When I first started visiting Puerto Rico in the late 1980s, I wasn’t that impressed with Condado. Sure, it had its beaches and sure, it had some decent hotels and nightlife. But it always seemed grimy, and just a bit behind the times. Today, happily, that has changed. Hotels have been relaunched with the best…
Tag: luxury hotels
VIDEO TOUR: San Juan Condado, Part 1 – Hotels, Sun & Dining
When I first started visiting Puerto Rico in the late 1980s, I wasn’t that impressed with Condado. Sure, it had its beaches and sure, it had some decent hotels and nightlife. But it always seemed grimy, and just a bit behind the times. Today, happily, that has changed. Hotels have been relaunched with the best…
Hotels Where the Stars Slept in Acapulco
Sure, years may have passed since the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis Presley and John F. Kennedy graced the swimming pools along Acapulco’s beautiful bay. But Mexico’s first jet-set destination is regaining some of its retro-chic, thanks to the imminent re-opening of Boca Chica, a 1950s-vintage beachfront hotel re-imagined by the folks at Grupo Habita,…
Hotels Where the Stars Sleep in Acapulco
Sure, years may have passed since the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis Presley and John F. Kennedy graced the swimming pools along Acapulco’s beautiful bay. But Mexico’s first jet-set destination is regaining some of its retro-chic, thanks to the imminent re-opening of Boca Chica, a 1950s-vintage beachfront hotel re-imagined by the folks at Grupo Habita,…
Hotels Where the Stars Sleep in Acapulco
Sure, years may have passed since the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis Presley and John F. Kennedy graced the swimming pools along Acapulco’s beautiful bay. But Mexico’s first jet-set destination is regaining some of its retro-chic, thanks to the imminent re-opening of Boca Chica, a 1950s-vintage beachfront hotel re-imagined by the folks at Grupo Habita,…
LF DEAL ALERT: Acapulco Luxury, with Banyan Tree
Mexico’s first jet-set resort destination, Acapulco, is getting a needed shot in the arm with a spate of new luxury hotel openings. During my last visit, I checked out the pre-opening model of the Banyan Tree Cabo Marques, the newest property in the Americas run by the Asian luxury hotelier. And it’s quite a luxurious…
New Travel Options for Cusco, Peru
As Peru works to recover from the mudslide and flooding that left thousands of visitors stranded around Machu Picchu last week, the tourism industry is struggling to get its bearings. Peru Rail, the company that provides the rail link to Machu Picchu, continues to work with the government on a restoration plan for the tracks.In the…
VIDEO: Posada del Angel, Luxury Boutique Hotel in Antigua Guatemala
BY MARK CHESNUT It was a cool Thursday evening in Antigua Guatemala, and I was lounging in a four-poster bed covered with 600-thread-count Egyptian cotton and hand-woven Guatemalan fabrics. Gentle flames crackled in the fireplace as I fell gently into a sound sleep, the silence so complete that the only artificial sound I could hear…
VIDEO: Posada del Angel, Luxury Boutique Hotel in Antigua Guatemala
BY MARK CHESNUT It was a cool Thursday evening in Antigua Guatemala, and I was lounging in a four-poster bed covered with 600-thread-count Egyptian cotton and hand-woven Guatemalan fabrics. Gentle flames crackled in the fireplace as I fell gently into a sound sleep, the silence so complete that the only artificial sound I could hear…
VIDEO: Posada del Angel, Luxury Boutique Hotel in Antigua Guatemala
BY MARK CHESNUT It was a cool Thursday evening in Antigua Guatemala, and I was lounging in a four-poster bed covered with 600-thread-count Egyptian cotton and hand-woven Guatemalan fabrics. Gentle flames crackled in the fireplace as I fell gently into a sound sleep, the silence so complete that the only artificial sound I could hear…
The World’s Best New Hotel and Restaurant are in Latin America
Wallpaper, the British-based magazine and Website that focuses on travel, design, entertainment, fashion and media, has announced the winners of its annual Design Awards for 2010. The style-conscious magazine and Website assembled an impressive panel of judges to determine who deserves kudos. And guess what? The world’s best new hotel for 2010 is in Mexico. The…
Six Great New Boutique Hotels in Cartagena, Colombia
The Centro Histórico (Historic Center) in Cartagena, Colombia, has for years been a prime place for hoteliers to introduce ever-more-luxurious small hotels set in landmark-status, Colonial-era buildings. Larger properties like the Hotel Charleston Santa Teresa and the Sofitel Santa Clara (set in a former convent and monastery, respectively) may be the grande dames of the…
Deal of the Week: La Concha, Puerto Rico
I’m taking a break from the ongoing coverage from Cartagena because, with Valentine’s Day coming up before we know it, I thought it might be a good time to highlight a good deal at an excellent hotel: La Concha, a Renaissance Resort in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The property is offering an “Escape! Romance” package, priced…
Convent Life: Hotel Charleston Santa Teresa, Cartagena Colombia
Soon after arriving in Colombia, I checked into a nunnery. Of course, it hadn’t actually served its original role in a number of years. I was invited to stay as a guest at the Hotel Charleston Santa Teresa during Cartagena’s fourth annual International Music Festival, and I must say it’s quite an impressive place. Set in…