A week of site inspections yielded many serendipitous surprises. When I shared with hotel staff that it had been at least 30 years since my last visit to Puerto Rico, I continued to be greeted with welcome back Ms. Books. The welcome mat, or should I say, the red carpet has been rolled out at the island’s five star resorts. When Cuba lost its tourist status, Puerto Rico enjoyed many years as a luxury go to destination. After the Hyatt Dorado shuttered, sullied images of the island kept tourists on the go to smaller far flung Caribbean islands. Three glam five star hotels improve the image: Charlie and Stanley Pasarell’s Royal Isabela Resort, Ritz Carlton Dorado Beach Reserve and the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort.

The heritage of Puerto Rico is a flavorful mix of African, Spanish, and Indian influences, blended with the tropical ambience of rainforests, wide sandy beaches, challenging golf courses and a handful of prime properties. Whether you’re wandering the cobblestone paths of Old San Juan, the unspoiled fragrant El Yunque rain forest or the beach villages on the eastern and southern coast, the island culture and charm is pervasive.

My favorite resorts are luxuriant green and tropical, entering the manicured grounds through a forest of coconut palms, swamp bloodwoods and exotic fragrant orchids, the properties sit in what look like dense rain forests. Royal Isabela owns thousands of acres along the coast and is intent on maintaining open land surrounding their championship golf course.

More to come on each property, but my enthusiasm is extremely high; I was wildly impressed with the excellent OTT dining options, spectacular golf, surfing, paddle boarding, and rain forest hikes. Old San Juan is not the quaint village I enjoyed so long ago; however, a few authentic restaurants serving original dishes can be found amid the cobblestone streets barely wide enough for a single car. Law requires the color scheme of the brightly painted buildings, and the charm of the old town is visible, however, the stores are mostly high-end and tourist shops. The shops may disappoint, but the resorts will delight!