The Vanderbilt Condado Hotel

The Vanderbilt Condado Hotel is a unique historic hotel. Constructed in 1919, it was the first hotel in Puerto Rico.

For this stay, I would like to split the review into three sections. First, the history of the hotel, which influenced our decision to stay. Secondly the location, which is pretty important depending on what you want to do during your stay. And finally, what our experience was like staying at the hotel.

• History
• Location
• Our Stay

History

The Vanderbilt Condado Hotel: A Jewel in the Caribbean

In 1919. This was the first true hotel in Puerto Rico. Hostels and renting rooms at private homes had existed before. But this was the first “hotel”.

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The iconic Vanderbilt Condado Hotel is not just a luxury hotel located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but also a symbol of the island’s rich history, vibrant culture, and unmatched natural beauty. With its grandiose architecture, stunning beachfront views, and world-class services, the Vanderbilt Condado Hotel has been the go-to destination for both leisure and business travelers for over a century.

The Beginning

The story of the Vanderbilt Condado Hotel began in the early 20th century, when Frederick William Vanderbilt, a member of the affluent Vanderbilt family, decided to build a luxury hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Frederick was the grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the famous American business magnate, and, towards the end of his life, philanthropist. The Vanderbilt family was known for their fortune in the railroad and shipping industries.

Frederick chose the Condado district, located on the northern coast of San Juan, for its stunning natural beauty and strategic location. Condado was, and still is, a picturesque area with beautiful beaches, palm trees, and a lagoon. The area was quickly becoming a popular destination for the wealthy and famous, making it the perfect location for a luxury hotel.

The Construction and Opening

The construction of the Vanderbilt Condado Hotel started in 1917, and it was designed by the renowned architect Warren and Wetmore, who also designed the Grand Central Terminal in New York. The hotel was designed in a Spanish Revival style, which was very popular at the time, and featured luxurious rooms, lush gardens, and breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Vanderbilt Condado Hotel officially opened its doors in 1919 and quickly became the preferred destination for celebrities, politicians, and socialites from around the world. The hotel offered its guests not only luxurious accommodations but also a wide variety of amenities and services, including a casino, a spa, and several fine-dining restaurants.

The Golden Era

The 1920s and 1930s were considered the golden era of the Vanderbilt Condado Hotel. The hotel attracted guests from all over the world, and it became a symbol of elegance, sophistication, and luxury. Many famous guests stayed at the hotel during this time, including Charles Lindbergh, Errol Flynn, and Joan Crawford.

The hotel was also a popular destination for honeymooners, and it was considered one of the most romantic hotels in the Caribbean. The Vanderbilt Condado Hotel was also known for hosting extravagant parties and events, which were attended by the social elite of the time.

The Challenges

The Vanderbilt Condado Hotel faced several challenges over the years. The Great Depression in the 1930s, followed by World War II, led to a decline in tourism and a decrease in the number of guests staying at the hotel. The hotel was also affected by several hurricanes, which caused damage to the property and forced it to close temporarily.

In the late 20th century, the hotel faced increased competition from other luxury hotels in the area, and it struggled to maintain its status as a top destination in the Caribbean. Despite these challenges, the Vanderbilt Condado Hotel managed to survive and continued to attract guests from around the world.

The Renovation and Rebirth

In the early 21st century, the Vanderbilt Condado Hotel underwent a major renovation to restore its former glory and bring it up to modern standards. The renovation included updating the rooms and facilities, restoring the historic architecture, and adding new amenities and services.

Today, the Vanderbilt Condado Hotel is once again a symbol of luxury and sophistication in the Caribbean. The hotel offers its guests a wide variety of amenities and services, including a spa, a fitness center, several fine-dining restaurants, and a private beach. The hotel also offers event spaces for weddings, conferences, and other special occasions.

The Vanderbilt Condado Hotel is not just a luxury hotel, but also a piece of history that has stood the test of time. With its stunning architecture, world-class services, and breathtaking views, the Vanderbilt Condado Hotel continues to be a jewel in the Caribbean and a preferred destination for travelers from around the world.

Location

The Condado Vanderbilt is situated in the Condado district of San Juan, a vibrant and bustling neighborhood known for its beautiful beaches, upscale shops, and trendy restaurants and bars. The hotel is located right on the beach, offering guests direct access to the pristine white sands and crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea.

