Travel Called Me to Puerto Rico: Hilton HHonors Great Getaway | A Day of Relaxation #HHGetaway

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If you’ve been following along, you already know that I was sent on a fun trip, courtesy of Hilton HHonors for a relaxing getaway in Puerto Rico in honor of The Great Getaway Sweepstakes. I’ve already shared more information on the sweepstakes and our wonderful welcome and accommodations at the Embassy Suites Dorado del Mar Beach Resort & Casino. But given that our trip was centered around relaxation, I have to tell you how we spent our Saturday soaking up some rays and being pampered.

After the complimentary breakfast at the Embassy Suites, we headed off to the San Juan Bay Marina to take the San Juan Dreamed Daytime Sailing Tour.

(Jeni, Me, Debra)

The weather wasn’t perfect to start and with a storm cloud rolling in, we hung out at the marina. It didn’t take too long for the clouds to clear up a bit and for the drizzle to stop. So we headed out on our beautiful boat with Captain Judith and her assistant Richie.

We were immediately treated to fresh strawberries and pina coladas which were absolutely delicious. (We’ll just forget about the first glass which landed in my lap because I wasn’t paying attention.  *cough*)

The extra fun part of this tour was Captain Judith with her warm personality and vast knowledge of the area and its history.

And of course,  everywhere you looked were gorgeous views.

We spent a couple of hours relaxing and taking in the suns rays that was finally peaking through the clouds. We all had the option to take a turn at the helm but only Matt took advantage.

The rich history combined with breathtaking vistas was definitely a memorable experience.

We even got to see some dolphins!  I had never seen them in their natural environment so that was a real treat.

I couldn’t resist taking a ton of pictures with my Nikon as the entire tour included so many amazing shots.

My favorite part was stretching out near the front of the boat, feeling the slow rock, hearing slap of the waves against the side and enjoying the warm breeze. It really was my own little bit of heaven.

We were also treated to some delicious appetizers on the boat which just prepped us for our next stop, a wonderful lunch at Budatai. This restaurant in San Juan specializes in a menu filled with oriental inspired delicacies yet traditional elements of Puerto Rican cookery.

Since we all loved seafood, we ordered a wide selection of dishes to share as a group. I think my absolute favorite was the Pork Dumplings Guisados with Shaved Truffles (upper right) but I enjoyed it all!

We had everything from a lime Ceviche (top) to a “to die for” Spicy Ahi Tuna Pegao Sushi (middle) to a delicious Asian Lobster Mash House Kimchee (lower right).

With our stomachs full we headed over to the Olas Spa at the Carbe Hilton San Juan Hotel.

There we were treated to a full body massage, manicure and pedicure which relaxed me so much I thought I was going to fall asleep!

We had some delicious pina coladas and were treated to top notch service. I felt very comfortable, even though it was my first time getting a professional massage. I felt so good after I wondered how I managed to go my whole life without one. I highly recommend!

Because I arrived with a bright pink, I decided to go with a more tropical theme and chose an aqua polish for my nails. It really stood out against my tan and was way more fun than anything traditional I might have picked. We spent two hours at the spa and it was so worth it! I felt so fabulous when we left.

After a quick stop in our hotel room to change, we headed out to Grappa in Dorado for dinner. Of course our entire trip couldn’t go without a hitch and we ran into a long detour getting to the restaurant because of an annual local parade honoring the towns own’s patron saint, Anthony of Padua. But our well traveled trip leader Michelle took good care of us and got us there, if a bit later than intended. It also gave us a chance to see some authentic Puerto Rican flair with their elaborate dresses and lively music, complete with fireworks!

 (left to right: Debra, Jeni, Michelle, me, Matt)

The lighting was horrible for pictures of the food but certainly created a wonderful ambiance. If I had taken photos you would have seen delicious Italian dishes. I had a wonderful chicken carbonara and fell in love with the homemade pasta. Our servers were so gracious and were happy to snap some photos for us at the end of dinner.

Each of us received a flower at the end of the meal and I couldn’t resist taking a shot of it in my hair.

Once back at the hotel I was able to enjoy another drink with our hosts and spend an evening on the beach with Debra. We laid out on chairs, right next to the rolling tide and just chatted about life. It was a perfect end to an amazing day of true relaxation. I didn’t want our vacation to end!

Travel is calling…will you answer?

The Great Getaway

Don’t resist the temptation to have your own relaxing getaway. Hilton HHonors is offering discounted rates with the so you too can enjoy a getaway that won’t break your budget. I found rates as low as $139/night for Puerto Rico!

Now through September 30,2013, Hilton HHonors is encouraging travelers around the world to save with The Great Getaway,offering hotel rates as low as $100 in the U.S., up to 25 % off stays in Middle East and Africa, and up to 20 % off stays in Asia Pacific when booking within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio. That includes over 3,900 properties in 90 countries.

Enter to Win

Be sure to enter the Great Getaway Sweepstakes from Hilton HHonors for your chance to experience  your own getaway. Starting today through July 7th you can vote on the adventure category and be entered to win a getaway in Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Canada or Costa Rica! Other getaway themes include culture and food & wine.  The Great Getaway Sweepstakes ends August 4, 2013.

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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Hilton HHonors however all thoughts remain my own.