Hot hotels abound in San Juan and there’s a place for you to crash regardless of cash. While Puerto Rico as a destination fits all budgets, it’s always more fun to splurge a little. Go on, you deserve it!
Located in San Juan’s vibrant Isla Verde district, El San Juan Hotel & Casino offers a vibe akin to old school Vegas glam with an island twist. Enjoy top-notch modern Caribbean cuisine at Koco Restaurant then make a date with lady luck in the elegant wood-paneled casino.
Other fine choices for an unforgettable urban beach escape include the Conrad Condado Plaza and the Caribe Hilton San Juan. If you’re in need of a massage, try the Zen Spa Retreat at the all-new Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel and Casino.
For equal parts romance and history stay at El Convento within the fortifications of old San Juan. This former Carmelite convent offers old world atmosphere, a rooftop pool and almost 400 years of stories to tell.
It is a little known fact that the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is not a solitary island, but actually includes a collection of smaller inhabited and uninhabited islands. Why not hop a plane and visit the island of Vieques.
A Caribbean version of Bikini Atoll (but without the nuclear testing) this stunning island was in the past used as a bombing range by the US military. Today the troops are gone, and the tourists have begun flocking to some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the World. The swanky W Retreat and Spa has opened its doors to well-heeled tourists and others have begun to follow suit. If you’re after sun, sand and seclusion then Vieques is the vacation spot for you.
For those on a tighter budget, Le Consulat, Ascend Collection Hotel, offers that resorty Condado vibe in a cute, boutique bundle and is just steps away from the sea.
Planning a Caribbean getaway? Check out the tripatlas.com/new Trip Builder where you can request a quote local travel agents who are waiting to offer you custom prices on your trip.
Shop Till you Drop
While some see the many American factory outlet stores that line the cobbled streets of San Juan’s old city as a detraction from its charm, it’s almost impossible to ignore the bargains. Shopping bags just appear to attach themselves to you as you wander the winding, narrow streets of the capital.
When you think of the Caribbean you think of rum, and nobody makes more of it than billion dollar producer Bacardi. While originally founded in Cuba, today production focuses on Puerto Rico and the distillery outside of San Juan affectionately known as the “Cathedral of Rum“. Everybody likes duty-free, so remember to bring back some Bacardi for your loved ones.
Calling all Sports fans
Puerto Ricans have adopted “America’s favourite pastime” of baseball and as a way of saying thank you, now supply Major League Baseball with some of its biggest bats. If your timing is right you may even be able to catch a game in the 5 team Puerto Rico Baseball League or between Puerto Rico and one of its fierce island rivals.
Puerto Rico’s surfing epicentre of Rincon on the island’s western coast offers world-class waves and that laid-back vibe you’d expect in a relatively isolated surf community. If you’re not ready to tackle the big waves, surfing lessons are available from Wow! Surf School at locations across San Juan. Being a Caribbean island, you don’t have to look far to find other exciting water sport options in Puerto Rico.
Whatever you are looking for in a vacation, there is a great chance that you’ll find it and much more in beautiful Puerto Rico.