Palmas del Mar, Puerto Rico

Situated on Puerto Rico’s eastern shore, Palmas del Mar, a planned community 20 minutes away from Humacao, has delighted Royal Holiday members for decades. With its crystalline waters and shining beaches, it’s the perfect place for a quiet romantic weekend, a boisterous family event, or anything in between, and as a place specifically designed for vacationing fun, no one will ever want for something exciting to do or see. Royal Holiday members often make visiting Palmas del Mar an annual treat, and it’s easy to see why; with infinite sunshine and world-class resort amenities, it is hard to stay away.

Part of Palmas del Mar’s popularity among Royal Holiday members is due to the club’s resort offering in the area, the Park Royal Club Cala. Completely renovated in 2012, the property features units ranging from cozy one-bedroom bungalows to expansive three-bedroom Royal accommodations. Club Cala can handle groups of any size or combination, and while one can easily obtain groceries to cook in the in-room kitchenettes, it will be hard to resist the allure of the area’s 16 restaurants and beach club. With a playground for the kids and a nearby casino for the grown-ups, as well as easy access to shopping, exercise facilities, and the beautiful Caribbean Sea, it’s little wonder that Club Cala continues to rank among Royal Holiday members’ favorite resorts.

As a community specifically built for pleasure-seeking tourists, Palmas del Mar offers every kind of vacationing delight. Golfers will enjoy two challenging 18-hole courses, while expert and novice divers alike will find plenty to do off the coast of the Palmas del Mar Beach. The community’s Tennis Club features 20 courts in every conceivable style, the Beach Club offers water slides and wading pools for the kids and a swimming pool reserved for adults, and the Equestrian Center provides an opportunity for a seaside ride along the glittering coast. Those feeling overexerted can visit the Country Club’s spa for relaxing massage treatments and other indulgent therapies.

However, the Palmas del Mar area offers more than just sandy beaches. Royal Holiday members will also enjoy visiting Humacao, known among locals as La Perla del Oriente, or the Pearl of the Orient. Others will do well to take a day trip to San Juan, the island’s delightful capital city, where one can walk the blue-paved streets of Old San Juan, climb an expertly restored lighthouse at the Fort San Felipe del Morro, or explore one of the many national parks strung along the coast between Humacao and San Juan.

Those looking to escape both the hustle of the city and the bustle of Palmas del Mar’s boisterous resort culture will probably seek an offshore refuge. The Vieques National Wildlife Refuge, located on Vieques Island, exists as a testament to the astounding biodiversity and natural beauty of the region. For Royal Holiday members looking to enjoy the flora and fauna of Puerto Rico a little closer to shore, however, nothing can beat a kayak ride to the Bioluminescent Bay on a moonless night, when the motion of the waves and boats stirs the plankton living in the bay into a stunning light show.