I wanted to get away, really get away. Because my passport was lost in the halls of the National Passport Center, going somewhere far, far away was not an option. Then, I started thinking, and remembered that Puerto Rico did not require passports. Because of their status with the good US of A, all American citizens can visit without a passport. I wanted to have an exotic, action-fill vacation without the passport hassle, so Puerto Rico was the place for me to go.
San Juan is a big city, and I really wanted to stay at a resort that was on the beach and very close to Old San Juan. One of the reasons I waned to come to Puerto Rico was to lay starfish position on a sandy beach with a Pina Colada in one hand. San Juan Marriott Resort was the place for me. The hotel is nestled on Condado Beach, which is an upper-end residential neighborhood in sun soaked San Juan. Unlike many popular hotels, where you get endless people tracking up and down the beach, here it is relatively quiet and tranquil. The hotel has just gone through a $38 million renovation, so the rooms are beautifully equipped with Kohler bath fixtures and wireless Internet. Part of the renovation was the Stellaris Casino that is attached to the hotel. I have been quite intimidated by casinos, but not in this cozy, clean smoke-free space. Some of the packages they offer include private Black Jack lessons for your group. It is a great activity for a bachelor weekend or girlfriends’ getaway. The Marriott is a 4-diamond luxury resort that is both kid-friendly and private. I admit, I am not a big fan of kids while on vacation, but because of the cleaver layout of the pool area, you won’t get overwhelmed by other people. The hotel is also a destination for the locals, Sunday afternoons the bar comes alive with Caribbean beats and you’ll find the lobby filled with Puerto Ricans swaying to salsa and meringue.
The best part about the hotel is the location. It is only 10 minutes by cab from Old San Juan and a few blocks away from some of my favorite shops including Gucci, Dior, Louis Vuitton — to name a few. I’ll be in San Juan for the next week. I plan of checking out the nightlife and trying out a few action sports. Stay tuned!
San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris® Casino
1309 Ashford Avenue
San Juan, 00907 Puerto Rico
Phone: 1 787 7227000
Toll-free: 888 817 2033
