8 Best Puerto Rico Resorts for the Perfect Island Escape (2024)

Are you looking for the top places to stay in Puerto Rico? Then get ready to discover the best Puerto Rico resorts and boutique hotels, expertly selected based on over 30,000 guest reviews and our own experience.

From 5-star luxury beach resorts to historic hotels in the heart of Old San Juan—only the best-reviewed, cream-of-the-crop Puerto Rico resorts and hotels made our list.

With its tropical climate, fascinating history, vibrant culture, lush tropical rainforest, breathtaking ocean vistas—and so much more—Puerto Rico is a unique island destination with no passport requirement to visit for U.S. citizens.

8 Best Puerto Rico Resorts & Hotels

Wonderful Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve kicks off our list of the best resorts in Puerto Rico!

Before legendary Mauna Kea became the first resort on the Big Island of Hawaii, Dorado Beach was widely considered to be the most extravagant Rockefeller resort in the world—a legacy that continues to this day.

This luxurious resort—located 10 miles west of San Juan in Dorado—offers an idyllic and intimate setting with rare character, making it an ideal destination for those seeking peace and tranquility.

Dorado Beach is situated on more than two miles of prime, white-sand beaches, and its lush grounds and adjacent golf course make for a stellar location.

The rooms are upscale, contemporary, and serene, and the design and materials complement the natural landscape of the former pineapple and coconut plantation.

The resort offers superb service and amenities, including a water park (open on weekends), high-end spa, fitness center, and exceptional on-site restaurants like Flor de Sal al fresco dining experience and COA grill, which houses one of the largest selections of wine in the Caribbean.

Despite the price tag, Dorado Beach perennially receives high marks for value, and guests seem to find it worth the high rate.

Insider Tip Guests rave about the resort’s Old San Juan evening food tour and El Yunque rainforest excursions. As with many other Puerto Rico resorts and hotels on this list, it’s highly recommended to reserve dinner in advance.

The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort is a luxurious and secluded resort located on a breathtaking stretch of golden sand about 15 miles east of San Juan in Rio Grande.

Situated on 483 lush acres of a former coconut plantation, the St. Regis features 139 elegantly appointed rooms, suites, and villas that offer stunning views of the ocean, garden, or golf course.

One of the main draws of the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort is its championship golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., which is also a certified Audubon Sanctuary.

Guests can explore 4 miles of nature trails and a wide range of additional outdoor activities such as kayaking and a number of other water sports.

Full-service spa, Tortuga Kids Club for children ages 4-12, and outstanding choice of dining options round out the resort’s long list of outstanding amenities.

Insider Tip If you’re looking to spend most of your time in a luxurious beach resort with lots of amenities, this is a great option. For those hoping to explore the area on their own, you may want to consider renting a car, or staying in one of the less secluded options on our list.

The Condado Vanderbilt Hotel, in San Juan’s vibrant Condado district, is an outstanding historic hotel stay offering a range of amenities and a great location near popular attractions.

The Condado Vanderbilt was originally built in 1919 by one of the wealthiest families in America and designed by a renowned architectural firm, which has contributed to its grandeur and allure over the past century.

The hotel recently underwent a major renovation project that has restored much of its original history and elegance.

Guests love the wide range of amenities offered, such as the full-service spa, state-of-the-art fitness center, two outdoor swimming pools, beach with private cabanas, and much more.

Insider Trip Despite a breakwater, the water at the resort’s beach can be rough and not ideal for swimming. If you’re a beach lover looking for a top-notch beach vacation, there are other Puerto Rico resorts on our list worth considering—such as the Royal Sonesta (#4).

Next up, The Royal Sonesta San Juan boasts a wealth of amenities to keep you relaxed, entertained, and happily fed on a memorable beach vacation in Puerto Rico.

Six superb dining and drinking venues—from poolside Akua Bar to Ruth’s Chris Steak House—tantalize your tastebuds and quench your thirst after a fun and relaxing day in paradise.

Speaking of relaxation, there’s also a full-service spa offering a slew of treatments and services to help you unwind and rejuvenate.