San Juan map

Image attributed to:

maps.google.com

The hotel is a 15 minute drive from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport barring any traffic. The historic Old San Juan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also just a few minutes away by car. From the map above you can tell that Old San Juan is basically an island. There are only 3 main roads connecting it to the main island. The hotel is on one of these main roads. On Friday/weekend nights these roads turn into what is essentially a parking lot featuring Party Buses. Walking or renting a scooter is pretty much the best way in and out during these times. The walk from the hotel to the center of old San Juan is kind of nice. A leisurely flat 1 hour walk. Luckily the traffic seems to be mostly concentrated at night, so the walk is significantly cooler.

The beach at the Condado Vanderbilt is not facing a lagoon, and from what I could tell, there was a permanent red flag warning for the area. The hotel employees and signs will tell you not to swim in the water on the hotel’s beach. Which is not much of a beach, more of a rocky coast, so you probably wouldn’t try it anyway. There is a public beach to the side of the hotel with sand, but with the same sort of warnings. There were lifeguards on duty, so I asked them about getting into the water. They said that you could go as far as waste deep, but no swimming as there was a severe undertow constantly. I love large waves and went out and body surfed for a bit. If you choose to try this, know that at the end of the waves you are released into very shallow water, so keep your hands below your chest coming in. For those not interested in playing in strong undercurrent, the waves do provide a beautiful, exciting backdrop when hanging out at one of the Vanderbilts many pools!

Our Stay

The trip

We were on the other side of the main island in Rincon, and had to drive the 2.5 (+/-) hours back to San Juan (depending on traffic). There are two routes you can take, the northern or southern.

We chose the southern route because we had driven there via the northern route on the way and wanted to check out Ponce. The southern route was not as close to the ocean at times, so there weren’t as many places that we had found with quick stops to check out a random beach. Ponce was ok, but it was a far cry from Viejo San Juan as for historical landmarks, and also it doesn’t have a beach, which can lead to the temperature being really high for lack of wind.

The hotel

Once we made it to the hotel, we just chose to valet park. The parking around the hotel seems pretty scarce and we had 3 bags, fins and masks and had just gotten over a 3hr drive so we were ready to get into our room. We were checked in quickly and led to our room. We got a “room upgrade”, which is another feature of booking the room with the card (see below), so we ended up with a room overlooking the ocean, for which I was very pleased 🙂

We are not ones to typically stay at high-end hotels, but this was one of the deals that the AMEX platinum card gives us. (which I will be writing a post about the pros and cons of soon). For our stay, we ended up paying $300 per night. With booking 3 nights we get a 4th night free, 10am check-in, and 4pm checkout. Plus we get $200 “experience credit” and $100 in hotel bills for free so it makes it easier to stomach the nightly room cost.

The hotel itself is a step back into history. It is one of those places that they hire 2 people to stand by the front glass door at all times so they can both open it at the concurrently and reveal their magnificent lobby. The whole hotel exudes 1920’s opulence. This is a place where you are expected to tip the many people in 3 piece suits that will serve you during your stay, so make sure to carry some cash with you. We stayed over the weekend and it seems to be a popular place for weddings. Which is a little awkward when you are on your way back from the pool, then in the elevator surrounded by suits and bowties… But we managed.

Pools

The pools at the hotel are plentiful. There is an infinity pool overlooking the shore, shallow pools under sun chairs, a big pool, fountains, and an adults only area with kid free pools including a hot tub, and pool side drink service. Most of our time at the hotel was spent in or near the pools.

Other then the pools, the hotel has a of couple restaurants, bars, room service, and a gift shop. The concierge at the hotel is apparently supposed to get you anything you need at any time. But, you should probably tip well for this service.

Overview

I noticed some reviews of the hotel chiding them for “not updating the furniture”, and I see their point. There are probably areas of the hotel that are somewhat awkward and from a different era, like there are landings with a telephone and chairs outside the elevators. Some of the furniture is a little old. But I think that part of the allure of this hotel lies in its attempts to transport us into the past. Also, the place is just beautiful! The quality of the craftsmanship that has lasted over a century speaks for itself. This is not some Hilton full of Ikea furnishings that was thrown up from a cookie cutter hotel draft in 2023. This was made by craftsmen more then a hundred years ago, before electricity came to the island.

Looking past some of these things can help remind us that this hotel still is beautiful and has impeccable service after running for more then 100 years and through countless hurricanes. Overall, though it is a bit too fancy for our regular hotel stays. I think we really enjoyed pretending to be rich for a long weekend! 🙂

This review was not sponsored by anyone