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Puerto Rico Reviews

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- India
La Isla del Encanto
Aug 05, 2017 11:25 AM685 Views (via iOS App)

Purto rico was an amzing place for all ages from the young kid to the grandparent ! the food is amazing no matter where you go and everyone is super friendly. the beaches are amazing crystal clear warm waters that you just ever want to get out . The fun never stop from the moment you wake up until the late night, and while you are there make sure to try the coffee .


aquamegs751995MouthShut Verified Member
Bengaluru / Bangalore India
Caribbean Paradise
Sep 14, 2015 08:34 PM2214 Views

If you are looking for an offbeat vacation which is exotic& thrilling than Puerto Rico is the place for you. It is a 3hrs flight from New York. Am going to be talking about San Juan & Fajardo in this review.


Puerto Rico is a set of islands in the Caribbean with San Juan being the capital. Its a tropical place so the days are hot & humid but sometimes it gets a little breezy in the evenings bringing much relief. To avoid any health complications, one needs to have high intake of liquids all through the day. Glares, sunscreen lotion, hat, umbrella, bikini, water bottle, camera are must haves in your backpack.


Your eyes will gleam when you see the beautiful sight out of the window when the plane is approaching the San Juan airport. The main attraction in San Juan is the National Historic site & the old town. Spanish is the primary & official language here so as expected you will have a bit of hard time communicating easily in English.


San Juan National Historic site is surrounded by blue Atlantic ocean with the fort back drop in the vast green grass. You need to walk a little to reach the entrance of the fort but it can be overwhelming in the hot sharp sun. They charge 5$ for adults to go inside. Make time to walk around outside the fort too because its mesmerizing. The nearby cemetery is so very beautiful. Pictures captured here make way as wallpapers. There are some important people laid to rest here in the past. Go inside the graveyard & take a look at some artistic graves.


Old San Juan city is yet again beautiful with its rich history. Colorful Spanish architecture buildings & the cobblestone streets make such wonderful sights for pictures. This place is best explored on foot. San Juan is the home of Bacardi so your trip is incomplete if you dont sip some Bacardi rum. You can also visit the huge Bacardi Distillery where you will be given welcome cocktails, taken on a free tour where they explain how rum originated & things like that.


Fajardo is a small city which is an hour's drive from San Juan . This is the hub for recreational boating & also the starting point for British & American Virgin islands & few others. Palominos is one of the islets near Fajardo which is owned by El Conquistador Resort. This resort has beautiful swimming pools, huge golf course, spa, shopping area, water park, funicular. Its located where the lands end so you witness some amazing Atlantic ocean view. It might raise your brows that this place forms 1 part of the Bermuda Triangle:-)


------------ United States of America
Welcome to Puerto Rico
Mar 05, 2008 08:39 AM4416 Views

It was an icy-cold morning in my neck of the woods and the roads were still covered with snow. The frigid wind blew on my face as I got into my car, turned the ignition key on and rushed for the'heat' button. As I was waiting for my car to warm up, I closed my eyes and reminisced of some place warm. My thoughts took me to a stunning tropical island called 'Puerto Rico', a US territory located in North East Carribean. I could visualize the towering mountains, pristine beaches, beautiful rainforests and the historical landmarks. I could even smell the sweet fragrance of the wild flowers out there.


It was a three and a half hour long flight from JFK, NY to San Juan Puerto Rico. As soon as I got out of the airport, I felt that the clear blue skies, the swaying palm trees and the gentle breeze whispered something into my ears. To me, it sounded like 'Bienvenidos - Welcome!'. My exhaustion bade good bye to me almost immediately and I knew right then and there, that I would love to'get to know' and'see' more of Puerto Rico than originally planned. My policy of'never leaving home without a camera' was actually going to be more than worth it. I was visiting for official work, but decided to extend my trip by an extra couple of days to accomodate 'business' with'pleasure'. There are a very few things that I have done on an impulse, and this had to be one of them. Hearing that I had extended my trip, one of the ladies I had met there, during our meetings, said that she would like to come along as well. Puerto Rico is a fairly small island, surrounded by a group of few other tiny islands in the vicinity. It can be explored fairly easily(depending upon where one chooses to go) by car. Hence the first thing we did was rent a car.


