San Juan Airport Hotel

The entrance and lobby of the San Juan Airport Hotel is just steps from the check-in counters and snaking security lines of Terminal D. Its convenient location makes the hotel popular with vacationing guests who need a rest after arriving late or departing early, but the hotel also caters to those stranded at the airport due to cancelled flights. The spacious, dimly lit lobby is a sharp contrast to the airport's fluorescent lights. A long see-through fish tank, alive with colorful reef fish greets arriving guests. The long front desk was designed to handle sudden onslaughts of disgruntled travelers and the front desk staff is trained to make exhausted guests feel welcome.

Once checked in to their soundproofed rooms, which efficiently block out the noise from roaring jets, guests can head to the rooftop terrace equipped with lounge chairs, two hot tubs, and views of the control tower or check flight information on one of the computers in the business center. Most, however, prefer to settle in at the bar or one of the small tables at the hotel's on-site restaurant. The venue serves everything from sushi to sandwiches and caters to those with vouchers from the airlines. The restaurant can become crowded during prime hours, but there's a nearby game room to keep diners occupied while awaiting a table or take-out. The continental breakfast, heavy on sugar and processed foods, is served in a Paris-inspired dining room and the hours start much earlier than at most hotels, a nice perk for those catching early-departing flights.

The San Juan Airport Hotel is the only hotel that connects directly to the terminals of the San Juan International Airport. The doors of the lobby open directly into the departures area of Terminal D, while another set of doors leads to the exterior pick-up area of the airport, taxi stand, car rental services, and Avenue Aeropuerto.

• 10-minute drive to Isla Verde Beach
• 30-minute drive to Old San Juan
• 30-minutes to the San Juan Cruise Port
• 30-minute drive to Condado Beach
• 50-minute drive to Dorado
• 60-minute drive to the Fajardo Ferry Terminal
• Two-hour, 30-minute drive to Rincon

The hotel's 125 guest rooms come in a variety of configurations, equipped with either one king, one queen, or two queen beds. Flat-screen TVs are mounted on the walls, minibars include bottled water, and there are traditional or Nespresso coffeemakers. Bathrooms vary in style with neutral tile work in shades of gray or beige and single vanities with raised glass bowl or porcelain sinks. Showers feature oversized rain showerheads and half glass walls. Overall, the rooms are on the narrow side, with some offering just enough space to pass between the wall and the end of the bed. Thick windows offer views of airport runways and faraway glimpses of the ocean while the concrete walls help with soundproofing.

Late-arriving and early-departing guests may consider sleep to be their main priority when checking in at the San Juan Airport Hotel, but the property also offers additional amenities. Adjacent to the on-site restaurant and bar, which specializes in sushi and Asian fare, is a large game room with a billiards table and ping-pong. The hotel also offers a small gym and a spacious rooftop terrace where guests can settle into one of the two hot tubs and peek at the airport control tower. On-site laundry and a business center with several computer stations are convenient. Wandering the terminal is also an option for those seeking additional dining choices, a Starbucks fix, or some reading material.