Monday 5/18, 6:27 AM AA flight San Antonio to Miami (my wife K is not a morning person, and said I am fired as travel agent), and then MIA to SJU, landing around 2:00 PM. I have the AAdvantage Card and thought we were supposed to be group 1 boarding, but we got group 2, I figured I had screwed up, surely not AA!

We traveled with another couple, D & T. D had been to San Juan a couple of times, but strictly in and out. This was T’s first trip to the Caribbean. K and I have been to many islands, most recently spending most of our trips in SXM, and have been to PR three times. Also, I lived there while in high school, so many years ago that most of you reading this (maybe both of you?) were probably just a gleam in your daddy’s eye.

The flights were fine and on time – odd for us, in the last several years we have had more than our share of delays, cancellations, missed connections, etc. So while having that first Bloody Mary, I looked at the AA flight mag and saw an ad for the AAdvantage card. Guess what? Group 1 boarding. Well, I’ll take of that on the way back!

Landed about 20 minutes early and walked what seemed like two miles to the Hertz Rental station. 45 minutes wait until we got to the front of the line. Not too bad though, I had received an email that the total cost for an Impala for the week would be $220. When they gave me the bill it said $280 – but they did honor the $220.

With our phone GPS found the Caribe Hilton with no problem. T works for Hilton and got us a great rate in the Honors Tower. K and I had stayed there about ten years ago, and seems like I had read that they had done a $25MM renovation. Well they sure didn’t spend any of that on the Honors tower. Very dated, housekeeping was poor – no towels once, no ice bucket bags 4 times, didn’t empty waste baskets 3 times. Needless to say we were all displeased and they will hear from me on TripAdvisor as well as here.

Got unpacked and headed to the pool bar. The Hilton is one of the places that claims to have invented the Piña Colada. So we all got one, for $10 a pop. And I have had better Piña Coladas from a hundred places. What a disappointment. When I left PR in January 1963, my English teacher and I had several at the CH. And I’m positive I remember what they were like back then. Anyway, no more PCs at the CH.

Took a taxi to OSJ for dinner (as we did every night). Had heard the Café Puerto Rico was great, but they had an hour wait, so we stopped a few spots down at the Toro Salao (Salty Bull). K and I split the fish tacos and the calamari, both excellent – probably the best fish tacos I have had, and they are pretty prevalent around San Antonio. D had the Arroz con Pollo (I make better), and T had pizza – no comment. Carlos was our waiter and was a hoot.

Tuesday went to Pinky’s in Condado. Great ratings and the ratings were right. K and I split the Mallorca, Ham, Egg, & Cheese Breakfast sandwich, fantastic. D&T split the Pinky’s Breakfast sandwich and they also thought it was great. Headed off to El Yunque and took the La Mina Falls trail. A piece of cake for a younger man, like D, but I made it with no problems. Stopped at a little roadside café on the way down and had pinchos (bbq pork on a stick – great) and a really good Piña Colada for $5.

Wednesday was predicting rain. We had breakfast at Mallorca Café in OSJ – very highly rated but I likened it to Burger King. Wouldn’t go back. Since rain was predicted we headed to the west coast for some exploring. What a trip – took almost 3 ½ hours to get to Rincon. Had lunch at the Island House Restaurant & Bar. Gringo food, but the Rueben and Rachel were both very good. Decent PC. Then stopped at Calypso, a surfer bar, and had a very good PC. Then the drive back, mostly in the rain.

Back to OSJ for dinner at Cuevas del Mar. The girls both had mofungo, D and I had the fried grouper sandwich. They liked the mofungo, I loved the fried grouper. Carla the waitress was very good and a lot of fun.

Thursday back to Pinky’s for breakfast. Just like the first time. Then hit El Morro, and walked around OSJ. And finally back to the Hilton for a little pool time and rest. We had been keeping a pretty fast pace. Snuck in our own drinks this time, but D and I did split a $16 burger.

That night back to OSJ for dinner at Punto de Vista, a neat rooftop place. We split fish tacos again and something else that I don’t remember. Pretty good but not as good as Toro Salao. Had a nightcap at the Hilton bar – three drinks for $43. Should have learned the first day.

Friday did the Bacardi plant tour. K and I had done it before, but probably learned more the second time around. Back to the Hilton, walked the beach then hit the Café Puerto Rico for our last dinner. It was a disappointment – we rated it last on our dinner list.

Saturday had in room home made Bloody Mary’s and the cake I had bought at Bacardi. It was delicious. Headed to the airport and forgot to get gas. $77 to fill up. We said thanks, drove two miles and paid $17. DON’T FORGET TO FILL UP IF YOU RENT A CAR.

Had burgers at the Airport Margaritaville Café – pretty decent burger.
So – got group 1 boarding, and after they boarded, babies, Servicemen, special needs (Have no problem with any of them boarding first) , gold, platinum, first class, baldheaded women with beards, and every other priority boarding group, group 1 finally made it – I think there were only about 20 people left. But by golly, I got group 1!

Flights were good and on time – until we landed in San Antonio in a thunderstorm with tornado warnings. We had to stay on the plane for 50 minutes until the lightening stopped. But we made it, and had a great time.

The least amount of beach time ever – but we were playing tour guide. Back to SXM in September (pray for us, no ‘canes), and will spend a good part of each day at Orient.

Sorry this was so long – Dan and Katherine.