Room Request! The Condado Vanderbilt Hotel

by Natasha Wolff | March 12, 2015 9:52 am

Originally built in 1919 by Frederick William Vanderbilt, the Condado Vanderbilt hotel[1] reopened in late 2014 following a top-to-bottom $200 million face-lift. The glamorous oceanfront property features 319 guest rooms (including 108 suites) across two towers and is just five minutes from historic Old San Juan. 

As part of the renovation, the property unveiled a 10,000-square-foot luxury spa (which houses Puerto Rico’s first and only marble hammam) and state-of-the-art fitness center with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the ocean. The spa’s seven treatment rooms are a lovely setting for a customizable LED facial or a signature Spanish Gardenia Paradise Body Ritual. 

There are two restaurants on property—the more-formal 1919 and the poolside indoor/outdoor Ola—and both are helmed by Chef Juan Jose Cuevas, formerly of New York City’s Michelin-starred Blue Hill restaurant. 

Condado Vanderbilt’s East and West towers are conjoined by a sprawling terrace, which offers gorgeous panoramic vistas of the Atlantic Ocean. Each tower has its own respective pool lounge complete with beach butlers that tend to your every whim.

General Manager Nicholas Gold was well equipped to oversee the hotel’s renovation—he previously held the same role at Utah’s famed Amangiri Resort. Below, Gold tells us about the most sought-after room on the property. 

Inside the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel

The most requested room:
By far the most requested rooms are the One Bedroom Ocean Front Commodore Suites.  

What makes it so special:
The 63 corner suites have two balconies, so during the day the guests enjoy the direct view of the ocean from one balcony and at night they enjoy the view of the shoreline and the skyline from the second balcony. They also like that when booking a Commodore Suite, private airport transfers are included as well 24-hour Butler Service.   

The rate:
Between $1,000 per night to $1,600 per night, depending on the season.

Your personal favorite:
It would have to be our 42 Biltmore Suites.  

Inside the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel

Because…
The layout and size is perfect for two people. A kitchenette, a dining table for two and living area that opens up to the balcony makes it feel like the perfect Caribbean pied-à-terre. It also has a very spacious bathroom with double sinks, a generously sized rain shower and a separate whirlpool bathtub. 

Celebrity guests:
We have had several, but they choose our hotel because they know we protect their privacy. 

Fun fact:
Our hotel has a great history[2]. When the Vanderbilt Family developed it back in 1919, it became the epicenter of San Juan’s roaring 20’s.Part of our recent restoration involved re-designing all the chandeliers in the hotel, and our designer, Jorge Rosello, looked for inspiration in the earrings that women wore during the 1920’s. He then had Murano glassmakers execute the design. The result is colorful and festive chandeliers that adorn our salons and lobby areas.

Source URL: https://dujour.com/life/condado-vanderbilt-hotel-best-rooms/