Showing posts with label San Juan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label San Juan. Show all posts
Monday, October 6, 2014
A PERFECT WEEK IN PUERTO RICO
We're just back from a week long vacation in paradise...aka San Juan, Puerto Rico! The last time we were there, Richie was only a few months old, so it was fun to go back with Richie and Brody now. We had an amazing time in the pool, on the beach, and checking out Old San Juan. Puerto Rico is such a beautiful country and holds such a special place in my heart. What's not to love about delicious food, gorgeous weather, and beautiful sites only a short plane ride away? I love building and creating memories in Puerto Rico with my boys!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
THINK "S" FOR SEPTEMBER TRAVEL
One of the questions I get most from clients is where should I jet set to and when should I go? Since we're in the month of September we'll focus on some U.S. destinations that I think are perfect for this time of year...(think of the letter "S" for September). My three picks are San Diego, San Francisco and San Juan. September may be the perfect time to visit any of these 3 cities because the summer crowds have left, the prices have gone down, and the weather often times is the warmest of the year (including- most importantly the ocean temps). In San Diego, lines to get into places like the San Diego Zoo are much, much shorter!
San Francisco has what's called an Indian Summer (meaning their summer is cool and foggy and their fall is warm and sunny).
And I know you must be thinking about Hurricane Season when I suggest jet setting to San Juan, Puerto Rico in September! Yes, it's a risk, but this month is one of the best times to visit this Caribbean island if no hurricane is on the way. So just purchase travel insurance beforehand and chances are you'll wind up having an awesome vacation at a "SMART" price!
So, think "S" for names of perfect U.S. destinations in the month of September, and think "S" for Smart and for Savings!!!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
CONRAD SAN JUAN CONDADO PLAZA HOTEL REVIEW
On my recent trip to Puerto Rico, I decided to stay at the Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza (A Hilton property) in the Condado area. I had stayed at this hotel many, many years ago when it was under different ownership and was called the Condado Plaza Hotel. Back then, it was more of a casino-with rooms hotel, and I wanted to see what it was like now. From what I had read and heard, it was supposed to be just like the La Concha Resort (where I stayed the last time I jet setted to Puerto Rico), and so I had to find out if that was true before I recommend it to you jet setters. I have to say, my first impression from the outside wasn't the greatest; it looks like any standard hotel, nothing special.
The other thing I didn't like was that there is virtually no beach! What the hotel boasts as a beachfront property is actually a hotel located next to a small beach which is right off of the highway. It is also more like a lagoon than an actual beach...not what you want when you are jet setting to a Caribbean island for a beach vacation. There are two pools (one saltwater and the other with a swim-up bar and a fun slide) - I couldn't help but think this was done to perhaps make up for what lacks at the beach...but it does not!!!
I have to say, however, my impression somewhat changed when I walked into the lobby. It was bright, clean, and modernized- thanks to a $70 million dollar renovation that was completed in 2008.
The rooms are nice as well- done in various shades of deep red if you are staying in the ocean tower (where I stayed), and acid green in the lagoon tower. They are spacious, clean, and the beds are comfortable.
The hotel does have a couple of decent dining options: Pikayo- upscale Puerto Rican cuisine and Varita- a fun, casual spin on Puerto Rican barbecue. I did not try these restaurants this time, but have them on my list of places to checkout next time. Bottom line, I wasn't so impressed with the Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza, and would not recommend it to my clients. Yes, it's less expensive than La Concha, but I now know why. You may have to shell out a bit more, but at least you will be happy, and that is the Jet Set Smart way to travel!
Pros: Renovated in 2008, nice rooms, and the location (about 15 minutes from Old San Juan), means plenty of options for dining, sightseeing, activities and shopping.
Cons: Non-existent beach and not great pool scene, non-existent night life, extra taxes that are charged when you check out! No other Hilton property in Puerto Rico charges these taxes! BEWARE!!!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
WHERE THE PRESIDENT ATE IN PUERTO RICO
When President Barack Obama visited Puerto Rico this month, he stopped for lunch at Kasalta Bakery in the Ocean Park neighborhood of Old San Juan. He ordered a "Medianoche" sandwich and had a Quesito and a cup of coffee for dessert.
A "Medianoche" is a type of Cuban sandwich that consists of roast pork, ham, swiss cheese, and dill pickles on slices of egg bread that is similar to Challah bread. The medianoche is typically cooked in a press. It's almost like a Cuban sandwich, the only difference is the bread.
