Travel in style to Puerto Rico and soak up its culture and heritage
IT says it all when you are heading to a Caribbean paradise but you’re having so much fun you don’t want the flight to end.
Within minutes of getting on our Norwegian trip to Puerto Rico we already felt like we were on holiday.
After making our way through a damp and gloomy Gatwick in early March, we quite literally had our heads in the clouds as we buckled up in the brand new, massive 787 Dreamliner to cross the Atlantic.
I’m not the greatest flier, but I genuinely couldn’t have been more relaxed in the airlines Premium Economy cabin for the next seven hours or so.
My partner Kirsty and I weren’t long up in the air before we were sipping on red wine and Prosecco as we both lapped up the luxury in the extra leg room seats and brilliant flip out TV with as many shows to watch as your satellite package.
The plane was so snazzy I felt like I was in a spaceship with the dimmable windows, not to mention the state of the art LED lighting.
Once our epic flight adventure was over, we pitched up in the popular resort of Condado in the heart of the Puerto Rico’s capital San Juan, which is just 20 minutes’ drive from the airport.
We stayed at the DoubleTree Hilton, five minutes from the heart of the area. It has all the amenities you could possibly want, including a bar and fantastic restaurant.
Our room also came with every mod con, super fast WiFi and a brilliant flat screen TV.
The grounds of the hotel are also immaculately kept with a stunning landscaped outdoor sunbathing area. We spent several days basking in the glorious sunshine at the pool while the fantastic staff showered us with table service. You can’t beat that. It also has a 24-hour whirlpool which went down a treat with pretty much every one of the guests.
They also gave a quick free buggy ride to their own private section of the beach.
And if that wasn’t enough, we also visited the stunning Courtyard Marriott, a ten-minute drive to the Isla Verde area.
There we were able relax in the fantastic swim up bars where there seemed to be an endless supply of cocktails on offer while you bobbed about in the perfect pool. There’s a million things to do on the island and you are guaranteed to have as much or as little excitement as you want.
You will struggle to find anywhere in the world with so much unspoilt natural beauty as Puerto Rico. It’s got crystal blue skies and water, with palm trees scattered across the miles of golden sandy beaches — it’s as if you’ve stepped onto the middle of a Bounty advert.
We enjoyed glorious sunshine and temperatures of nearly 30°C (86°F) almost every day.
If you’re the adventurous type, why not try your hand at surfing, scuba diving or snorkelling? But if all that sounds too much like hard work, then you can just lie back and soak up the sunshine and treat yourself to the drink of your choice, like we did.
The island boasts creating the very first Pina Colada rum cocktail in the 1960s, and trust me you’ll NEVER taste one as good as the several we tried.
Nothing I’ve experienced when travelling has come close to the sights and the people of Puerto Rico. Although it is a US territory, they have an undeniable pride in their own heritage and culture.
If you consider yourself to be a bit of a foodie, then this is the holiday for you.
The main dish of Puerto Rico is Mofongo. It’s a no-frills, hearty plate of meat, sauce and the staple ingredient of mashed plantain — a banana-like fruit which is endlessly available on menus on the island.
The welcome and service we received there was outstanding, whether it be in popular chain restaurants or low-key family run eateries.
The population of the island seemed to soar at the weekend as thousands of people from the States descend for a few days of RR, while others stop off cruise ships for a day or two.
But it is at night the island really comes alive. It’s fantastic to watch people let their hair down as the party starts.
It caters for everyone with live bars belting out fantastic Latin jazz or more mainstream rock or dance bars.
The Oceano bar and restaurant is probably the snazziest place in Condado. We enjoyed top quality food in beautiful interior surroundings as well as a balcony that overlooks the beach and the Caribbean.
But one of the most amazing places to visit is Old San Juan. The narrow, cobbled streets and pastel coloured buildings really have to be seen to be believed.
We hopped on a free tourist trolley which let us see the very best the historic area had to offer.
From striking museum and government buildings, to tiny traditional restaurants and cosy bars, the architecture there is stunning.
The El Yunque rainforest, an hour from the capital, is one of the most popular attractions in the country.
As the name suggests, it sees its fair share of the wet stuff with a whopping 240 inches per year. But don’t let that put you off as the weather bursts tend to be over shortly and you can enjoy a stroll through the walkways and dive in the waterfalls.
The forest is also home to one of the rarest gems in the area — the Puerto Rican parrot or iguaca, which is sadly endangered.
When our fabulous ten-day Caribbean stay was over, we headed to the airport with a smile on our faces — because our holiday hadn’t ended just yet. We had that fabby flight to look forward to!
What costs what?
The island’s world-famous Pina Colada will set you back about $10
DO: Make sure you visit Old San Juan
Don’t: Forget the suncream – can be hotter than forecast
GO: PUERTO RICO
GETTING THERE: Norwegian no longer fly to Puerto Rico direct, but it’s just a quick shuttle flight from Fort Lauderdale in Florida.
Fly to Fort Lauderdale from Gatwick with Norwegian on their 787 Dreamliner from £159pp one-way econonmy and £499pp in Premium.
See norwegian.com/uk or call 0330 8280854 (select option 1).
STAYING THERE: Rooms at the DoubleTree by Hilton San Juan start from £98 a night if booked direct at hilton.com.
Rooms at the Courtyard by Marriott Isla Verde are from approx £131.
See sjcourtyard.com/default-en.html
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