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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Vactation Destination::San Juan, Puerto Rico

I haven't posted any blogs the past few days because I have been on vacation with my boyfriend in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We had an AMAZING trip and I am already planning my next San Juan adventure. San Juan is truly an overlooked Caribbean gem.
Some practical reasons for going: no need for a passport (if you're US citizen), very decent pricing, use of American dollar, and most people there speak both Spanish and English.

The beaches are stunning, the night-life is thrilling, and there is a TON of history.
We stayed at La Concha Marriot Resort in the Condado area of San Juan. I highly recommend this hotel. We booked through Priceline and paid a few extra dollars to upgrade to an ocean-view suite. It was def worth it! The suite had a kitchenette so we were able to cook breakfast every day to save some money. The view from our balcony was breathtakinggggg. The staff was warm & welcoming. We had a great time at the casino and at the bar in the lobby of the hotel.



My only disappointment was that we didn't get to go to the rainforest because it was still closed down because of Hurricane Irene, but that just means we have to go back :)!!!

Food::
-Latin Star ::Condado:: We tried some local food at a restaurant called Latin Star. DON'T GO. I had the roasted pork and it was some of the driest meat I've ever eaten. The service was horrible, the prices too high, and the staff was unfriendly.
-The Latin Roots :: Old San Juan:: Now this was some good eating! My boyfriend was dead set on having Lechon (whole roasted pig) and this was the perfect place to do it. The atmosphere is upbeat with fun music and great service.

-Blessed Cafe:: Old San Juan:: OMG, this place was my favorite of all. This was my first time having Jamaican food and I was absolutely impressed. I had the Garlic Shrimp and my boyfriend had the Jerk Chicken. Both dishes were perfect! We waited about an hour for our food but it was totally worth it!!
-Tayzan Bar & Grill:: Condado:: This Chinese restaurant was just down the street from our hotel. My boyfriend and I both agreed that this was the best Chinese food we've ever eaten. We actually ended up going back for a second time and ordered the exact same meal. Pork eggrolls for our appetizer, Sesame Chicken for me, and General Tso Chicken for him.
-Voga:: Condado:: This Italian-American restaurant was located in our hotel. The prices were high, the view was extraordinary, and the food was decent. We had frito misto calamari for an appetizer, it was cooked perfectly. I ordered salmon wrapped in proscuito, it was just okay. My boyfriend had a rib-eye with a lobster-cake. I definitely had order-envy when he got his food! Both the steak and the lobster cake were FABULOUS. For desert we had cheesecake lollipops which were creative but not exactly delish.




Tips:
-Bring high SPF sunscreen or you will get burned!!
-When paying for meals, pay attention to your bill.... many places include gratuity automatically
-Make sure to visit the forts in Old San Juan (el Morro & Castillo de San Cristobal), some of the most breathtaking views I've ever seen.
-If you choose to rent a car, be careful driving.... they are road maniacs!
-I would personally recommend staying in the Candado area

-The local beer, Medalla is amaze.... a must-have.
-Buy your liquor at a grocery store or CVS... the liquor stores in the Candado area are way over-priced.
-If you stay at La Concha, ask for a room with a jacuzzi bathtub when you check in. They aren't in every room.
-If planning to go to the rain-forest or other out-skirt areas, it will likely be cheaper to rent a car for the
day.

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