This property is in need of some serious TLB and renovation. While the lobby has a bit more charm than the actual rooms, it isn't really saying much. The rooms are too small, dated and smell. The cards to swipe into rooms and the pool area don't function half the time.

The only real asset ESJ has going for it, are the lovely, charming staff members. The two concierges that covered the front desk during the week of Christmas were simply wonderful. The staff that works in the Happy Apple were also so friendly and breakfast, while delicious, was terribly expensive.

ESJ Towers was built in the mid-1970’s and the décor has not been updated since. It’s not bad but it is a little quirky and very quiet. We stayed on a timeshare exchange for one week in a one bedroom. The lobby is dim and mostly deserted. They have a card room and a billiard room that are nearly always empty. There is also a small store with an eclectic assortment of items. But for real shopping, there is a supermarket a few blocks away called Pueblo with everything you may want from a supermarket, open 24-7, and a Walgreens up the street. They also have a restaurant open for breakfast and lunch, which we did not try. Our room was reasonably clean and everything worked. We had a full kitchen with basic cookware and a dishwasher and a washer/dryer. No soap is provided for anything. There is no maid service, not even a mid-week check. To get fresh towels you have to take your old ones down to the fitness center desk in the basement garage and exchange them. They are all counted and accounted for. You can also get soap and Kleenex and TP, but strangely no shampoo. No shampoo for you, two is all you get. I asked why and was just told they have never had it. You can also get beach towels there and rent beach chairs for $2.00, they also have umbrellas and better chairs for rent on the beach for more. The internet access is also outdated. You can pay $12/day for wireless or $0.35/minute at two computers in the lobby. Hotels today should realize that internet access is a basic service and should be free. But if you have an AT&T data plan you will be fine.

To get to the beach you have to go through Checkpoint Charlie and register with the guard, who gives you an orange bracelet to identify you. Then you are on the public beach, which is a good beach. There is a ski jet for hire business, along with a group sailboat that can carry group of 8-12 folks. A disc jockey played music from the neighboring El San Juan Resorts & Casino (salsa and enjoyable current hits) and they let me use their bathroom and outdoor shower situated near their pool. (I guess they know where we are from our bracelets). A BBQ grill business offered hot dogs and hamburgers with potato sticks and drinks right there on the beach. It was quite relaxing pleasant and everything you may want at your disposal. Just bring money— the food was reasonable.

ESJ has an adequate pool and hot tub. Unfortunately, it closes at 6 PM. That’s right, it’s lights out and everybody out of the pool at 6. The only activity we saw poolside was Bingo. The average age of the members and guests here is senior with few younger, no children were seen. That’s the theme here, dim, dated, quiet and set in its ways. The staff was polite and helpful. Some of them have been here for many years and I did detect a slight undercurrent of guest-itis, that condition of long-time service workers who start to think that if it weren’t for the damned guests, their job would be sweet. We had a car and guest parking is on the very bowels of the underground garage and no charge for parking.

We were invited to a little time-share welcome party at the “Happy Apple”, their little reception place. The drinks and food were good and surprisingly there is virtually no sales pressure here. The Isla Verde location is very good. It is next to the El San Juan Towers, a real resort and casino that is absolutely unrelated. When our GPS said we had arrived, we turned in there but were told to go to the next little street where there is a guard shack. They have a lot of security. In brief, this is not a bad place to stay and is a good base of operations for exploring the San Juan area. They have a concierge that is there all the time. If you just want to hang out at the pool or the beach that works here as well. It is quiet and relaxing and meets all basic needs.

I have to say the staff for the most part over all is poor but in the Casino just down right rude. If your not a local person they would rather you not be there. With that said the restaurant's are fantastic but I will never go back because the attitude of the people is they don't like you ..

We stayed at the ESJ Towers in February of 2009 with our two children through our timeshare. It was nice, affordable and within walking distance to restaurants and the market to get food for the kitchen that we had in our room. We had an ocean view room which was very nice but the planes taking off nearby took some getting use to. The pool was great and the kids had fun playing bingo every afternoon by the it. The breakfast at the hotel was quite pricey the first morning so we only did that once. We even took the public bus to old San Juan to tour the forts. It was only a 20 minute ride. We did rent a car to see the rainforest which is a must. Being right on the beach was a great addition. All in all it's a nice affordable place to stay while visiting San Juan and taking in all the sites to see.