Puerto Rico Family

Puerto Rico’s largest resort is located near El Yunque rainforest and sprawls across 500 acres atop a 300-foot bluff – a funicular descends to the sea where a catamaran shuttles guests eight minutes to a private island with a small beach. The property encompasses four “villages” with 750 rooms on different levels of the hill, plus Las Casitas, a hotel-within-the-hotel offering 154 luxury villas. But most of the action takes place at the top level, home to the outsized lobby, casino, tennis, 18-hole golf, a multi-level pool area and extended convention facilities. With more than a dozen restaurants, there are plenty of dining choices, though most of it skews expensive. The Asian-themed Golden Door Spa is one of the Caribbean’s most renowned.

Renaissance Hotels spent $220 million converting this mid-century, tropical classic into San Juan’s trendiest address. The hotel’s best architectural elements were left in place, including the voluptuous seashell-shaped restaurant Perla that seems to float in a reflecting pool. Forward-leaning design elements color the 248 rooms, with 37-inch flat-screen TVs, work desks, and beds with vanilla-hued leather headboards. Expect multi-level infinity swimming pools and a fitness center on the beach – a cove sheltered by rock jetty. A new casino opened in December 2008.

Though parked in an awkward location, a stone’s throw from the San Juan airport runway, this 416-room Ritz layers on the chain’s requisite touches. Check in here for Frette linens, Bulgari bath products, marble baths, 24-hour silver-and-china room service and, of course, deferential service by a well-trained crew. There’s also a fine gym and a 12,000-square-foot spa – and the immaculate beach out front is groomed daily. Jet noise is not a problem in the rooms (half of which face the sea), though you’ll hear it at the pool (bring an iPod). The 24-hour casino, Puerto Rico’s largest, is a big draw.

WiFi-ready rooms with high-ceilings, tropical motifs, and terracotta floors are so appealing that you’ll overlook the fact that this restored, palm-tree-studded, ’20s-era Spanish Villa is a whole block from the beach. Every room is slightly different, but the standard units are attractively decorated, if small; the more expensive units are bigger, brighter, and include microwaves and mini-fridges. There’s a small pool in a sunny courtyard, while the “boat bar” in back is a friendly outdoor terrace where guests enjoy breakfast accompanied by local coffee, lunch, and dinner.

Well situated in Isla Verde, this 12-story Courtyard by Marriott caters equally to business and leisure travelers. Well-organized business amenities take care of one crowd, a good stretch of beach coddles the other, and both enjoy the three restaurants, 24-hour casino, fitness center, room service, and even salsa lessons at the lively bar (Thursdays, 8-9pm). The 293 brightly decorated rooms sport free WiFi, mini-fridge, coffeemaker, and ocean or city views. The location suffers a bit from airplane noise, but double-paned windows screen out most of the clatter inside the rooms.

On the south coast next to a UNESCO biosphere reserve, Copamarina is an affordable family-oriented resort option. You’ll leave the casinos and nightlife of San Juan behind in favor of a tranquil oasis featuring hiking, bird-watching, and visits to La Parguera’s bioluminescent bay. Rooms come with garden or ocean views fronted by a balcony; louvered windows provide privacy. The 106-room resort has two pools (plus two kiddie pools), a small spa, non-motorized water sports and a dive shop. Copamarina’s two restaurants, especially Alexandra, draw non-resort visitors for adventurous, Caribbean cuisine like whole fried snapper with mojo (garlic sauce).

When it’s pitch dark, paddle out to one of these bioluminescent inlets (in Fajardo, Parguera, and Vieques) and jump into the water. Your entire body will glow, caused by the defense mechanism of the dinoflagellates that swim in the water. Vieques is said to have the best “bio-bay” in the world; note that tours don’t take place the two nights before and after a full moon.

The 28,000-acre preserve is almost as much mountain as it is rainforest, so get ready for some serious hiking. You’ll hear the Coqui (pronounced co-KEE), a tree frog named after its squeaking mating call.

Explore the vestiges of iconic El Morro and, a half-mile east, San Cristóbal, two massive forts dating from 1539 – and used by the U.S. army until 1951 – at this protected Old San Juan site. Hiding behind the battlements is a maze of tunnels, barracks and spiral staircases, while a blanket of green grass dotted with kite flyers extends toward the city.

Learn about San Juan’s military history and catch stunning ocean views at imposing, European-style stone forts El Morro and San Cristóbal. Built by the Spanish to protect the island, the fortifications also served as WWII army bases.