I have never been to Kesalta, and have never had a medianoche, so I'm putting it on my list of things to check out when I jet set to Puerto Rico this summer. I figure if it's good enough for Mr. President, it's worth a try...I'll let you know what I think.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
LA CONCHA IS UBER CHIC!
Where: La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort , 1077 Ashford Avenue, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00907
When speaking to other guests at one of the two infinity pools overlooking Condado Beach at La Concha Renaissance Resort in San Juan, Puerto Rico, your conversation always turns to where you stayed B.L.C. (Before La Concha). You will get a variety of answers, yet everyone agrees that with the renovation of La Concha, San Juan finally has a chic, 21st-century-style star on the hotel scene.
There was a lot of hype about the landmark La Concha Renaissance Resort re-opening in 2008. It now is considered the newest upscale hotel in San Juan, but its beginnings date to 1958, when it first opened during what was called the Tropical Modernism Movement. So, my family and I decided to stay at this Condado property for a week during our most recent trip to Puerto Rico this summer.
Initial Reaction: When we pulled up to the perfectly located La Concha, it was rather unassuming, yet clearly had maintained the traditional characteristics of Puerto Rico's architecture. Once inside we found a beautifully designed lobby pulling us in three directions. To the right is the check-in and the seaside Casino del Mar, to the left are the plush couches of the lobby lounge and beyond that, you can follow the staircase to the large, open courtyard called El Batey (the Taino Indian phrase for an open recreational area), which contains a multi-level infinity pool (there are four pools total at the resort) and Jacuzzis, casual seating and a tapas restaurant called Solera.
Check-In: Check-in was not so much of a breeze. This is where you can clearly feel the difference of staying in a five-star resort in the U.S. versus a small Caribbean island. The English speaking staff is polite, and accommodating, but they operate on "Puerto-Rican time"...a.k.a....slowly! Also, room service and housekeeping were slow on cleaning the rooms in the morning and bringing you fresh new towels when you called for them. However, these are really the only negative things I would have to say about our stay overall.
Room Reaction: Once we crossed the threshold of the ocean view room, we found an open area where our attention was immediately directed to the unobstructed view of Condado Beach. The combination of modernism and comfort creates an ambiance of total relaxation, while the blends of whites, blues, greens, and oranges, couple with the panoramic view of the beach and sea make these rooms the ultimate seaside escape. All rooms have iPod/MP3-player-compatible alarm clocks, 37-inch flat screen LCD TVs, digital on-demand entertainment and high speed Internet access.
Note: When staying at La Concha, room selection is very important. There are 248 spacious, modern guestrooms all with spectacular ocean views in the original La Concha building. There is also a newly constructed building that has suites. The suites are beautiful and ultramodern, but not every room faces the ocean (who wants a city view when you are staying in the Caribbean at the beach?) In addition, the building itself is very hot temperature-wise because the hallways are enclosed (not like in the original building, where the hallways are open and overlook the pool.
Where to Dine: La Concha's six restaurants include Perla, the signature seafood restaurant of well-known chef Dayne Smith, resting under the resorts trademark beach side shell dome. Solera is a pool grill by day and tapas bar by night. Level 25 serves breakfast and dinner, offering Pan-Pacific food and prime cuts of beef. Aroma, in the lobby is a great place for coffee and pastries in the morning. Sidewalk Cafe is a casual place that serves breakfast and lunch. Komokai is a sushi bar located in the lobby.
Bottom Line: La Concha Renaissance Resort in San Juan, Puerto Rico is by far my favorite hotel in the San Juan area, and with a couple of tweaks to service, it could be one of my top ten favorites in the world! By the way, when we were staying at La Concha, so was Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets, as well as Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and the cast of The Fast and the Furious because they were in Puerto Rico shooting The Fast and the Furious 5...so if it was the choice for all of these celebs, I guess it wasn't a bad choice for the Jet Set Smart crowd either! Room rates start at $239 per night.
When speaking to other guests at one of the two infinity pools overlooking Condado Beach at La Concha Renaissance Resort in San Juan, Puerto Rico, your conversation always turns to where you stayed B.L.C. (Before La Concha). You will get a variety of answers, yet everyone agrees that with the renovation of La Concha, San Juan finally has a chic, 21st-century-style star on the hotel scene.
There was a lot of hype about the landmark La Concha Renaissance Resort re-opening in 2008. It now is considered the newest upscale hotel in San Juan, but its beginnings date to 1958, when it first opened during what was called the Tropical Modernism Movement. So, my family and I decided to stay at this Condado property for a week during our most recent trip to Puerto Rico this summer.
