Caribe Hilton Review in Puerto Rico

Coverup: Playa Lucila / Swimsuit: Beach Riot / Sandals: Tory Burch
Beach Bag: H&M / Sunglasses: Quay

We just got back from a mini getaway and a friend’s wedding at the Caribe Hilton in Puerto Rico. We had a good time and got so many questions since it seems like alot of folks are thinking about traveling to Puerto Rico! This post is not sponsored in anyway - just wanted to share my thoughts with you all.

GETTING THERE

We took a direct flight from Philadelphia to Puerto Rico which was a little under 4 hours. Once we arrived in Puerto Rico we called an Uber - the Uber rates can be all over the place once the flight comes in. For instance, we paid around $30 getting to the hotel and paid around $9 getting to the airport so prices can really fluctuate! Once we got into our Uber getting to the resort was seamless.

THE RESORT

Once we arrived at the Caribe Hotel, I liked that it was located smack in the middle of everything we wanted to see and do. Check in was pretty seamless and luckily our room was ready early. The downstairs areas - the front desk, lobby, bars, restaurants, outdoors (beach/pool) all were well kept and renovated.

The room itself was spacious as well as the bathroom. The rooms appeared to be a little outdated and could use an update. We had a balcony overlooking the ocean and the view was stunning - I really enjoyed looking at the view each morning!

WHERE TO EAT

We didn’t love the food on the resort and opted to leave the resort for food for the most part. We grabbed breakfast from a bagel place nearby and also across the street. Also, since the Uber ride into Old San Juan was very reasonable we checked out a few restaurants - our favorite was Raices (you have to try the mofongo… it’s amazing).

There are also a few restaurants on the property:

Néctar del Caribe - Buffet
Mojitos - Carribean Fusion
Rustica - Italian
Lola’s - Puerto Rican
Caribar – Tapas (Also the birthplace of the Piña Colada)
Morton’s - Steakhouse

WHAT TO DO

Since we were in Puerto Rico for a wedding our time was limited but we were able to see some of the sights.
On the property there are a number of things to do:

• Three Pools (including kids fountain pool) complete with sun beds and umbrellas

• Beach

• Hammock garden

• An outdoor playground

• Fish feeding or the koi pond at the Tropical Gardens

  Off the resort in Puerto Rico there are a number of things to enjoy and see:

• Bioluminescent  Bay - There are five of these in the world and 3 of them are in Puerto Rico

• El Yunque Rainforest

• La Placita

• La Castillo San Cristobal, one of the two famous forts (The other is El Morro)

• Shops in Plaza de Colon

• Stroll around Old San Juan - Make sure to check out La Factoria which is also one of the top 50 bars in the world!

• Toro Verde Adventure Park which has the longest zipline in the world

WHAT TO WEAR

Pink Romper: NBD / Sandals: JustFab

Resort wear, in my opinion, is the best way to go for an island vacation. For daytime I lived in swimsuits and cute cover-ups and in the evenings I dressed up (there was also our friends wedding one night I opted for a floral dress which is below).

Floral Dress: ASTR / Sandals: JustFab / Clutch: Valentino

OVERALL THOUGHTS

In terms of traveling during the pandemic, before traveling you need to comply with COVID restrictions. We felt very safe and had a good time on our trip. Puerto Rico is beautiful and we hope to visit again someday!

Apple Picking Mommy & Me Style

My Outfit:
Sweater: L'Academie (Sold Out - Similar) / Short Sleeve Tee: LOFT
Jeans: Madewell / Boots: JustFab (Old - Similar)

Baby Veer’s Outfit:
Top: Ralph Lauren / Jeans: Nordstrom / Shoes: Nike

Over the weekend we visited my parents up in Connecticut. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and we decided that it was the perfect time to do our favorite quintessential New England fall activity - apple picking! There’s just something so fun (and nostalgic) about apple picking, apple cider, apple cider donuts and tractor rides! Baby Veer took his first tractor ride and loved eating the apples! That evening my mom made the most delicious apple crisp for dessert. I’m so glad we got to make these precious memories with him like our parents do with us!

As a comfy and practical outfit, I wore an oversized sweater, jeans and booties. Even though it was a little warm out I was soo glad I brought my boots because the grass was pretty long in the apple field and a little muddy from the rain.

If you live near a place that does apple picking make sure you go!

