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Ola from Puerto Rico! Last week, I was hot air ballooning in New Mexico and this week we're snorkeling in the Caribbean Sea -- isn't air travel just grand? If you're up for some fun in the sun that includes a boat trip out to a deserted island, horseback riding in the foothills of a rainforest and souvenir shopping in Old San Juan, then jump on the next plane ... or read this week's story. Remember, if you're an American citizen there's no passport required to travel to this fabulous getaway. If you don't have time to read the story, don't worry! We have a two-minute Johnny Jet video at the end. Also, don't forget to check out the second installment of Juliet Pennington's three-part series on her travels through South America. This week, she's in Argentina.
MEDIA ALERT
Before we get started, I'd like to mention that I was an expert guest on Our Generation: Fly With Me, which premiered last week on The History Channel! The show focused on the evolution of air travel and Our Generation looks at the people and events that have helped shape the Baby Boomer Generation. It was a lot of fun to tape as they used Chino airport
for a backdrop
(just 56 miles east of LAX). The highlight was touring this G5 private jet from NetJets.com. It killed me to say "no", when the pilot offered to give me a lift back to LAX (near my house) after he filmed his segment. Sadly, I had to decline because I was the last interview of the day. But when a gorgeous flight attendant
came out with warm, homemade chocolate chip cookies I almost said, "See ya!", unclipped my microphone, wiped off my makeup and jumped on board. Can you blame me?
AIR MUSEUM PLANES OF FAME
This was my first trip to Chino and in no way am I in a hurry to go back. As far as I could see (though admittedly, I didn't look too closely) there's not a lot going on ... but I did see (and smell) lots of dairy farms. Near the airport was Flo's Café, which reminded me of the diner from the '70s TV show Alice . The
Air Museum Planes of Fame
was founded in 1957 to preserve aviation history. It houses over 150 aircraft, spanning the time of manned flight, (from a replica
of the Chanute Hang Glider of 1896, through to modern space flight), and includes numerous milestone-achieving test and research flight vehicles. If you're an airplane fanatic and in the area, I recommend stopping by. General admission, $11. The Air Museum Planes of Fame, 7000 Merrill Ave. #17, Chino, CA; tel.: (909) 597-3722.
MIAMI TO SAN JUAN
My flight to San Juan was booked on American Airlines,
which is the only carrier to offer nonstop service from California to Puerto Rico.
Unfortunately, they weren't offering their nonstop service the day I was traveling (the frequency changes dramatically depending on the season) so I had to connect through Miami. The connection wasn't bad,
as I didn't need to change terminals or go through security again. Flight time from Miami to
San Juan
(Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, airport code: SJU) is a quick two hours.
DUPONT PLAZA HOTEL
Taxi service in Puerto Rico isn't terribly expensive; a one-way fare from the airport to my hotel, five miles away in Condado, cost $14. When I landed, it was 8:30pm and there was a full moon illuminating the dark night sky. I made small talk with the driver and on the ride over to the San Juan Marriott I asked how safe Puerto Rico was these days. He said it's like any other major U.S. city. Fair enough. Then he asked where I was from. When I told him L.A., he practically slammed on the brakes, turned around to look at me and said, "Now that's a dangerous city!" Touché! I have been to Puerto Rico several times but the last time was in 2001 when I was a part-time road manager (ahem, high-paid babysitter) for a boy band. My first (and most memorable) trip was with my parents, back in 1986. We stayed at the now infamous Dupont Plaza Hotel, which is known for having had one of the most devastating hotel fires in U.S. history. Three disgruntled employees set the fire in the early morning of December 31, 1986. In less than 12 minutes, those bastards had killed 97 people; most were Puerto Rican, as the fire was limited to the lobby and casino, which was a popular local hangout.
MY HOTEL FIRE EXPERIENCE
That wasn't the first fire that the hotel had seen. A few months prior, on my trip with my parents, there had been another fire. Fortunately, no one was hurt that time. But I'll never forget how my mother took charge during our fire experience. At 3am that morning, I remember my panicked mom waking my dad and me up, telling us that there was a fire. We were on the 19th floor and the alarms weren't blaring but the smell of smoke was definitely filling the air. I was impressed by how fast my mom got us out the door. While other guests were waiting for the elevator, my mom correctly instructed us to take the stairs. My mom was always nervous about hotel fires and every time we stayed at a hotel, she mapped out a path to the stairs before going to bed. Sure enough, she knew exactly where they were when it counted. I was 16 at the time so I jumped down the sets of stairs like they were puddles. But I realized halfway down that my parents weren't keeping up so I went back to get them. It turned out that the fire had been started in the stairwell so the smoke was at its worst in there. To this day, my dad believes that's how I contracted asthma (I was diagnosed shortly after), but I'm not sure. I do know that prior to that experience, I used to think that my mom was overreacting with her routine of locating the emergency exits. She'd leave her purse and valuables, a change of clothes and a flashlight near the bed, so if ever there was a fire, she'd be ready to make a quick escape. Since that unforgettable night, I began doing it too ... though perhaps not as meticulously and minus the purse.
