Verdanza Hotel

Verdanza Hotel may not be one of the most stylish hotels in Isla Verde, but it is one of the best deals in the neighborhood. Rooms are clean and cheerful, and its convenient location gives a good home base for all the attractions in the surrounding area. On-site, there’s a sizable pool and a few restaurants, plus guests can easily reach some of the island’s best beaches on foot. A popular choice for business travelers, the Verdanza also draws conference attendees that can be seen chatting in the hallways between meetings. The property is a good bet for small families too, with Double Rooms able to accommodate up to four guests and the pool offering a fun spray park. The hotel’s pet-friendly policy and little off-leash park area make it a particularly great pick for pet owners. Animal lovers will be pleased with the hotel’s donation program -- guests are asked to voluntarily add $1 to their room charge each night and 100 percent of the contributions are donated to the Pet SOS animal rescue organization. Guests may catch of glimpse of the hotel’s shy and sweet rescue dog, Draco, the mascot for this thoughtful program. 

Verdanza Hotel is set in the heart of Isla Verde, just off the main thoroughfare, Avenida Isla Verde. This area is a practical base for travelers visiting Puerto Rico for short getaways, and San Juan’s airport is just a five-minute drive from the hotel. There are tons of shops, restaurants, and bars clustered along this touristy strip, and it’s less than a five-minute walk across the street to the neighborhood’s beautiful white-sand coast. The stylish Condado neighborhood is around a 10-minute drive away, while the historic attractions of Old San Juan can be reached in about 15 minutes by car. 

Guest rooms at Verdanza Hotel are tidy and bright, with carpeted flooring and pale yellow-green accent walls giving a slight nod to its beach location. Beds with crisp white linens include green or reddish-brown bed runners, and a few generic pieces of artwork hang on the walls. Flat-screen TVs rest on light wood bureaus, with mini-fridges and personal safes tucked in cupboards underneath. All rooms have coffeemakers, basic work desks, and sitting areas with armchairs. Free Wi-Fi and iPod docks are also standard. Floor-to-ceiling windows have city, garden, or partial ocean views. Some upper-level room categories feature balconies. Bathrooms are outfitted with large vanities, Rusk bath products, and magnifying mirrors. Standard shower/tub combos are covered by simple white shower curtains. 

The resort's good-sized lagoon-style pool is surrounded by a narrow, landscaped lawn and overlooked by the hotel’s yellow buildings. Beige loungers, some of which are set under shelters, circle the stone deck that borders the pool. There’s a cute, motion-activated splash park area for kids as well as a whirlpool. While the hotel has no spa, treatments like massage and reflexology can be arranged poolside. Verdanza’s main restaurant, The Eighty Bistro, offers an international breakfast menu along with Caribbean fusion cuisine for lunch and dinner. It’s a polished, modern space with bold orange booths contrasting against gray floors and walls. The bistro also features a pretty terrace overlooking the pool.Other dining options include Burger Bar, a contemporary, pub-like eatery with dark wood furniture and flat-screen TVs tuned to sports; and a compact lobby cafe that serves grab-and-go style fare. The hotel’s romantic little wine and tapas bar, DiVino, serves over 40 wines by the glass. Verdanza’s small fitness center is located on the rooftop, with a glass-paneled ceiling and walls giving it an interesting, greenhouse-like vibe. The hotel also has an enclosed, outdoor area called “PawsPark,” where pets can play off-leash on a green lawn. The park also includes a few pet-sized obstacle-course features, along with benches where owners can rest.  The hotel has over 16,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, including a special creative meeting room called the Muse. Designed to spark imagination, it features walls and tables that can be written on, along with comfy, colorful furniture. A tiny business center with a PC and a printer is set in a cubicle in a corner of the fitness center. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. Self-parking and valet parking are both offered for a daily surcharge.