Baby Boy Nursery Reveal

My Dress: Lost + Wander / Veer’s Outfit: Carter’s
Wall Decor: Etsy / Star Decals: Etsy
Glider: Carter’s by DaVinci / Marble Sidetable: Target
Lion Stuffed Animal: Pottery Barn / Blanket: Knitted by My Mom
Crib: Babyletto / Mattress: Newton / Crib Sheeet: Newton
*Pillow: Target / *Elephant Stuffed Animal: Pottery Barn
Rug: Old (Similar) / Faux Rug: Pottery Barn
Mirror: Target / Dresser: Delta Children / Changing Table: Keekaroo / Hamper: Pottery Barn
Bookcase: IKEA / Baskets: Target / Cork Board: Old (Similar)
Blackout Curtains: Pottery Barn / Gold Curtain Rods: Bed Bath & Beyond

*Items are removed when baby is asleep in his crib

Today on the blog I am finally sharing a look at Baby Veer’s nursery. For the nursery I wanted to keep things light, airy and neutral so that it can be easily updated as Veer gets older. I really love how this room came together and it really gives a feeling of calmness.

Initially I wanted an accent wall with wallpaper, however, it just seemed like way too much work and also I didn’t see any I really liked for a baby boy. This isn’t going to be our “forever home” and I also wanted to have this room grow with Veer. Plus, I did this room last year when inventory was low as this room was done in 2020 during the pandemic so choices were even more limited. I saw this beautiful star decals from Etsy and thought they would match perfectly with these elephant photos. We also loved that one of them had a “LOVE” version which reminds us of Philadelphia!

For the glider we looked at a whole bunch and ultimately decided on Carter’s by DaVinci glider. This glider has a 360 degree swivel and is super comfortable - it comes with a lumbar pillow as well for extra back support. This glider also comes with a storage ottoman which is great for storage. I loved this cream color the moment I saw it and thought it would go perfectly in the room.

On the glider I have a baby blue blanket that my mom knitted for Veer - it’s so beautiful and this cute lion stuffed animal.

For the windows we purchased these blackout curtains from Pottery Barn and hung them on gold curtain rods. I have blackout curtains from Pottery Barn in all of the bedroom windows throughout our home and they do a great job in blocking out the light (and worth the splurge!).

We added a pretty round marble top side table with gold accent legs between the glider and crib.

For the crib we went with the Babyletto Crib in a white color with the Newton mattress. I did alot of research on mattresses and this one is has gained much popularity as its a breathable mattress. It lets me sleep so much better knowing he’s safe on his mattress. The cribsheet we have is also from Newton mattress and I love how the stair print matches the nursery!

For Veer’s dresser we went with the Delta Children dresser. I switched out the white knobs for the pretty gold ones and it made a huge difference in the dresser! I added a round mirror from Target and then made a changing area on top of the dresser. We went with the Keekaroo changing table which wipes clean - makes clean up much easier! We also went with this boho hamper from Pottery Barn which we can use for laundry or storing Veer’s items such as stuffed animals.

The nursery room is a little odd shaped (not a perfect square/rectangle) so in the corner we put our old IKEA bookshelf and added baskets from Target. The baskets each hold different items in them and we use them to store toys, books, etc. We hung a cork board above the bookshelf to showcase Veer’s artwork and photos.

Overall, this room has easily become one of my favorite rooms in our home. I can’t wait to spend more time with baby Veer in here playing and reading to him!

Books: Welcome to The World, The Wonderful Things You Will Be, Goodnight Moon

Bahamas Vacation Outfits

I wanted to do a separate blog post on all the outfits I wore in Bahamas. What I love about all these looks is that you can wear them through the summer and for vacations. Resort wear, in my opinion is the best way to go for an island vacation. For daytime I lived in swimsuits and cute cover-ups and in the evenings I dressed up each night. Keep reading for outfit details!

This swimsuit was perfect for Baha Bay (Baha Mar’s newest waterpark). It was perfect because it’s a one piece and provides adequate coverage.

My favorite cover-up for our trip which can also be doubled for a daytime or nighttime look! This dress comes in two colors - this pink one and blue one. It can be worn either off the shoulder or normal and tassels really add that extra touch! Under this cover up I wore this bright red one shoulder swimwear from Beach Riot.

This beautiful cut out maxi dress was my favorite evening dress I wore during our trip. It’s well made and the material is light (perfect for Bahamas!). I paired this look with sandals but I think these clear heels would work perfectly as well!

