Topics Include:
The "Travel With Stephanie Abrams!” Radio Show is back broadcasting live from the Berkshire Crowne Plaza in Pittsfield Massachusetts. Travel Expert and Radio Show Host Stephanie Abrams spent time in Puerto Rico at the start and end of her month long trip to the Caribbean. This hour included interviews recorded at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Travel Expert and Radio Show Host Stephanie Abrams says that though Puerto Rico is a single island destination it has regions within it that are vastly different from one another.
Jose Reyes, Regional Director for Porta Caribe (Southern Region) in the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, joins the "Travel With Stephanie Abrams!” Radio Show to discuss the unique attractions in the southern part of the island.
Jose Reyes states that in the southern region of Puerto Rico travelers will find "culture, history, adventure, nature and golf”. Reyes says that the region has the three nicest golf courses on the island. He also stresses that the region is different than any other and says that within the island there are five distinct travel opportunities. Reyes says that from San Juan you can reach the south in less than two hours by car. He states that within one week a traveler is able to see the whole island and have five unique experiences.
Jose Reyes says that the southern part of Puerto Rico is well known for its culture and history. He states that cultural representatives are often born in the area and are extremely knowledgeable about its rich cultural traditions. Reyes says that while San Juan has a great nightlife, large hotels and a metropolitan atmosphere, travelers have the opportunity to experience something different in the south. Reyes states that there is something different to explore in all parts of the island and that the best beaches in Puerto Rico are in the western region.
An advantage to American citizens traveling in Puerto Rico is that they do not need a passport. Jose Reyes states that the island is also a secure destination that provides tremendous hospitality. Stephanie notes the fierce sense of pride in the Puerto Rican people.
Jose Reyes states that the three major golf courses in Puerto Rico are the Costa Caribe Golf Club in Ponce, the El Legado Golf Resort in Guayama and the Coamo Springs Golf Course in Coama. Costa Caribe Golf Club is a twenty seven hole, championship course in Ponce. Close to Ponce is Guayama the site of the home of pro-golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez and the El Legado Golf Resort. It is an eighteen hole championship course as is the course at Coamo Springs. All three areas are in close proximity and form a kind of triangle on the map. Jose Reyes states that southern region tourism representatives are able to help travelers plan the ideal golf trip. He recommends spending at least four days in the southern golfing areas.
Jose Reyes says that the southern region of Puerto Rico receive less than .03 inches of average rainfall per year. He says area representatives are also proud of the abundance of tourism attractions within the south. Reyes states that there are approximately twenty eight museums in the area. Recently the tourism board also finished designing a "coffee route”. Travelers can visit four or five coffee haciendas to see the coffee manufacturing process. Reyes says the south is Puerto Rico's birthplace of cultural activity. Ponce and the southern part were settled by well known Spanish families such as the Serralles family who developed the rum industry on the island. Three governors were born in the southern part of Puerto Rico. One ex-governor, Luis A Ferre, founded the Museo de Arte de Ponce. Reyes says this was his most important legacy.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread:
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1208
For more information visit http://www.seepuertorico.com and http://www.travelers411.com/puertoRico
Zulma Diaz, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Radisson Ambassador Plaza Hotel and Casino in Condado, San Juan, Puerto Rico joins the "Travel With Stephanie Abrams!” Radio Show. Travel Expert and Radio Show Host Stephanie Abrams says that the property's location on Ashford Avenue is a street she loves to visit. Zulma Diaz states: "It is the street where everything happens and we're right in the heart of it”.
Zulma Diaz says that the Radisson Ambassador Plaza Hotel has one of the best casinos in Puerto Rico. She says there is live music nightly and twenty five restaurants within walking distance. The hotel is adjacent to a Hertz Rent-a-Center and is located one block from the beach. Diaz says that for guests who want a quieter atmosphere there is the rooftop pool area, gym and spa. Diaz says, "You will never get bored. Not at the Radisson Ambassador”.
