Hotel Ascend Collection a San Juan

Here’s a brief summary of our family’s stay at Comfort Inn, San Juan for five days in August 2022. The GOOD – Location: It’s a 5-7 minute walk to the beach and the hotel offers complimentary beach towels, sun umbrellas, and lounge chairs for your use. There’s also a Cartier store at the end of the block, so you’re in a decent part of town, and there are quite a few restaurants within walking distance; Rooms: Our room was clean and bright. It looks like it had been renovated in the not-too-distant past. Good water pressure, nice TV, clean linen, small fridge, microwave, and coffee maker; Breakfast: There are some nice options included in the breakfast. Hot items (cheese omelets, bacon, sausage, country potatoes), cereal, make-it-yourself waffles, pastries, fresh fruit (bananas, apples, clementine oranges), yogurt, and a variety of juices; Hotel pool: It’s small but very nice. In addition to the pool, there’s also a hot tub for the adults and a kids’ wading pool. Lots of lounge chairs and towels. Fitness center: It has nice equipment and is in good condition, located by the pool; Housekeeping staff: We interacted with several members of the housekeeping staff and they were all extremely helpful and friendly. High marks in that department! The BAD – Parking: Technically, there is a parking lot at the hotel but it only holds about eight cars, at best. Beyond that, you’ll need to park in a garage down the street for about $20/night. The hotel was in the process of repaving the parking lot while we were there but I don’t think it will result in adding any additional spaces; Flooding: The street on two sides of the hotel flooded to a depth of about 8 inches twice during the five days we were there. Not sure what causes it, but it’s apparently an ongoing issue. If you want to get past the flooding, you have to get creative on how to access the front door. Not impossible, but also not ideal. The DEHUMIDIFIER – The first night we were there, we woke up in the morning to find that the floor in our room was WET. Not damp, but WET. As in, a “Maybe we should go look for a mop” kind of wet. It was at that point that we noticed a dehumidifier under the desk in the room. The digital readout read, “Current humidity: 85%”. I don’t doubt it. Once I turned the dehumidifier on, we left it on for the remainder of our stay. It did help IMMENSELY but we had to empty the bucket in the dehumidifier down the shower drain about twice a day, so it was an ongoing process. We also noticed a dehumidifier in the hallway so humidity is apparently an issue there as well. SUMMARY – Overall, we were happy with our stay. The amenities are nice and the price isn’t bad, considering the prices of other hotels in the same vicinity. Parking isn’t ideal and neither is the flooding. And as long as you don’t mind keeping up with the dehumidifier, the room is pleasant to stay in. There aren’t a lot of bells and whistles, but there’s not a lot that seems lacking either.