The overall trip was fantastic due to a man named Carlos. He was one of the drivers the first night who took us to town for dinner. We had him drive us all over the rest of the week.
As for the hotel, the concerige stunk~!! We booked tours/excursions that were cancelled after we booked them. When we tried to re-book something else they weren't "on top of it" as they should have been. The tours were either "filled" or "not enough people" and that was it. No rebooking, rescheduling, NOTHING! We stayed in the Casitas which came with a butler. We called 4 times for him to help us with groceries and excursion booking. It was quite annoying that we had to call concierge that many times for our butler. Not to really mention that it took 4 days for our butler to show up. Later we found out that they were on somewhat of a vacation schedule and we had a "fill in". No problem here, but they could of told us from the beginning.
The hotels private island was called Palomino Island. You had to take a short 15 minute boat ride and needed towels to take with you. Two mornings that we went there were no towels. Concierge said they would take care of it. They did not, we did. We literally went to where they were doing laundry and asked for towels. Room keys didn't work and dishes dropped out from the kitchen on to my head and than broke. Speaking of broken, the coffee pot broke and we had to get that replaced too. The fountain outside our room worked the first 2 days and after that was a puddle with a statue.
Upon leaving for the airport, we had to call concierge 3 times to find out why our luggage wasn't picked up.
Not everything in the hotel was ricketty and bad. The staff at the bar area by the casitas were so much fun and amazing. One afternoon the skies opened up and it started to pour. My husband and I sat by the bar and the bartender made us "specialty" drinks and the manager went and made us quesadillas and gave us info on Puerto Rico. They were really so nice and hospitable. The hotel should be thankful to have them on staff.
If it wasn't for Carlos our driver (as mentioned above), we wouldn't have seen the real flavor of Puerto Rico and enjoyed our trip despite the hotel. He took us to El Morro Castle and took us to a restaurant for lunch in Old San Juan (The Parrot Club) which was fantastic.
Another day he picked us up and we went to El Junque Rainforest where he gave us a private tour. He even explained some of the flowers. He was SO knowledgeable and funny it was a pleasure. For lunch he took us to Luqilla Plaza and the beautiful beach there. The plaza has authentic Puerto Rican food since there are owned by the locals. Do not miss eating at La Barilla and than going to see the beach too. Food is amazing.
For the best mofongo and food go to Pasion. Another local restaurant but amazing and I mean AMAZING food.
Another day trip go to the Bacardi Factory. Learn how rum is distilled, the family history, etc. Not to mention shots of rum and/or drinks.
There is so much to do and experience in beautiful Puerto Rico. Dinner and lunches definitely take advantage of the local restaurants such as what I mentioned as well as Mios and not forget a restaurant called La Estacion. Fabulous food from a couple where the husband is a born and bred New Yorker and the wife is originally from Puerto Rico. You can go in shorts and sandals and just quick back. It's a barbecue grill and the servers will navigate you through the menu.
As you can read, most of this review is about what we did outside of the hotel, because the hotel wasn't that fabulous to write about.
Other places to go see and do is a trip to Culebra and a trip to Vieques.
