Aruba Marriott stellaris or similar property on the beach.

Puerto Rico is nice but not as nice. We stayed in a residence inn there but it’s not really a great resort.

Also look into Riyz Carlton Amelia Island, Hilton head vacation club or rentals, Marco island

Costa Rica has several relaxing resorts like JW guanacaste. We also love the Autograph El Mangroove. There are also some all inclusives like W and Westin in Costa Rica.

Also consider JW Cancun, direct flights from dc. Or somewhere in playa del Carmen nearby. Beautiful beaches but also, activities. Direct flights from dc to Cancun.

You don’t mention budget but, depending on when you go, it will affect your options.

We like Puerto Rico. Almost all of the servers that we had were in the US military Reserves.

The service was great and friendly. We drove all over the island.

Anonymous wrote:Question: why do so many Americans go to Cabo/Mexico or US Virgin Islands or Turks and Cacos when Puerto Ricos is right there?

I’ll admit it hasn’t been to PR. But when I look into the PR resorts many seem to have beaches that are “rough” or “not very swimmable.”

Hyatt Aruba is very nice. Long plane trip though.
Grand Cayman is closer, clean, safe.

Aruba and maybe Barbados. But I think Aruba might have some better pricing.

Hyatt Aruba

Could maybe look st Club Med. Rio Wyndham Mar is a good suggestion too

Anonymous wrote:I wanted to like Puerto Rico more but honestly the service leaves so much to be desired compared to other parts of the Caribbean.

I liked the US Virgin Islands as well as British Virgin Islands, and the Caymans.

I just got back from Puerto Rico and the service was great. So much to do and everyone was very friendly. We ate at some great restaurants. And I've stayed all over the Caribbean at 5 star resorts.

I wanted to like Puerto Rico more but honestly the service leaves so much to be desired compared to other parts of the Caribbean.

I liked the US Virgin Islands as well as British Virgin Islands, and the Caymans.

We went to the Iberostar tucan in playa del Carmen with my teens last year and it was lovely. Had adjoining rooms, mostly we just relaxed but also enjoyed organized games of beach volleyball, some of the nightly performances, great guitar player, ping pong and pool, etc. We also did a learn to scuba thing right from the resort which was awesome, and a fishing trip. Ruins and caves are close by if you do start getting stir crazy and town is close by, but we also would have been content just hanging at the resort. There’s some cool wildlife on premises too and food was decent.

The Sanderling in OBX is lovely. Not sure if you’d be willing to stay that close to home.

It's been my experience that in order to get what I consider to be acceptable standards of basic comfort and cleanliness, I need to pay extra for so-called "luxury" accommodations, that usually come with a whole load of services I'm not interested in and will never use. All so that I can have a decent mattress, quality cotton bedding instead of weird polyester that makes me sweat, air conditioner or heating that works without making a racket during the night, and a not-gross room.

Question: why do so many Americans go to Cabo/Mexico or US Virgin Islands or Turks and Cacos when Puerto Ricos is right there?

Marriott Stellaris or Wyndham Rio Mar in Puerto Rico.

We are not fancy, don't drink much, but live modestly and are a two-government salary family. For our 50th birthday, we would like to go with the kids to a tropical beach resort-type place that's trully relaxing. We have never been to a resort, so we don't have super high standards but we need two queen size beds or two adjoining room since our kids are 15 and 17. We want to hang out by the beach and have some moderate ocean-related activities (we are not super active or adventurous but I think just lying down next to the beach would get boring). We live in the South so thinking Carribbean. Hawaii would be great but a little far for us to travel.