by julia Torres Barden, special correspondent

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It’s cold outside and it’s been a tough year. Perhaps a sunny and sandy island getaway would do just the trick to warm you up and raise your spirits. I’ve just returned from my quick, affordable trip to Puerto Rico and it was exactly what I needed to rejuvenate my soul and catch my breath, as I basked in the tropical sun and enjoyed swimming in the turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean. As a territory of the U.S.A., Puerto Rico doesn’t require a passport and yet you’ll feel transported into a whole other multicultural world where the beautiful sounds of foreign languages and cultural customs abound while never leaving the comfort of the United States.

For family travel, it’s the perfect destination given the local Walgreen’s, Starbucks and Hagen Daaz ice cream shop right across the street from the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino hotel where I stayed for part of my trip. Fellow guest, Jennifer Cerrat from Middlesex, N.J., came to Puerto Rico to celebrate her 40th birthday with her family and said, “I’ve been to Mexico, Europe and this is my best vacation ever! The people here are so hospitable and trustworthy. The beaches are clean compared to Mexico and Florida. People are friendly and costs are completely reasonable while you are close to everything you need – including Walgreen’s right down the street where I needed to buy Benadryl!”

I was able to purchase a non-stop airline ticket from Baltimore, Md., to San Juan for $300 - a very affordable air fare courtesy of American Airlines, a major carrier to Puerto Rico. I arrived in San Juan in less than four hours. Joined there by my best friend, Lucy, we were excited to begin our girls-only trip across the island and felt completely safe driving from one end to the other. We first stopped at Plaza las Americas, which is the largest mall in the Caribbean and a must-see for shoppers, for a quick bite to eat. We munched our sandwiches on the way to the city of Mayaguez to visit my family. There we stayed at the lovely Mayaguez Resort & Casino boasting a gorgeous veranda restaurant, a mountain view of the ocean and a cool pool set-up complete with water slide and a lazy river layout.

The next day we immersed ourselves into our mutual Puerto Rican heritage, visiting the local towns where our families came from. We began our day with a traditional Puerto Rican breakfast at the home of my cousin, Dr. Humberto Hernandez, on his veranda with sweeping mountain views. It was then time for another of my cousins, retired University of Puerto Rico professor, Wilfredo Hernandez, to lead us to my family’s ancestral beach where we were greeted by the most beautiful rainbow I’ve ever seen. I enjoyed listening to his story of how my great-grandfather used to walk this same beach to school every day. My maternal ancestors hail from Aguada, a serene beachfront community where legend has it that Christopher Columbus landed during his second voyage to the New World.

We were then off to begin the “relaxation” part of our vacation, a road trip that took us through Puerto Rico’s second largest city, Ponce, and then through the island’s steep mountain range offering exquisite views of the hills along the ocean . Navigating the small island of Borinquen, Puerto Rico’s native name, which is only 110 miles long and 40 miles wide, was easy. Although finding our hotel in San Juan’s Condado section was an adventure.

Arriving at our beachfront hotel as the sun was setting was a lovely celestial experience. Cristina Sanchez, a member of the hotel staff at the San Juan Marriott accommodated our every need. Our oceanfront and pool-view room mingled with swaying palm trees for the eyes was pure heaven. The hotel also has a tour desk on the premises where you can arrange for visits to other island hotspots like El Yunque, the only national rain forest in the U.S., and Camuy Caves for the outdoorsy types, or the Bacardi Rum factory.

We began the next day by languishing on the hotel’s private beach as the soft waves of the tropical climate offered a meditative and restorative environment. Although, given the “quick” nature of our five-day holiday, we forced ourselves to exit the beach as we embarked on our taxi ride to Old San Juan, the crown jewel experience of any visit to Puerto Rico.

Our taxi driver, Morel, was courteous and willing to act as tour guide while we requested a brief visit to the famous Fort San Felipe del Morro and it’s adjoining San Juan cemetery, a must-see if you are into genealogy. Directly across the street from this historic site, I came upon a fanciful fountain area where children and their parents were relishing the relief from the tropical heat.

Our adventure continued through the winding streets of the city built by the Spaniards and established in 1521. Featuring narrow blue cobblestone streets, indigenous pastel-colored buildings in the tradition of Spanish architecture and horse-drawn carriage rides, Old San Juan is an amazing blend of the old and new. As a major shipping port for cruise ships, the area also offers great American shopping at places such as the Coach Store, a Ralph Lauren outlet and the artisan wares offered at kiosks or in their merchant stores. The cuisine available is also diverse. You can enjoy a meal at the touristy Hard Rock Café or the local hangout, El Jibarito, a favorite of San Juan residents. It offers traditional Puerto Rican food of rice, beans, tamales and yummy flan, a custard, for dessert.

Before we knew it, our five-day getaway to La Isla del Encanto, “the island of enchantment” as it is called by Puerto Ricans, was complete. It was time to head to the airport. But, not before doing some last minute, duty-free shopping while waiting for our flights to board. As a part of the United States, Puerto Rico offers an affordable, safe tropical paradise for those of us on the mainland and is definitely a destination spot for families and single travelers alike.

Web sites for more information:

www.gotopuertorico.com/
www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sjupr-san-juan-marriott-resort-and-stellaris-casino/
http://eljibaritopr.com/

www.mayaguezresort.com/