NEW BEGINNINGS
Driving down the streets of Condado brought back many memories of that trip. I asked the driver,
"By the way, where did the Dupont Plaza Hotel used to be located?" The driver's demeanor changed.
He looked at me with a solemn face as we pulled into the driveway of the San Juan Marriott and said,
"Your hotel used to be the Dupont Plaza." Gulp! I sat still and quiet, looking out the window, trying to take it all in,
goose bumps rising on my arms. I took a deep sigh, paid the driver, got out of the car and walked through the front door.
SAN JUAN MARRIOTT
Walking into the lobby didn't bring back any memories. Obviously, the hotel is completely different now. Everything is brand new and totally modernized. The biggest change was the service. I wasn't expecting much. This is the Caribbean and like most islands throughout the world, they're not exactly known for providing topnotch service. You know how it is ... the staff is usually very friendly but very laid-back and the locals operate on "island time". However, the opposite can be said of the Marriott's hotel staff. My experience began with a doorman
holding the front door for me. There was no wait to check in and the
front desk crew
was not only efficient but happy. The same can be said for the wait staff
in two of the hotel's restaurants. Speaking of the hotel restaurants: I loved the food at Tuscany's, which
serves expensive Italian dishes, but I wasn't so fond of my late-night dinner at La Vista. The service was good but the food was average at best. However, La Vista is also where a $18 breakfast buffet
is offered and while I found that to be above average, it was not outstanding.
A STRANGE COINCIDENCE
I didn't look at my room number until I was just about to press the button in the elevator. That's when I realized that I was in room 1910! Holy cow! Can you believe that I was assigned to a room on the 19th floor? Had I been paying attention at the front desk, I definitely would have asked that they switch my room. But it's a completely new hotel now (except for the frame) and I figured that they must have learned from their mistakes. The reason so many people died in the last fire was because the emergency exits were locked. And besides, there haven't been any incidents that I'm aware of, for the past 21 years.
RESCUE LADDERS: As a general rule, I try to stay in rooms below the ninth floor which is the highest a fire truck's rescue aerial ladders can reach; they extend 100 feet.
A ROOM WITH A VIEW ... AND A BALCONY!
My room was very nice; not terribly big but comfortable. I could have done without the large orange chair that just kept getting in my way but other than that, everything was newly renovated with a fresh and stylish, Cosmopolitan/Caribbean-inspired decor. The bed, the Marriott's patent "Revive Bed", is so comfortable that it makes you want to sleep late. It's also perfect for lazing around and watching movies as each room has a flat screen HDTV
with a whole slew of channels. My bathroom was clean, stocked with soft fluffy towels and a showerhead, which spit out an enjoyably firm water pressure. But my favorite part of the room was the balcony, from which I enjoyed a spectacular view of the beach and Atlantic Ocean. Don't you hate it when you go to a hotel and you can't even open the windows? Here, all 525 rooms have a balcony and most with ocean views
like mine. I didn't sleep very well the first night because the room was freezing and the duvet was too thick for my liking. So I was either too hot or cold. But the following night(s), I slept with the A/C turned off and the balcony door wide open. I covered myself with just the sheet and slept like an overworked donut maker. The hotel is well built; the walls are thick and I couldn't hear any outside noise from the hallway or my neighbors, just the pounding of the ocean waves ... a soothing way to fall asleep and wake up.
THE BEACH
The hotel has a well-deserved four-diamond AAA rating. They do a good job. I personally wouldn't spend my one vacation a year here, but if I was coming in early to catch a cruise or was on a business trip, I would definitely recommend it. Plus, you get to collect Marriott points. If you need to work or stay in touch with friends and family back home, Internet access is just $9.95
a day. There's also a full-service business center and eight meeting rooms, totaling 9,400 square feet of meeting space. The elevators are quick and the hotel has one of the most popular casinos
and bars in town. Offering nightly live entertainment means there's no reason to even leave the property. The pool area is plush and complete with a waterslide and whirlpool. The beach
out front has inviting, soft sand and for hotel guests, it's free to use the umbrellas and lounge chairs. But be warned: I don't recommend swimming in the ocean when a red flag
is posted. Puerto Rico has a lot of fantastic places to swim but Condado Beach is not one of them. In fact, it's downright dangerous
when it's rough out. Unfortunately, when I was there, a 13-year-old boy drowned. As the rescue team
searched for his body well into the next day, another man swimming there drowned, right next to the searchers. Both were locals and a hotel staff member told me that most who drown here are locals. It seems that many of them don't fear the ocean and don't heed the hotel warnings. San Juan Marriott, 1309 Ashford Avenue, San Juan, Puerto Rico; tel.: 787-722-7000, toll-free: 800-464-5005.
