San Juan

Valentine's Day Hotel Packages

If you are interested in proposing to your belonged on Valentine's Day, Hacienda San Angel in Puerto Vallarta is ready for you. The "Perfect Proposal" package includes accommodations for two in one of the Hacienda's Royal Suites, in-suite massages, private Mexican cooking and margarita making class for two, private terrace dinner for two and personal Mariachi serenade, daily breakfast in bed and transportation to and from the airport.

On the big day, at sunset, just prior to a private dinner on a secluded terrace, the Hacienda arranges for a Mariachi troupe to serenade the bride-to-be from the cobblestone street below her suite's arched window setting the scene for a romantic proposal. The Perfect Proposal two-night stay package is priced at $2250 and is based upon availability. Price is based upon Royal Suite accommodations, guest suites in lower and higher categories are available. The Perfect Proposal Package can be booked by calling 877-815-6594 or by emailing info@haciendasanangel.com. The resort also features the Puerta del Cielo, open-air wedding and event chapel so it is also an excellent site for a destination wedding.

Check out more amazing Valentine's Day adventures around the world after the jump.

Tags: Aruba, Botswana, Cabo San Lucas, Concorde Hotels Resorts, Duane Hotel, El Convento, Hacienda San Angel, Hyatt Regency, Paris, Puerto Vallarta, san juan, San Juan Puerto Rico, Santa Fe, valentines day, valentines day hotel packages

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A Taste of New York at The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

Going out to eat in New York City can be an incredible experience, except for one thing - you're smack in the middle of a great, stinking, crowded, dirty, noisy city full of obnoxious, neurotic people. Not to mention that this time of year it's freezing cold to boot. That can detract from the enjoyment if not outright ruin it on certain occasions. However at the Ritz-Carlton in San Juan, Puerto Rico you can now get an authentic NYC dining experience in an incredible beachfront setting. The luxe hotel has created a tantalizing Taste of New York Package around its two great restaurants imported directly from the Big Apple, BLT Steak and Il Mulino New York – minus the Manhattan melodrama.

BLT Steak from famed chef Laurent Tourondel mixes modern, urbane décor with an infusion of classic French bistro techniques. In the elegant, old-world atmosphere of Il Mulino New York you can linger over the vibrant flavors inspired by the cuisine of Italy's Abruzzi region. The package, with rates starting at $569 per night, includes deluxe accommodations for two in a Pool View room; a gourmet welcome amenity; daily breakfast at Mares, the casual poolside café; and daily dinner for two at BLT Steak or Il Mulino, including a complimentary sommelier's selection bottle of wine. Of course the restaurants are open to all guests of the idyllic resort, which also features the Ritz-Carlton's signature Club Level accommodation, a must for travelers who require the best of everything with convenience to match.

Gallery: Taste of New York at The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan

Tags: beach, BLT Steak, chef, dining, Il Mulino, Laurent Tourondel, luxury hotels, New York, New York City, Puerto Rico, Ritz-Carlton, San Juan

The Classicist: A Puerto Rican Renaissance at St. Regis Bahia Beach Residences

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Sports, The Classicist, Real Estate Developments

One of the Caribbean's finest residential and vacation enclaves is taking shape on 483 pristine beachfront acres in Puerto Rico, at the foot of the only tropical rain forest in the U.S. National Forest System. At the vanguard of what promises to be a true Puerto Rican renaissance is the stunning Bahia Beach community with a St. Regis resort and residences as its centerpiece. Located within 25 minutes driving distance of San Juan, Bahia Beach boasts a magnificent two-mile crescent of sandy beach, a challenging 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., golf and beach clubhouses, and a charming seaside village. St. Regis Hotels & Resorts will operate the intimate St. Regis Resort, Bahía Beach, which will include an ultra-luxurious hotel and spa slated to open this fall. As any visitor to Bahia Beach can attest, its naturally perfect setting inspires dreams of permanent residence. Bahia Beach offers a number of ways to make the dream a reality, with a variety of homes including St. Regis Residences, Las Estancias estate homes, resort residences, golf and ocean view villas, and beachfront townhomes available in advance of the resort's official opening.

The resort will feature the signature St. Regis Butler and St. Regis Concierge service, a world-class Remède Spa and Fitness Center, a 120-seat Jean-Georges Vongerichten signature restaurant as well as a 90-seat St. Regis restaurant, retail shops and beachfront pool facilities. The tropical, unspoiled splendor of Bahia Beach, located on Puerto Rico's northeast coast at the foot of the El Yunque rain forest and bounded by two scenic rivers, can easily lead you to imagine a remote idyll, yet part of its appeal lies in the community's convenience and accessibility. U.S. residents don't need to bother with passports or worry about currency exchange, while the distance from New York for example is not all that much more than Miami. Once a coconut plantation, Bahía Beach is richly populated with 100-foot palms and other tropical trees, inhabited by myriad species of birds and the vivid green iguanas native to the coast. Over 65% of the property has been preserved as green areas, sanctuaries and nature trails; the Bahía Beach Resort & Golf Club is Puerto Rico's first resort community to become a Certified Gold Audubon International Signature Sanctuary.

