FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

San Juan’s Condado Vanderbilt Hotel

by KatieS

Feb 4, 2016
2016

Arrival/Check-In: The drive from San Juan International Airport to Condado Vanderbilt Hotel took 20 minutes. The transition from the congested city streets of San Juan’s Condado neighborhood to an oasis of Old World elegance was instantaneous. My husband and I stepped over the threshold and into a sophisticated marble lobby centered on a striking circular staircase and opening to an elegant lounge with floor-to-ceiling vistas of the ocean beyond. Our room wasn’t quite ready, so we left our luggage at the front desk and headed for Ola, the hotel’s oceanfront casual dining venue. By the time we ordered lunch at the pool bar — pulled beef sliders and salt-rimmed margaritas — our room was ready.

Guest Quarters: I use the term “guestroom” loosely, as our expansive 815-square-foot, one-bedroom oceanfront suite (one of 107 suites property-wide) felt more like a private residence than a hotel room. The corner suite with two full-sized balconies in the hotel’s East Tower offered a dining area with a wet bar including a microwave, Sub-Zero refrigerator and icemaker (with a cooktop and oven, it would qualify as a full kitchen), in addition to complimentary bottled water, soft drinks and snacks (restocked daily) and a French Press coffeemaker. The comfortable living area was furnished with a full-sized sofa, an armchair, a coffee table, two comfortable ottomans and a 55-inch flat-screen smart TV. The separate bedroom featured a king-sized bed, a 48-inch flat-screen smart TV and wall-mounted bedside reading lamps. The spacious bathroom offered a separate tub and shower, an ample vanity and a sliding double-door closet. The adjacent water closet, with its own sink and vanity, opened to both the bathroom and the entry hall, doubling as a guest bath.

Services/Amenities: Twenty-four-hour butler service is one of the perks associated with staying in a suite at the hotel, and while she must have had dozens of guests to attend to during our stay, our butler, Nadia, made us feel as if we were her only assignment. Case in point: When she noticed I was battling a cold, Nadia took it upon herself to stock our kitchen with fresh lemon juice, squeezed ginger, honey, chamomile tea and even a tea steeper. Swimming pools of various sizes dot the property, ranging from full-sized with a pool bar and music to quiet plunge pools nestled among swaying palm trees. The Spa at Condado Vanderbilt Hotel offers a traditional hammam. On-site dining venues include casual Ola, the elegant Vanderbilt Court and 1919, one of Puerto Rico’s most renowned restaurants where dining is as much about the experience as it is about the food.

The Experience: Built by Frederick William Vanderbilt, grandson of 19th-century railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, the original early Spanish Revival-style hotel opened in 1919 as one of Puerto Rico’s first luxury hotels. Magnificent in its heyday, the hotel thrived well into the mid-20th century before gradually falling into disrepair. Considered for demolition in the 1970s, the hotel earned recognition on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. After a partial reopening (restaurants and function spaces) in 2012, the meticulously restored Condado Vanderbilt Hotel officially welcomed its first guests in December 2014. Approaching its centennial in 2019, Condado Vanderbilt Hotel once again leads the way as a cornerstone in the revitalization of San Juan’s Condado neighborhood.

GT CHECKLIST

[checklist]
[item check=yes]Doorman/valet[/item]
[item check=yes]Less than 10 minutes for check-in[/item]
[item check=yes]Separate tub and shower[/item]
[item check=yes]Large vanity[/item]
[item check=yes]High-quality towels[/item]
[item check=yes]Powerful, unattached hair dryer[/item]
[item check=yes]High-quality bed linens[/item]
[item check=yes]Large, flat-screen television[/item]
[item check=yes]Large desk with convenient outlets[/item]
[item check=yes]Large, complimentary laptop safe[/item]
[item check=yes]Complimentary in-room WiFi[/item]
[item check=yes]Complimentary bottled water[/item]
[item]Stocked minibar[/item]
[item check=yes]Ample lighting[/item]
[item check=yes]In-room coffeemaker[/item]
[item check=yes]Iron and ironing board[/item]
[item check=yes]On-site restaurant[/item]
[item check=yes]24-hour room service[/item]
[item check=yes]24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center[/item]
[item check=yes]Turn-down service[/item]
[/checklist]

