Hotel Normandie - Puerto Rico

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Never again will we stay here. Visited: May 2009 Posted by carroll_87 I took my daughter on a vacation to Puerto Rico, and we stayed at the hotel from the movie The Shining - at least that is what it looked like and felt like. The general manager, Carlos, was rude and did not follow through on our problems. Neither did the hotel guest manager Ms. Tejada. They never dealt with our toilet that was overflowing, the CD player that did not work, or the fridge and coffee pot that did not work. What beach? All the guests were next door at the Caribe Hilton, for that is where the fun was! There was nothing going on at the Normandie! The management was poor. Our room smelled like sewer! I have been in Puerto Rico three times now. This was a very bad hotel! 0 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was a smelly experience. Visited: December 2007 Posted by lbs_ekb We spent four miserable nights smelling the musk of a room that also had stains on the ceiling. My travel mate and I were just getting over sinus infections, so we were on antibiotics and happy about that because the room had to cause some health issues. The smell was very much like mold and mildew. The room was spacious, and the staff was friendly - especially Angel. However, we spent nearly ten dollars at the nearby Hilton getting Lysol spray, and we used most of it during our stay. The beach was a sad public display, and the pool area was even more depressing. We almost packed our belongings and ran to the Hilton, but we stuck it out. There were no restaurants in the area - except for Subway, and it was quite a walk to Old San Juan. It cost $10-$12 for a taxi to Old San Juan. My suggestion is to stay in Condado or Carolina, and just visit Old San Juan if you want a change of pace. 5 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was good. Visited: April 2007 Posted by eulises This was a very nice hotel, and the people working here were very nice. My room was very nice, too. When we arrived, we got a room that that had a broken air conditioning. We made one call, and they gave us a new room. I gave this hotel three stars instead of five, because we had to pay for parking every day ($10 a day). Why pay for parking when most hotels come with free parking? Overall, this was a great place to stay and I would stay here again. 4 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We had a terrible experience. Visited: November 2003 Posted by moniquejeremy I spent three nights at the Normandie with my boyfriend, and it was an unforgettable experience. First, the rooms were a bit drab, but we got accustomed. However on the second night as we drove up, we noticed the lights were off and everyone was outside. The power was off, and it stayed off for about seven hours that I knew of. We had to climb seven flights of stairs to get to our room, and trust me that was not easy. The power from hotel was actually run from a plant and it ran out of fuel. We were then told the power would be back in three hours. After leaving the hotel for a nearby Hilton for dinner, we returned at eleven and the power was still off. We were given a room on the first floor for the night, and one night free and that was the only compensation for the whole fiasco. We will not be back. 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Park Plaza Normandie is a great hotel in a great location. Visited: August 2003 Posted by mfalcon I just returned from a week in San Juan. The Normandie Hotel was great! It was the closest beachfront hotel to the old city. For 25 cents, the bus (one block away) takes you to town where you can take the free trolley to El Morro and then stroll down toward the bay enjoying the historic buildings. At the Normandie, the staff was helpful, the air conditioning worked great (August was hot), the historic hotel gleemed and the food was very good. The pool was big enough and the ocean, which was just 20 steps outside the back door, provided warm water for snorkeling. I highly recommend the Normadie for anywone who does not subscribe to the "resort mentality" of wanting to be seen in the latest style bikini. 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Maybe gamorous once, but now a sad shell. Visited: July 2003 Posted by johnboy53 We were unable to get a sixth night at the hotel we planned to stay at for our vacation, so opted to spend our final night in San Juan at Park Plaza Normandie. Despite a booking made in person, I still had to spend almost an hour in line to check in. Everyone in line got vouchers for free drinks to placate them because their rooms were not ready: the only problem was, the bar was not open! The room we had (a Junior Suite) had two double beds and a sleeper sofa. The former had sad, thin pillows and the latter was impossibly uncomfortable to lie on. The sleeper sofa also smelled moldy; my guess is that it was ancient, or had been retained after water damage from the last hurricane! The cupboard and drawer space was do-it-yourself primitive and no extra sheets, blankets or pillows were provided. A decent quality TV was about the best feature of the room. The so-called suite had a connecting door to an adjoining room: there was no soundproofing, so we could hear every word spoken next door (a noisy bunch). The swimming pool was a sad little triangle with a totally uninspired poolside area. There were no poolside amenities, such as food or drinks. Access to the adjacent public beach was through a door patrolled by a uniformed guard. The seawater lapping onto this beach was full of indeterminate junk, and therefore uninviting. The exercise center/health club was a room the size of a large closet with one exercise machine. Beware the room rates that escalate with the number of adults, the need for car parking, and a 9% tax, which mysteriously appeared on our final bill. There was a very pleasant and handsome doorman (Andrew) whom my 19-year old daughter salivated over, but he was scant recompense for a night spent in the Normandie. The final bill was $168 for a room shared by 3 adults and one child. For $165 a night I had an incomparably nicer room at the hotel next door. The current operators of the Normandie are inordinately impressed with its celebrated past. There is a 4-page handout at check-in detailing its history. They need to spend some money to bring this hotel up to 2003 standards, or drop the ridiculous prices. I would rather sleep in the street than put another $168 in the pockets of the current owners. I imagine there are many better deals in and around Greater San Juan. 