Back From PR - Rio Mar
Dec 5th, 2008, 04:58 PM
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Back From PR - Rio Mar
Well, guys, you were right.
Rio Mar is THE place to be and we are going to go back.
Hard to say when because one night cost $409 in March and rightfully so - it is a grand place! We loved it. Ocean view room overviewed gorgeous swimming pool and the ocean.
We were thrilled beyound belives to swim around the pool - get out - make 10 steps to the beach sand and 50 steps into the ocean. December waters in ocean were warmer than in the pool. Cool! I mean - warm!
Athmosphere is so relaxing and stuff was so attending - I would honestly recommended. We've decided to do nothing! My husband just got out of the hospital and we needed just that. We've got it!
I would like to say more but I do not want to just type another post.
If you are staying at Rio Mar - ask and I will give you all ifo you want. Happy travels!
Rio Mar is THE place to be and we are going to go back.
Hard to say when because one night cost $409 in March and rightfully so - it is a grand place! We loved it. Ocean view room overviewed gorgeous swimming pool and the ocean.
We were thrilled beyound belives to swim around the pool - get out - make 10 steps to the beach sand and 50 steps into the ocean. December waters in ocean were warmer than in the pool. Cool! I mean - warm!
Athmosphere is so relaxing and stuff was so attending - I would honestly recommended. We've decided to do nothing! My husband just got out of the hospital and we needed just that. We've got it!
I would like to say more but I do not want to just type another post.
If you are staying at Rio Mar - ask and I will give you all ifo you want. Happy travels!
Dec 6th, 2008, 10:21 PM
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Hi,
cab from airport is $60 plus $1 for each bag.
You just come to the orange stand and they have this fix price for the cab to Rio Mar.
You can't miss it.
Rio Mar has restaurants on site that are moderate priced and we used those.
However we were told some restaurants on the hill (5 min if you take a cab from the hotel) are good but different people told us opposite things about Rickie's place and others so we did not go.
Everyone prized Kings seafood but we went there too early and look of the place was really not very appealing.
Rio Mar is like a Palace in the dump - however funny it sounds.
It is very classy place and when you leave it - everything else looks like - sorry - crap!
We wanted to go to kiosks at Liquilla beach and we took a cab at 9am...driver took us there and all we saw - were stray dogs and homelees looking people all around. I looked like an idiot in my orange beach outfit so we refused to leave the cab. We went back to Rio Mar and were happy to be back.
Later we were told if you want to go to kiosks - you go after 2pm and never on Mondays.
They have everything wrapped in those 'security metal gates' that are rusty and scary looking so it is sad and can really spoil your mood. I am not sure if I am too picky but people suggested to try kiosks food. Did not work for us.
However I would suggest Rio Mar burgers - Tiki Bar or Marbella restaurant! It is awesome! And I was never a burger fan before!
We had those 2 nights on a row.
If you are ordering room service - they have Ceasar salad with upgrade with Salmon or Shrimp scampi.
Slald is $8 and shrimps $9 and salmon $6. So you have a great meal for $17 instead of $24.
Chicken soup is very good. $6.
10 oz beer is ridiculous priced as $7. Go to the convenience store at the entrance of the hotel or gift shop and get beer for $2.99
Their gift shop is awesome!
I left about $500 there! My bad!
Cofee shop by the Casino has $12 pizza - pepperoni is awesome, sausage - crap!
Croussants sandwiches - ham and cheese, turkey and cheese ot tuna and cheese - $5 - best priced food in Rio Mar! It is toasted and huge!
They have yogurts and ice cream.
You will love it. It is awesome place and I hope you will be back!
We will. Ask for the ocean view room. It is worth it to see the ocean almost at your feet and beware of iguanas falling into swimming pool.
Enjoy!
See, Rio Mar is getting to be so polpular at Fodors! Hope you will prove me right.
P.S. We had never been to Mexico nor PR before - so to us it was shocking to see 'local' life conditions - maybe if you had been there before - you can tell me I was unresaonable in my fears - please do, I am ready.
Hope you are going to have a great time.
cab from airport is $60 plus $1 for each bag.