This coverup is so beautiful and chic. It has an open front with a waist tie and this beautiful ruched shoulder detail. I wore this over my swimsuit but it would look super cute paired with jean shorts.

This tiered mini dress was the last look I wore at Baha Mar for datenight at the most delicious Mediterranean restaurant named Cleo. A little white dress is one of those items that will never go out of style and is always in my closet. I love that this version had a spin on it with the tiers.

Baha Mar Resort Review in Nassau, Bahamas

We just got back from the most amazing vacation in Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas. We had such a wonderful stay and today I wanted to break down the different parts of the resort in case you’re also planning a visit in the future. We saw all sorts of groups during our time at the resort - families, bachelorette/bachelor parties, couples, etc. We traveled with our almost 7 month old and our friends who have a 2 year old. This post is not sponsored in anyway - just wanted to share my thoughts with you since I got so many questions about our trip!

GETTING THERE

Baha Mar is located on the island of New Providence (Nassau), the main island in The Bahamas. There is a large airport in Nassau, which makes getting there pretty easy. We like Bahamas because it’s not too far from Philadelphia (about a 3 hour flight to Nassau) and it has some of the most amazing clear waters that I’ve ever seen. Many of you asked if we would visit again and I for sure say YES! The resort has something for everyone and if you’re bringing the kids, it’s also kid friendly.

We had booked a round trip car service from the airport to the resort and back. What was great is that the car service provided car seats so we did not have to lug ours all the way from Philadelphia and instead we just brought our travel stroller instead of our UppaBaby stroller.

THE RESORT

There are three places to stay at Baha Mar - Grand Hyatt, SLS and Rosewood. We stayed at the Grand Hyatt because we were traveling with our baby and I thought that it was the most kid-friendly out of the three. Check in was pretty seamless and the room was spacious. In Grand Hyatt there are the East and West towers. The blue rooms pictured in this post are located in the East tower and the West tower is filled with creamy neutrals.

What I loved about the room was the bathroom. It had a double sink feature, a huge tub and shower and Balmain bath products. What I found a little odd in the rooms were the sliding doors next to the tub, but since we had our baby with us it was nice that we were able to look into the room from the bathroom and check on him. We also had a large balcony with ocean views and it was nice to be able to sit outside.

Instead of room keys you get a wristband (each hotel has it’s own different one) which also acts as your room key and entrance into Baha Bay which is the new waterpark.

Just walking through the resort was has a total vibe. The casino floor is stunning with giant chandeliers and large windows to the outdoors. The resort grounds are immaculate, lush and no detail is spared.

We also noticed that it was much quieter on the weekdays versus the weekend so if I was traveling with family I would prefer the weekday but if I was going with friends the weekend would be more fun. Really depends on what you are looking to do!

WHERE TO EAT

The resort has so many different places to eat. The restaurants are split up within the three hotels - Grand Hyatt, Rosewood and SLS. You are able to go to any of the restaurants in any of the hotels! For the three nights we were there we had reservations at Swimming Pig (American), Katsuya (Japanese) and Cleo (Mediterranean). My favorite dinner was a toss up between Katsuya and Cleo. The best advice I can give is to reserve dinners beforehand. Reservations can be made easily through OpenTable or the Baha Mar website. I made our dinner reservations three weeks in advance. All restaurants were booked up by the time we arrived and the wait for walk ups was REALLY long.

Food and drinks were the most costly part of the trip - more than our flight and hotel room combined. I think you just have to go into the vacation knowing that and being OK with it. For breakfast we would grab food from Madeline’s or Pizza Lab (there is also a Starbucks onsite). Lunch was at the food trucks and one day at the Umami Burger at Baha Bay (which was SO GOOD! Better than Shake Shack and In and Out Burger). Dinner was Swimming Pig, Katsuya and Cleo as I said above. Baha Mar does a great job in providing a variety of food and next time we go we’ll check out the other restaurants! One thing to note is that if you are traveling on a weekday some restaurants don’t open in the evening until Thursday (i.e. Cleo).

Restaurants:
CLEO
KATSUYA
CAFE MADELINE
MARCUS
SUGAR FACTORY
25N
FILIA
PIZZA LAB
SHUANG BA
STIX NOODLE BAR
SWIMMING PIG
STREETBIRD
3 TIDES
CAFE BOULUD
CARNA
COSTA
STARBUCKS
SCOOPS (Ice Cream)

Beach/Pool Area:
EL JEFE
DA POKE BOWL SHACK
UMAMI BURGER

POOLS/BEACH

The beach was stunning and the water was the most clearest I have seen.