I found San Juan to be a blend of old and new. It is home to old style Caribbean market places, art galleries, museums and beautiful gardens as well as upscale shopping malls, restaurants, boutiques and the like. The financial district, Hateo Rey gave us a taste of the beautiful modern architechture. One could spend an entire afternoon at the bay in the Condado Lagoon area, but as time was of the essence, we decided to move on to our next destination - **Old San Juan.


Being in Old San Juan and surrounded by historical buildings, I was automatically transported to a different era, with each building trying to tell me its story. There were eco-tours available, but we decided to walk around at a leisurely pace on our own. As we walked through the streets, I felt that time had stood still. The entire place had an aura of old European architechture and cobbled streets all around. The houses were built close to each other, resulting in narrow streets and alleys. Walking through Cristo Street was a tempting venture what with all the outlet stores of Ralph Lauren, D&G, Coach etc trying to lure us in. But I didn't give in to temptation this time. We slipped through the only remaining gate of the old city wall - The San Juan Gate and gazed upon the sparkling waters of the San Juan Bay. It was a surreal feeling at that moment. Apparently, years ago, there were many such gates all of which would be closed at dusk to protect the city from enemy attack.


We then visited the San Felipe del Morro Fortress, and about a half a mile from it was the San Cristobal Fortress. Both of which are marvelous works of architechture. It is said that the galleries of the San Cristobal fortress at one point could hold upto 700, 000 gallons of water. An engineering marvel in itself. We then walked by Casa Blanca(how I remembered Boghart and Bergman) an old historic mansion, which is now a museum. There were beautiful chapels and cathedrals as we walked by. Just across the bay from Old San Juan, we visited the famous 'Casa Bacardi'- home of the world famous Bacardi Rum Factory. It reminded me of past wine tours, that I've been on. A walk through the distillaries and the free samples of Rum were available for tasting.


We then headed East. Eastern Puerto Rico is a blend of tropical rain forests, beautiful beaches, world class resorts with excellent spa facilities and some of the best restaurants. The locals absolutely love sea-food and fishing boats are a common sight. We reached the town of Rio Grande, which is the gateway to El Yunque National Forest. There were numerous picnic shelters, observatory towers and hiking trails. We were a bit tired and stopped for lunch. As I was munching, my heart skipped a beat as a huge Iguana popped out of no where, barely about 20 feet from where we were having lunch. I ate as fast as I could, so we could go some place else. But the photographer in me tried to venture close to it(within safe distance) to get some shots. Having photographed the Iguana, we drove down the coast along Route 3, and reached a town called'Naguabo'. We then went to Hucares Beach, where a beautiful boardwalk stretched into the ocean. A few mintues drive, further down, and we were in Humacao, a Mediterranean styled town, home to Palmas Del Mar, a beautiful resort area. As far as I could see, there were miles and miles of beautiful beaches stretching out. The houses by the ocean were gorgeous. I was told that the prices of some of the houses ranged over a couple of million dollars. The following day, we drove further south to the town of Yabucoa. We then drove through Maunabo Loop, a breathtaking panoramic coastal route. Next we went to Salinas Beach, and then 'The City ofPonce', well known for its coffee. I tasted their coffee and loved the aroma and the flavor as well. Since, I had to fly back the next day, we could not visit much of Western Puerto Rico. We drove through the town of Caguas, which had a rustic flavor and was surrounded by hills. If we had the time, we could have explored the central mountains as well, but then we thought to ourselves, that it would give us all the more reason to visit Puerto Rico again. I was biding good bye to my new friend, with whom I had bonded over the past few days when suddenly, I heard loud honks of cars, a man banging at my car window, screaming at me for taking so long to vacate the parking spot.


