Ritz-Carlton San Juan Hotel, Spa & Casino (San Juan; tel. 800/241-3333 or 787/253-1700): At last Puerto Rico has a Ritz-Carlton, and this truly deluxe, oceanfront property is one of the island's most spectacular resorts. Guests are pampered in a setting of elegance and beautifully furnished guest rooms. Hotel dining is second only to that at El San Juan, and a European-style spa features 11 treatments "for body and beauty."
Wyndham El San Juan Hotel & Casino (San Juan; tel. 800/WYNDHAM or 787/791-1000): An opulent circular lobby sets the haute style at the Caribbean's most elegant resort. From its location along Isla Verde Beach, it houses some of the capital's finest restaurants and is the city's major entertainment venue. Guest rooms are tropically designed and maintained in state-of-the-art condition.
Hyatt Dorado Beach Resort & Country Club (Dorado; tel. 800/233-1234 or 787/796-1234): Lying on the former stamping grounds of the Rockefellers, these low-rise buildings blend into the lush surroundings of a grapefruit-and-coconut plantation. Spacious rooms open onto a long stretch of secluded beach, and grounds include an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. Tennis, windsurfing, swimming, and dozens of watersports are available as is the most elegant dining in Dorado.
Westin Rio Mar Beach Resort and Golf Club (Rio Grande; tel. 800/WESTIN-1 or 787/888-6000): This $180 million 481-acre (192-hectare) resort, 19 miles (31km) east of the San Juan airport, is one of the three largest hotels in Puerto Rico. Despite its size, personal service and style are hallmarks of the property. Twelve restaurants and lounges boast an array of cuisines. Along with its proximity to two golf courses, entertainment, such as an extensive program of live music, is a key ingredient in the hotel's success.
Wyndham El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa (Las Croabas; tel. 800/468-5228 or 787/863-1000): The finest resort in Puerto Rico, this is a world-class destination-a sybaritic haven for golfers, honeymooners, families, and anyone else. Three intimate "villages" combine with one grand hotel, draped along 300-foot (90m) bluffs overlooking both the Atlantic and the Caribbean at Puerto Rico's northeastern tip. The 500 landscaped acres (200 hectares) include tennis courts, an 18-hole Arthur Hills-designed championship golf course, and a marina filled with yachts and charter boats.
