El Canario by the Lagoon

There isn’t anything particularly remarkable about El Canario by the Lagoon, but its clean rooms offer solid value for budget-conscious travelers. Although the hotel’s exterior is drab, the lobby is a little more colorful, with burnt-orange and blue cushions and pillows. But the elevator is rickety and outdated, and feels like it could break down at any moment. 

Most guests don’t seem interested in lingering around the hotel’s common spaces, but the sitting area in the lobby is a nice enough place to use the PC and printer. The hotel is set in a fantastic location -- particularly for the price -- and most guests spend their stay taking advantage of the nearby beaches and entertainment. Aside from breakfast, there are no dining options on-site but plenty of restaurants and bars are found within a 10-minute walk. 

El Canario is set in San Juan’s buzzing Condado district, with casinos, restaurants, bars, and clubs all found within reasonable walking distance. The area directly around the hotel isn’t particularly appealing, and it's dominated by other budget hotels, apartment buildings, and parking lots; however, the upscale shops Avenida Ashford, Condado’s main thoroughfare are a few minutes' walk away.

The hotel is a two-minute walk from La Ventana al Mar, a lovely oceanfront park with fountains and contemporary sculptures, which often hosts live outdoor music events. The picturesque sands of Condado Beach are found just beyond the park. Old San Juan is 10 minutes away by car, while Luis Munoz Marin International Airport is a 20-minute drive away. 

Guest rooms are bland but bright, and decorated with cute beach artwork and pillows bearing the El Canario logo. The taupe-and-blue bed linens are attractive, but the honey-colored furniture looks dated. Narrow, unfurnished balconies have unfortunate views of the surrounding high-rises or nearby parking lots. All rooms include mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, and small dining tables. Large closets offer storage space and personal safes. Suites have spartan separate sitting areas with full-size refrigerators, microwaves, coffeemakers, and sinks. Bathrooms are small and plain, with walk-in showers and round sinks with no counter space. Little baskets hold packets of body lotion and shampoo as well as bars of soap.

El Canario by the Lagoon offers a lean list of amenities. A free breakfast is served each morning in a small, no-frills dining room in the lobby. The simple spread consists of coffee, juice, toast, fruit, pastries, and cereal. Just outside the dining room is an appealing sitting area with some comfy chairs and a sofa, along with a flat-screen TV and magazines. There’s also a single PC and a printer available for guest use. Around the corner, there’s an ice machine and vending machine, along with a coin-operated washer and dryer. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. No parking is offered on-site, but there is some limited street parking as well as a large lot across the street where guests can park for a daily fee.