El Conquistador Resort

A special shout-out goes to Yajaira Negron, Her warm personality and dedication to her job made a real difference in my experience.

Beautiful property with some of the best scenic views of any hotel in Puerto Rico. 24-coffee shop, restaurants, live music, pools, bars, a club, a waterpark, a private island…they have it all. Beware, however, of extra hotel fees; they are a bit sneaky and surprising if you don’t read the fine print.

We had the best time at the High Tide Rooftop bar. Mylee is an amazing bartender and so personable. The Expresso Martini was the BEST my husband has ever had. She was kind enough to provide us with information on many places to visit and eat on the island. Her vibe was what we needed to unwind after a long day traveling to the hotel. If you’re ever visiting El Conquistador, please stop by the High Tide, say hello and have a couple of drinks. You will not be disappointed!

The resort is beautiful but HUGE! We were not happy about our room location which was on the Marina level as we wanted to be nearer the pools and restaurants. However, we were assured that everyone preferred the marina location because that's where everything was happening! Not true at all. There didn't appear to be many rooms occupied at that level, one restaurant that never had many people in it, a water park primarily geared for kids and families that closed at 6pm and a restaurant there that served lunch and drinks that also closed when the park did. Also, this was where the boat left to go to their private island to swim. To get to the pools and restaurants we had to walk to the elevator, go down two floors, walk over to the funicular and wait for the next car going up (only way to go to the main building on top of the cliff.). From the funicular we had to walk a bit to another set of elevators and then go up 1 or 2 floors to reach the pools, bars, restaurants, entertainment, shops, reception, etc. As far as the private island, we got to the waiting area about 10 minutes before the next boat was to leave, but it filled up before we could get on. They apologized that their other boat was out of service so we had to wait another hour for the next sailing. And then we got their and the beach was mostly full of seaweed so there were only two very small swimming areas without seaweed inside the roped off swim area. Needless to say it was crowded and even if you could find space, the water was only deep enough to get wet up to your waist. A very disappointing experience to say the least! The room was very nice, the food was good, but otherwise it was a big , expensive disappointment. Also, it would be nice if the hotel provided better instructions on parking when you arrive, if you drive yourself. It was unclear where to park and how to get to the hotel entrance after you did park. They do send a golf cart to pick you up but not sure how you are supposed to request a pick up. At least the water park is fun for kids.

For a resort at the price point and reputation of El Conquistador, this stay has been extremely disappointing. I am currently staying here for a convention and specifically requested to be moved into the newer Las Vistas rooms upon check-in. I was initially told the rooms were full and advised to come back the following day to inquire again. I returned today and was once again told that no room changes were possible because the rooms were “full,” even though I offered to PAY for an upgrade. Instead, I was placed in the Oasis section, and the condition of these rooms is unacceptable for a resort that markets itself as luxury. The room shows significant visible wear and tear, the shower pressure is extremely poor, and overall the accommodations feel outdated and neglected. Most concerning, both my partner and I woke up with severe allergy symptoms, and I personally experienced eyelid swelling. The room feels dusty, and honestly the carpets seem like they have not been properly deep-cleaned in years. For guests paying premium rates, this is simply not acceptable. The property itself has beautiful views and potential, but management clearly differentiates between renovated and non-renovated sections while continuing to charge luxury-level pricing across the board. If you stay here, I would strongly recommend avoiding the older Oasis rooms entirely and only considering the newer Las Vistas or possibly Marina Village accommodations. What has made this experience even more frustrating is the complete lack of flexibility or customer accommodation despite repeated polite requests and willingness to pay for an upgrade. As someone attending a professional convention and expecting a certain hospitality standard, this experience fell far below expectations.