SNORKEL TRIP
My first excursion was a snorkeling trip on the Spread Eagle II, a 1997 SeaRunner Catamaran. The boat departs from Fajardo, which is about an hour's drive from San Juan. For an extra $12 per person they'll pick you up
from your hotel in the San Juan area. The boat is a 51-foot catamaran with three accommodating crewmembers. The boat can hold up to 49 passengers and for $74.50 ($53.50 for kids) everything is included; drinks (pina coladas, fruit punch with rum or virgin), water, soda; a lunch buffet
(fruit and sandwiches); and snacks (apples, cheese and crackers, peanuts). It's fun for all ages and since the boat is open air (except for the bathroom and change room that are downstairs) I didn't see anyone get sick. Gear is included and each person gets their very own snorkel to take home; this way you don't have to wonder who was sucking on it last! Our first stop
was Icacos Island. It's
a deserted island off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico. Most people snorkel
offshore but if you don't feel like going into the warm, clear water, you can sunbathe or hang out on the beach. After lunch aboard the boat, you can go back out for another snorkel. Next, the boat travels to the private Lobos Island. No one is allowed onshore but you can dive, swim or snorkel in the waters just off of its coast. The boat departs Villa Marina in Fajardo at 10am and returns around 3:30pm. The whole trip is a full day commitment as guests need to leave their hotel for an 8am pickup and don't return until around 4:30. Overall, it was a lot more fun than I had imagined ... maybe because we had a fun group! My only complaint is that the crew of the Spread Eagle II could do a better job educating passengers on the importance of not touching or walking on the reef. FYI: Not that you should bring your phone, but cell service did work the entire trip. For more information on the Spread Eagle II, e-mail info@snorkelpr.com or call toll-free: 1-888-523-4511.
HORSEBACK RIDING
The following day, I headed back out in a van and drove in the same direction as Fajardo. This time, it was for a 40-minute ride to Hacienda Carabalí. Hacienda Carabalí is a 600-acre adventure ranch where visitors can go four-wheeling, mountain biking, go-carting or horseback riding. I did the latter. They offer both one- and two-hour rides ($30/$60); I did the longer one. It was very relaxing
as we
rode (trotted, mostly) through the foothills of the El Yunque Rainforest. Up to 45 people can be in a group but there were just nine signed up for my time slot. Many were first-timers. There were three guides
and the lead was Willie "The Maker" Cruz, an ex-jockey who was severely injured in a race two years ago. Willie was a lot of fun once we got him to tell us stories about his illustrious career and there was nothing challenging about the ride
(not like my experience in New Zealand) so we could chat while riding. The promotion pamphlet advised everyone to bring their bathing suits as we would be stopping along the way at a beautiful river
to swim. The river was something to look at but it was just two feet deep and not what we were expecting. However, it offered a refreshing dip for the ranch dog. Hacienda Carabalí Riding, tel.: 787-690-3781.
OLD SAN JUAN
I
spent an afternoon in the historic
colonial district called Old San Juan. Old San Juan dates
back to the 16th and 17th centuries when Puerto Rico was a Spanish possession. There are plenty of shops, mostly geared toward tourists, but what I
enjoyed most was just wandering
around
the narrow
cobblestone streets
and admiring the colorful
building facades
and points of interest. The biggest attraction is El Morro (Castillo San Felipe del Morro), a 16th century fortress
that's located
on the northwestern-most point of the island. It's part of the San Juan National Historic Site and in 1983, was listed as one of UNESCO's
World Heritage Sites.
WHERE TO EAT IN OLD SAN JUAN
Strolling the hot streets of Old San Juan is bound to make you hungry. At least, it did for me. A hotel staff member recommended an excellent, new restaurant (opened only a few months ago), that serves authentic Puerto Rican dishes that the locals love. Raices revisits the past through the colorful artwork
on the walls, the costumed waiters and waitresses and mostly, though the delicious, traditional food
that they serve. Their specialty is Mofongo – mashed green plantains
stuffed with either seafood or meat and served in Pilon wood bowls. Popular side dishes are fried green plantains and rice and beans in hollowed out coconut shells. Drinks are served in aluminum cups. The restaurant doesn't have the most comfortable seating (the bench hurt my bum) but the tasty food and authentic experience make it a must. Raices has two locations: One in Caguas (tel.: 787-258-1570) and the other on Recinto Sur Street #315, in old San Juan. Here's a scan of their business cardLINK; tel.: 787-289-2121.
OVERALL
I enjoy visiting Puerto Rico. It's easy to get to (no passport required for U.S. citizens), it's safe, the food is good, the water inviting and the locals friendly. However, the next time I go back, I hope to visit someplace other than San Juan; I've been there too many times now. My next stop is hopefully the rainforest and the island of Vieques. It's supposed to be amazing and right now there are plenty of deals to be found since it's off-season.
VIDEO
Here's a short Johnny Jet video of my trip to Puerto Rico. It's also on YouTube, so it only takes a few seconds to load (though the quality is not as crisp). We also have all the Johnny Jet videos ever made on their servers.
NEXT WEEK
Next week, we travel 6,000 miles to ? Stay tuned!
Happy Travels,
Johnny Jet
*PLEASE tell us what you think of this week's newsletter!
All information presented here is accurate at the time of publication but prices, dates and other details are all subject to change. Please confirm all information before making any travel arrangements.
Note:
This trip was sponsored by San Juan Marriott.
Copyright 2007 JohnnyJet
, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.