Great Apartment...Even Better Hosts
Review Submitted: October 5, 2007
Date of Stay: September 2007
A quick decision to make a trip to Puerto Rico turned into an experience I will always remember due to random luck of the rental unit I picked and the wonderful people who own it.
First, the unit itself. It was a one-bedroom apartment which was straight out of a five star hotel. Beautifully furnished with it’s own wet bar, bedroom, bathroom and setting room. It was both cozy as well classy and sleek at the same time. Being downstairs from the main house, I had all the privacy and quite I could desire.
But while the apartment was 5 star, the owners Russ and Marcos were 6 star hosts. Russ arranged to pick me up at the airport and give me a nice orientation tour of the island as we drove to Palmas del Mar area. Once there, he was kind enough to cook a wonderful dinner and see to my first day of relaxation, as I sat enjoying a book looking out over the beautiful Caribbean view. The next morning Russ invited me to take a walk in El Yunque Rainforest, but not the tourist area, rather a beautiful “back door” area of foliage, flowers, and waterfalls.
On another day, Marcos was able to take me in to Old San Juan where he showed me the forts and other historic sites as well as some of the interesting places that tourists just don’t know about. We lunched at a small Puerto Rican restaurant he knew of which gave me a true taste of the country.
The highlight of the trip was a most fantastic surprise birthday party that Russ and Marcos arranged. I had heard of many of their wonderful friends, and this gave me an opportunity to meet them all. While the food, cake and drink were all wonderful, it was the warmth and caring of the people who threw the party that was the most important to me.
The beaches, which were a moderate walk, were outstanding. One was completely deserted, almost completely out of the site of human activity and coconuts laying around, having fallen from the beautiful palm trees that shaded me from the warm afternoon sun. The other beach was in a more populated area, but still without people in sight. The sunset I enjoyed there was probably one of the most beautiful I have seen.
It seemed too soon that it was time to leave and Russ was kind enough to return me to the airport. I hated to leave Puerto Rico after such a short time, but I know I shall return. While the flight is a bit farther from the West Coast then Hawaii, I found Puerto Rico has all the charm and hospitality that Hawaii must have had 50 years ago, unspoiled by complete total tourist commercialization. Besides, I didn’t make it to the home of Bicardi Rum, one good reason to return.
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Helpful votes: 13/19