You just come to the orange stand and they have this fix price for the cab to Rio Mar.
You can't miss it.
Rio Mar has restaurants on site that are moderate priced and we used those.
However we were told some restaurants on the hill (5 min if you take a cab from the hotel) are good but different people told us opposite things about Rickie's place and others so we did not go.
Everyone prized Kings seafood but we went there too early and look of the place was really not very appealing.
Rio Mar is like a Palace in the dump - however funny it sounds.
It is very classy place and when you leave it - everything else looks like - sorry - crap!
We wanted to go to kiosks at Liquilla beach and we took a cab at 9am...driver took us there and all we saw - were stray dogs and homelees looking people all around. I looked like an idiot in my orange beach outfit so we refused to leave the cab. We went back to Rio Mar and were happy to be back.
Later we were told if you want to go to kiosks - you go after 2pm and never on Mondays.
They have everything wrapped in those 'security metal gates' that are rusty and scary looking so it is sad and can really spoil your mood. I am not sure if I am too picky but people suggested to try kiosks food. Did not work for us.
However I would suggest Rio Mar burgers - Tiki Bar or Marbella restaurant! It is awesome! And I was never a burger fan before!
We had those 2 nights on a row.
If you are ordering room service - they have Ceasar salad with upgrade with Salmon or Shrimp scampi.
Slald is $8 and shrimps $9 and salmon $6. So you have a great meal for $17 instead of $24.
Chicken soup is very good. $6.
10 oz beer is ridiculous priced as $7. Go to the convenience store at the entrance of the hotel or gift shop and get beer for $2.99
Their gift shop is awesome!
I left about $500 there! My bad!
Cofee shop by the Casino has $12 pizza - pepperoni is awesome, sausage - crap!
Croussants sandwiches - ham and cheese, turkey and cheese ot tuna and cheese - $5 - best priced food in Rio Mar! It is toasted and huge!
They have yogurts and ice cream.
You will love it. It is awesome place and I hope you will be back!
We will. Ask for the ocean view room. It is worth it to see the ocean almost at your feet and beware of iguanas falling into swimming pool.
Enjoy!
See, Rio Mar is getting to be so polpular at Fodors! Hope you will prove me right.
P.S. We had never been to Mexico nor PR before - so to us it was shocking to see 'local' life conditions - maybe if you had been there before - you can tell me I was unresaonable in my fears - please do, I am ready.
Hope you are going to have a great time.
Dec 7th, 2008, 08:33 AM
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Thanks, GroupTraveler!
We've spent a lot of time in the Caribbean ( particularly Jamaica), so I can understand how you feel. But so much of the rich experience we've enjoyed over the years there has taken place away from the hotels/beach, in interactions with locals at their restaurants, grocery stores, shops, etc.
Some of its been uncomfortable, but I think it's really helped us "see" the island in a way that we wouldn't have if we'd stayed at the hotel.
Anyway, I hope that you get a chance to go back and also to visit many more islands! Thanks for your post!
We've spent a lot of time in the Caribbean ( particularly Jamaica), so I can understand how you feel. But so much of the rich experience we've enjoyed over the years there has taken place away from the hotels/beach, in interactions with locals at their restaurants, grocery stores, shops, etc.
Some of its been uncomfortable, but I think it's really helped us "see" the island in a way that we wouldn't have if we'd stayed at the hotel.
Anyway, I hope that you get a chance to go back and also to visit many more islands! Thanks for your post!
Dec 7th, 2008, 12:12 PM
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GroupTraveler, I think you would have had a better experience at the Luquillo kiosks if you'd gone when they were open! We did see them gated at night and in the morning to keep out vandals but at lunchtime they come alive and the beach is pretty good too.
Give them another try next time you go.
Give them another try next time you go.
Dec 7th, 2008, 12:18 PM
#6
We love the food from the vendors at Luquillo Beach. It certainly gives you a more authentic feel for the culture.
WE enjoy mingling with locals when we travel. If we just wanted the luxury of a hotel, we could stay in our own city!
The beach at Luquillo is also beautiful. It is perfectly calm water because there is a reef off shore.
