa Del Sol offers guests relaxing massage treatments, while the Blu Bohio Bar & Grill serves tropical drinks and sandwiches. Additional amenities include an outdoor pool and four championship golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr.

The most mega of Puerto Rico's mega-resorts, El Conquistador's compound of low-slung, Mediterranean-style buildings is spread across 500 acres on a cliff 300 feet above the ocean. With 21 restaurants, seven pools, a golf course, a tennis club, a Golden Door spa, horse stables, and a water-sports marina on a private island offshore, the place is practically its own city—and the families who come here year after year (and never leave the premises) like it that way. The resort's wide range of accommodations includes everything from standard rooms in the main hotel building to luxury casitas with private pools and butler service.

The Atlantic in front; El Yunque rain forest out back; and three pools, two golf courses, and 13 tennis courts in between.

Facing the Bay of San Juan to the west and only a two-minute walk southwest to the Puerto Rico Convention Center, Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino is a convenient business and leisure choice. The 503 rooms and suites blend modern amenities—like 40-inch flat-screen televisions and iPod docking stations—with city, beach, or pool views. Chef Rocio Varela's tasting menu at Restaurant Choices includes pan-seared scallops, pork belly, and coconut panna cotta made with strawberry tequila compote and coconut streusel. The resort also features the island's largest casino, with more than 500 slots and 16 table games (including blackjack, roulette, and baccarat). Just steps from the grounds are Condado Beach and the historic sights of Old San Juan.

Resting on a two-mile stretch of Isla Verda's white-sand beach, InterContinental San Juan Resort and Casino features dramatic views from a terrace with two grand staircases leading down to the pool area. Each room captures the Caribbean: oceanic blues and greens are complimented by views of the coastline and Isla Verda. Tropical, lagoon-style pools—with waterfalls and in-pool bars—provide alternatives to the pristine beach. Indulge in the complete resort experience with revitalizing spa treatments at Akua with its sea views, quiet indoor rooms, and soothing outdoor spaces. The resort's dining options range from classic steaks at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse to traditional Japanese cuisine at Momoyama. Ciao Mediterranean Café combines a boardwalk setting with ocean views and flavors of Greece, Spain, and Morocco.

Sharing a private peninsula with 17 acres of tropical gardens and beach, Caribe Hilton resides between Old San Juan and Condado, home to the city's trendiest clubs and restaurants. Across the open-air lobby from the main entrance is the oceanfront Oasis Bar, where the piña colada was invented in 1954. The 910 rooms and suites sport a modern design palette of warm oranges and yellows—but guests spend more time outdoors than in. Take a dip in the expansive three-level swimming pool that overlooks San Juan's only private beach, or head to the sand for uninterrupted quiet. Ready to explore? The hotel coordinates trips into Old San Juan, where visitors explore sites like San Juan Cathedral and the San Juan Museum of Art and History.

Overlooking Isla Verde Beach, El San Juan Resort and Casino blends natural beauty and Old-World sophistication. With its antique chandeliers and carved-mahogany ceiling, the lobby sets the tone; the 386 guest rooms follow suit with minimalist design highlighted by bleached wood, white furnishings, and warm accents. While most head to El San Juan for its rich history and perfect beaches, this resort ups the ante. Nine gourmet restaurants serve a wide range of choices, from Southern-style barbecue to sushi and teppanyaki. The expansive Encanto Pool Complex includes waterfalls, swim-up bars, private cabanas, and a poolside concierge. Come nightfall, the 13,000-square-foot casino with European-styled crystal chandeliers and tuxedo-clad staff is where guests flock to see and be seen.

This all-suite, all-inclusive Spanish-style complex has colonized 44 acres of the lush northeast coast. Golf carts shuttle guests from their bungalows to tennis/golf/merengue classes and Puerto Rico’s biggest pool.