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CARIBBEAN
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SHERATON OLD SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO
By Dwight Brown
Dwight, an executive at a major media company located in New York, is also a passionate travel writer who specializes in the Caribbean Islands and Brazil, writing about upscale hotels, resorts, dining venues, sports and cultural tours. He is a frequent contributor to Sleeping Around.
Want a hip Caribbean trip with great shopping, hot restaurants and cool nightclubs? Read on…
The chic, new Sheraton Old San Juan sits in the heart of the bustling Old City, on the edge of San Juan Bay, across from the docks where football field-long cruise ships bed down. With a hot Nuevo Latino restaurant, the neighborhood's only rooftop pool and close proximity to discount outlets, casinos, restaurants and nightclubs the Sheraton has its finger on the pulse. 240 recently renovated rooms, Bay views and high-speed Internet access -- my Sheraton stay kick-started the vibrant part of my trip.
Shopping
I put my bags down and ventured out to the Polo Outlet on Calle Cristo, a 10-minute walk away. T-shirts ($9.99), dress shirts($39), clothes for the ladies and kids. I bought two linen sports coats ($150 each, marked down from over $200), shorts ($20). My biggest bargains were the already-worn and washed-out-looking cool blue jeans that people pay up to $200 to don. I got four pairs for $34 a piece! (Rent a car and head west to the Prime Outlet mall in the town of Barceloneta where there is an even bigger Polo outlet. The home furnishings are at shockingly low prices.) Down Calle Cristo there's a Coach discount shop ( I bought a new briefcase for $299, originally marked $489) and a Dooney and Bourke store too.
Eat Your Heart Out
Breakfast at Cafeteria Mallorca (300 Calle San Francisco) for their famous mallorca, a sweet pastry that's buttered, grilled and then sprinkled with powdered sugar; try it for breakfast with bacon and eggs. The Parrot Club is a hot spot famous for its Caesar Salad with Chicharrones (succulent bits of fried chicken). It's a happening place along with its sister restaurants Dragonfly and Aquaviva. But you don't have to go out of the hotel to taste the handy work of the cuisine designer, Chef Roberto Trevino. He created the menu at the Sheraton's hip Fogata Latino Bar & Grill
Shrouded in ruby red curtains, the Fogata is the new hot place for fine Latino cuisine. Start with the delectable Coconut Popcorn Shrimp or the Pork Chicharrones with Lime. For the main course I recommend the Fogata Fire Mixed Grill. A large plate with a tiny grille surrounded by meats and chicken was set in front of me. Pork Chicharrones, Churrasco steak, Mixed Sausages, Adobo Chicken Pinchos, Sliced Lamb Flank Steak and Braised Pork Roast were at my finger tips. I tossed my selections on the grille and finished cooking them myself. Rare, medium, well done, the choice was mine. That unique dish was accompanied by Spanish Tortillas, Marinated Queso del Pais, Roasted Vegetables, Fogata Bread and Sauces. I topped it with a local Medalla beer. Oh so good!
Casino
I'm not much of a gambler, but if the casino is right in the hotel - can you resist? The conservatives squatted at the nickel and quarter slots machines. The dollar machines, poker and blackjack tables attracted the high rollers. It's a game of chance. I rolled small time with $20 bucks in quarters and won $30. For some, that' no big deal. For me - it was enough to make me want to go back. And you can't beat the proximity.
Spa This
Two buildings away form the Sheraton at, 331 Edificio Acosta, sits the Eden Spa, which specializes in Facials (Deep Pore Cleansing, to Collagen Treatments), Massage Therapies (Deep Tissue Sport, to Chocolate Indulgence), Body Treatments (Fresh Fruit and Sugar body Wrap, to Anti-Cellulite), waxing, manicure, pedicures and spatial therapies. I got a reflexology treatment for my aching, feet. My biggest treasure was buying fresh, homemade soap; the coca smelled like a chocolate bar and the lavender like fresh flowers. Spa owner Alexandra Quiles and her attentive staff offer VIP services too (787-721-6400).
The Night Life is the Right Life
When the sun goes down in Old San Juan the party people gather movie theaters, art galleries, discos and nightclubs. One nearby venue offers a lot in one convenient place. The Pool Palace at Calle Recinto Sur #330, behind the Sheraton, has it's own chic Latino restaurant Essence (Chef Raul Correa features traditional Puerto Rican cuisines with international flare), a large sports bar/cabaret room that features salsa and meringue performers, karaoke contests and talent competitions. There are poker tournaments sponsored by the Puerto Rican Poker Association. And did I mention pool?
This fancy pool parlor and its Brunswick Gold Crown 4 tables (the kind seen on ESPN tournaments) is the heart of this friendly place. I played with the manager Jorge "Shooter" Pagan, and had forgotten how much fun pool can be. Chic people hang out and view the 3 large projection screens and 23 plasma TVs. There's a VIP lounge with exclusive tables and a special VIP room with a private pool table. This is one-stop fun and a night on the town that can last until the wee hours. The frenzy builds 'round midnight.
Hip and cool are the key words for a vacation at the Sheraton Old San Juan.
Being There:
Air: I flew Jet Blue. Easy, quick check-in. TVs at every seat. Low prices and friendly flights to San Juan and Aguadilla and Ponce too. For reservations call: 800-538-2583 or go to jetblue.com.
Hotel Reservations: Call Starwood Hotels at 800-325-3535 or go to starwoodhotels.com. Or call the Sheraton directly at 787-721-5100.
For More Puerto Rico: For more info call the Puerto Rican Tourist office at 800-866-7827 or go to their website: www.GoToPuertoRico.com
All photos ©Dwight Brown.
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