Relaxing Girls Escape in Puerto Rico

For a birthday celebration we traveled to San Juan for a few days of relaxation and fun in the Caribbean. We stayed at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan and scheduled a day at the Olas spa on the property.

The hotel is situated between Old San Juan and Isla Verde/Condado making it a perfect place for individuals wanting to see many tourist areas on the island. The Caribe Hilton is one of the older resorts in San Juan but our rooms did not reflect the age of the property. The room had been recently renovated and had flat screen televisions and updated modern furniture. The bathroom was the real treat as it is very large by most hotel standards and has a rainfall shower and double vanity. The view was excellent as we could see the ocean and most of the property from our room in the tower section of the resort. 

We arrived very late (almost 2 am) but because of flight drama (see the post on Spirit Airlines for more about that) we were starving! Luckily the resort provides room service 24 hours a day. We ordered a pizza to share for $16. It was excellent with our choice of toppings and just the perfect size for a late night meal.

Besides the room service the property has several restaurants with a variety of cuisine’s and a Starbuck’s for people who must feed their coffee addiction even on vacation. The Starbuck’s is reasonably priced with cheaper prices then I have seen in many American big cities. 

The first morning we woke early for our day at the spa which consisted of an hour massage, hour facial, pedicure, manicure and a spa lunch. The package is called the Spa Goddesses and we definitely felt heavenly after our treatments. Our services were provided by Tina, Martha and Harry who made sure that we were comfortable and took great care of us. We started the day with a dip in the whirlpool Jacuzzi which is set at a mild temperature to accommodate the warm climate of San Juan. You can sit out there for hours and not feel to warm because of the temperature of the water. We then went for our massages in a room that overlooked the ocean. With the relaxing music and atmosphere in the massage room it is easy to quickly release all the tensions you brought with you on the trip. By the time I started the facial, I was so relaxed that I fell asleep. We then went to have a session of manicures and pedicures where we chatted with Martha and Tina about men, vacations, friendships, and weddings. It was the perfect girls chat fest! The polish choices were a little limited though we each found a polish that we loved. The lunch provided consisted of fruit juice, a turkey wrap and Caesar salad. It was perfect healthy meal for our spa day. At the spa, besides your treatments you also have access to the health club, whirlpool, sauna and steam room. The room for waiting between treatments is a quiet and serene retreat with chilled fruits, cool water, and light music playing. I recommend the spa as an OUTSTANDING addition to a Caribbean getaway for friends or individuals traveling to San Juan even if you end up not staying at the Caribe Hilton. 

The hotel restaurant Palmeras is just okay. I did not find the perfect mojito there (see my post on mojitos for where you can find the perfect mojito in San Juan) and the salad bar is limited in its choices for the price. The special that night was the Caribbean Lobster dinner which was excellent and can be served three ways, steamed, grilled, and thermidor. It is served with corn and roasted potatoes. My friends enjoyed the other special of a cilantro and lemon seasoned rotisserie chicken breast also served with corn and potatoes and the Baby Back ribs. The atmosphere is typical hotel restaurant though you do get a view of the pool from the restaurant. 

I HIGHLY recommend the Caribe Hilton for folks looking for a great hotel in San Juan. I especially recommend it for a tropical girls spa retreat and couple’s escape. 

Caribe Hilton
Los Rosales Street San Geronimo Grounds
San Juan Puerto Rico 

http://hiltoncaribbean.com/sanjuan/