A boutique gym and ocean front business center round out the offering.

According to the new General Manager, José Torres, “The Water Club has all the right stuff to take the Metropolitan Area’s luxury boutique hotel experience to the next level and we’re having just as much fun with our new concept as our guests are.”

With 15 years of experience, Mr. Torres is well positioned to help the resort retain its leadership position as one of Puerto Rico’s top hotels.

His youthful enthusiasm paired with his proven ability and knowledge of the inner workings of resort properties give him invaluable insight into what makes a unique property like the Water Club tick—and what to do to make it a success.

Renowned as the hot spot for local residents and tourists, Mist offers comfortable seating areas for rooftop relaxation, swimming pool, signature cocktails and a decadent Island-Italian-Spanish-fusion menu featuring Socializers—small plates you can share—prepared with fresh, locally grown ingredients.

The new restaurant Zest on the ground floor welcomes guests with a unique subaquatic atmosphere and a modern experiential cuisine menu featuring sustainability-sourced ingredients, each dish infused with a unique scent meant to stimulate every sense.

The Water Club’s entire culinary operation is under the careful watch of new Executive Chef, local celebrity Raul Correa Soto, the 2008 Cattlemen’s Chef Challenge Champion, and collaborator for El Nuevo Día ’s “Por Dentro” Food Section and Primera Hora .

Even the Beach Experience has been re-engineered. Electronically connected to the hotel and restaurant, the Water Girls offer fast and unique service with a Beach Party menu built on user-friendly foods.

The perfect combination of comfort and luxury, 80 guest rooms including stunning suites feature ocean front views, partial ocean views, and city views. Plush beds dominate the space, with new pillow-top king sized mattresses made up with pristine, high-thread-count linens.

Room rates for The San Juan Water and Beach Club Hotel range from $199 to $359 per night, based on double occupancy. Stay tuned for more at http://waterbeachclubhotel.com/ 

About The San Juan Water and Beach Club

Also known as the Water Club, The San Juan Water and Beach Club Hotel is located in the city’s stylish Isla Verde, five minutes from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, and just 15 minutes away from the cruise docks, business district and the famous Old San Juan. Amenities include a rooftop sundeck and pool, wireless Internet access throughout the hotel, and a boutique gym. For business travelers and small groups they offer an intimate venue for up to 120 guests reception style, an elegant boardroom, an ocean front business center, and a 24-hour front desk service. In addition, the San Juan Water and Beach Club Hotel boasts some of San Juan’s most beautiful beachfront and newest dining options. The Water Club was recently voted #4 on TripAdvisor’s Top 25 Trendiest Hotels in the Caribbean . The hotel is the latest addition to Dallas-based Aimbridge Hospitality’s growing resort division.

MLT is promoting its Caribbean product in an effort to build on an impressive year in the Caribbean in 2011, when the company grew business in the Caribbean by 46 percent over the previous year.

MLT Vacations offers a variety of hotels, rental cars and activities in the Caribbean. MLT Vacations manages multiple vacation brands, including Delta Vacations, in partnership with Air France Holidays and Alitalia Vacations, United Vacations, and Worry-Free Vacations.

For more information, call 800-727-1111.

Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) has published plans to launch a new tourism region, named Porta Atlantico, on Puerto Rico’s north coast.

The region will capitalise on its major tourism attractions, the Rio Camuy Cave Park, the third-largest cave system in the world, and the Arecibo Observatory, home to the planet’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope and a filming location for Bond movie Goldeneye.

It will also be home to the island’s first 6* hotel, the Dorado Beach Ritz Carlton Reserve, which opens in December 2012.

Announced by the Executive Director of PRTC, Mario Gonzalez Lafuente, the tourist region comprises of the Camuy, Hatillo, Arecibo, Barceloneta, Manatí, Vega Baja, Vega Alta, Dorado and Toa Alta municipalities.

“The process of launching a Tourism Region like Porta Atlantico was a coordinated effort between the municipalities.

It guarantees job creation and long-term economic development for the region,” indicated Gonzalez Lafuente. “The municipal support, in partnership with the private sector, represents millions of dollars invested into new hotel projects and tourist attractions.”

The private sector has also committed to investing in Porta Atlantico, with the Holiday Inn Travel Plaza in Arecibo investing $18 million,

The Hyatt Place in Manati a total of $37 million, the Wyndham Barceloneta close to the Premium Outlets an investment of $35 million. These investments have been further boosted by the development of the Dorado Beach Ritz Carlton Reserve, the first six star hotel in Puerto Rico.

“The Ritz Carlton Reserve represents an investment of $342 million and will be one of the largest hotel developments in Puerto Rico, further improving the tourism offer for the municipal of Dorado,” indicated Gonzalez Lafuente.