We also love Royal Sonesta’s striking lagoon-style pool and beach area, which is an ideal spot to soak up the sun or take a refreshing dip in the water.

With its prime location in Isla Verde, guests can enjoy a range of activities from water skiing and golfing, to snorkeling, and more—and easily access San Juan’s most popular attractions as well.

Insider Tip The Royal Sonesta tops our list for those looking for one of the most easily-accessible Puerto Rico resorts with minimal airport transfer time—clocking in at just 5 minutes of driving time to and from the airport.

Top-rated San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino on beautiful Condado Beach offers a wide range of activities and amenities rivaling any of the very best Puerto Rico resorts and hotels on the market today.

The resort boasts 513 modern and spacious rooms and 12 well-appointed suites, as well as two fabulous outdoor swimming pools, and a 24-hour casino.

Popular activities include rainforest excursions, exciting water sports, and even surf lessons.

And you certainly won’t go hungry with diverse and delicious food options, from American favorites to international specialities, a coffee shop serving locally-sourced coffee, wood-fire pizzas, and more.

Situated between the stunning El Yunque rainforest and a two-mile stretch of serene beach along the Atlantic, the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Puerto Rico Golf & Beach Resort offers an ideal island oasis in Puerto Rico.

With its 9 tantalizing dining venues, 3 tranquil pools, and 7,000-square-foot Mandara spa and fitness center, this resort offers a wealth of activities to keep guests of all ages entertained throughout their stay.

From the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar’s two championship golf courses and exciting casino, to off-site excursions such as zip-lining and exploring the nearby Bioluminescent Bay, there’s never a dull moment at this resort.

Insider Tip Due to this resort’s relatively secluded location, guests seem to agree that renting a car is the recommended way to get the most out of your island vacation.

Old San Juan’s atmospheric Hotel El Convento is an outstanding stay that combines history, luxury, and charm, just steps away from the city’s top cultural and historic sites.

Housed in a 350-year-old former convent, Hotel El Convento has been restored and transformed into a stunning hotel with all the modern amenities you’d want for a blissful stay in Old San Juan.

Rooms are spacious, beautifully decorated, and offer fantastic views of the city. The two on-site dining options, Patio del Nísperoand Santísimo, are superb, with a range mouth-watering cuisine and co*cktails for a wonderful experience.

Hotel El Convento also offers a range of activities, including a rooftop pool, spa services, and a fitness center.

A top-rated stay in Old San Juan and truly one of the best places to stay in Puerto Rico.

The Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino is an urban oasis that caters to families and adults alike.

This hotel does a nice job of blending luxury, comfort, and entertainment into spacious rooms and suites that offer commanding views of the canal and Old San Juan’s historic charm.

The hotel’s diverse restaurants—including Metropol, which serves authentic Cuban and Puerto Rican cuisine, and Texas de Brazil combining Brazilian and Texas flavors—make for a foodie’s paradise.

And the rooftop infinity pool with hot tub and kids pool provides serenity and relaxation alongside stunning vistas of San Juan Bay.

All these features make the Sheraton a fantastic destination and simply one of the best resorts in Puerto Rico for a fun island escape in San Juan.

Puerto Rico Resorts & Hotels FAQs

Final Thoughts

Lori and I love crafting these helpful guides to the very best stays across the world! But this one has a special place in our hearts—it was on the beautiful Puerto Rican island of Vieques well over a decade ago that I popped the question, and the rest is history.

Puerto Rico is a fascinating island with a rich history, vibrant culture, and some downright jaw-dropping beaches.

Here, you won’t find massive all-inclusive resorts like travelers have become accustomed to elsewhere in the Caribbean. And you’d be hard-pressed to experience the level of luxury you would at top resorts in places like St. Lucia or Antigua.

But there are plenty of alluring reasons you’d want to visit this wonderful island paradise, which offers its own unique take on the Caribbean destination getaway that travelers return for year after year.

And these eight top-rated Puerto Rico resorts and hotels are, in our opinion, the very best resorts in Puerto Rico for enjoying your vacation to the max.

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Thanks for reading our handcrafted guide to the best resorts in Puerto Rico!

FEATURED IMAGE BY DORADO BEACH/RITZ-CARLTON