2 Best Hotels in Mayaguez, Rincón and the Porta del Sol

They've managed to shoehorn nearly everything into this big box on the northern edge of Mayagüez, where the sound of slot machines is impossible to escape in the extremely popular casino adjacent to the lobby. The rooms are a bit larger than you'd expect, and locals favor both the casino and the attached bar, which offers frozen drinks and live music. The easy-to-reach property is about 10 minutes from the downtown historic district and five minutes from the airport.

The center of the city's social life, on weekends, this old-fashioned hotel is packed with elegantly dressed men and women—some trying their luck in the casino, some dancing the tango in the lounge, and some sipping cocktails on the long, sweeping terrace. Guest rooms look out onto 20 acres of lush gardens and an aqua park complete with slides, waterfalls, and rivers. El Castillo specializes in seafood. The public beach in Añasco is 20 minutes away.