For a minute there, I was startled, I looked out the window and saw the snow covered ground. I wondered where the Rainforests, the beaches, the hills, the Casa Blanca mansion and most importantly, my friend had disappeared? Had I fallen asleep? Was I dreaming, was I on 'Mullholland Drive' or was I in Anurag Kashyap's world of No Smoking? And then I saw the airline tag still attached to my laptop case. Irealized, I had just taken a long trip down memory lane andthought to myself, rain or snow, hot or cold, my friend and I, we'll always have Puerto Rico, as I stepped on the gas paddle and drove away.



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El Conquistadors!!
Feb 17, 2007 01:15 AM2512 Views

For the uninformed, that means'The Conquerors' in Spanish. And that is exactly what we felt like when we stepped off the plane at San Juan airport in Puerto Rico. One look at the swaying palms, the clear blue skies and the huge mountains in the distance and we were ready to go forth and conquer this beautiful land!


Puerto Rico is a stunningly beautiful tropical island, which also has the pleasure of being a self-governing territory of the US. Which in simple words means that the US gives it money, builds roads, sets up industries and in return, Puerto Rico lets in US tourists without a visa. A very fair exchange in my opinion:).


For such a small place(160 kms by 60 kms) Puerto Rico  packs in a lot of excitement and adventure. Let us start with the beaches. Prior to this, the only beach town that I had been to was Goa. Honestly, Puerto Rico made me forget that Goa even existed. The beach closest to our hotel, the San Juan Playa(Playa= beach), was probably the most crowded and urbanized beach that we visited. But even so, the waters were a clear turquoise, the sands were white and there were no hawkers, masseurs, tattoo artists, et al shoving their services in your face. It was so refreshing to be able to stroll on the beach or even take a dip in the cool waters without being ogled at. It only got better with Loquillo Playa which is about a 20 minute ride from San Juan. This public beach has facilities like changing rooms, restrooms, showers and lifeguards. It has the calmest waters that I have ever seen and is perfect for families and kids. When in Puerto Rico, you can choose to avoid public beaches(if you are the kind that dreams of owning a private island some day). On your travels to and fro on the island, you are bound to come across a stretch of deserted sand that you can claim as your own. Be sure to carry along a lot of sunscreen, a blanket to sit down on, towels and of course your swim wear. As you go south, the waters get clearer and greener, a sure sign that the Carribean is approaching.


As much as I love beaches, it is almost unbearable to be out in the sweltering heat at noon. The temperatures usually top 30 Celsius and unless you are a true sun-worshipper, it is better to escape to one of the rainforests in the region. The El Yunque rainforest located towards the northwest of the country is very well-preserved, and feels like a calm oasis. Surprisingly, it is navigable by car(maybe the trees are really good at absorbing the emissions), so you don't have to rough it out. Again, don't forget to pack the same essentials as you would when you hit the beach. El Yunque has wonderful waterfalls, some of which are a short trek away. The locals love jumping into the water without a thought, but you can see the tourists looking on with disbelief. Yes, the rocks are slippery and the force of the water could wash away an elephant but it takes a brave heart to truly enjoy nature.:) . Puerto Rico also has a central rainforest, passing through many small towns and villages. If you love road trips, be sure to drive through this stretch.


For the truly adventurous there are many activities like diving, snorkeling, para sailing, zip lining(that is where you zip along a wire tied between 2 trees, usually with a river running below). There is also a chance to see a bioluminescent bay, where millions of marine micro-organisms light up when disturbed by movement. For the ones who wonder why tropical islands and alcohol have such a strong correlation, there is a trip to the Bacardi rum museum. And yes, you do get a free drink at the end!


