Puerto Rico: A Review of The Condado Vanderbilt

K: We’re back! Our trip to Puerto Rico was exactly what we needed. Filled with rest and relaxation, Brandon and I took full advantage of a vacation together and now we’re excited to share our pictures and stories with you! For the next few weeks, you can expect to see a full recap of our trip, starting with a review of our second hotel: The Condado Vanderbilt. 

The overall aesthetic of the Condado is breathtaking. Set on the rocks of the beach, the entire backside of the hotel is one long patio and sitting area. Brandon and I loved this spot for pictures because of ocean views and the darling blue lounge chairs and umbrellas. I sort of expected Puerto Rico to have a similar vibe to Mexico, but we found that it was quite different. The Condado was elegant, polished, while still remaining “beachy” at the same time. I think our favorite part of staying here was the location, the views, and the fact that it was not crowded at all! Most days, we had the beach and the adult pool all to ourselves. 

B: From a geological standpoint, Puerto Rico is awe inspiring. I will not get into the details, but I was nerding out quite significantly at times. The Condado Vanderbilt sits perched upon sandstones and volcanics overlooking barrier reef, breakers, and contrasting shades of blue too rich to truly put into words. The majesty of the sea is its ability to truly inspire and stem daydreams and memories through subtle nuances from any of the five senses. The Condado Vanderbilt itself brought many memories to mind from vacations past containing the scent of sea spray, sounds of wave swash, sights of luxurious accommodations, tastes of mojitos with extra brown sugar, and the feel of warm hospitality that strangely feels likes Americas’ long lost state.

K: This embroidered dress was perfect for the evening. I know that everyone is still talking about the Nordstrom sale (and for good reason!); however, I scored this dress at Zara and it was 50% off. They’re currently trying to get rid of all of their summer stock so almost everything is on sale. If you’ve got a vacation coming up or you just want a great deal on some summer pieces, I highly recommend checking out their site here. Meanwhile, I’ve linked some other little red dresses for you to shop below. 

If you’re traveling to Puerto Rico or the Carribean, I’d definitely recommend packing plenty of dresses. I had two outfits with shorts and a top but found that I got really hot and sticky wearing those. A flowy dress is a much better option, allowing for an optimal breeze and an easy outfit.

B: Soon after checking in at the Condado Vanderbilt, a vivacious concierge named Alberto caught us in the elevator and took it upon himself to show us to our room. Once within our room, Alberto proceeded to explain that basics of the air conditioning controls, TV control, and room service menu with myself only half-listening until something interesting caught my ear. Alberto explained that the hotel had staff members that pushed a cart around all day long that contained an assortment of snacks such as plantain chips, Snickers, and Coca-Cola products. Alberto exclaimed that “we had already paid for the snacks” and to “take advantage” of the assorted trinkets of junk food. I was hooked. I took full advantage of the situation, and I was thankful for the hospitality of Alberto to show us the ropes in the Condado Vanderbilt.