A Weekend in Puerto Rico
Ah, Puerto Rico. When my toes touched the warm sand, it was hard to believe that this country was ravaged by Hurricane Maria just last year. When I arrived, what I saw was ravishing. Granted, I stayed in an area heavily populated by tourists, please keep in mind some parts of the country is still recovering. Puerto Rico relies on tourism to boost their economy and so far, their hospitality is top-notch. Everyone is super friendly; the locals, the restaurant owners, the Uber drivers (one of our drivers had his car pimped out with a disco ball!) and fellow visitors. Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island and unincorporated U.S. territory. A passport is not required to travel there from the U.S., only a valid form of photo ID. I personally recommend always carrying your passport when flying. The flight was a total of 4 hours via United Airlines, which was perfect for me because long flights make me nauseous. PR is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway.
Where to Stay
A hotel on a beach? Say no more. The La Concha Resort in Condado is to die for. The views are enthralling! With a few steps outside, your toes are immersed in warm sand. A hotel with a wide range of amenities is essential to getting the most out of your weekend. This saves you time, as you won’t have to travel far for a swim or bite to eat. La Concha is located only 10 minutes away from Old San Juan’s vibrant nightlife scene.
Where to Play
If you want to spend the entire weekend beachside or relaxing at the hotel pool, PR is perfect for that. Or if you're an explorer like me - visit the enchanting Castillo de San Cristóbal, take a bumpin' spinning class at SPIN, dance the night away in La Placita and gallivant the streets of Old San Juan.
Where to Eat
The food in PR was just as expected - BOMB. I don't recall ever having a bad meal at all. A good brunch with a view is the fastest way to my heart and the Vanderbilt's buffet style brunch earned 5 stars from me. For dinner, I recommend Serafina and Barrachina (where the first Pina Colada was created) in Old San Juan. If you want to eat like a local, grab a handcrafted sandwich from any of the street joints in Old San Juan. Don't skip out on a good smoothie or Acai bowl from CRUSH Juice Bar either, they use all natural ingredients like fresh mango and ginger. That’s actually a triple win for us girls trying to live a healthy life!
Puerto Rico has a little bit of everything that I love. Plus, I felt good spending my dollars at local businesses which helps sustain their economy, especially after the devastating hurricane. When I do return, I plan to incorporate philanthropy into my itinerary to help those still in need. I encourage you to do the same!