If you are a history buff, do visit old San Juan, where 2 of the most beautiful and magnificent forts - The San Cristobal and El Morro stand guard over the city. The views from both are breath-taking and you can visualize the Spanish soldiers keeping a watch on approaching enemies. These days, all you can see approaching are huge cruise liners, that have San Juan as their port of call. The cobbled streets of Old San Juan are very quaint and pretty. Dotted with cafes, restaurants and stores, you can spend a whole day just walking up and down and marveling at the beautiful balconies that overlook the streets.


All this walking, swimming and trekking is bound to leave you starving. If you love seafood, this is the right place. There are tons of stalls(or tapris as we fondly call them) that serve a wide array of snacks and meals. Snacks are usually deep-fried, oily and incredibly delicious. Plantain chips(kela wafers) are the staple accompaniment to every meal. Of course, as we all know, calories don't count when you are on vacation, so eat away! Rice and beans are available for vegetarians and for others, chicken on skewers, fried chicken(not the KFC kind, thankfully) is delicious. Fish, shrimp, octopus, conch(yes, its edible and very tasty), crabs and lobsters are available almost everywhere and at very reasonable prices.


The locals are incredibly friendly. In fact, they are so friendly that they think that you are one of their own and rapidly fire off in Spanish! It takes a while before you can interrupt and say'No Espanol'! They are kind enough to switch to English then, although it is as difficult for them as Spanish is for us. Puerto Ricans seem to be very family-oriented people. Beaches are full of parents and kids looking happy and relaxed. People here smile a lot, who wouldn't if you lived in a place like this!


No matter how much time you spend in Puerto Rico, you will come away feeling that it was not enough. In fact you might even have thoughts of quitting your job, learning Spanish and moving there forever. I guess the'conquerors' ended up being conquered:).


Wappingers Falls USA
Puerto Rico ... awesome trip
May 30, 2006 11:37 PM2334 Views

I went to PR in March and had a blast. We went as a group of 13 with some co-workers and then some friends as well. We had two local friends there which made an incredible difference in cost.


First suggestion is to use hotwire.com for hotel. We saved close to 150$ per night at the Hotel Caribe by doing that. Ended up with a 1 bedroom suite which was very spacious.


Old San Juan is lots of fun with different restaurants. There's one indian restaurant there with a very different flare to the food, tastes nothing really like indian food but its still good. martini's are pretty good there.


We then went to the rain forest which can be book with the hotel or by just driving to it. Obviously driving is the cheapest and the means we did.


Then we went to Fajardo, which is where we went to Culebra on a catermaran (large boat) and did some snorkeling and sun bathing while visiting 2004's Travel Channel #2 beach in the world. Clear pristine waters with white sand. great times.


At night there are plenty of places to party. Tourists like Senor Frogs where locals visit ohter places.


Night life is fairly casual/formal with lots of salsa so take some lessons before you go!! or if your lucky ask a senorita for a lesson at the club


I Fell In Love With San Juan
May 28, 2003 08:18 AM5528 Views

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico is an island located 1000 miles southeast of Miami, Florida. It is an Island in the Caribbean Sea. The population is about 4 million People. They use the United States Dollar as their Currency.


The People speak both English and Spanish. The Capital City is San Juan.


HISTORY:


Puerto Rico was discovered by Columbus in 1493. It was a Spanish Colony for about 400 Years. The United States made it a Territory 100 Years ago.


YOU GET A SPECIAL PRICE IF YOU WANT TO STAY HERE WHEN YOU BOOK A CRUISE:


When you are on a Cruise they let you stay at the City your Cruise will depart from, (for an addition fee). You also have to fly they way they want you too so we went from Edmonton to Los Angels on Air Canada and connected to an American Airlines Flight to San Juan. It seemed strange to fly west to go to an Island that was east of us!


We arrived at the International and took a Taxi to the Hotel. It only took us 15 minutes to get there San Juan has a variety of Hotels. We decided to stay at the Caribe Hilton. It is between the Condado and the Old City. The Hotel is on a Peninsula and has a private beach.


WHAT WE SAW:


OLD SAN JUAN is the older part of the City. It was built by Spain in 1521.