Stephanie points out that because the Hertz Rent-a-Center is located next door to the property, guests can take a taxi from the airport and spend the first few days of their trip exploring the Condado area by foot. Then when they decide to venture out further, such as to the El Yungue Rainforest, they can rent a car for the excursion. She says this kind of planning adds convenience for the traveler and very possibly saves them the cost of having a car rented for the full length of the trip.
When guests enter the Radisson Ambassador Plaza Hotel and Casino they will first see the registration area to check-in. Guests staying on the club-level take the elevator to the rooftop to check-in at the private lobby. The first floor lobby extends into the casino. Zulma Diaz says that the property is more intimate than larger convention center hotels. She says that there are not many large open areas apart from the casino. Diaz states that the staff is also extremely personable and gets to know guests.
The Radisson Ambassador Plaza Hotel has two hundred and thirty three guestrooms including eighty seven suites. Zulma Diaz says that the suites are large and comfortable. The living area is separate from the bedroom and there are either one or two baths. Diaz says that on the pool level there is an open sky area. On one side is the ocean view and on the other is the view of the city.
Zulma Diaz says the decor of the property makes it homey. She says it is all clean lines, dark woods and white linens. Diaz states that the rooms are spacious with enough room to have your luggage out of way. All guestrooms have balconies. Diaz says the average guestroom is three hundred and eighty square feet.
Currently the property is offering a fifteen percent discount on their rack rates. There is also a "meal and a deal” Radisson Initiative which offers guests a fifty dollar credit towards a meal at the hotel.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread:
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1209
For more information visit http://www.ambassadorplaza.com and http://www.travelers411.com/puertoRico
Fun Facts:
Juan Antonio "Chi-Chi” Rodriguez was the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Guests Include:
Jose Reyes, Regional Director, Porta Caribe (Southern Region), Puerto Rico Tourism Company.
www.seepuertorico.com
Zulma Diaz, Director of Sales & Marketing, Radisson Ambassador Plaza Hotel & Casino, Condado, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
www.ambassadorplaza.com
Topics Include:
Travel Expert and Radio Show Host Stephanie Abrams is back broadcasting in Studio 35 in Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The last Caribbean travel destination she visited was Ponce, Puerto Rico. This hour of "Travel With Stephanie Abrams!” includes interviews recorded in the Puerto Rican city of Ponce.
For more information visit http://www.travelers411.com/puertoRico
Travel Expert and Radio Show Host Stephanie Abrams says that one of the dominant physical features of the downtown area in Ponce, Puerto Rico is the red and black striped firehouse. Elizabeth Colon, Tour Guide for Ponce's Antique Fire House, joins the "Travel With Stephanie Abrams!” Radio Show. The historic Firehouse Museum, or Parque de Bombas, was constructed in 1882 as the main exhibit for Puerto Rico's Exhibition Trade Fair. Elizabeth Colon states that in 1883 the building was donated to the firefighters of the city as there was no established fire station in the area at the time. She states that it became the first dispatch station for southern Puerto Rico's firefighting operations and was active until 1989. In 1990 it was converted to a museum. Today the central fire station is located four blocks from the museum in the city's downtown. Colon says there are two other active fire stations in the municipality.
In addition to red and black being the city's official colors Elizabeth Colon says they are symbolic of "red for fire and bravery and black for ashes and rosary”. Within the museum there are examples of the equipment used in the late 1800's as well as equipment used in modern day. Colon says this allows visitors to see the contrast. Some artifacts were donated to the museum and the municipality by ex-firefighters.
Stephanie notes the antique Ford fire engine that is displayed at the museum site. Elizabeth Colon states that it was actually not used in Ponce but was operational in the state of Ohio until 1940. It was donated to the museum in 1992 because, Colon states, the automobile that the museum had at the time was very large and took up too much display space. During the Carnaval celebration, held the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, the vehicle is used in a parade through the city with the mayor riding in it.
