We just got back from PR, where we stayed at the Regency from 6-20 August 2004. While I got a great rate online, the old adage "You get what you pay for" applies. My number one complaint is No internet access. Not through the room phone via dialup (probably because they use Sprint as their carrier, which is a lousy service and ***** for internet dialup. They used to have internet access through the room TV, but discontinued the service months ago. If you are on a business trip, what good is it if you can't get online? USELESS. I was very frustrated by this. I brought along my laptop but couldn't get online. Complaint number two: Like most hotels in Puerto Rico, they charge you daily for parking. I have only encountered this in Puerto Rico. If you are a paying guest at the hotel, I don't feel you should be charged for parking at all. It's only $5 a day, but bothersome and onerous. It's like they are nickel and diming you to death. Parking in San Juan is dog-eat-dog. It's a jungle out there, and parking spaces at a premium, but they should not charge parking to their guests. Complaint number three: No coffee makers available in the room, and if you want an iron or hair blower or small fridge you have to call housekeeping and ask for one. They do offer a complimentary continental breakfast on Floor 1 between 7AM-9AM, but if you miss it, too bad. On the positive side, Regency guests are allowed to use the pool next door at the Wyndham Condado Plaza Hotel and Casino, (the Regency has a small one on Floor 1) but once you see THAT place you'll realize what you passed up in quality in order to save money, not just in terms of the pool but also the hotel. The Condado Plaza pool has a swim-up bar and water slide. The Regency Hotel pool is just a pool. In fairness, I must say the employees and staff of the Regency were very polite, the hotel is centraly located, and there are plenty of restaurants. One caveat: Stay away from the Puerto Rico casinos, very, very hard to win here. The slots have a 93% payout rate (LOW). You can do better in Vegas or even Atlantic City if you're a gambler.

The regency looked okay from the outside but once you enter its like a old dungeon. One of the staff member was extremely polite and customer friendly, but the others made false promises. For example, we called for an iron and it took two days to get to our room, they provided no wash cloth we had to walk to Walgreens and buy some, on top of that the hotel only had two towels per room. The state of the hallways, rooms and what they call a pool was dispicable. The only mentionable thing about staying there was that they allowed you to use the Wyndham pool (magnificent). The hotel room stunk the carpet and bathroom was filthy they had to move us to a different room which was not much better because the toilet overflowed. I would not stay there again it makes more sense to stay at a reputed hotel for an extra buck and a peace of mind.

The last reviewer got it right, however was too kind. We got a good deal on Hotwire as well thinking one night at a two star hotel couldn't be that bad. Rundown hotel, with very marginal appointments, bed and bathrooms. Would not stay there again.

I stayed at the Regency for 1 night recently. I admit that I got a good deal on Hotwire, but this time I lowered my standards and took a lesser quality, 2 star, hotel thinking, "It's only for 1 night, it can't be too bad." I was right. For 1 night only, it wasn't horrible, but I would not recommend staying there for a vacation, unless you don't mind rooms that open to the outside, very old bathrooms with condensation dripping from the ceiling and carpet scary to walk on with bare feet. The building is in the shape of a "T" and there is a hallway across the front of the building, but it's open at one end and rooms down the side open to the outside. I could easily hear the group of kids in the room next door until late. The lobby is barren. Even if both elevators are working, expect to wait a long time because they are terribly slow. If you're like me, and look for good rates on Priceline and Hotwire and don't really care which hotel it is, as long as it's nice, then stick with the 3 stars and up hotels in San Juan.