Gallery: St. Regis Bahia Beach Residences

All residences sold within Bahía Beach include social membership in the community's private club, providing members with special dining and recreational privileges and services. Upgrades to full golf club memberships are also available. The signature St. Regis Residences, Las Estancias, will offer 25 majestic estate homes introducing an unrivaled dimension of luxury and hospitality to Puerto Rico. Located on a private island within the Bahía community and designed in a tropical plantation architectural style on spacious lots, these residences are available in six different models with floor plans offering large verandas, three-car garages, infinity edge swimming pools and separate maid's quarters. Homes are sized from 6,000 to 9,000 square feet and built on half acre to 1.5 acre lots with stunning ocean and golf course views. The first homes have already been delivered and one well-known major league baseball player has already taken up residence. Owners of Las Estancias will enjoy full access to St. Regis Resort amenities including the signature St. Regis Butler and St. Regis Concierge. Read on for details of the rest of the residences, and check out the gallery for stunning images.

Tags: Audubon, Bahia Beach, beach, Caribbean, El Yunque, golf, golf club, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, nature sanctuary, Puerto Rico, rain forest, residences, resort, San Juan, spa, St. Regis, St. Regis Bahia Beach

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3 Great Layovers Worth Stopping For

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

To enjoy air travel, which I still firmly believe is possible, there are a few necessities.

First, it always helps to be elite: traveling in first or business class makes everything better. Second, having some vaunted frequent flier status, lounge access. Third, even with those perks, you need something of a Buddha-like attitude. What will be, will be. Hold your plans lightly. Resolve to be happy wherever you happen to end up.

This last piece of advice is easier when you know about terrific hotels that are close enough to the airport to make them feasible on either an intentional or unintentional layover. These are places that are nice enough that you'll sort of hope to get to stuck there -- places that you might actually plan to come back to for a stay all on their own. Here are my three places that I've spent at least a night at recently while in transit, which I'm adding to my list of my favorite layovers.

InterContinental San Juan: You can see the hotel when you're landing at the airport, that's how close it is -- it's less than a ten minute drive from terminal to hotel check-in. The hotel is in the Isla Verde area, and has access to one of the nicest stretches of beach in San Juan, as well as a lively, private pool area available only to hotel guests. Club level rooms have balconies with a view of the pool.
Cedarbrook Lodge Seattle: It's really hard to believe this is exactly two minutes from the airport, but you're barely on the free shuttle enjoying your complimentary water before you've arrived at this wooded, quiet property. This hotel used to be a private hotel for Washington Mutual, but those days are long over, and it's now open to the public. It's designed for business travelers in mind, with 24 hour complimentary snacks, complimentary continental breakfast, and a load of other perks.
InterContinental Tahiti: Okay, if your work brings you to Tahiti and you get stuck in Papeete, no one is going to have a ton of sympathy for you. A more likely scenario is that you're flying through Tahiti on your way to other islands in French Polynesia, when weather unexpectedly grounds you. Worry not, within five minutes you will be at the InterContinental Tahiti which you really could stay at for an entire vacation. I hope that you're stuck there on one of their Polynesian dancing nights -- their dancers are known for being some of the best in the Society Islands. Bonus points for its brand new fitness center with water views.

Gallery: 3 Great Layovers

Tags: air travel, AirTravel, hotels, layovers, san juan, seattle, tahiti, travel

Ritz-Carlton Introduces Club Level Experience Package

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Ritz-Carlton is now offering a luxe new Club Level Experience package at its signature properties in the Caribbean such as the alluring Ritz-Carlton San Juan (above). At the slice of paradise in Puerto Rico with its incredible ocean front pool complex the package offers guests an enhanced version of the usual top drawer Ritz-Carlton amenities with even more individualized attention - plus a complimentary night. For the rest of the winter and spring, guests booking the Club Level experience for three nights at the San Juan and other participating properties will receive the fourth night for free. Since the Club Level is only accessible with a special key card, guests will be able to experience the "hotel within a hotel" ambiance usually reserved for members, paired with complimentary light breakfast, snacks, hors d'oeuvres, drinks and deserts presented throughout the day. Club access also comes equipped with a personal concierge to assist with everything from hard-to-get restaurant reservations to arranging airline flights.

In San Juan the Club Level is situated on the 9th floor with a balcony overlooking the beautiful pool area and the beach (above). Meanwhile the Ritz-Carlton is also offering some additional special packages at its properties in the Caribbean and Mexico. The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman has introduced a Cayman Stingray Splash experience where guests can meet the famous aquatic residents of Stingray City. The package includes accommodations at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman; a trip for two to Cayman's most beloved attraction and a complimentary fifth night. Rates for the Cayman Stingray Splash start at $609 per night in the high season. The The Ritz-Carton, St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands is also offering a Romance: No Planning Required package for quick getaways, valid through May 15. Starting at $594 per night with a minimum five night stay it includes Club Level access along with perks like a breakfast buffet, bottle of champagne and a sunset sailboat ride.