Elizabeth Colon says that guests of the museum will see water wells showcased from the time of Spanish occupation. There are some fire hydrants that were used on trucks and some antique "wheel hydrants”. Colon says that soon the decorations for the carnival celebration will be on display inside the museum.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread:
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1211
For more information visit http://www.visitponce.com and http://www.travelers411.com/puertoRico
On her recent trip to Ponce, Puerto Rico Stephanie was encouraged by the owners of the Hotel Melia Ponce to visit the Museo Castillo Serralles. The Serralles Castle Museum is a mansion located on top of Vigia Hill overlooking the city. The mansion was built in the 1930's by Juan Eugenio Serralles who owned sugar cane plantations and founded the local rum producer Destileria Serralles. The distillery's most popular rum brand is Ron Don Q. Today the mansion serves as a museum with information on the rum industry in Puerto Rico and the Serralles family. Stephanie says she is delighted to be in the mountaintop location which she says, offers spectacular views of the city.
Luz Nilsa Valentin, Administrator at the Museo Castillo Serralles, joins the "Travel With Stephanie Abrams!” Radio Show. Valentin says that when the Serralles family built the mansion they originally wanted to build a more humble structure. She states that the daughter in the family wanted to be an architect though she was not permitted to be as woman. Valentin says it was the daughter that viewed the drafts for the mansion and convinced her father to build it.
Luz Nilsa Valentin says the Serralles Mansion is a beautiful structure but was not entirely manageable as a household. It stands at three stories high and has several staircases throughout it. The family built a smaller house in downtown Ponce and later closed the mountaintop mansion. It was maintained by caretakers and eventually sold to the municipality of Ponce. The municipality designed it as a music museum but this was only open a year. The mansion closed and remained unused for some time. Luz Nilsa Valentin says that Nicolas Albors, the Owner of the Hotel Melia Ponce, is a beloved citizen who alongside other community members sought to reestablish the mansion as a museum. Albors and others joined together and went to the mayor with a proposal. Funding was determined to be obtained by a visitor fee and also donations by the municipality and private companies. Valentin says the museum has now been in operation for twenty years.
Museo Castillo Serralles shows how a wealthy family lived in the nineteen thirties. Luz Nilsa Valentin says the beautiful 1930's furniture and extraordinary architecture of the property is showcased. She states that "no matter where you stand in the building you are going to be in contact with nature” as there are many large windows and a constant stream of fresh air blowing in from the outside. She says this effect is also felt by the presence of the water fountain in the structure's interior courtyard.
Luz Nilsa Valentin says that the museum is visited by many school field trips and is popular with all ages. In addition to being a significant cultural institution Valentin says it has views that "fulfill the spirit”. She says the museum is fortunate to have a volunteer board of directors dedicated to maintaining an important piece of history. Alongside the mansion there are also Japanese garden and the Vigia cross on top of the Vigia mountain summit. Valentin says that a butterfly museum will also be opening in the near future.
The Serralles Mansion is now available for lease for weddings. Stephanie says if she had to choose to have a beautiful hotel room or a hotel room with a beautiful view she will always choose the view. She states that with regards to the mansion site, "Nobody can duplicate this view”.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread:
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1210
For more information visit http://www.visitponce.com and http://www.travelers411.com/puertoRico and http://www.castilloserralles.org
While visiting Ponce, Puerto Rico Travel Expert and Radio Show Host Stephanie Abrams' met several tourists who drove in from San Juan for the day. Stephanie says that a day trip does not truly give you a sense of the destination and that you need at least three days to scratch the surface in Ponce. She says there are several museums in the city all of which are relatively small and manageable but require a few days of exploration. In addition to visiting Ponce Stephanie was introduced to some other regions of Puerto Rico by tourism representatives at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association's 2010 Marketplace held in the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
For more information visit http://www.travelers411.com/puertoRico
Roy Perez, Regional Director of Tourism for the Porta de Sol Region of Puerto Rico, joins the "Travel With Stephanie Abrams! Radio Show. Porta de Sol is located on the west side of island. Perez says there are hundreds of miles of beautiful beach, mountains, forty two hotels, and many attractions within the seventeen different towns of the region. He says the area encompasses one hour's driving distance.
