I've stayed in hotels throughout the world and when your on the road, you can't expect much. When traveling through Mexico by car, I stayed in $10 per night hotels that were clean, with running water, and had a shower that drained. El Portal is a $100 per night Roach Motel! I made a reservation to stay at El Portal because I thought there was nothing else, but several friends of mine were able to get far better hotels for a much better price. Warning: Do not stay here, even if there is nowhere else to stay. Camp out if necessary. There are hundreds of hotels that are far better and cheaper. The staff was nice, but the hotel is a dump! The shower had no water pressure and the temperature changed from cold to superhot wihtout any warning. The shower did not drain and no amount of complaints can correct that, i'ts a plumbing issue. It was a complete nightmare. Be warned.

DON'T STAY HERE! The rooms are sooo tiny and the whole entire hotel has a funny, mold like smell. The continental breakfast includes bread, and cereal with powdered milk. To top it all of THERE IS NO HOT WATER!

And they had a drainage problem, it took hours for the shower to drain after one person used it, so if you go with another person wake up early unless you want to shower standing in their dirty bath water.

There are so many better hotels in San Juan for around the same price.

i stayed there in april 11-14 2006 and it was nice. there is a strange smell indeed but it's bareble the staff in lovely. the breakfast needs some help a little cheese maybe, but above all i enjoyed my stay i will go back there

i stayed here for 8 days the first room the plumbing was bad water didnt go down in the shower quick but did eventualy and the toilet had a mind of its own and flushed when it wanted too so i asked for another room and they assisted me and got me another room other then that the staff was very friendly and helpful and always was there to assist in my needs this isnt the ritz its a place to sleep and keep ur stuff safe cause i spent most of my time sight seeing ive been to pr 3 times and if you dont want to pay 200 or more a night this is the best bang for your buck im going back for 8 more days in may and yes i booked it here the 8 floor breakfast deck is so nice in the morning great views and good sweets and juice milk and coffee and cereal toast well worth the trip up to start your day off close to everything from old san jaun to clubs, beaches and reasturaunts to a 24 hour walgreens for all your needs food,medical stuff to picture needs thats worth it in it self all rooms have fridges and cable tv and its in the heart of everything cant beat that if your on a budget or just looking for a safe place to keep your stuff and sleep this is it and the maids cleened and made up my room everyday and assisted me with all my needs as well thanks