The Top 5 Puerto Rico Resorts By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon Facebook Instagram Twitter Website The Caribbean isn't just Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon's beat, it's also her passion. She's an award-winning journalist, on-screen host, and Caribbean travel expert who has lived in the region and worked in the industry for decades. So if you want to track down the best souvenir store in Tulum, the coolest place to sip a planteur in St. Barts, or to find out exactly why Jamaican KFC tastes so good (and it does!), she's your go-to. A black-belt shopper, Sarah's not-so-hidden talent is the ability to sniff out a "shopportunity" anywhere in the world. Based in Miami, she's also "jetsetter-in-chief" at JetSetSarah.com, where her passions – travel, style, and fitness – meet. With more than two decades of experience in the industry, she creates custom print, online, and video content about all aspects of Caribbean travel and lifestyle for brands including Food & Wine, Condé Nast Traveler, Afar, AARP, Islands, The Globe and Mail, and The Telegraph. Her work has also been published in the in-flight magazines and blogs of American Airlines, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Air Canada, and Air Jamaica. * Former executive editor of Caribbean Travel + Life magazine * 20+ years of experience as a Caribbean expert * Appeared as a travel expert on the Travel Channel, PBS, and Discovery * Featured in National Geographic, Runner's World, The Washington Post, The New York Post, and Every Day with Rachael Ray * Won the Marcia Vickery-Wallace Award for excellence in travel journalism (2011) * Her feed, @JetSetSarah, was named one of New York Magazine's best travel Instagrams to follow (2017) Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on September 8, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. This year's World's Best Awards survey was open for voting January 11 through May 10, 2021, as destinations around the world were lifting COVID-19 restrictions. Survey rules have always allowed readers to reflect on their travel experiences over a three-year period. We hope that this year's honorees will inspire your own travels as you get back out into the world. Each property we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. Despite 2020's challenges, the "isle of enchantment" continued to — no surprise here — enchant T+L readers, who were attracted to its diverse culture, stunning landscapes, and the ease of traveling to the nearby, no-passport-required United States territory. The island's resorts are a big part of the draw, of course, and readers' top five picks in this new category span the spectrum, from a 50-acre spread in Dorado to a compact boutique in the hip city 'hood of Condado. Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city or resort based on their locations and amenities. "From the moment you check in to when you check out, everything is first class," said one reader of San Juan's historic Condado Vanderbilt Hotel (No. 3), which has presided over Ashford Avenue since 1919. Another reader appreciated the property's Tacos & Tequila restaurant, where guests can enjoy a stunning beach view during their casual dinner, writing, "Great margaritas, tacos, guac with the waves splashing." The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, hotel pool, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. Courtesy of The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort No. 2 Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, elicits similarly high praise: "Everything about this spot is beyond your expectations." The finest resort on the island, bar none," claimed another. T+L readers seemed particularly wowed by the amenities and luxuriously appointed beachfront suites. Nevertheless, such superlatives weren't enough to put either resort in the top spot. Read on to find out how the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort managed to trounce the competition. 1. The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Rio Grande The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico, hotel lobby, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. Courtesy of The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort Is this "the best that Puerto Rico has to offer"? Readers think so, with one describing the retreat as "inspiring and gorgeous … it seems as if you're in a wonderland." Set on a former coconut plantation and bordered by a broad two-mile-long beach, it's the only hotel in the Caribbean to be awarded Audubon International's Gold Signature sanctuary certification. Although "the natural setting of the resort is exquisite," the 139-room property also boasts a roster of man-made amenities that readers appreciate, including a Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed golf course, kids' club, and Iridium spa. It also earned raves for "great service at restaurants, bars, and pools," which may be accessed by chauffeured golf carts. "Oceanside beauty, luxury, first-class service" put this north-coast playground in the top spot. Score: 92.80 Buy Now 2. Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Dorado Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, hotel guest room, beach view, private pool, Dorado, Puerto Rico. Courtesy of /Dorado Beach a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Score: 91.33 Buy Now 3. Condado Vanderbilt Hotel, San Juan Condado Vanderbilt Hotel, grand staircase Condado, Puerto Rico. Courtesy of Condado Vanderbilt Score: 91.09 Buy Now 4. Condado Ocean Club, San Juan Condado Ocean Club, guest room sea view, Condado, Puerto Rico. Courtesy of Condado Ocean Club Score: 87.86 Buy Now 5. Fairmont El San Juan Hotel, Isla Verde Fairmont El San Juan Hotel, beachside pools, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Courtesy of Fairmont El San Juan Score: 87.29 Buy Now See all of our readers' favorite hotels, cities, airlines, cruise lines, and more in the World's Best Awards for 2021. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit