I love to explore and travel to new destinations especially tropical ones when I am leaving the bitter cold of the US Northeast! My family organized a trip to Vieques Island which is a 20 minute inter-island flight from San Juan. I have traveled to San Juan many times for business and pleasure but Vieques is truly a fantastic departure from the Norm.

Vieques has a very special casual vibe and a bohemian feel to it. Very different than so many islands these days that have become commercialized & riddled with chain hotels and stores. There are horses roaming about and a perfect place to take a blissful horseback ride on the beach. Everyone we met was so kind and helpful. They truly wanted to share their island with us. Our driver Jorge (939.253.7290) was a gem, converting his van to a club by playing us the latest reggaeeton music while telling us all about Vieques when he drove us to our local dinner venues. He made our trip memorable with his kindness and knowledge of the area.

The stunning unspoiled beaches are breathtaking and allow one to take in the beauty of the Island. We stayed at the W Retreat and Spa which is situated on the north side of the island with beautiful grounds and 2 private beaches. The vibe of the hotel is very laid back with common areas that open up to the expansive blue waters. The views are stunning.

I love the novel idea that the W retreat has their own airport lounge at the tiny Vieques airport that sits facing the breathtaking blue water. The lounge is decorated with very comfortable sofas and coffee table books so one can relax before or after a flight. The aireport lounge is stocked with rum punch, various coffees, juices and sodas. The airport lounge is a a very cute area to relax before the W’s complimentary van takes one to the property.

In a separate blog post I will go in detail in reference to the the dining venues on Vieques and the bioluminescent bay. Travel is just marvelous as it takes one to another level.