Fairmont El San Juan reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

4.0 Very Good

  • Cleanliness 4.5
  • Location 4.5
  • Rooms 4.0
  • Service 4.0
  • Value 3.5

1741 TripAdvisor reviews

TripAdvisor users rated this property 2 out of 5

Room smelled and no sleep.

Mike R (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) on Oct 26, 2024

Great pool area. Room smelled like sewage and we were moved over the dance club. Music plays all night and rattles your 3rd floor room. Food was good by pool. This is a Chase Sapphire recommended hotel sadly. Got no sleep, so recommend ear plugs

TripAdvisor users rated this property 5 out of 5

Pet Friendly Experience

jmartinez718 (Astoria, New York) on Oct 25, 2024

I appreciate how pet friendly the hotel was. They accommodated us very well and were very pleasant overall. The breakfast buffet was excellent and the pool and beach area were well maintained. The property needs some upgrades because it’s quite old but we still enjoyed nonetheless.

TripAdvisor users rated this property 2 out of 5

Disheartening Experience at Fairmont San Juan

blei a (Boston, Massachusetts) on Oct 23, 2024

Overview Our recent stay at the Fairmont San Juan was a mix of beautiful surroundings and unfortunate events. Traveling with my husband and another couple, we were initially impressed by the hotel’s stunning architecture and vibrant atmosphere. At night, the hotel comes alive with its bustling casino and nightclub; however, we couldn't enjoy the club due to a private party. Beach Experience The beach was visually appealing with clean, calm waters, but we encountered an unexpected issue: the water felt as if it was filled with small stinging bites, reminiscent of ocean fleas. This strange sensation drove us out of the water quickly. However, we were grateful for the attentive beach staff, who provided us with comfortable lounges, towels, and even free sunscreen. Disturbing Incident During our time at the beach, we witnessed a deeply unsettling incident involving a white female guest. A man, seemingly intoxicated and carrying a big glass liquor bottle, approached her and began hurling racist insults, yelling things like, “Go back to Boston, you don’t belong here, you white bitch!” The vitriol continued as he mocked her for trying to enjoy a peaceful day at the beach, further asserting that she should be ashamed of being there. In a shocking act of aggression, he spilled liquor all over her, further humiliating the poor woman, who stood up in shock and disbelief, clearly shaken by the vitriol. To make matters worse, earlier, we had seen this same man walking along the beach, targeting another female guest by calling her “fat” and hurling other horrendous names. It was absolutely appalling to witness such blatant racism and bullying. The hotel staff intervened by calling security, but unfortunately, they could do little to prevent the man from returning, as the beach was deemed private property. It was disheartening to see that despite their efforts, the hotel was unable to ensure a safe environment for its guests. The young woman was visibly shaken and in tears after the encounter. Room Conditions In terms of our accommodations, we faced significant issues. The air conditioning in our room went out at 5 AM and was still down by noon, leaving us sweltering in the heat and humidity. Additionally, the water pressure in the shower was disappointingly low, making for an uncomfortable experience. When we reported the A/C issue to the front desk, we were simply told to wait for power to be restored. Staff and Service While the hotel staff were genuinely nice and attentive, the combination of the beach incident and the room issues left us feeling dissatisfied. Conclusion Given our experience, I would recommend considering other hotels nearby for a more secure and comfortable stay. The Fairmont San Juan has its charm, but the lack of effective management in critical situations was disappointing.

TripAdvisor users rated this property 5 out of 5

Great time at Fairmont El San Juan Hotel

Compass35910673315 on Oct 17, 2024

The hotel was very nice and had something going on every night we were there. The ocean and pools were very nice. I also won money at the hotel. There was great ambience and the staff was great. Breakfast could’ve been better but I’d definitely come back.

TripAdvisor users rated this property 4 out of 5

Pretty good experience after reading scary reviews.

Excursion639363 (Montclair, New Jersey) on Oct 13, 2024

I booked and then read some reviews. I got worried about noise for the nightclub and the condition of the hotel. Here's what I observed. I stayed on the 6th floor and it was a perfectly quiet stay. The pillows felt old and lumpy. There is a weird smell in the hallways and room, like a mustiness covered by fragrance. Maybe it's inevitable in humid Puerto Rico. The hotel hallways definitely look a little run down, nicks and scuffs that need paint or repair. Cana was a great restaurant, great service. I did have breakfast there the first day but other days went out to eat cheaper at IHOP - I just want eggs, that shouldn't cost $40. There is a Denny's in walking distance too which I didn't go to. (I'm not a snob for breakfast, i am for dinner!). That's all!

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