Puerto Rico, A Ritz Carlton Reserve Experience

I never knew paradise could be so close to home. After a short flight, I arrived into Puerto Rico’s Dorado Beach where I stayed at the Ritz Carlton Reserve – a unique twist on luxury, where you instantly feel a part of a family. I was stunned with how gorgeous the rooms were, from the outside shower to the bedroom doors opening up to your own private/personal pledge pool. Immediately after settling in, I checked out the Spa  Botanico, designed to create a multi- dimensional mind and body experience. I experienced serenity at its finest alongside one of the best massages Ive ever gotten. The spa even has its own pineapple garden – something I had never seen before.  The day ended with fantastic drinks and meal at Positive Sand Bar with the incredible Chef Suttiphan Ngamtipakon. Even though I was pretty exhausted from the day, something about the Ritz vibes made me not want to fall asleep. Luckily – my good friend and fantastic photographer, Senen Llanos, recently moved to Puerto Rico and came to visit. Of course we ended up taking some flicks! The next day was one to remember. After a great sunrise impromptu shoot with Senen and breakfast at Mi Casa, we had the privilege of free diving with Jean Michel Cousteau (!!!!!!!!!!) and learned about the Ambassadors of the Environment program and the importance of taking care of our ocean. As an active scuba diver – this was truly special. One of my favorite things about the Ritz Carlton Reserve was having our own personal bikes to ride around the resort. At first, it was a bit intimidating – as a city girl, I haven’t been on a bike for a while. But it really was so much fun! Especially riding with my new friends Kirsten Alana and Leslie Murphy. After a day filled with adventures – we enjoyed an incredible cocktails and meal prepared by Jose Andres. One of the great things about Chef Andres is the story behind his dishes. One dish was served in a unique serving shoe – because as a kid, Andres would get yelled at from his mother for putting his shoes on the table. He decided to break the rules (with a twist) by designing the serving shoe. Boy do I love creative minds! Truly an experiential dining experiences – something you could always expect from a Ritz Carlton reserve. The following morning – we had another private dining experience for breakfast with Chef Rory Dunaway – where I learned how to make eggs Benedict like a pro. With some free time left on our trip – we grabbed our bathing attire and jumped right into the pool and the ocean – oh to be playing in the sand! Can’t wait to go back!