Every Street leads to the Plaza and the Catholic Cathedral. The Streets are small and made of cobblestone


The Homes are made of grey cement and have a wall around them. I peaked inside of a few and saw their patio and gardens. They all had a black metal balcony with flowers handing from them.


We went to see the Paseo de la Princesa. The local Artisans display and sell their work.


The City Wall is 42 feet high. It surrounded the City began the 1630s.


La Puerta de San Juan was built in 1520. The wooden door that the Crew of the Sailing Ships had to pass through.


La Fortaleza was built as a Fort. It is small Castle that is used as the Governor’s Mansion for Centuries.


La Cathedral de San Juan is a beautiful Cathedral, (built in 1540), and was designed in a Gothic Architecture style.


El Morro is a high Castle that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and San Juan Bay.


San Cristobal Fort was completed in 1771. This Castle was designed to protect the City from invaders.


Teatro Tapia is one of the oldest Theatres in the Western Hemisphere.


The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture show the Painting and Sculptors of Puerto Rican Artists.


OUR DAY TOUR:


OUR ONE DAY TOUR:


We went to see the Río Camuy Cave Park. It took us almost an hour to get there but it was nice to see the country side of Pueto Rico. There were a lot of Sugar Cane and Pineapple Farms and a few Ranches. Our Guide told us there were over 200 Caves and a few were so large a Skyscraper would fit into them. We saw a few sinkholes and there were a lot of limestone formations in the Caves. We took a Tram to see the Cueva Clara Cave. There were wonderful stalagmite and stalagmites, (limestone dripping and rising from the top and bottom of the Cave).


Our next stop was at the Barcadi Rum Factory. You take a tram to see the Factory where we got to see how they made the Rum. They make dark, golden and light Rum. They had a Bar where we could taste the Rums, (for free) and buy lunch. There is a Store than we could buy Rum, (cheaper than in the Stores) and T-Shirts.


Our last stop was at the Tibes Indian Ceremonial Centre. It was built to look like a Arawak, (the first people to live here), Village. We walked though the Village, the Garden, the Museum and the Archaeological Site to see them still discovering more parts of the Village.


MY CONCLUSION:


The Hotel cost us $90.00 USD per day.


I loved San Juan and would go back there if I could.