I have stayed in Isla Verde and the Condado, but my favortie vacation in PR was when we rented a condo a half block off the beach in Luquillo. It was around the corner from "The " Luquillo Beach, but we got a real feel of what PR is all about. We rented a car and explored other parts of the island.
I think it may be time to plan another visit!!
WE enjoy mingling with locals when we travel. If we just wanted the luxury of a hotel, we could stay in our own city!
The beach at Luquillo is also beautiful. It is perfectly calm water because there is a reef off shore.
I have stayed in Isla Verde and the Condado, but my favortie vacation in PR was when we rented a condo a half block off the beach in Luquillo. It was around the corner from "The " Luquillo Beach, but we got a real feel of what PR is all about. We rented a car and explored other parts of the island.
I think it may be time to plan another visit!!
Dec 7th, 2008, 02:05 PM
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> I think you would have had a better experience at the Luquillo kiosks if you'd gone when they were open<
You think so? Me too!
BTW best of the kiosks was said La Parillo? The one with red chairs.
You think so?
Me too!BTW best of the kiosks was said La Parillo? The one with red chairs.
Dec 8th, 2008, 04:05 AM
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Group Traveler - thanks for sharing your insights, it's a great trip report. I'm sorry you didn't feel comfortable visiting King's Seafood (EXCELLENT food) or the Luquillo Kioskos. Hopefully next time you'll give it a try... Sounds like you guys had a great trip and I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the Rio Mar.
Weadles- Here's the scoop on the Luquillo kioskos. It is a stretch of 60 connecting concrete buildings right next to the beach in Luquillo. Each one is owned individually with probably a little more than 1/3 abandoned. Being that each is owned separately, they each have their own specialty and days/hours of operation. Some are strictly bars with pool tables, others sell local food specialties from hot boxes in their front window and some are full service sit down restaurants. That being said, my favorites are:
#2 La Parilla- great local specialties.
#9 Conga's- great local specialties and excellent sushi on Saturday nights.
#12 El Jefe Burger Shack- awesome freshly ground chick steak burgers, fish and chips and a really cool atmosphere (this one just opened this summer)
#26 Marta's -local hot box food that she makes fresh throughout the day.
#29 Osobuco- Brand new italian restaurant just open a few weeks ago. All homemade sauces!
#38 Ceviche Hut- really good ceviche.
These are all full service sit down restaurants that are clean and comfortable with very reasonably priced food and I believe most of them are open for lunch and dinner most days of the week. Look past the "exterior" and you will find some of the best food to be had on this end of the island. Buen Provecho!
Weadles- Here's the scoop on the Luquillo kioskos. It is a stretch of 60 connecting concrete buildings right next to the beach in Luquillo. Each one is owned individually with probably a little more than 1/3 abandoned. Being that each is owned separately, they each have their own specialty and days/hours of operation. Some are strictly bars with pool tables, others sell local food specialties from hot boxes in their front window and some are full service sit down restaurants. That being said, my favorites are:
#2 La Parilla- great local specialties.
#9 Conga's- great local specialties and excellent sushi on Saturday nights.
#12 El Jefe Burger Shack- awesome freshly ground chick steak burgers, fish and chips and a really cool atmosphere (this one just opened this summer)
#26 Marta's -local hot box food that she makes fresh throughout the day.
#29 Osobuco- Brand new italian restaurant just open a few weeks ago. All homemade sauces!
#38 Ceviche Hut- really good ceviche.
These are all full service sit down restaurants that are clean and comfortable with very reasonably priced food and I believe most of them are open for lunch and dinner most days of the week. Look past the "exterior" and you will find some of the best food to be had on this end of the island. Buen Provecho!
Dec 8th, 2008, 10:24 AM
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Hi Weadles,
There is parking right in front of the restaurants. If there's no room you can drive around the back and park at the beach. It get's pretty busy down there on the weekends and Sunday late afternoon is especially good for people watching and soaking up the "local color". Enjoy!
There is parking right in front of the restaurants. If there's no room you can drive around the back and park at the beach. It get's pretty busy down there on the weekends and Sunday late afternoon is especially good for people watching and soaking up the "local color". Enjoy!
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