Condado Vanderbilt Hotel

1055 Ashford Ave.
San Juan, PR 00907
tel 787 721 5500
condadovanderbilt.com

Introducing

FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Explore Excursions

#globility

Insta Feed
March 2025
Mar 15, 2025

Norwegian Debuts Late Disembarkation Option

Norwegian Cruise Line just launched a new late check-out service on select ships and European sailings, allowing passengers to remain on board the ship until 12:30–1 p.m. to enjoy a few more hours of relaxation, lunch and other amenities before going home. The new service still requires passengers to check out of their staterooms by 8:30 a.m., but guests can now store their luggage at the cruise terminal for the remaining hours.

Royal Air Maroc Marks Five Years with oneworld: Strengthening Connectivity Between USA and Africa and Expanding Global Reach

Royal Air Maroc proudly enters its fifth year as a member of the prestigious oneworld alliance. Since joining in April 2020, RAM has demonstrated resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging as a dynamic airline that enhanced its digital services and expanded its network. The airline plans to grow its fleet to 200 aircraft by 2037, reinforcing its global presence.

Daily
Mar 14, 2025

Glamorous Flamingo Las Vegas Gets Pool Makeover

Chances are you already know the name, but what you may not have heard about the iconic Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas is the celebrated pool is undergoing a $20 million transformation of its GO Pool.

Airlines
Mar 14, 2025

Don’t Miss Out on All Nippon Airways’ Sweepstakes to Explore Japan

All Nippon Airways, Japan’s largest 5-star airline, launched a contest to give travelers a chance to win a trip to go beyond Tokyo and experience Japan’s under-the-radar destinations. One winner will receive two round-trip economy-class tickets from a U.S. ANA gateway city to a unique destination within ANA’s extensive domestic network, such as Komatsu (KMQ), Odate (ONJ), Okinawa (OKA), Oita (OIT), Sapporo (CTS) and Tottori (TTJ).

Find Your Perfect Escape with Paradisus by Meliá — More Than Just All-Inclusive

Luxury travel today is about more than just beautiful accommodations — it’s about experiencing the destination. Paradisus by Meliá takes traditional all-inclusive resorts to the next level by offering indulgence with immersion, experiences and authenticity. Each resort is shaped by its location, local flavors and curated Destination Inclusive® experiences that bring you closer to the heart of the destination.

Daily
Mar 14, 2025

Hotel Zeppelin Launches Dead-icated Stay in Honor of Grateful Dead’s 60th Anniversary

Hotel Zeppelin in San Francisco is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead with an exclusive Dead-icated Stay offer. Hotel Zeppelin is all about celebrating its city’s countercultural tradition, and this offer helps them honor the band’s legacy and its roots in the Bay Area.

eFlyer News
Mar 12, 2025

Air India Partners with Lufthansa Group, Virgin Australia

India’s leading global airline recently announced its expansion of codeshare partnerships with both Lufthansa Group and Virgin Australia. Through these new partnerships, travelers can enjoy access to more than 100 routes combined across the Indian subcontinent, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Americas.

A Summer Sojourn Along Europe’s Rivers with AmaWaterways

This summer, elevate your vacation experience with award-winning AmaWaterways. Offering a seamless blend of unparalleled luxury, authentic cultural experiences and unrivaled service, AmaWaterways cruises are the perfect way to uncover the heart of Europe during the sunniest season with itineraries that glide along the continent’s most iconic rivers, including the Danube, the Rhine, the Seine and the Douro.

eFlyer News
Mar 12, 2025

SH Hotels & Resorts Rebrands to Starwood Hotels

SH Hotels & Resorts, parent company of 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotels and Treehouse Hotels, celebrates its 10th anniversary by officially rebranding as Starwood Hotels, reviving the iconic brand created by Barry Sternlicht nearly 30 years ago.