©LL2003


BERKELEY USA
FUN GALORE!!!!!!!!!!
Feb 25, 2003 10:37 AM6897 Views

Last December, I went to PR with my boyfriend for the first time. It was wonderful! I was surprised to see that there was already a review about PR on this site, so I read it to see if we had any common thoughts about our trips. Before I tell you of our trip, let me clarify a few things expressed by our Brit reviewer - since 15 years have long passed... PR is indeed the main producer of rum in the world, however we learned that Bacardi is not one of the highest quality. Don Q and Barrilito are considered the top. Bacardi does produce higher quality rums that cannot be found in the mainland. It is worthwhile taking the Bacardi plant tour and purchasing the rums that are not found here. The buildings are NOT 200 years old, they are 500 years old - even when our friend was there 15 years ago :-) Big difference when you want to appreciate historical value. Old San Juan is a Spanish-colonial city, and is very similar to our French-colonial city of New Orleans. Drinks, and everything else for that matter, are NOT cheap! We found that pretty much everything has the same prices you would find at any mall in the mainland - over priced, that is. If you are planning to find bargains in electronics, Coach purses, and jewelry, be ready for a surprise. This island is as commercialized, and its people are as consumerists, as in the U.S. The stores stack up on everything American as they possibly can because it is an American territory. Puerto Ricans don't know what it is not to be American or what it is not to purchase ''American''. The majority of the people are fully bilingual in Spanish and English switching back and forth as they please. There are absolutely no shops open past 9pm. However, the nightlife is great with bars and dance clubs open until wee hours of the morning. Traffic is pure hell! You can be in the middle of a traffic jam at 2am! I would imagine that there are many ''bargain girls'' for ''us men'' who are looking for ''those girls'', but prostitution is hardly seen in San Juan, if at all. I am not saying that it doesn't exist, as prostitution exists everywhere in the world, but I don't think it is any different than in any major city in the U.S. We were told that many prostitution houses were easy to find in the pier area as far back as 12 years ago. They are all gone. Looking at some before-and-after pictures, there seems to be a vast difference between San Juan 12 years ago and San Juan nowadays. San Juan is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited! Beaches are NOT nudist NOR topless!!! Let me repeat, they are NOT nudist nor topless!!! It is absolutely illegal to be topless (except for men, of course). Nudism goes without saying. I think our sailor friend was hallucinating that day... Don't make plans for a swell nude time at the beach, that's all I have to say. But your thong bikini is more than welcome, it is actually appreciated! Beaches are amazingly beautiful, and Puerto Ricans LOVE water sports. We tried every single one of them! However, I highly recommned that you go to the beaches that are away from San Juan. Beaches in San Juan are mostly congested with lots of people and noise-pollution. The beaches on the west coast are breathtaking. If you like the hectic city lifestyle, then San Juan is the place for you. Major hotel chains are packed one after another in this very touristic city. I agree with our Brit friend that if peace and quiet is what you're looking for, then you are better off staying away from San Juan and staying at the stunningly beautiful resorts in the north coast or east coast. The casinos! San Juan is like a little Las Vegas. Hotels are not flashy as they are in Vegas, but most of them have luxurious casinos that are open 24 hours a day! The Rain Forest was one of my favorite places, but the most beautiful place was the Camuy Caves, the third largest underground river system in the world! Oh, and talking about big, you need to go and see the Arecibo Observatory where they have the largest radio telescope in the world! This radio telescope appears in one of the last scenes of a James Bond movie with Pierce Brosnan. Food is excellent! Great historic value! Fun galore! Puerto Rico is for lovers (great honeymoon place), for water athletes, for serious scuba divers, for anthropologists and historians, for young people, for families, for older people, for everyone! In summary, like our Brit friend said, it is not a cheap place to go, but if you want to savor culture and history, unique places, great food, the ocean breeze, and experience a real melting pot of African, Spanish, and American traditions, then Puerto Rico is the place to go. Secret: if you go during low season (summer), you can get a real bargain on travel and hotel expenses. We learned the hard way :-)


FREE GIRLS, DRINK, AND GOOD TIMES
May 19, 2001 04:33 PM6899 Views

Bacardi Island, the fantasy island of all Bacardi drinkers worldwide………


As we docked against the old brick quay, fenders out to protect the ship, the buzz of anticipation for that first Bacardi filled my head, creating a needful wanting that had to be satisfied.


I took the fore spring, and twisted it round the Bollard, figure of eight style, before securing the ship at harbour.


Running down to my mess deck, out of my now oily work clothes, and into an invigorating shower I leapt.


Dressed in my finest T shirt and jeans, clean shave, and parting of hair at 45 degrees, I took my 22 year old body up to the main gangway for the standard lecture of “don’t do naughty women, alcohol etc.” this, as I said, was standard practice for all Navy runs ashore at that time.


We walked down the gangway, onto the firm footing of land, known as Puerto Rico.


Having already witnessed the daunting stone fortress that overlooked the harbour entrance, I knew that Puerto Rico was a historical place.


Here, the legendary Nelson thought the Dutch and French over many a day to secure a stronghold for the British Empire, many a person died, fighting for what was seen as an important stronghold in the shipping routes of the Caribbean.


The streets of San Juan were as old as you would expect, with the modern, “we are now an American Island” theme to them.


By this I mean that a 200-year-old building with a McDonalds in it, is quite a sight!


I spent more time around the shops later in my stay, but this was my first day ashore in 6 weeks, and I was up for a good time.


We hit the first bar we came to, and guess what, they had Bacardi!