Porta de Sol is extremely accessible. Travelers can either fly into San Juan and drive to the region by car or fly in direct to Rafael Hernandez International Airport which receives flights from Orlando, New York, the Dominican Republic, Barcelona and Milan. Roy Perez says that in addition to beautiful beaches of the area there are also sites of excellent gastronomy, historical areas, beautiful mountains, aquatic sports and adventure activities including kayaking, mountain biking, horseracing and sky diving.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread:
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/
For more information visit http://www.gotopuertorico.com and http://www.travelers411.com/puertoRico
Travel Expert and Radio Show Host Stephanie Abrams says she was so busy during her recent travel that she only spent twenty five minutes on a beach in St. Thomas. In Ponce she visited several museums and in St. Lucia she had the experience of driving through a volcano.
Stephanie has been to Puerto Rico dozens of times and, until last month, had never visited any region outside the greater San Juan area. She says she was inspired to visit Ponce, Puerto Rico after attending the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association's 2010 Marketplace. Once she arrived in the city she was charmed. She says she was particularly enamored with the rows of houses painted in pastel colors such as "petal pink, lemon yellow and lime green” with white molding trim. She says the city street of Ponce
look like something you might see in the south of Spain though, she stress, it is an entirely Puerto Rican city. She says Ponce has its own distinct personality less influenced by Spain than other parts of Puerto Rico.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread:
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1212
For more information visit http://www.travelers411.com/puertoRico
Fun Facts:
Parque de Bombas is Spanish for Park of Pumps.
Guests Include:
Luz Nilsa Valentin, Administrator, Museo Castillo Serralles, Ponce, Puerto Rico.
www.visitponce.com
www.castilloserralles.org
Elizabeth Colon, Tour Guide at the Ponce Antique Fire House, Ponce, Puerto Rico.
www.visitponce.com
Roy Perez, Regional Director of Tourism, Porta de Sol region of Puerto Rico.
www.gotopuertorico.com
Topics Include:
Travel Expert and Radio Show Host Stephanie Abrams' recent trip to the Caribbean included travel to Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. Lucia. Stephanie said she had some incredible experiences and hopes that the pictures posted in the online galleries on her websites will inspire others to pack a bag and go.
For more information visit http://www.travelers411.com/puertoRico
Jose Campo, General Manager of the Caribe Hilton Hotel in Condado, San Juan, Puerto Rico joins the "Travel With Stephanie Abrams!” Radio Show. Prior to transferring to San Juan Campo worked in properties in Europe, Montreal and Boston. Jose Campo says the property has an excellent location as it is only a three hour flight from Miami and four hours from New York.
Jose Campo says that the island of Puerto Rico has much to offer and that the Caribe Hilton Hotel offers its own unique peninsula and private beach. There are nine hundred and ten guestrooms spread out in five buildings at the property. Campo says the hotel offers great meeting facilities and a great selection of restaurants both on site and in the nearby area. The Caribe Hilton Hotel is within fifteen minutes walking distance from Old San Juan and is in close proximity to the city's Miramar neighborhood. Campo says the region has all the cultural institutions of a major city alongside a distinctly Caribbean flavor.
Jose Campo says that wherever you are on the property you will see water. There are many ocean views as well as views of the pool, tropical garden and Condado Lagoon. The property spans seventeen acres. Campo says guests can choose to have "action, full action or quiet” during their stay.
The Caribe Hilton Hotel has several restaurants including Lemongrass, a Pan Asian Latino restaurant in the tropical garden area of the hotel and Rotisserie Il Giardino, an Italian restraint. The other restaurants are the Atlantico Pool Bar and Grill, Morton's Steakhouse, Palmeras Restaurant and the Pina Colada Club which offers casual dining and televisions to watch sporting events. There is also the Oasis Bar and a Starbucks on site.
Travel Expert and Radio Show Host Stephanie Abrams says there are many advantages to visiting a tropical destination that is still on US soil. She says in addition to not needing a passport companies will find that there is a tax advantage to hosting a meeting or convention at a property in Puerto Rico. Stephanie comments that it also allows companies to take their business some place special without facing the costs of visiting an international destination. Jose Campo says San Juan offers the best of two worlds as it has a Caribbean feeling and the comfort of all the standard amenities one would find at home.
