My first of several stays at El Conquistador Resort in Fajardo, Puerto Rico began in 2001, where I stayed a for a few days as a graduation gift to myself. I recall taking the boat to Palomino Island and instantly falling in love with the resort. That was the beginning of a series of stays, where I have had the opportunity to see how it has changed. Several years ago, El Conquistador Resort was acquired by the Waldorf Astoria and underwent a multi-million dollar renovation. Earlier this month, I had the opportunity not only to stay at El Con as it is affectionately called but take over their Instagram account and share my favorite parts of the resort.
The Room: There are several buildings at El Conquistador Resort. Our room was at Las Brisas which had a beautiful view of the ocean, the pool, and the marina. The building sits high, which gives you a great vantage point of the property. Our deluxe room was large with a queen sized bed, a chaise, and a balcony. The bathroom and closet area were quite large as well. I was pleasantly surprised to see Salvatore Ferragamo toiletries in the bathroom, which makes you feel in the lap of luxury even more.
The Food: There are plenty of dining choices at the hotel. You can literally stay there for a weekend and not eat at the same place twice! We had dinner at Chops, the steakhouse of the resort. The setting is perfect for a romantic evening with its red velvet décor, dim lights, and sexy ambiance. One of the things that is sometimes lost at a large resort is a local touch when it comes to food. Not so at El Conquistador. We indulged on chicharron of lamb glazed with guava sauce, traditional Puerto Rican mofongo (mashed fried plantains), and scallops on a bed of local mango. However, the sweet ending is what did us in: a pineapple crumble (made of local pineapples) topped with coconut ice cream. It was like tasting a pina colada pie!
Palomino Island: If there’s a number one reason why you should stay at El Conquistador Resort, it should be Palomino Island. How many hotels can boast that they have their own island? This tiny jewel is accessible to the hotel by a ferry that takes guests to the idyllic island. The sand is white and there is plenty to do. We took a hike to the top of the island and took in the beauty of the Puerto Rican coast line. If you are not the lounging type (I’m not!), there’s plenty to do. You can rent snorkels, small sailboats, kayaks, and stand up paddleboards to keep you busy in the water. We also indulged in frozen rum cocktails from the Don Q Bar at the island. With a view like the one at Palomino, a frozen cocktail is mandatory!
The Pools: There are several pools to choose from at the resort, which is perfect to disperse the crowds. There is nothing more disappointing than being at a resort with a crowded pool! The pools are well kept and the main pool has a vacation essential: the swim up bar.
The Service: The service was friendly at all areas of the hotel. For a hotel with more than 1,200 employees, I enjoyed how the staff was not only friendly to the guests, but to one another. I enjoyed the banter between the bartenders at Palomino, it made me feel at home. The only point for improvement was the check-out process. We waited 20 minutes to check out of the hotel. It would be more efficient to have more front desk staff or an express checkout system.
Location: Although the resort is in a secluded area of Fajardo, there’s plenty in the local area you don’t want to miss. I highly recommend to rent a car to get to the resort and for you to have a touch of the local experience. Head to the kiosks of Luquillo and mingle with locals. You can get from fried cod fritters to gourmet hamburgers. Head to El Yunque, the only rainforest in the US National Park System. To avoid the crowds, head to the park on weekdays in the late afternoon. You can spend hours hiking in nature.
What to know: Food and drink at El Conquistador Resort is not included in the room rate. Cocktails and food are moderately priced. Make sure to budget for incidentals and food. If coming by car, you can save by doing self-parking versus valet. On weekends, many locals come to the resort for a weekend getaway therefore the resort area may be a bit more crowded. Take your time! There’s plenty to do in the resort. From watersports at Palomino to an 18-hole golf course, I recommend reserving a tee-time or spa treatments prior to your arrival.
The verdict: From a spontaneous weekend getaway to a destination wedding, El Conquistador Resort is a great bet. I have been visiting the hotel for almost 15 years and like a good wine, the resort gets better with age. The property has done a great job at balancing luxury and bringing the local elements of Puerto Rico, which as a Puerto Rican, I truly appreciated.
Note: I was hosted by El Conquistador Resort. As always, opinions are my own.
We took the family for the holiday to Puerto Rico and stayed at El Conquistador. It’s a great property with plenty to do. We especially enjoyed the beach at Palomino Island.
Looks like a fabulous place to stay, I can certainly see why you return time and again.
this might need to be where I turn 30!!!
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