Escape to El Conquistador Resort in Puerto Rico
Planning for a destination wedding can be overwhelming and stressful. Deciding where to host the wedding is key. If you are thinking tropical island with beautiful blue waters, great service and fantastic amenities, consider the El Conquistador and Las Casitas Village in Puerto Rico. As part of the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, there really are two properties in one location. The wedding guests can stay at El Conquistador, while the newly married couple can stay at Las Casitas Village, the adjoining property right next door for their honeymoon.
With no passport required for US residents, having an island wedding in tropical Puerto Rico will delight guests, who will be traveling from the States. Access to Puerto Rico offers numerous direct flights from many US cities. The property is about a 45 minute ride from San Juan and the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in the fishing village of Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Spread over 500 acres, the AAA Four Diamond El Conquistador Resort is divided into five villages including Las Casitas, which offers one, two, and three bedroom villas, as well as, 24-hour butler service. Tucked high upon a cliff, overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the north, El Conquistador offers something for each of your guests.
A championship golf course, spa, private island and water park will provide endless opportunities to entertain your guests. Once guests arrive, there is really no need to leave the property. While the guys can enjoy a day on the links of the 18-hole Arthur Hills championship golf course, the girls can be pampered at the Waldorf Astoria Spa with an Enchanted Bridal spa treatment. The full-service salon offers hair, makeup and nail services, making it easy for the bridal party to look their best on the big day. To bring out the kid in all of your guests, the resort has the Coqui Water Park complete with three high-speed water slides, infinity-edge pool and a relaxing lazy river.
Guests can take the ferry to Palomino Island to relax on the private island, and enjoy a day filled with activities including snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, kayak rentals and horseback. While there is a restaurant and bar on the island, a special rehearsal or bridal luncheon can be arranged in theme for your guests. The award-winning culinary team can create anything from an exotic cocktail reception, to a stylish sit-down dinner or buffet.
There are plenty of individual dining options onsite from fine dining at Chops Steakhouse, to the Stingray Cafe that specializes in Caribbean dishes including Mofongo (a mashed mound of plantains into which combinations of seafood, meat or vegetables are added), to the casual Las Brisas Restaurant offering panoramic ocean views with a breakfast buffet. The wedding team is happy to create custom menus and dining options for the wedding guests. With 23 different restaurants and bars, there is an option for all the guests.
The resort offers three wedding packages that include butler passed hors d’oeuvres during cocktail hour, champagne toast, five-course dinner and four hour open bar. Prices start at $178 per guest. There are numerous locations for the ceremony and reception including both indoor and outdoor settings, based on the size of your wedding. The resort can handle 1,000 guests in the Grand Caribbean Ballroom or the Magnolia Ballroom with space for 80 guests. TBW
For assistance in planning your destination wedding or honeymoon, call 888-543-1282 or www.ElConResort.com.
—By Ronda M. Parag
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