Don’t be fooled by the Wyndham label: the elegantly adorned Wyndham Puerto Rico is a tropical lover’s delight. Following a 70 million dollar renovation—a project big enough to fund an entire blockbuster movie—the once casual resort has become a ritzy, wind-swept escape from the honking cars and hurried shoes that mark our everyday lives. This is serene, luxuriant relaxation, where palm trees wave in the ocean breeze, azure seas smile and dance hypnotically in the sun, emerald hummingbirds skim above the waves, casting a streak of green across crystalline turquoise waters, lush foliage spills onto the white sand, blurring the natural line between beach and forest. It’s a truly transporting atmosphere, made all the more wonderful by the hotel’s newly chic design.

The idea of adding a Wyndham property to our hotel reviews at first seemed inexplicable—you wouldn’t add a McDonald’s to the Michelin guide, now would you? But this is unlike any other Wyndham property out there, a “risky venture into the field of luxury properties,” as the designers explained at a star-studded ribbon-cutting ceremony. Wyndham’s mission to bring sophisticated, sumptuously designed upgrades to dilapidated Caribbean resorts is a giant shift for a company that specialises in cheap, easy hotels aimed at tourists trying to save a quid, but the gamble has paid off in lyrical ways. In the lobby, you are greeted with a swath of Puerto Rican charm. A glaring blue ocean blinds you when you walk in—a basin so eye-squintingly bright you might miss the Indian Almond Teak flourishes that bring a splash of local flavour, as well as architectural depth, to a predominantly glossy entrance. Along with a splash of champagne and a smile from the friendly staff, you’ll meet the resort’s finest feature, which is obviously its natural surroundings. It’s one of the few hotels tucked beneath the shadow of El Yuneque Rain Forest and the dazzle of the Atlantic Ocean, a duality you can tangibly experience while entering the lobby, with whispering vines at your back and crashing waves at your front. Wyndham Puerto Rico doesn’t waste a moment setting a scene.

A short stroll through lush gardens, where navy-feathered woodpeckers chip into palm trees, creating a click-clack chorus that reminded me of a distant train clacking across the tracks, and you’re at your room. One of the major renovations, Wyndham has turned their rooms into Art Deco retreats, making the most of their spacious layouts. The bathroom is a standout, complete with golden showers (not that kind) that complement green-tile backsplashes perfectly. In fact, these might be the nicest hotel bathrooms in Puerto Rico, romantically lit with just the right amount of Art Deco flair. The entire room gives off Gatsby-in-Paradise vibes that are relaxing after a long day in the sun, giving you the chance to rest before dinner at one of the resort’s five delectable restaurants.

All 400 rooms follow the same theme, boasting scenic views that beckon a trip to nature’s playground. It takes mere seconds to settle into the environs. The scene is set in Technicolour, with two pools sprawled across the beach, multiple beach bars, restaurants and lounge chairs lining the tropical fauna and tan-colored sands. Emulating the island’s glorious landscape, it’s full of lazy rivers, river streams, tiki-hut bristles and coconut trees that drop their fruit into lapping tides. Its crowd is made up of well-to-do couples that stroll the water’s edge or lounge next to the pool, soaking up those UVs after a morning at the spa. You can expect to find honeymooners sitting right next to men planning their proposal, waiting for the right chance to pop the question. The resort, it should be mentioned, is perfectly situated for couples looking for a romantic getaway, not a lively party destination with raves along the beach. Hushed, heavenly and moving at the pace of a leisurely beach walk, Wyndham Puerto Rico gives you the feeling of being miles away from civilisation.

Just far away enough from the crowds, Wyndham is a 40-minute drive from San Juan, the vibrant capital, where castles stand centuries above attacking waves, and each building is adorned with a different pastel colour like a metaphorical pack of Starbursts. I had a fantastic day in San Juan, learning about the island’s rich history while wandering its cobblestone streets, each alley leading to a discovery. Whether it be stray cats licking their manicured paws, hole-in-the-wall restaurants like El Jibarito, serving up aromatic stews you can smell from a block away, or places like Umbrella Street, where you can enjoy a vintage bar like La Factoria that looks like it hasn’t changed in hundreds of years, you can’t go wrong exploring this city’s many diversions. Just remember to be back at the hotel by sunset, to enjoy a cotton-candy sunset that melts into your orange Aperol Spritz. From sunup to sundown, Wyndham Puerto Rico delivers on its pristine natural surroundings paired with prosperous new flourishes, making it a winning venture for Wyndham into luxury resort fare.

W: Wyndham Rio Mar

Social media

Instagram

Written by Asher Luberto for Luxuria Lifestyle International