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COLLECTIVE
WIZDOM.COM
Real People (Sometimes Real
Names) Share Real Health
and Life Stories
WIZDOM.COM
Real People (Sometimes Real
Names) Share Real Health
and Life Stories
TRAVEL Why Only 21% of Americans Have Passports FEATURED LOCATIONS PUERTO RICO QUEBEC BRAIN HEALTH DIETS AND FITNESS CURRENT BLOGS MY HEART ATTACK CANCER SURVIVORS MONEY AND BUDGET RETIRING OVERSEAS |
FEATURED LOCATION--PUERTO RICO
Best Places to Stay:
Rating System : 5 bags --Unbeatable, Pack Today!
4 Bags --Excellent
3 Bags -- Good
2 Bags -- Spotty
1 Bag --- Don't Bother
Bed &Breakfast: Coral Princess Inn 5 Bags
1159 Magdalena Ave; Conrado,
San Juan PR; 787-977-7700
website: coralpr.com
Notables:
Hotel: Marriott, San Juan 4 Bags
Golf Resort: Wyndham Rio Mar Beach Resort 4 Bags
Puerto Rico has become the getaway-of-choice for
knowledgeable travelers to the Caribbean. It has the
year-round temperate weather, pristine beaches and
turquoise ocean waves that make all the islands
irresistible. Plus, it has something almost no other island in
the Caribbean has-- a genuine urban life. The hub of that
life is San Juan. San Juan is actually two different cities. Old
San Juan is world class city and a favorite stop of cruise
ships. Its outer rim is a four hundred year old fortress built
by the Spanish conquerers, La Fortaleza. Within the stone
walls, you will discover winding cobblestone streets and
pastel colored Spanish Colonial buildings, almost all with
arched shuttered double leading to balconies overlooking
the streets. If you like to shop, don't miss Marshall's and
the Ralph Lauren outlet-where you'll find prices about 20%
less than any factory outlet in the continental States. But
San Juan also has a fascinating newer side, comprised of
beautiful surrounding neighborhoods --Isla Verde, Ocean
Park, Hato Rey and, in our view, the best of them all ,
Condado. Condado is the hip, upscale, urban jewel of
Puerto Rico. It's a truly walkable neighborhood, rimmed by
Rodeo Drive quality shopping, sidewalk bistros, manicured
public parks, and the must-haves for all urbanites --
affordable spas and nightlife. Plus, it's surrounding
beaches ( all of Puerto Rico's beaches are technically
owned by the public) are beautifully maintained for all to
enjoy.
Coral Princess Inn: Owner Helen Sampedro de
Passalacqua has done it right. Each of the 25 rooms in the
B&B has a bath with jacuzzi; high speed cable Internet
access, a mini-refrigerator and a flat screen TV. The decor
is modernist but comfortable. Each room has a modernist oil
painting, crown moulding and is painted a soft, soothing
vanilla/linen white. The Inn also has a pool, a full gourmet
kitchen on the third floor, and an terraced breakfast area.
Parking is scarce --only 4 spots in front of the Inn-but the
Inn has an arrangement with a parking lot down the street
which will only set you back $10 per day.
Best of all, the price--$99 for the standard room with one
queen or king sized bed; $115 for a room with two large
full beds.
Staff Service Rating : 4 1/2 Bags. Staff is on-the-spot
responsive, very friendly, and obviously well-trained. We
stayed in 5 separate rooms over 4 weeks so we gave them
all a good looking over. All front desk and breakfast staff
speak English in addition to Spanish; impeccable manners
Location: 5 Bags
Located in the heart of Condado, steps away from the
Rodeo Drive of Puerto Rico, cafés, and of course, the beach!
An added convenience is a 24-hour Walgreen's around the
corner where you can pick up all the little items you may
have forgotten to pack. They also carry newspapers
including USA Today and The New York Times.
BEST PLACES TO EAT
di Parma Trattoria
1049 Ashford Avenue, at Ventana
Del Mar
787-721-7132
website:diparmattratoria.com
Overall Rating 5 bags
We reviewed over 21 places to eat,
compared staff service, food quality,
ambiance, and location to come up
with our top pick in Puerto Rico. The
plates at Di Parma are, in a word,
exquisite! We recommend the
salmon crostini as the best plate on
the island, bar none. The single dish
pizzas will please everyone in your
family. Of particular note is the
vegetable pizza, with eggplant,
artichoke, the freshest, meatiest
tomatoes and mozzarella. Executive
Chef Yamil Cintron flies in his
prosciutto from Italy, and it shows.
The exquisite plates are equalled by
the exquisite setting. In the heart of
hip, chic Condado, flanked on the one
side by Puerto Rico's "Rodeo Drive"
pavilion of shops including Gucci,
Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Dior, the
trattoria faces a newly created park
square anchored by modernist
granite wave sculptures for seating,
and a fountain show worthy of
Vegas. And of course, the show
stopper is an unbeatable concourse
(Ventana al Mar) overlooking direct
views of the Caribbean just feet
away. You eat bathed by the sweet
breezes of the ocean! Enjoy!
Price : 4 Bags averages about
$50-$75 for dinner for 2, including
drinks--we recommend the
Champagne Sangria; lunch averages
from $30 to $40 for 2, including
drinks
Staff: 5 Bags, International crew
from all over (Buenos Aires, Europe,
and of course Puerto Rico) are
attentive and charming
| Travel Editor: Maria DeSalvo |