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Quiet, large rooms with great views. Visited: December 2002 Posted by pam My husband and I read all your earlier reviews and decided to give the Normandie a shot. We registered online through an Internet booking firm. We stayed two nights, one prior to our Princess Cruise and the other on the return. The hotel was within sight of the Princess Cruise Line's dock (from the ship!), a $17 cab ride from airport, about $6-8 cab ride to Old Town. Our rooms were large with great views of the sunset overlooking the pool area on the 4th floor. We had room service both nights and it was very good. The little sandwich shop across the street had awesome sandwiches at low prices. The staff was very helpful and considerate. We would definitely stay here again. 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A very nice "ship on land" Visited: February 2002 Posted by mtcabrera2000 My husband and I stayed at the Normandie during our last visit to Puerto Rico. It was the second time we stayed there and the changes they've made have improved it a lot. Starting with the lobby area, you can see the Art Deco style is as nice as a South Beach hotel. It is very interesting. As you walk through, you feel like entering a cruise ship. The restaurant offers a limited menu, but their Sunday brunch and seafood buffet on Fridays are very attractive in price and food selections. The food at the pool and beach areas are in accordance for the rates they offer. They aren't like a resort meal, but it's okay. This hotel is a historical monument in Puerto Rico and it is full of interesting history you should check out. We love it for its convenient location, warm atmosphere and excellent staff who is always available to fulfill our needs and expectations. 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Very interesting, but not much to offer! Visited: February 2002 Posted by nkabza My spouse and I were in San Juan on business and decided to stay at the Normandie (which is no longer owned by Radisson). The employees of the hotel were very nice, but the amenities and the hotel itself left a bit to be desired. One night the fire alarm went off 4 times (a rare occurance, I'm sure) but daunting none the less. Nothing was said about the incidents. No apologies, no explanation. The rooms we had were damp the entire time we were there even though we kept turning down the air-conditioning and we were on the 4th floor (In February, so it wasn't really humid outside). The restaurant was relatively expensive (especially the Sunday Brunch) and had a limited menu. Although they did have one of the best hamburgers I've ever had. The hotel has the potential of being a really top notch 5-star hotel, but they haven't quite got their act together. Adequate is all we can call it for now. I think they're struggling. We were very happy with the little beach, and the pool was ok, but once you've seen the other hotels nearby, with the gardens and the patios on the ocean, live music every night and top notch service, it looks rather drab. There are 5 wonderful restaurants next door at the Hilton, so food wasn't a problem. The gift shop was very limited (compared to other hotels we've stayed in). If you're looking for a nice, quiet, inexpensive place to stay, the Normandie is the place, but don't expect anything very fancy. Our room was $150 per night (which you must make by telephone to get that rate) compared to others at $250 and up. With some really professional improvements (staff training) it could be THE place to stay in San Juan. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is a great hotel with a perfect atmosphere in Puerto Rico Visited: December 2001 Posted by qcm1140 My wife and I stayed at the Normandie Hotel in December 2001. It is a great hotel for the price. We highly recommend it. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Reserve a balcony room at this hotel! Visited: November 2000 Posted by russell172 I stayed at the Radisson Normandie during the first week of November 2000. It was a $16 cab ride from the airport, about 15 minutes. There were some flaws, to be sure (the duct tape over problem areas on the terazzo floors was pretty tacky), but overall it was a pleasant experience. The rooms were huge, and the ones with balconies had lovely views that you couldn't really enjoy from the other rooms. There were armoires for the TV and your clothing, plus a few drawers. The sitting and office areas in non-balcony rooms were comfortable enough, but TV only in the bedroom. The bathroom amenities varied every single day. The bar downstairs seemed lively enough, but the restaurant (with a very limited, expensive, nothing-special menu) was always vacant; pool area was dull. The hotel was not conveniently located, 1.5 miles to the Condado area, and 2.5 miles to Old San Juan (cabs about $7). Walking could be a bit sweaty in this climate, and rainshowers were common. There were a couple of good (and cheap) sandwich shops across the street, but restaurants were otherwise scarce until you got to Old San Juan or Condado. The tours offered in the lobby were way overpriced; rent a car ($10/day parking at the hotel; parking very difficult in other areas of town) and go on your own. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Great experience at the Radisson Normandie Visited: February 2000 Posted by Beaumec3 We stayed at this hotel in February of 2000. The hotel was actually closed for renovations due to previous hurricane damage but we were told we could stay for free or stay at the Caribe Hilton next door and pay $280 per night. We opted to stay at The Normandie even though the restaurant was closed and they offered only basic services. It turned out to be our best experience hotel wise in San Juan - our room was a Parlor Suite and was huge - lots of space to unwind and who cares about the restaurant - we ate out every night anyway. We found the staff to be very accommodating and pleasant. As a travel agent, I would rate this hotel top notch for convenience. Mind you, they have no beach but the pool area was enough for us. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Last minute reservation went ok. Visited: December 1969 Posted by ATraveler My wife and I stayed at the Normandie on our honeymoon back in April 1998. We were taken at the last minute, without reservations, after being HIGHLY disappointed in an overexaggerated dump called the Hotel Excelsior. The Normandie was nice, in Puerto Rican hotel standards, and moderately priced. Our room was spacious with a large king-sized bed, two sitting areas and a fully tiled bath. Plus it was convenient to Old San Juan as we walked about a block and caught the Metrobus to all the old historic sites. I'd stay there again, but given the choice I'd take the Hilton next door. It's very nice. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Consider twice before booking here!!! Visited: December 1969 Posted by ATraveler When you arrive late and used a credit card to hold a room, you should have a room when you get there. Not in our case, the hotel gave the rooms away but told us they had another hotel they could send us to... the hotel being the third floor of a hosipital. Words of advice...beware. 2 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It is a wonderful old line hotel with charm and convenience Visited: December 1969 Posted by Perigrino My wife and I have stayed at this hotel twice over the past 5 years. We love it for its art deco charm, its attentive staff and its convenient location. Some years ago, 1995 I think, an oil barge ran aground and made the beach unswimable. The hotel provided frequent, daily shuttle service across the island to another very nice location and $20.00 per day in restaurant vouchers. Was it convenient? No. Was it a very acceptable solution? You bet it was. We will certainly stay here again. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Very lovely, but still needs work Visited: December 1969 Posted by corc411 The historic Normandie Hotel is a nicely decorated but sparsely populated hotel. This is because it does not compare well with its next door neighbor, the Caribe Hilton. The Caribe Hilton is bright and festive, while the Normandie is dark and haunting. Its pool and beach suffers in comparison to its neighbor, so its probably not the best place for a Caribbean Resort vacation, but if you're going to Puerto Rico on business, it should serve your purposes fine. The rooms are clean but they lack a closet or a dresser, which means your clothes are going to be all over the place. The room I stayed in was also badly lit and the window did not provide much light. The hotel is still undergoing renovations and they are doing a nice job; a walkthrough will most likely impress. One unfortunate occurence was that I left my cellular phone on top of the television when I left my room. I had asked a chambermaid for some extra towels. When I returned, I had my extra towels but my cellular phone was gone. I do not blame the hotel for this; it was my own carelessness and I should have known better. They are currently investigating the incident and doing their best to get to the bottom of the matter. Again, I don't blame the hotel; it could have happened anywhere. I rate this hotel two-stars but by the time they finish their work it should be a solid three-star hotel--in some eyes, maybe even four. It is moderately priced (for Puerto Rico), but to compete better, they should probably lower their rates. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Radisson Normandie, a 4-star diamond in the rough Visited: December 1969 Posted by CMW%20329 A totally unplanned and unexpected vaction, my daughter and I decided to visit Puerto Rico. I began to search the web for the best deal that would satisfy both of our needs. This only added to my much confused state of mind, because there were so many great possibilities available. With help from my travel agent, we decided to choose the Radisson Normandie. I was not sure what to expect, and even made inquiries to past guests concerning their stay at the Normandie. In the end, the choice was ours. We were very pleased with our decision. The hotel was very busy at the time, and even though we had a late arrival, our room was not ready. To compensate for our inconvenience, we received free drinks in the lounge and a free breakfast for each day that we were guests at the Normandie. It was important to them that we were satisfied with our visit. It is true that the Normandie has a few fine points to work out. However, if you are looking for clean spacious rooms, a gracious and helpful staff, a hotel that is reminiscent of the art deco hotels of south beach in Miami, Florida, but at half the cost, you'll enjoy the Normandie. It's a little bit of quiet and seclusion, but just steps away from the grand and exsplosive night life that the Condado beach area has to offer, and if that is not enough, you are only minutes away from old San Juan. My husband and I will be visiting San Juan in November, unfortunately it will be just a port of call, however in those few hours that we will be there, I plan on taking him to the Normandie so that he can see and meet the hospitable staff and the the lovely hotel which provided such a great experience and unforgettable memories of Puerto Rico. 0 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful?

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