Tags: caribbean, Grand Cayman, GrandCayman, puerto rico, PuertoRico, ritz-carlton, Ritz-Carlton San Juan, Ritz-carltonSanJuan, San Juan, SanJuan

A Ritz-y Wedding

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Events

Where you could get married this summer ....

Want the kind of wedding that your friends and family will always remember? A destination wedding can feel like a risky option in this economy, but you'll be surprised -- a vacation may be just what everyone needs. The Ritz-Carlton is making destination weddings even more enticing this summer by offering the Reconnect Package at many of their hotels, including their sunny Caribbean & Mexico locations!

The package is more than just a high-priced luxury wedding tied up in a bow. Actually, a lot of the services are free! The Reconnect package includes:

Ceremony Location (such as the above)
Wedding Specialist
Wedding Concierge
Minister
Signature Bouquet
Signature Boutonniere
Signature Location Décor

Also, expect a $100 daily resort credit and a free three-night stay on your first anniversary! Sound to good to be true? It's not, you just need 25 friends and family members to book rooms.

What's more, your wedding guests will enjoy a $100 daily resort credit for use at restaurants, the spa, and for recreation activities such as the Culinary Center at The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun, where guests can explore cooking, wine, and Mexican tequilas, the award-winning White Witch Golf Course at The Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort, Rose Hall, Jamaica, Silver Rain, a La Prairie Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, BLT Steak at The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan Hotel, Spa & Casino, and sailing on the Lady Lynsey at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas.

Want to see what it will look like? Here are some exclusive Luxist photographs of the wedding setup at the Ritz-Carlton, San Juan Hotel, Spa and Casino -- at sunset, no less.

Gallery: Luxury Weddings at The Ritz-Carlton

Yes, that runner is made of green flowers.

Tags: destination weddings, DestinationWeddings, puerto rico, ritz-carlton, san juan, weddings

The Ritz-Carlton San Juan

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

If you happen to be heading to San Juan, Puerto Rico, the hotel options are dizzying. There's an endless stream of accommodations in every price range, but if you're looking for effortless, relaxing luxury, complete with a pristine beach and a prime location, I highly recommend the Ritz-Carlton San Juan Hotel, Spa, & Casino (above).

The Ritz-Carlton is located right on Isla Verde beach (pale, fine sand and completely cleaned out for swimming), two miles from the airport and six miles from Old San Juan. I actually had the pleasure of staying at this resort in its inaugural year (my parents say it was under construction but all I remember is the hot tub and the big door to the beach, which look the same -- the tub and the door, that is; the beach was rocky back then), as well as earlier this month.

There's an extra luxurious way to stay which may actually end up saving you money: Stay on the Club Level. Not only do you get access to the exclusive 9th floor -- accessible only by key -- and a gorgeous, two-bathroom suite, but there's a Club Lounge up there where you can have expedited check-in and check-out service, a super-attentive concierge and, best of all, free food and drinks all day long. Now, I don't recommend trying to make a luxury meal of the (lovely) buffet, but when you want a light lunch or a quick snack? The Club Lounge offers elegant, tasteful dishes -- including local desserts -- as well as wine, champagne, and pretty much anything you want if you just ask (this includes the endless morning coffee working people like me require). Considering what snacking (and drinking) can cost you at a many-star hotel, paying extra for the Club Level may actually work to your advantage -- and at the very least it eliminates the calculator from the frugal mind which is constantly adding up the daily costs of your vacation.

The hotel offers a full-service, well-regarded Spa and Casino, as well as some top notch restaurants, including a BLT Steak and Il Mulino. There is also a Tiffany & Co. and a Little Switzerland, for the shopping-inclined, and like I said, Old San Jua n, with all its fabulous food and drink options, is just a six mile cab ride away. The real amenity of this hotel, though? Ritz-Carlton service. When you head down to the beach and drag the chairs all over the place, an RC employee will probably approach you -- and ask if he can drill a hole in the sand for you and plant an umbrella. Seriously.

For more beautiful photos of a beautiful property, click below.

Gallery: The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan Hotel, Spa, and Casino

Plug your iPod or iPhone right into your alarm clock

Tags: hotels, puerto rico, PuertoRico, ritz-carlton, san juan

Condado Plaza Unveils $65 Million Makeover

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

All phases of the three-year, $65 million renovation have finally been completed at the Condado Plaza Hotel & Casino in San Juan. Owner LXR Luxury Resorts brought in New York-based architect David Rockwell, whose firm is best known for its work on Nobu, the W New York and the upcoming JetBlue Terminal at JFK airport, to do a 20,000-sq.-ft. multipurpose lobby redesign. Manhattan meets Latin in the vibrant revamp, which includes two bars and a banquet hall.

Rockwell also designed a branch of New York meat-eaters mecca Strip House for the project, with a mixture of silk, velvet and leather plus vintage burlesque photos on the walls. Designer Leo A. Daly redid all 570 guest rooms in an equally colorful and stylish fashion. The resort features three freshwater and saltwater swimming pools, a stretch of private beach and a 24-hour casino.

Gallery: Condado Plaza Hotel & Casino