In regards to the overall attraction of the island to visitors, he continued, “Puerto Rico offers travellers a unique proposition in comparison to other Caribbean islands, it has a variety of activities that can be experienced across the island that cannot be found anywhere else.”

Porta Atlantico’s key attractions

Two thriving luxury resort centres of Dorado and Hatillo

Stunning Atlantic coastline with world-renowned surfing beaches

The Zona del Karso/Karst Country, an area of coastline famed for its dissolved limestone formations, part of the Puerto Rico forest preserve and full of hiding holes historically used by pirates

Arecibo Observatory, home to the planet’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope and a filming location for Bond movie Goldeneye

Rio Camuy Cave Park, the third-largest cave system in the world

British Airways flies to Puerto Rico twice-weekly from London Gatwick, with return fares starting from £477. Visit ba.com for bookings.

The Caribbean Islands Price Index for 2012 combines the best-available high-season airfare from New York City to each of the 32 destinations, with the average price of the cheapest well-rated 3-star hotels in high season, to reach an index price that puts all destinations in order from cheapest to most expensive.

With a combination of cheap flights and very reasonable 3-star hotel rates in high season, Cancun, Mexico comes out as cheapest, and is also the only mainland destination on the list.

Negril, Jamaica, comes in as the cheapest island destination, followed by the area around San Juan, Puerto Rico and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Barbados ranks as 5th cheapest, based on surprisingly cheap flights and hotel rooms for an exotic and remote island.

The well-heeled won’t be surprised to find that Saint Barthélemy ranks as by far the most expensive of the 32 destinations, with Anguilla and Tortola, BVI as the priciest of the rest.

The Caribbean Island Index helps to reveal which islands and destinations are best for the budget traveler and which are the best-value for those looking for something a bit more exclusive.

The Index also includes notes about each destination as well as which nationalities and groups are most common there. European countries each tend to have strong preferences of some islands over others (often based on languages spoken there) so it’s also revealed where to go to meet each group plus which destinations are best for surfing or for diving or for shopping.

Latin Roots, Old San Juan
For salsa lovers, this is the home to the salsa temples and truly captures the essence of Puerto Rican salsa dancing. Salsa dance teachers are available to anyone who wishes to learn and an open dance floor encourages anyone,sangria-fuelled or not, to join in. A vibrant and buzzing atmosphere by day and night and in-house Orchestra, allows a place to find your ‘Latin Roots’.

For more information, visit www.thelatinroots.com  or contact info@thelatinroots.com.

The Nuyorican Cafe, Old San Juan

For live salsa between Wednesday and Sunday, the most authentic place to enjoy local salsa orchestras is right off Fortaleza Street in the heart of Old San Juan.

For more information, visit www.nuyoricancafepr.com.

Tantra, Old San Juan

An intimate venue featuring a vivacious young crowd in an exotic Latino-Hindu atmosphere. Heavily influenced byIndian and Puerto-Rican decor, Tantra is famous for its extensive custom-made martini menu, fusions of Indian andlocal food and belly dancers that entertain the customers.

For more information, contact 001 787 977 8141.

Amphiteatro Tito Puente, San Juan

Jazz enthusiasts will revel in the funky sounds of at the Hotel El Convento, where they can enjoy tasty cocktails and a variety of jazz sounds surrounded by lagoons and trees, a great spot to hear hot Latin jazz, reggae, and Spanish pop music.

For more information, visit www.elconvento.com.

Wet Bar at The Water Club, Isla Verda

Sophisticated, chic drinking venue where guests can watch the sun set over San Juan.

Operating out of The Water Club Hotel, Wet Bar is the perfect place to relax and unwind in a quirky furnished venue. Guests can also do some celebrity spotting with Donatella Versace a regular face in the crowd.

For more information, visit www.waterbeachclubhotel.com.

The Casino at El Conquistador Resort, Fajardo

Movie buffs will recognise this bar as the casino visited by 007 in the James Bond film, Goldfinger. The striking building captures the glitz and glamour that typically surrounds casinos with windows looking over the Atlantic Ocean and untouched rugged coastline.

Guests buzz with the adrenaline of blackjack, Caribbean Stud and pokerrecuperating in the newly renovated casino bar, Twenty One.

For more information, visit www.elconresort.com.

For information on the tastes of Puerto Rico, visit www.seepuertorico.com

A group rate package includes two-night stay for a rate of $450, double occupancy. The offer also includes breakfast, lunch and dinner for two guests and a $20 match bet coupon. The rate will increase to $499 during the January high season. F

or more information, call 787-850-6000 or visit www.wyndham.com/specialoffers/special_offers/details/sjuwg_holiday2011.wnt