All the pools we went too were stunning and there were several of them sprinkled throughout the property.

We mostly spent our time at the Fortune Pool at the H2O swim up pool bar since we were with our little one but if we were traveling without kids I would recommend the Privilege Pool at SLS which is the adults only pool with parties on the weekends. The Dean’s Blue Hole pool is a large pool with a huge cave with sea life. It has the zero-entry so you could walk right into it and also had rocks you could walk up and jump off into. There were tons of big kids at this pool so we didn’t spend too much time here.

What I also liked were there were places to get food and drinks around the property so you never felt like you had to go out of your way to get something to eat/drink. During the day we would grab food near the pool/beach areas.

One piece of advice is to book a cabana beforehand especially if you are traveling with kids or a group - the cabanas come with fan / tv / fridge and it’s nice to have somewhere to park the stroller for the day. You can book the cabana in advance through the Baha Mar website.

There is also the new Beach Club which is located near Baha Bay. We didn’t have time to check this out but it sounds wonderful!

WHAT TO DO

Besides the pool/beach there are many other things to do!

BAHA BAY - Baha Bay is the newly opened waterpark. We loved the fact that there is something for everyone here! Adults, kids and babies we all had tons of fun! Baby Veer had so much fun that he fell asleep in the lazy river. It was the cutest thing EVER! I also liked that towels were easy to find and it was spotless.

WATER ACTIVITIES - There are stand-up paddleboards, single and double kayaks, water hammocks, floating lounges, personal floats, snorkels, and masks.

CASINO - Baha Mar has a beautiful casino with slot machines and table games. The tables opened later than we liked (around noon) but the casino at Baha Bay opens earlier. I actually preferred the casino at Baha Bay which is brand new.

SPA - I went to the ESPA on a prior trip to the Bahamas and had an amazing massage. The spa is designed beautifully and it’s nice that before and after your service you can lounge and have tea/light snacks.

SHOPPING - There is high end shopping - we didn’t really go into much of the store because the hours were weird during the weekdays - I think they open around 2PM but we did go into Cartier and Rolex.(inventory is extremely low due to covid).

AVIARY & SANCTUARY - There are birds which you can feed in the Aviary and also in the Sanctuary there is small ocean life petting zoo with stingrays, starfish, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins. There are also flamingos onsite.

GOLF & TENNIS

FITNESS CENTER - State of the art gym and classes

NIGHTLIFE - After dinner there is alot to do to keep the party going. There is the Rooftop Bar at SLS & Bond Nightclub, Monkey Bar, Blue Note - Piano Bar, Manor and Library Bar. SLS Hotel is the most “adult” friendly out of the three hotels.

TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN

Traveling with a baby was great for this type of resort. Veer is little so he was able to go with the flow. If he was tired he would nap in his stroller and I made sure to bring the portable fan that we hook onto the stroller. We did also bring the stroller onto the beach which was nice - for this trip we did not bring our Uppababy stroller we brought a travel stroller instead.

If you have kids make sure to check out the Aviary and Sanctuary. There are also flamingos on the property which are so beautiful! Each day at 9:30AM and 3:30PM the flamingos take a walk around the property and you can hang out with them! It was such a fun sight to see.

Also (not that this applied to us) but if your child is between 3-12 years of age you can put them in the Explorer’s Club for the day! They have an entire itinerary which I think is awesome.

Some of the items we brought for baby include fan, floatie, sunscreen, swimsuits, etc (blog post HERE).

WHAT TO WEAR

Resort wear, in my opinion, is the best way to go for an island vacation. For daytime I lived in swimsuits and cute cover-ups and in the evenings I dressed up each night. I’ll be doing a separate blog post linking all my outfit details next week so stay tuned!

OVERALL THOUGHTS

In terms of traveling during the pandemic, before traveling you need to complete a health visa for everyone in your party (if you are fully vaccinated you need to show your proof of vaccination or get a covid test done prior). To come back, Baha Mar offers covid testing onsite at the resort. They really make things easy which is great and it was nice to not have to leave the resort for any reason.

Overall, we LOVED our time at Baha Mar and can’t wait to come back!