There was so Many different types, and ways to serve, but the best one had to be the famous Rum Puncheon, a subtle blend of Bacardi, and whatever they felt like, as each bar had Rum Puncheon, and no 2 were the same.


This was also the cheapest drink, about 50p, whereas a beer was over a pound. Ah yes, that first day was just a blur.


SHOPS


I always put a bit about the shops in, as it is sure to get the likes of Moose and Lizzi, to rate it higher, the little shop-a-holics, that they are!


Okay then, perfume, gold jewellery, duty frees, and the standard tacky gift shops, adorn the streets of San Juan.


As there is a huge American Air Base, and Nave base here, they tend to stock up with everything American you can find.


It takes away the theme of the Caribbean, but makes for cheap shopping on electrical goods, cameras, and jewellery.


There is a large amount of cruise liners docking in the main harbour as well, so the trade is almost 24 hours a day, and these shops tend to agree with that!


Cheap, and many a bargain girls, and for us men, there are many bars scattered between these shops where you can wait in Bacardi Bliss for your young lady to do the shopping!


BEACHES


A taxi ride away, to some of the most exclusive beaches in the world.


Many scantily clad ladies, and I guess, but I don’t really remember, some hunky men. I had to put that in to keep the ratings up fellas!


Most of the beaches are either nudist or definitely topless. I felt it only fair to go topless.


There are many people walking the beaches selling cold drinks from ice boxes, and trinkets, coconuts, and other things. The prices they charge are very reasonable, especially after a bit of haggling, and they tend not to hassle you if you are polite.


They do get uptight if told to P O, so don’t be a typical Brit, OK.


The sand is clean, and the water is blue and clear.


Scuba diving, Para gliding, Water Skiing, Jet Skis and snorkelling could be witnessed from any beach vantage point.


My favourite pass time was to sit at the little cabins, with their palm leaf roofs, sipping, yes you guessed, Rum Puncheon, while watching the world drift by.


HOTELS


All the famous American chains could be found here, and there is enough info around this site about them, so I will pass here.


The other side of the coin, see’s the Club Med style hotels, all inclusive, full of well to do people, and usually with their private beaches.


A challenge waiting for the young 22 year old “wet behind the ears” Royal Navy seaman, to infiltrate, which he did in style.


First things first, you had to have an armband to get drinks.


So what I did here, was find a couple of girls, get chatting, and when they were going to the bar, I would ask them to grab me a beer or maybe even a Bacardi!


The same applied to food and snacks, but be careful that the people you are with do not get suspicious, and that they are fun people who you can tell you have sneaked in after a while.


The security guards are a different matter, but here is a great story.


When approached by a security guard, I pretended to have had a bit too much to drink (?) and said I had lost my armband while swimming.


He took me to reception, where the girl recognised me from the pool earlier. She asked my room number, and I said 34 or something, but mumbled it a few times. So in the end she said are you such and such, to which I said “yes”, and I was issued my very own armband!!!!


Good move eh!


FOOD & WINE


As you can imagine, being americanised, the different styles of food were extreme.


My favourite is seafood; therefore lobster, conch, shellfish and fried fish selection were the most common meals to share my table.


There were plenty of fast food joints, Macdonald’s Burger king, Pizza Hut, to name just a few.


If you go down by the quay, that is where you find the classy and what I called “wooing” restaurants, where you would take the young lady you had met on the beach that day (allegedly).


There are many little intimate café style eateries, and moody little alcoves to sit, and share fine Beaujolais.


Candlelit evenings, with tequila sunrise skies, and the silhouette of a yacht, overlooking the bay.


I can almost touch the water as I write.


SUMMARY


Not the cheapest place to get to, but a worthwhile holiday island, for those who don’t want to spend all day on a secluded beach.


More the fun lovers place, and for those romantics who like to love and live.


It was 15 years ago I went, but the memories are still as clear as yesterday, that in itself is a recommendation, is it not?


Angus, the Bacardi King.



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