Initial Reaction: When we pulled up to the perfectly located La Concha, it was rather unassuming, yet clearly had maintained the traditional characteristics of Puerto Rico's architecture. Once inside we found a beautifully designed lobby pulling us in three directions. To the right is the check-in and the seaside Casino del Mar, to the left are the plush couches of the lobby lounge and beyond that, you can follow the staircase to the large, open courtyard called El Batey (the Taino Indian phrase for an open recreational area), which contains a multi-level infinity pool (there are four pools total at the resort) and Jacuzzis, casual seating and a tapas restaurant called Solera.
Check-In: Check-in was not so much of a breeze. This is where you can clearly feel the difference of staying in a five-star resort in the U.S. versus a small Caribbean island. The English speaking staff is polite, and accommodating, but they operate on "Puerto-Rican time"...a.k.a....slowly! Also, room service and housekeeping were slow on cleaning the rooms in the morning and bringing you fresh new towels when you called for them. However, these are really the only negative things I would have to say about our stay overall.Room Reaction: Once we crossed the threshold of the ocean view room, we found an open area where our attention was immediately directed to the unobstructed view of Condado Beach. The combination of modernism and comfort creates an ambiance of total relaxation, while the blends of whites, blues, greens, and oranges, couple with the panoramic view of the beach and sea make these rooms the ultimate seaside escape. All rooms have iPod/MP3-player-compatible alarm clocks, 37-inch flat screen LCD TVs, digital on-demand entertainment and high speed Internet access.
Note: When staying at La Concha, room selection is very important. There are 248 spacious, modern guestrooms all with spectacular ocean views in the original La Concha building. There is also a newly constructed building that has suites. The suites are beautiful and ultramodern, but not every room faces the ocean (who wants a city view when you are staying in the Caribbean at the beach?) In addition, the building itself is very hot temperature-wise because the hallways are enclosed (not like in the original building, where the hallways are open and overlook the pool.
Where to Dine: La Concha's six restaurants include Perla, the signature seafood restaurant of well-known chef Dayne Smith, resting under the resorts trademark beach side shell dome. Solera is a pool grill by day and tapas bar by night. Level 25 serves breakfast and dinner, offering Pan-Pacific food and prime cuts of beef. Aroma, in the lobby is a great place for coffee and pastries in the morning. Sidewalk Cafe is a casual place that serves breakfast and lunch. Komokai is a sushi bar located in the lobby.Bottom Line: La Concha Renaissance Resort in San Juan, Puerto Rico is by far my favorite hotel in the San Juan area, and with a couple of tweaks to service, it could be one of my top ten favorites in the world! By the way, when we were staying at La Concha, so was Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets, as well as Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and the cast of The Fast and the Furious because they were in Puerto Rico shooting The Fast and the Furious 5...so if it was the choice for all of these celebs, I guess it wasn't a bad choice for the Jet Set Smart crowd either! Room rates start at $239 per night.
Friday, July 16, 2010
PLENTY TO DO IN P.R.!
A few months ago, a jet setter who reads this blog emailed me asking for ideas of things to do for her vacation to Puerto Rico or P.R. I came up with a mini "Hit List" for her of where to go, what to see and do, and where to eat, and I wanted to share that list with all of you jet setters. I am also thinking about jet setting to Puerto Rico later this year, and re-reading this list made me that much more excited about going there. Please share any of your ideas if you've jet setted to Puerto Rico with me! 
PUERTO RICO- SAN JUAN
- Best time to visit: December-March
- Get lost in Old San Juan's cobblestone streets, pastel-colored houses
- Visit the ancient fort of El Morro
- Feed the pigeons out of your hand at Parque de las Palomas
- If you have time, head over to Isla Verde area & Condado (two other great beach areas with more restaurants, bars, hotels & shopping)
- Another thing to see if you can is Balneario de Luquillo (Perhaps the prettiest beach in all of Puerto Rico). It's about a 1/2 hour drive east of San Juan on Route 3.
- El Yunque Rainforest (you will be amazed how such a tiny island can have such an enormously beautiful rainforest).
Shopping:- Make sure to buy a Guayabera ( a linen or cotton shirt/ either long or short sleeve- worn by men and women for a casual look or even dressy that come in all colors). I have one in white and get so many compliments when I wear it! You will see them for sale all over San Juan- so try and get one.
- I also love to buy sarongs when I go (they are sold in shops in Old San Juan & on the beaches). Some of my favorite ones that I own are from P.R...they are so pretty & colorful, inexpensive & make good souvenir gifts.