Jose Campo says Puerto Rico has a tremendous amount of space for meeting and conventions including the Puerto Rico Convention Center which is over five hundred thousand square feet. Campo says it is state of the art in terms of electronics and facilities and is able to accommodate over three thousand people. The Caribe Hilton Hotel is able to accommodate up to five hundred people in its convention space. Jose Campo says that if there is a city wide convention than the hotels in the area band together to reserve guestrooms for the event and the meetings take place in the convention center. Campo says the city is easy to reach and requires no customs or immigrations for US citizens. The Caribe Hilton Hotel is in close proximity to the Puerto Rico Convention Center and there are several other hotels within ten minutes driving distance of the center as well.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread:
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1213
Stephanie says one the best night's sleep she's had in recent history has been at the Caribe Hilton Hotel. Jessica Sierra, Director of Business Development for the Caribe Hilton Hotel, joins the "Travel With Stephanie Abrams!” Radio Show. Sierra states that the Caribe Hilton has much to offer to both the business and leisure traveler.
Jessica Sierra says that the Caribe Hilton Hotel is well situated in the area and is only a fifteen minute drive from the airport. She says the property's seventeen acres comprise a "rich, lush, tropical peninsula with the only secluded beach in Puerto Rico”. Sierra says this setting is ideal for families. There are non-motorized water sports activities and a game room available to the children and Pina Colada tastings offered to the adults.
The property is within walking distance of Old San Juan which Jessica Sierra says is a beautiful five hundred year old city with cobblestone streets and stunning architecture. Sierra states that the property offers a "resort setting that is close to everything Puerto Rico has to offer”.
Within the Caribe Hilton Hotel are the Condado Lagoon Villas which offer options for either a partial or fully equipped kitchen. Jessica Sierra says this is an asset to families. Hilton also has a program where children five and under eat free with an accompanying adult. Children between the ages of six and twelve eat for fifty percent off. During the summer there is a supervised kids club that runs 9 AM to 5PM. It is also offered during the holidays in December. There is an additional fee for the kid's club program.
Of the 264 Condado Lagoon Villa units, one hundred are brand new having opened at the beginning of the year. Guestrooms in the units are available with king-sized beds or two queen-sized beds. Guests can choose to add a parlor which comprises a full kitchen and living room area with a foldout couch. Jessica Sierra says the units are beautifully furnished and contemporary with gorgeous views of the Condado Lagoon. Sierra says the two bedroom units are extremely spacious spanning between 15,080 square feet and 18,000 square feet.
Another breathtaking view at the property is of San Geronimo Fort. The fort is located on the peninsula. It was built in the 17th century and in 1983 was listed on the National Register of Historic Parks. It is not part of the San Juan National Historic Site but is owned by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture. It is managed by the Caribe Hilton Hotel.
Jessica Sierra says that many joggers travel from the Caribe Hilton Hotel into Old San Juan as the route offers a beautiful view along the water. She says guests going out at night can reach the old city in five minutes by cab. The hotel is seven miles from the San Juan Airport and Jessica Sierra says it is a fifteen minute drive.
Travelers411 Community Forums - This interview's thread:
http://www.travelers411.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1214
For more information visit http://www.hiltoncaribbean.com/sanjuan and http://www.travelers411.com/puertoRico
Fun Facts:
The origins of the Pina Colada beverage remain disputed today but the most widely believed story (and most credible) is that it was created as a signature drink for the Caribe Hilton Hotel in Condado, San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is said to have been created by the hotel bartender, Roman Marrero. Stephanie says whenever you have a Pina Colada you should think of the Caribe Hilton.
The Pina Colada has been the official beverage of Puerto Rico since 1978.
Condado Lagoon is one of two natural lagoons in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Guests Include:
Jose Campo, General Manager, Caribe Hilton Hotel, Condado, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
www.hiltoncaribbean.com/sanjuan
Jessica Sierra, Director of Business Development, Caribe Hilton Hotel, Condado, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
www.hiltoncaribbean.com/sanjuan
