We kicked off our Puerto Rico adventure with a two-night stay in San Juan before embarking on a Virgin Voyages cruise. With one full day to explore the city, our plan was to wander the historic streets of Old San Juan—a first for us.
While researching where to stay, many of the most luxurious hotels in the area were beachfront resorts, which looked amazing but didn’t make sense for this trip. We weren’t planning to lounge by the pool or beach—we just needed a well-located, comfortable base.
That’s when we came across the Aloft San Juan, a stylish Marriott Bonvoy property located in the Distrito T-Mobile, next to the Puerto Rico Convention Center. The location was ideal for accessing restaurants, entertainment, and quick rides to Old San Juan—all without the resort vibe or price tag.
Booking & Cost
Our stay overlapped with Valentine’s Day, and room rates were steep—between $420 and $480 per night. Thankfully, we were able to use Marriott Bonvoy points for both nights:
- Night 1: 49,000 points – booked using a 35,000-point free night certificate (topped off with 14,000 points)
- Night 2: 52,000 points – covered with an 85,000-point certificate from my Ritz-Carlton card
This hotel also charges a $35/night Destination Fee, which is not waived on award stays. (Spoiler: this is not a destination, and the fee felt like a cash grab—more on that later.)
Elite Benefits
This stay was also a bit of a milestone—it marked our final stay as Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite members. While that status hasn’t always delivered, the Aloft San Juan came through. We received a room upgrade, and as expected for Platinum members, we were given the daily breakfast benefit, one of the published elite perks.
Room and Amenities
As I mentioned, we booked a standard room using free night certificates. At check-in, we were informed that we’d been upgraded to a larger room on the fifth floor, located at the end of the hotel.
The room was significantly larger than a standard one, though it appeared to have the same furnishings—which left a lot of open space.
Despite the room’s size, the hanging space was limited to a small open nook—barely enough for a short stay.
This is the hotel where I was surprised to find a Marshall-branded Bluetooth speaker on my nightstand. Read more about that here.
The bathroom looked to be bigger than the standard for the hotel, but it still was pretty cramped.
Most of the bathroom featured a standard white color palette, but there was also a “theme wall.” I’m not sure what it was meant to represent—or why it was there.
These rooms overlook the Convention Center, which offers a nice view. The room was also very quiet, which was a huge plus. Many of the complaints from guests online are about the noise from the Distrito T-Mobile, which has either a DJ or live music on most nights. We didn’t hear any of this in our room.
Hotel Facilities
The Aloft San Juan features a decently sized exercise room—well-equipped with a few cardio machines, free weights, and space for stretching. It’s not a full-scale gym, but it does the job for a quick workout.
The hotel also boasts a rooftop pool. And while it is technically on the roof of a section of the hotel, it’s not located at the very top. It’s more of a lounge-and-look-pretty pool than one for swimming laps. You’ll find plenty of chairs and loungers lining the deck, making it a good spot to relax. This area also includes a poolside bar, which adds to the hangout vibe.
Breakfast & Dining
Despite being a “destination hotel,” the Aloft lacks a restaurant. The WXYZ bar on the lobby level serves as the hotel’s only dining option, and it doubles as the breakfast area for guests with elite status. While this setup is common across Aloft properties, the execution at Aloft San Juan leaves something to be desired.
Guests order at the bar, which also makes coffee drinks. You then find a seat in the lounge area. The space is more designed as a bar than a restaurant, so there are limited dedicated tables for dining.
We ordered breakfast here on our first day. my wife, Sharon, chose the Cheddar Omelet with bacon, tots, and toast, while I went with the Breakfast Bowl.
Since this isn’t a true restaurant, all meals come in to-go boxes—which should’ve been a hint about the food quality. Not wanting to be too harsh, but the meals had about as much flavor as the containers they were packaged in.
The next morning, Sharon skipped breakfast altogether after being disappointed the day before. I gave it another shot and ordered the OG B.E.C. Sandwich. It was better than the breakfast bowl, but still not great.
Bottom line: if breakfast is important to you, you’ll be better off walking to nearby cafés or restaurants in the Distrito T-Mobile.
There’s also a grab-and-go area in the lobby with drinks, snacks, and a few convenience items. It’s helpful if you need a quick bite or something to bring back to the room, though the selection is pretty basic.
Destination Fee
Like many hotels trying to squeeze more out of guests, the Aloft San Juan adds a $35 per night Destination Fee to your bill. That charge is not waived on award stays, which makes it even more frustrating—especially for a property that doesn’t exactly scream “resort.”
So what does this fee supposedly cover? According to the hotel, it includes:
- Welcome drink at WXYZ
- Daily Enhanced High-Speed Internet Access
- Daily $35 F&B credit at WXYZ Bar (breakfast excluded)
- $25 Casino Match Play Coupons
- Complimentary Laundry (self-service)
- Complimentary Shuttle to Old San Juan and Escambrón Beach
- 3 Hours of Complimentary Bike Rental
- Complimentary Domestic Long-Distance Calls
In theory, that’s a solid list. In practice? We didn’t use most of these. We didn’t need the shuttle, the casino perk didn’t appeal to us, and we weren’t about to do laundry on a two-day stay. The food and beverage credit could be helpful if you actually want to eat at the bar (which we didn’t after our breakfast experience).
If these extras are things you’d use, maybe you won’t mind the fee. But for us, it felt like a fee for things we didn’t ask for and didn’t use. Definitely something to factor into your stay when comparing costs.
Final Thoughts & Verdict
The Aloft San Juan is a stylish, well-located option if you plan to explore the city or attend an event at the convention center. The rooms are comfortable and quiet, and the property has a nice gym and a rooftop pool for relaxing.
Would I stay here again? Possibly—especially for the location and if the points price is right. That said, if you’re hoping to spend time on the beach, there are better options closer to the sand and surf. It’s also a convenient option if you’re attending an event at the convention center, given its location right next door. While there’s no casino on-site, there is one within walking distance if that’s part of your plans.
However, the lack of a full-service restaurant, underwhelming breakfast, and an unavoidable Destination Fee with limited value are worth noting. If you’re booking with points or certificates—and don’t plan to spend much time on-site—it can be a solid choice.
Just know what you’re getting—and what you’re not.
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