Lounging by the San Juan Marriott pool is far better than shoveling snow

Do you like to be the center of attention, or at least, in a place that’s the center of attention? Let the newly renovated Red Coral Lounge at the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino be your excuse to get out of the cold this winter, and on a plane to Puerto Rico.

The lobby lounge is the focal point of the hotel, right in the center of its lobby. It’s a place where you can enjoy live local music with a cocktail, or relax in a corner and have a private conversation. The rich, earth tones and wood finishes are highlighted with vibrant colors and metal accents that keep the lounge at the center of attention. Even the lobby artwork, created by renowned local artists, is part of the new look.

But the hotel isn’t just the Red Coral Lounge. Once you’ve spent your time there, you can enjoy meals in the La Vista Latin Grill & Bar or Ristorante Tuscany & Wine Bar. Prefer dining by the beach? Pick the La Isla Beach Bar and Grill for when you’re lounging at the pool or getting some sun on the beach. Ready to try your luck? Head into the casino to see if you can go home with some winnings.

Even your room at the San Juan Marriott is a place you want to be—and with the San Dollar package, you can get your fourth night for free. The package also includes free daily breakfast for two at La Vista Restaurant, and is good through April 30, 2012.

Now, what’s the reason to stay at home in the cold this winter?

San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino 787-722-7000
1309 Ashford Ave., San Juan 00907 Puerto Rico

Photo courtesy of San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino

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Puerto Rico Hotel Review: San Juan Marriott & Stellaris Casino

Relax poolside at the San Juan Marriott

Get in on a Puerto Rico Sweet 16 celebration with a stay at the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino. The hotel’s 16th anniversary this year is the perfect excuse for great deals for travelers.

The hotel’s Sweet 16 Package offers a savings of 25 percent, along with a great island experience. The package includes: deluxe accommodations for two adults and two children, executive lounge access, daily breakfast for four at La Vista Latin Grill, one dinner for four at Ristorante Tuscany, $16 per day resort credit, an Old San Juan city tour, a Bio Bay Tour and an El Yunque Rain Forest Tour (tours are for four people).

The package is valid for travel through Dec. 31, 2011, starts at $454 per night and requires a four-night minimum stay. To book, call 800-228-9290 or visit www.marriottsanjuan.com and request promotion code YX1.

But that’s not all—through the end of 2011, the resort also has a new promotion each month for those who book on the 16th of the month. The free added-value perk will be different each time, and will be revealed on Twitter and Facebook on the 17th of the month. You don’t need a booking code. Surprises will be automatically added to all bookings made on the 16th. Items may include free upgrades, spa treatment discounts, or food and beverage credits.

San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino 787-722-7000
1309 Ashford Ave., San Juan 00907 Puerto Rico

Photo courtesy of San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino

Related post:
Puerto Rico Hotel Review: San Juan Marriott & Stellaris Casino

St. Kitts Marriott's pool and the Caribbean Sea

Are the days zooming by faster than you can remember what year it is? Snap out of it and mark this on your calendar, refrigerator door, bathroom mirror—heck, mark it on your forehead: 10.10.10.

That’s right, October, 10, 2010. On that date, a handful of hotels will offer such great deals, you’ve got to get in on the party. Take a look at the possibilities:

Carribbean and Mexico: At participating Marriott & Renaissance Caribbean and Mexico resorts, you can buy one room night at rack rate and get additional nights for $10 each (up to three additional nights for a maximum four-night stay), valid from Oct. 11 to Dec. 20, 2010. Participating resorts are: Aruba Marriott, Aruba Renaissance, JW Marriott Cancun, CasaMagna Cancun Marriott, Grand Cayman Marriott, Puerto Vallarta CasaMagna Marriott, St. Kitts Marriott and Frenchman’s Reef Marriott. To reserve, visit www.paradisebymarriott.com and use promotion code X77.

St. Kitts: On top of the above deal, the St. Kitts Marriott Resort & Royal Beach Casino will offer guests the chance to book up to 10 room nights for only $10 each. The booking time slot will be announced at random via the resort’s Twitter handle, @StKittsMarriott on 10.10.10. Be sure to follow it before the date, and the first 10 people to tweet @StKittsMarriott with the hashtag #SKM10 during the time slot will be able to book up to 10 nights for $10 each, good from Oct. 11 to Dec. 20, 2010.

St. Kitts Marriott Resort & Royal Beach Casino, 869-466-1200
858 Frigate Bay Road, Frigate Bay, St. Kitts and Nevis

Curaçao: At both Kura Hulanda Resorts on the island (Hotel Kura Hulanda Spa & Casino and Lodge Kura Hulanda & Beach Club), make any room reservation and add breakfast, a bottle of wine, or room upgrade for $10 each. The deal is valid from Oct. 15 through Dec. 23, 2010 and Jan. 3 through April 16, 2011. To reserve, call 877-254-3106 or email reservations@kurahulanda.com.

Ka'ana Boutique Resort in Belize

Puerto Rico: At the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, spend four nights/five days in a City View room during Christmas week (between Dec. 23 to 29) with daily breakfast for two, all for $1,010.10. That’s 44 percent off the regular price. To reserve, call 800-228-9290 or visit www.marriottsanjuan.com and request promotion code HO9.

San Juan Marriott & Stellaris Casino, 787-722-7000
1309 Ashford Ave., San Juan, Puerto Rico

Belize: The Ka’ana Boutique Resort offers Balam Rooms for US$110.00 plus 19 percent tax and service charge (regular price is $250 plus 19 percent tax and service charge). Another offer is three nights in a Balam Room, daily breakfast, Xunantunich Tour, transfers to and from Belize City and a free upgrade to a casita (upon availability) for $1,010.10 for two people, including tax and service charge (regular price is $1,670.63). The deal is available now through Dec. 17, 2010 and Jan. 4 through March 31, 2011. To reserve, email reservations@kaanabelize.com and use promotion code K10.10.10.

Ka’ana Boutique Resort, 501-824-3350
Mile 69 1/4, Benque Viejo Road, San Ignacio, Belize

Photos courtesy of St. Kitts Marriott Resort & Royal Beach Casino and Ka’ana Boutique Resort

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San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino

One of the best places to stay in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is Condado Beach–with easy access to dining, shopping, nightlife, beach lounging and the historical area of Old San Juan. And smack in the middle of Condado Beach is the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, a great choice for families or couples to base their San Juan explorations. The hotel now helps guests share their vacation experience with pals back home with free YouTube postcards.

The hotel’s YouTube Concierge offers guests a chance to star in a 30-second video postcard, which is then uploaded to YouTube for you to share with friends and family back home. The free service allows you to avoid worrying about buying postcards or stamps, or whether to bring the camera down to the pool or beach. Take a look at the video we shot poolside on our last day.

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