Wyndham Candelero Beach Resort

The entrance to Palmas del Mar is impressive in size. A road winds up to the main gate, where a security guard will check names and direct guests to the hotel. Visitors will then continue to wind their way past golf courses and housing complexes (keep an eye out for signs — it can be easy to get lost in this mega-community, which is also home to villas and condos). There is a hotel turnaround entrance surrounded by lush vegetation and flowering red trees, and then guests have an option to self-park in the lot, which is a bit of a walk away, or use valet service. The lobby is one large open-air space accented with bright red fabric banners. There is a lobby bar, which tends to only see action on the weekends, as well as a bakery for breakfast pastries, coffee and sweets through the day. The lobby leads to a small casino, two other restaurants, and the cozy wine bar. The pool is the main daytime attraction and guests tend to stay here through the day napping or making use of the swim-up pool bar and grill. A beach is a short walk away — it's pretty to look at, and a great place to enjoy a drink, but swimming is often not allowed due to rough waves.Guests usually include golfers, groups on business retreats, and those who only came because they got a deal on a flash sale site. Many guests spend their days on the golf course, tennis courts, or just hitting the pool. Security has a major presence and guests should feel completely safe wandering the grounds any time of day or night. In the morning, it is common to see people walking or jogging around the property before the heat. Kids will enjoy the common iguana sightings and the kiddy pools at the Beach Club. A free hotel shuttle will take guests around the property, which is worth a tour. While certain areas of Palmas del Mar, like the marina with bobbing yachts and the jaw-dropping villa sections, have a whiff of monetary worth, the resort is 30 years old, and is working hard to stay current. There are a few other restaurants on-site to choose from, but the hotel’s wine bar has the best evening ambiance. Other than this, and the small and outdated casino, there is little in the way of nightlife. Management added an all-inclusive option in 2015 and advertised deals on Groupon in an effort to lure more guests.

The 2,750-acre property is Puerto Rico's largest resort complex, and is situated near the town of Humacao along the eastern coast. Most guests will arrive by rental car from San Juan airport, about an hour away. The resort complex is gated with 24-hour security and is a veritable bubble of protection from the outside world — appealing to those who want an easy vacation for all ages. While the ocean is pretty to look at — especially on a clear day when one can see the island of Vieques in the distance — this particular area of beach has choppy waves and it is not the best place for swimming. Most guests and residents use the infinity pool, or head to the Beach Club for a larger pool option (for a fee). For a beach excursion, however, guests can hit the beaches outside of the gates in Humacao, such as El Morrillo, Punta Santiago, Buena Vista, and Punta Candelero. Humacao also has multiple grocery store options within a 10-minute drive for stocking the mini-fridges. There is a store on property but prices are typically higher.

There are 107 non-smoking guest rooms spread out over three-floor buildings (elevators are available), and rooms include king or double beds. Junior Suites have a living area and larger bathroom. One Bedroom Suites have a separate living room and extra flat-screen TV. Decor is simple but clean with white duvets, pale blue walls, blue headboards, tile floors, wood furnishings, and sofa beds. Each room has a coffeemaker, empty mini-fridge, and two bottles of water. French doors open up to the bathrooms with tiling, nice counter space, and tub/shower combos. Business travelers have a chair and work desk with an ethernet cord, but Wi-Fi is only offered in the lobby. This older property may have minor maintenance issues, mostly from the climate’s humidity and loud AC units, and furnishings may show slight wear and tear. Improvements and new additions are continuing under new management. Room service is available for all three meals. 

Wyndham offers all-inclusive options as of 2015, but guests not on the package tend to dine like this: breakfast pastries and coffee at David's Cookies in the lobby, lunch at the pool bar and grill, Ginger, and dinner at the la carte restaurant, Amalgama. Amalgama is open for both breakfast and dinner, and the latter offers a la carte surf and turf options as well as indoor/outdoor seating. The candlelit wine bar on the second floor has a cozy cellar ambience where guests can order food and enjoy a bottle of wine in a temperature-controlled environment. There is a great selection of wine to enjoy here, and guests can also purchase bottles to take back to the room. Room service is available daily from morning to night. In the rest of Palmas del Mar community, there is another restaurant, Café de la Plaza, near the marina, plus a bar and grill at the tennis center. This resort community has easy access to the real world (and town of Humacao), but for those who want to stay on-site, there is plenty to do. Many of these activities come with a fee, however. Most guests tend to use the multi-tiered infinity pool and day beds through the day, but some choose to rent a golf cart or bicycles and explore the seemingly endless miles of pathways. The Beach Club is available to guests and Wyndham staff can arrange day passes for a daily fee. There’s a large adult pool here with drink service, lounge areas, and reserved areas for lap swimming. Kids will have access to a waterslides and wading pools in their own pool, and children's activities are included in the package. Spa treatments and outside excursions can be arranged through the front desk. Free Wi-Fi is available in the lobby. Self-parking is free for guests and is a short walk away. Some choose to arrive by taxi and make use of the free shuttle that can transport guests around key parts of Palmas del Mar. 

There are two championship 18-hole golf courses that are visible from several areas of the property. Another popular feature is the Tennis Club, which has 20 courts (two artificial grass, 14 hard and 4 Har-Tru clay) and a pro shop. The courts can be lit for evening play, and private lessons and clinics are offered. The fitness center is located on the second floor of the facility with treadmills, cardio machines and weights. It also offers group exercise classes from Monday to Saturday, including Pilates and water aerobics. Access to all of the above requires a fee.