After having a nightmare of a situation at another "resort" hotel and having to find a place to stay during high tourist season. I called the Howard Johnson's and asked if there was availability for check-in the next day. For 5 nights we paid about 700 dollars including taxes.

We were pleasantly surprised with the Marble pillars and elegant floors for a "budget" hotel. The pool was pretty good too. They gave us early check-in and showed us to our room. The rooms are the size of a standard hotel room...but we had a view of the beach from our room on the third floor across the street. It was a very clean room with a working refrigerator.

The staff was wonderful. They are truly appreciative of your business. They arranged for us to do the Camuy Cave tour with one company (Hector was great!!). Then we did the Rainforest tour and Loquillo Beach with another company.

Next door is a 7-11 and a Walgreens down the block...but if you head in the other direction about 1/4 of a mile (the walk wasn't bad) there is a grocery store, "Grande". I was travelling with my husband and 2 kids (2, 7) and I was able to get their snacks and juices and milk at the store.

The hotel will recommend a seafood restaurant that is a block away...we went for lunch since we had the kids...the food was amazing. There is also a number of other restaurants within walking distance.

At least once have breakfast at the restaurant on the top floor...the view is amazing and the service is great.

The public bus stops right in front of the hotel. We took a cab to Old San Juan and a bus back...15 dollars there and 50 per person back.

Our vacation could have easily been ruined by the issues at the other place...but Howard Johnson made it all better...for the service and value, I would definitely go again.

Stayed the weekend of March 17th. The hotel was nice, room was clean - we even got a suite with a huge bathroom. The pool was nice, could use a hot tub but still was enjoyable. It was also nice to have the beach right across the street and the hotel will give you towels.

Only negative was the restaurant. It is NOT owned by the Hojo which explains why they have issues. Service is as slow as can be and the food was overpriced. $5.00 for a small glass of juice, come on!!! They only give a $2.50 credit for your breakfast voucher and the inflated prices obviously cover that. Go out for breakfast, don't waste your time up there waiting all morning.

If you go to Old San Juan (and I highly recommend you do) do no, I repeat DO NOT go on the bus. Yes, it is 75 cents but the $20 you spend on the cab will be the best $20 you ever spend. We toolk the bus and it was HORRIBLE!!!! They must have packed 100 people on that bus, I was nearly crushed to death and I am not kidding!!!

Otherwise, we like the Hojo and the location was good. Only 10 minutes from the airport too - so we would return, but eat elsewhere.

The seventies decor was outdated and drab. The bathrooms were small and dirty (there was someone else’s hair on the toilet). The desk staff copped an attitude about making the reservation through Expedia. The view of the beach is mostly blocked by another high-rise. The complimentary breakfast was a joke. You're given breakfast vouchers for the upstairs restaurant and it's only worth $2.50 off the meal. That's not even enough for toast and coffee. Yogurt and fruit is $7.00 and omelets are $11.50.

I wish we had stayed somewhere else--even if it was more money.

After reviewing all the info, we called the Hotel directly. Booked for the evening of Feb. 11, 2007. We actually didn't even know there was a location in Old San Juan, but certainly would not have wanted to stay there, as we were on our way out of the city the next day. We had confirmed reservations....yet had to pay almost double! Why? On some websites, the phone number for the Old San Juan location is listed for the Isla Verde Hotel! We called, they had a room, and we didn't know there were 2 locations, so we didn't think to ask! Fortunately this location had a room, but they did not believe that the phone number problem was their mistake, so we had to pay the difference. I'm not sure who has caused the problem, but, even here on TripAdvisor, when you hit the bars for info on the Isla Verde HoJo Hotel, you get info on the Old San Juan Hotel.
Room was OK, a bit shabby but as expected. Pool was beautiful. You get a Continental Breakfast, but....if you choose from the menu, you only get $2.00 off your meal. And you then have to pay for your coffee, which would have been part of the free breakfast!