- A coqui (ceramic or picture of one) - a small frog that lives in P.R. They are found all over and make a beautiful chirping noise. The thing that's incredible about the coqui is that it can ONLY survive in P.R. The coqui has been taken to other locations with tropical climates similar to P.R., and it has not survived. So there is a saying in P.R. that if you are born and raised there then "You are as Puerto Rican as the coqui."
Bars for a night scene in Old San Juan:
- Baru (Calle San Sebastian)
- El Cafe Seda (Calle San Sebastian)
- Marrero (Calle Sol)
What to See:
* Catedral de San Juan Bautista, Old San Juan (151 Calle Cristo)* It's one of the oldest churches in the Western Hemisphere (1520) and is home to the tomb of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon.
* El Morro (Calle Norzagaray)* It's a massive fortress that extends out on a rocky peninsula into the Atlantic. When you go, also see Fuerte San Cristobal (built by Irish).
*La Fortaleza* (The Governor's Mansion)
Eat:
- La Bombanera (one of the oldest bakeries in P.R.) Try one their mallorcas (Spanish pastry) and Cocas (similar to a pizza) They also have great typical Puerto Rican lunch food like arroz con gandules, pernil, etc. Also good to eat (if they have it here) is a Tripleta- a sandwich made with ham, chicken, beef, mayo, ketchup, fries, lettuce & tomato.
- La Mallorquina- The 160-year-old restaurant is known for its family-style cocina criolla, or traditional Puerto Rican feasts: seasonal favorites include lechón (suckling pig), arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas), and pasteles (yucca and meat wrapped in a banana leaf).
- Barrachina- birthplace of the original pina colada (1963) Located on Calle Fortaleza. It's delicious! Drink them here & all over P.R...it's the thing to do!
PUERTO RICO- SAN JUAN- Best time to visit: December-March
- Get lost in Old San Juan's cobblestone streets, pastel-colored houses
- Visit the ancient fort of El Morro
- Feed the pigeons out of your hand at Parque de las Palomas
- If you have time, head over to Isla Verde area & Condado (two other great beach areas with more restaurants, bars, hotels & shopping)
- Another thing to see if you can is Balneario de Luquillo (Perhaps the prettiest beach in all of Puerto Rico). It's about a 1/2 hour drive east of San Juan on Route 3.
- El Yunque Rainforest (you will be amazed how such a tiny island can have such an enormously beautiful rainforest).
Shopping:- Make sure to buy a Guayabera ( a linen or cotton shirt/ either long or short sleeve- worn by men and women for a casual look or even dressy that come in all colors). I have one in white and get so many compliments when I wear it! You will see them for sale all over San Juan- so try and get one.
- I also love to buy sarongs when I go (they are sold in shops in Old San Juan & on the beaches). Some of my favorite ones that I own are from P.R...they are so pretty & colorful, inexpensive & make good souvenir gifts.
- A coqui (ceramic or picture of one) - a small frog that lives in P.R. They are found all over and make a beautiful chirping noise. The thing that's incredible about the coqui is that it can ONLY survive in P.R. The coqui has been taken to other locations with tropical climates similar to P.R., and it has not survived. So there is a saying in P.R. that if you are born and raised there then "You are as Puerto Rican as the coqui."
Bars for a night scene in Old San Juan:- Baru (Calle San Sebastian)
- El Cafe Seda (Calle San Sebastian)
- Marrero (Calle Sol)
What to See:
* Catedral de San Juan Bautista, Old San Juan (151 Calle Cristo)* It's one of the oldest churches in the Western Hemisphere (1520) and is home to the tomb of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon.
* El Morro (Calle Norzagaray)* It's a massive fortress that extends out on a rocky peninsula into the Atlantic. When you go, also see Fuerte San Cristobal (built by Irish).
*La Fortaleza* (The Governor's Mansion)
Eat:- La Bombanera (one of the oldest bakeries in P.R.) Try one their mallorcas (Spanish pastry) and Cocas (similar to a pizza) They also have great typical Puerto Rican lunch food like arroz con gandules, pernil, etc. Also good to eat (if they have it here) is a Tripleta- a sandwich made with ham, chicken, beef, mayo, ketchup, fries, lettuce & tomato.
- La Mallorquina- The 160-year-old restaurant is known for its family-style cocina criolla, or traditional Puerto Rican feasts: seasonal favorites include lechón (suckling pig), arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas), and pasteles (yucca and meat wrapped in a banana leaf).
- Barrachina- birthplace of the original pina colada (1963) Located on Calle Fortaleza. It's delicious! Drink them here & all over P.R...it's the thing to do!
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