A weekend in San Juan
In things that I am continually trying to master (although I think I’m getting darn close): the weekend getaway! Although I love a proper vacation in a brilliantly exotic location more than anyone, I believe so strongly that you don’t have to go that far or that long to reap the benefits of travel.
Because I needed one more round-trip flight on JetBlue in 2015 to earn a bunch of TrueBlue miles and because I spent most of November traveling on my own (on late notice), my boyfriend and I decided to do a quick little getaway to San Juan. We used HotelTonight to book a last-minute stay at the (absolutely amazing) Condado Vanderbilt, and we headed down to Puerto Rico for just about 48 hours of relaxation and rum cocktails.
And oh my gosh, was it worth it! We left after work on Thursday night, I worked remotely (by the pool!) on Friday, and we flew back to New York City on Sunday—but even that short trip has left me feeling so refreshed and ready to tackle all of the holiday parties, Christmas shopping, and general craziness of this season. Here’s a little glimpse into what we got up this weekend in San Juan:
Where to Eat & Drink
In weird travel quirks: once I discover a good breakfast place (or if I like whatever breakfast place I try first), I will go back there very single day of a trip. Ba Juice was that place on this trip: I went three mornings in a row! I love starting my morning with something light and healthy, and Popeye’s acai bowl (with spinach blended into the acai, and topped with a banana and granola) at Ba Juice was all of those things in addition to being delicious.
Our HotelTonight concierge recommended La Cueva del Mar for dinner, and I’m so glad that she did: we never would have found it on our own. It was a bit of a walk from the hotel-and-bar strip in Condado, and I think we were the only tourists there—AND IT WAS SO GOOD. We started with masitas de dorado (kind of a spicy fish stick) and mojitos, and then split the house special rice, some plantains and the best fish tacos I’ve ever had in my life. Still daydreaming about that mango hot sauce.
Our other dinner was at Jose Enrique, a restaurant with an unassuming facade and a super laid-back ambiance. The menu is written on a whiteboard that the waiter takes around from table to table! Although the vibe is decidedly unfancy, the food is cooked and spiced to perfection. It’s also right next to SQUSRE, which is full of locals drinking and salsa dancing in the street—a great place to have a beer before or after dinner!
In Old San Juan, we tried the Puerto Rican staple mallorca at Cafeteria Mallorca. I went for the ham-and-cheese version, and it’s basically like a fried sandwich topped with powdered sugar. Tastes better than it sounds!
At the hotel, we also indulged in fish tacos and Medalla beer by the pool. As far as ambiance, the view couldn’t be beat!
What to Do
One of my favorite things in the world is walking around a colorful city and taking photos—and Old San Juan did not disappoint. I had explored Old San Juan more in-depth a few years ago, so we just took a long, rambling walk along the water and through the cobblestone streets.
Condado is definitely one of the better beaches in the San Juan area—the water is warm, the sand is soft, and the waves aren’t too intense. Also: rainbows!
R-E-L-A-X. Honestly, I knew this trip wasn’t going to be about doing a bunch of stuff: I wanted to lay by the pool and read my book and have a beer, and that’s exactly what we did. It was grand.
Where to Stay
This was my first time using HotelTonight—I usually like my trips to be all booked and buttoned-up well in advance of take-off—but I feel like we were able to get an awesome deal at a super luxurious hotel. The Condado Vanderbilt was located right on the beach and had a great infinity pool overlooking the ocean, and was within walking distance of plenty of great restaurants and bars.
Our room had a balcony, so we had our own little happy hour watching the sun set while reading our books. And it’s entirely possible that our little suite was bigger than our apartment in Bed-Stuy! We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful or relaxing place to recharge for a few nights.
Have you ever been to San Juan? Any other tips for our next trip?
From 2013: the best of Puerto Rico, Culebra, Luquillo, Caribe Playa!
