Recommend February 2011 - (Page 32)

luxury lands in PUERTO continued from page 30 RICO its upscale San Juan neighborhood of Condado. The result will offer an urban style of luxury, far from the plantation-style, pastoral charm of the St. Regis. But clients will be just as pampered in any of its 305 guestrooms—especially the suites, each boasting butler service, that make up its two new 11-story towers. The renovation will also add a full-service spa, complete with a hammam that’s expected to be the ﬁrst in Puerto Rico’s capital. And like the St. Regis, the Condado Vanderbilt has plenty of history of its own. The original hotel dates to 1919, with design by Whitney Warren, the man behind such iconic buildings as Grand Central Station and New York City’s Biltmore hotel. After completion, the Vanderbilt catered to celebrities, royalty and other household names, including Charles Lindbergh. So while much of the resort is receiving an overhaul, certain elements—including the hotel’s original grand staircase, ﬂoors and moldings—will be restored. With its striking history and location in San Juan, putting guests near museums, upscale restaurants and the musical performances and other artsy events at Ventana al Mar Park, the new hotel should appeal to clients seeking culture rather than nature. More good news for luxury travelers to San Juan: La Concha Resort has recently unveiled its new beachfront Suite Tower, a $100 million upgrade that gives guests access to studios, 1- or 2-bedrrom accommodations, all with balconies featuring ocean views and kitchens in a chic urban setting. There’s even a selection of Spa Suites with signature features like a hot tub and shower on the outdoor terrace. The new tower also adds an Ocean Lounge to La Concha’s existing amenities, with an adults-only pool, valet parking services and concierge serving only Suite Tower guests. The new tower is just part of an overall $220 million investment into the resort, which dates back to the 1950s. The retro architectural style is still there, but updated to appeal to modern-day travelers—and upgraded as well, with restaurants like Perla, an upscale seafood restaurant with a 4,000-bottle wine cellar on site set in a shell-shaped building in the middle of a reﬂecting pool. The My Puerto Rico Experience package at La Concha includes a $100 credit, discounts on Enterprise car rentals and Dragonﬂy adventure tours, and a guestroom upgrade, with rates starting at $239 per room per night with a 4-night minimum. ■ Archived related articles (available on recommend.com): Puerto Rico: A Community Experience (August 2010) contact information Condado Vanderbilt: condadovanderbilthotel.com La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort: (888) 236-2427; laconcharesort.com St. Regis Bahia Beach: (877) ST-REGIS; stregis.com/bahiabeach W Vieques: (877) 822-0000; wvieques.com Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino, designed to cater to meetinggoers at the adjacent Puerto Rico Convention Center. “The enthusiastic response to our ﬁrst W and second Sheraton in Puerto Rico has paved the way for the successful launch of The St. Regis Bahia Beach,” explains Frits van Paasschen, president and CEO of Starwood. Laid out over 483 acres, the St. Regis offers 139 rooms, all built in low-rise buildings to preserve the ambiance of the historic coconut plantation that once operated on its grounds. Decor includes customdesigned furniture and marble bathrooms, plus impressive modern features like TVs integrated into its bathroom mirrors. Guests can expect views of both the Atlantic Ocean and El Yunque National Rainforest. Fern, the resort’s signature restaurant, was developed by celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, blending the chef’s distinctive dishes with Puerto Rican ingredients for a fresh, local take on ﬁne dining. And its golf course, featuring two miles of beach, a native maritime forest and plenty of views of El Yunque, is Robert Trent Jones Jr.’s ﬁrst project on the island. But one of the most luxurious experiences at the St. Regis, Kurland says, is a trip to its Remede Spa. “It’s different than other spas in Puerto Rico because of its Asian style,” he explains. “Clients are starting their journey in one building, and continuing through a walkway that takes you out to separate pods set up for treatment.” Private outdoor terraces, relaxation rooms, hot and cold plunge pools, steam and sauna facilities and even a curated library round out the amenities. “They’ve really covered all of the bases,” Kurland says. Off property, clients have plenty of opportunities to take advantage of the exciting nature that surrounds them. “The setting is just remarkable,” Kurland describes. “Close by, you have ﬁve golf courses within 10 minutes of the property. The national forest trails are lovely. There’s a bioluminescent bay 20 minutes away for kayaking. There’s horseback riding and zipline outings. There really is just about everything you might enjoy during a vacation.” But with 65 acres of natural lakes and rivers, plus 75 miles of nature trails, all within the resort itself, clients might feel tempted to stay close to home—and the St. Regis is committed to preserving that feeling. Guided by the strict criteria of the Audubon Society, the St. Regis worked to become the ﬁrst certiﬁed Gold Audubon Signature Sanctuary in the Caribbean. “It’s really been an honor to receive that,” Kurland says. “It was only after quite a bit of work in constructing and maintaining the environment during development…. Our resort sits within nearly 500 acres. We are a small part of that; the remaining acreage has been developed into a nature wonderland” with nature trails, bird sanctuaries, a hydroponic garden and other green areas that beneﬁt both vacationers and local plant and animal life. Add it all up, Kurland says, and you have an upscale but low-key destination that’s appealing to just about everyone. “We target discerning guests who like to stay at the very best address within a destination,” he says. “It’s elegant and yet comfortable at the same time.” Rates at St. Regis start at $759 per room per night dbl. The W Vieques’ Spa-tacular Escape package includes accommodations, daily breakfast at miX on the beach and a $200 spa credit with rates starting at $269 per night. some of our favorite spas 1. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman: Platinum Rare Facial 2. Sandals Royal Plantation, Jamaica (Red Lane Spa): unique treatments and intimate ambiance 3. Hard Rock Hotel, Punta Cana (Rock Spa): enormous and just general extravagance 4. Half Moon, A RockResort (Fern Tree, A RockResorts Spa), Jamaica: enormous and personalized service 5. Carlisle Bay (Blue Spa), Antigua: a lovely 2-story spa and expert staff recommend.com condado vanderbilt The St. Regis Bahia Beach is just the latest of the luxury resorts to hit the island. Coming soon: even more luxury—of a vastly different type—at the Condado Vanderbilt. Due to reopen in the fall of this year, the Vanderbilt is undergoing renovations to better position it within 32 february 2011 http://www.recommend.com http://www.condadovanderbilthotel.com http://www.laconcharesort.com http://www.stregis.com/bahiabeach http://www.wvieques.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend February 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk
Tour Talk
Crystal Cruises' Serenity
Flights of Fancy With One&Only Cape Town
South African Airways
South Africa Set to Score Big in 2011
Fantastical Fiji
Luxury Lands in Puerto Rico
Grenada
Barbados: High-End, Low-Key
Bermuda Scales Back
Peru is Gaga Over Luxury
Starry Arizona
Acqualina Resort & Spa, Florida
Baden-Baden, Germany
New Choices in Luxury Tweak Mexico's Landscape
Invigorating Girl Escapes

Recommend February 2011