For Christmas my daughter and son in law invited me to go on vacation to PR with them, along with 1 year old grandson. I told her CC would be the best place to get recommendations for lodging. They would like to stay at a beachfront hotel, leaving February 27th, for 5-6 nights. They didn’t tell me the budget, but would like a nice place, just not Ritz Carlton type pricing. TIA
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I’ve stayed at the Caribe Hilton for work multiple times over the years. It is the birthplace of the Pina Colada 
. But it is definitely family-friendly.
It is just across the bridge from Condado, which also has nice hotels on the beach. I’ve walked to Old San Juan from the Caribe Hilton but would not recommend that with a one year old! Enjoy!
ETA: Most tourist areas of San Juan are reasonably safe but you should definitely be aware, especially at night. Make sure you’ve researched the area around the hotel they select; there are areas that are unsafe but those are primarily as you get away from the ones frequented by tourists.
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I’d probably not stay in San Juan the whole time, tbh. I’d head to El Conquistador. There will be better activities for all and the boat ride to the private island is fun.
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@CottonTales If you are open to leaving San Juan, let us know! Definitely fun options if you have time.
For 5-6 nights with a small child…I wouldn’t want to do to much moving around. I’d find one resort…and stay put.
Maybe someone here knows if there is a particular one best suited for parents with a young child.
Definitely open to anywhere there is a beach. None of us have ever been to PR and open to anywhere. We won’t need tourist attractions of any kind as the baby will be with us.
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Okay! I’ll pull out some of my travel notes and come back here.
Another thing, you should definitely check on the current state of any resort since the hurricane. Don’t just rely on the website. My friend was just there for work (west side of the island) and said the resort was badly damaged. It didn’t matter much in his case since he was not going to hang out in the pool or the now non-existent beach. 
Also, I think @Creekland 's son lives in PR so she may have suggestions.
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I’ve never been but my D19 went last spring break and loved it. The only thing I remember is that the area she stayed the ocean was dangerous - a child had died the week before she went and many reviews mentioned it. I remember reading that the beach was fine but if you wanted to swim to go to a different area. She stayed at the Marriott Stellaris so if you are looking near there just double check the reviews.
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If that is the one in Condado with the casino, I’ve stayed there. It is a nice option. I’m not sure if it is as family-friendly with a one year old, but that’s just me. LOL
I’m glad your D had a fun spring break! My D and friends are considering PR for their spring break this year so this is a good reminder to give her some suggestions.
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I go for work. Condado. Isla Verde…literally adjacent to the airport…are popular. Or you can stay a bit west in dorado.
If you look up your Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt chains or look at trip advisor, you’ll find top hotels.
I’ve stayed in Isla verde which I don’t love but is considered top beaches, Condado - which I like most. I’ve stayed Next to the convention center which is a mini downtown Disney with loads of food but a quick Uber from the beach.
You’ll find the right place. And most things to see are just a short Uber ride away.
If they want a date night while you watch the little one, Vendimia is wonderful. San Juan may have the best eats in America.
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He does, but not near San Juan. He’s in the mountains near Aibonito.
We, ourselves, haven’t been there yet, but it’s our southern destination for our time away this winter. We’ll actually be there when @CottonTales is, though at an AirBnB east of San Juan. Part of that specific week we’ll be in Vieques kayaking the bioluminescent bay and our medical lad will be with us so it’s super unlikely we’ll be able to meet unfortunately…
After we’ve been there we might have a better idea, but I’m not sure hotels will be part of it - just “things to do” and “places to eat.” I actually put this thread on tracking to see what others thought!
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We stayed at the La Concha Renaissance on Condado in 2016. It’s very beautiful with a nice beach and gorgeous pool within a courtyard like setting and also by the beach. It also has a casino.
It’s also pretty close to old San Juan.
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@conmama that looks so nice!
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Not sure this would work well with a one year old who would need a car seat. No fun schlepping a car seat to the beach…and back.
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Simply said where I’ve stayed …it’s up to OP to research. Ultimately I stay based on price. Everything was $400 plus that week. The Hyatt place I was at was $180. Old San Juan would be tough with a kid and it’s density, etc but presumably they’re going to go see things. So they may be ubering regardless…even to get to the hotel.
La Concha is very nice if in budget.
If they enjoy a slow vibe, beautiful beaches and great snorkeling, I would recommend a couple days on Culebra. On one of those days, a day trip to Culebrita is highly recommended.
A nice, relatively inexpensive place to stay in San Juan is the At Wind Chimes boutique hotel. It’s about a 2-minute walk from the beach. It’s in the Condado section of San Juan, close to the main road out to Viejo San Juan.
I highly recommend Waiters Gastro Bar and Pannes for good, relatively inexpensive food.
Edited to add:
Everyone who goes to San Juan should spend some time walking around Old San Juan (Viejo San Juan) – the narrow streets, multi-colored structures, and old forts/buildings make it a neat excursion. But if they are staying in Condado, I advise against hoofing it out there. It took my girlfriend and I a good couple of hours to walk it, and it was like 92 degrees, and by the time we got to OSJ she was about ready to murder me. An Uber is pretty cheap, and will save their legs/energy for exploring OSJ.
That day was just great – lol we walked out there, were dog tired when we got there, and hot/sweaty and burned… so we found the first place with A/C and went inside. Thankfully it was a restaurant, so we plopped ourselves down at a table and ordered some food and drinks. That bought us an hour of rest and nice cool air. It was rejuvenating.
A map might make it seem like a quick hike from Condado to Old San Juan – it is not. She still gives me cr@p about that day.
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Do we get to vote! I like the one @conmama suggested because there is a beach and a pool right at the hotel. Easy peasy, especially with a one year old who will need to nap. The adults can take turns watching the child by simply going up to a room…no Uber, etc. so convenient for a young family.
And way more relaxing.
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I just have to second what @prezbucky said. Walk around Old San Juan, stop at a restaurant and enjoy a cool drink. And yes, take an uber! I don’t know if food trucks are up in that part of the island, but I had the best chicken from a food truck on a beach in PR. I really want to go back.
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Absolutely take a walk around Old San Juan and enjoy dinner and or drinks there. It’s really fun. Will you have a stroller with you anyway? That would be a nice outing.
Any chance this little tyke has the kind of car seat that fits into a stroller…that you will be taking anyway.
The only downside to Uber with little ones is the schlepping the car seat…and then a stroller to walk around. But if they have that combo, that would help.
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Grandson will have his car seat for the plane, and then a travel stroller for any excursions. They went to Hawaii several months back and the hotel they were staying at had transportation to and from the airport with a car seat, so that wasn’t needed. They are getting him his own plane seat this time, so car seat is necessary. I have forwarded the hotel @conmama recommended to my daughter. Looks great for our needs. Thanks all.
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