Royal Sonesta San Juan

San Juan, Puerto Rico

I have traveled overnight and long weekends alone, but I have never gotten on a flight and taken a vacation all by myself.  However, this has always been a dream of mine.  When I heard the Women In Travel Summit was taking place in Puerto Rico I knew there was no better time for a solo trip. I’ve got to admit, I was a little nervous, but I kept reminding myself it was an adventure. I even added a two-night stay before the conference so I could experience more of the island. I knew there was nowhere I’d rather stay than the Royal Sonesta San Juan.

First impression

Check in was a piece of cake.  Since I arrived at around 1:00 and my room wasn’t ready, they told me where I could change into a bathing suit and pointed me in the direction of the beach restaurant for some lunch.  They even gave me a key to access the towel machine to use at the pool. I immediately felt welcomed.

Let me show you around my room.

I stayed in room #1418 a

King – Ocean View

My room had a comfortable king bed and the pillows were amazing. The sofa also opened up to a sleeper, which would be great if I had the kids with me. There was also a work desk with chair…but I would not be doing any work on this trip!  There was a huge flat-screen tv, a Keurig coffeemaker, and an ironing board and iron.

The room also had a mini fridge so I could store snacks and beverages.

The room had a huge slider that allowed natural light to flood the room.

 Check out this stunning view from the 14th floor!

Our bathroom was large and had a walk-in rain shower and  lighted make-up mirror.

I was still in shock because…HELLO… PUERTO RICO!!! Time to have some fun! Since I arrived in early afternoon, I decided to grab some lunch.  I headed down to the restaurant on the beach,

Ocean Breeze

I had a delicious ceviche.  It was so fresh

and the view could not be beat.

LET’S HIT THE BEACH!

Nestled on Isla Verde Beach, the location was stunning. Golden sand led to warm turquoise water. The hotel provides umbrellas and lounge chairs. I spent the whole afternoon going from the water to my chair to read, relax, and listen to the waves crash on the shore.

The beach was never crowded.

The hotel has lovely manicured gardens with statues, colorful flowers, and well-kept paths.

I loved walking around the grounds.

After a long afternoon on the beach (I know…it’s rough!) I decided to stay at the hotel and spend my first dinner back at Ocean Breeze because I couldn’t stay away from that stunning view! I started off with a frozen margarita that completely hit the spot. For dinner, I had a delicious salad with ahi tuna.

Before heading back to my room, I made one more stop at the hotel bar to enjoy a glass of wine.

I could not go to bed without enjoying this stunning view from my balcony.

Buenas noches Puerto Rico!

Life is too short to sleep in while on vacation, especially when you are waking up to sunrises like this from your room! (Not sure my teenagers agree with my theory.)

Let’s hit the gym!

Since I had a feeling I would probably be indulging in some delicious Puerto Rican food and cocktails, I decided to start my day off at the gym. The fitness room has lots of cardio machines, strength training equipment, and a locker room. It was so nice to work out while enjoying picturesque views of the beach and the Atlantic Ocean through their expansive windows.

My next stop was a lovely walk on the beach. It was the perfect place to start my day and take in the beauty of Puerto Rico. I was ready to spend my day exploring Old San Juan before heading back to the hotel for the afternoon.

My favorite spot…the pool!

The Royal Sonesta has a fabulous free-form lagoon-style outdoor swimming pool, with a fun swim-up bar. Because of the way the pool is shaped, you never felt like it was crowded.

There is a beautiful swim-up bar that served great frozen drinks.

I loved the chairs emersed in the water. It was a great place to read a book.

I decided to end my day with another walk on the beach. You will not believe the sunsets you’ll see!

The weather was perfect so I was thrilled to be able to dine outside at

Karaya

It was here that I finally got to enjoy my first coquito!

I had a delicious octopus appetizer and a wedge salad.

Buenos Dias Puerto Rico!

The next morning, I awoke to another fabulous sunrise.

I made myself a delicious coffee and enjoyed it on the balcony.

Thank you so much Royal Sonesta San Juan for a fabulous stay!!

Restaurants

The resort offers several other restaurants that I didn’t get a chance to try:

Akua Bar

Elevate your pool day with their upscale poolside dining and swim-up bar.

La Bodeguita

Serving light breakfast, lunch, and evening snacks, this intimate eatery merges all the pleasures of a European-style café and a wine bar.  I did enjoy a delicious latte here one afternoon.

 Ruth’s Chris Steak House Puerto Rico

From the perfectly broiled USDA Prime steaks to the expertly prepared seafood and New Orleans-inspired appetizers, every dish is crafted with excellence.

 Aleli Restaurant

Overlooking the lagoon pool, Aleli Restaurant serves breakfast daily at terrace tables in a relaxed, breezy setting.

What could you do in the area?

Flavors of San Juan Food Tour

Old San Juan City Walking Tour

Jet Snorkel-Snorkeling with Turtles

Old San Juan Sunset Walk & Taste Food Tour

Old San Juan Harbor Sailing Tour

El Yunque Natural Waterslide and Rainforest Hike

Old San Juan Walking Historical Tour

Where do you fly in to?

 Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport 

The airport is a quick 10-minute drive from the hotel. I used Uber and it was easy and safe.

CLICK HERE TO FIND AN AMAZING FLIGHT!

Who would I recommend it to?

Families, girl’s getaways, solo travelers, couples. It really is a hotel that caters to everyone.

Tips for Planning your Stay

Parking: There is ample complimentary on-site parking as well as valet.

Check-in: 4:00 Check-out: 11:00

Room choice? Definitely get a room with a water view.  I would also recommend a room on one of the higher floors because they have better views. My room was on the 14^th floor and the view was fabulous.

They have a great gift shop.

They are currently offering house cleaning services.

There is a 24-hour front desk.

The Wi-Fi worked really well and I never had any problems with it.

Royal Sonesta San Juan

5961 Isla Verde Avenue

San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00979

1-787-7916100

CLICK HERE TO GET TO THEIR WEBSITE

 

The Royal Sonesta San Juan was the perfect place to relax and have a solo getaway before my conference. As always, all experiences and opinions are 100% of MyTravelingKids.com.

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