PUERTO RICO CAN BE YOUR NEW HAWAII

(And it's only 3.5 hours away)

This always happens to me: summer rolls around, and I’m left wondering where I can go that captures that magical “Mexico in March” vibe, without ending up in the sweltering heat of Miami or at a resort that feels like a floating family cruise ship in the Bahamas. What I want is simple, albeit hard to come by when living on the East Coast: tropical breezes, mild sunny weather, a warm swimming pool, good room service, and a decent dose of local culture.