Puerto Rico will be known to many as the place that the Sharks come from in the musical West Side Story. It is also an unincorporated territory of the United States of America, made up of a main island and several smaller islands. It is an obvious place for Americans who want a taste of the Caribbean to head to, thanks to the fact that Spanish and English are the official languages and the currency is the US dollar.
As well as being able to enjoy some time by the pool, a stroll along the beach and plenty of sunbathing, the Place Casino in Ponce presents an opportunity to do some wagering whilst you’re there.
The Casino
Officially known as Casino de la Plaza, this is the best venue to head to for anyone hoping to enjoy some casino play that will be familiar in nature to anyone who has spent some time in the likes of Las Vegas or Atlantic City. Located in Ponce, it is advertised as the ‘premier entertainment and gaming destination’ in the area.
Slots
The first thing that you’ll notice is the 260+ state-of-the-art slot machines that light up the gaming floor. The modern nature of these means that you’ll be able to play most of the games that you’ll have experienced elsewhere, presented in both straight bet and progressive formats and with different stake amounts.
Roulette
Although slots are popular, they aren’t exactly to everyone’s taste and are usually used by casinos to bring in as much money as possible thanks to the Return to Player amounts on offer. What you might want to do instead is play some of the table games that you’ll find on the casino floor, with roulette always a popular one. The roulette table tends to draw a big crowd, thanks to the excitement provided by the ball spinning around the wheel before eventually coming to a rest in one of the pockets next to its associated number. It is arguably the purest version of ‘fortune’ that you’ll find in any casino anywhere in the world.
Craps
It is the lack of skill in roulette that means that many people will look to avoid it, but you can still get the communal feel offered at the roulette table by playing craps. In many ways it is similar in the sense that it is all about luck, but the fact that the player throws the dice and decides what to bet on means that many people feel as though they have a bit more control over things. That is a fallacy, of course, but that doesn’t stop many people crowding around the craps table in order to get their bet in and see which way the dice are going to land. Even if you don’t want to bet, it can still be thrilling just to be there if someone’s on a hot streak.
Blackjack
One of the games that there is a least a little bit of control over is blackjack, with those that know how to play Basic Strategy at least able to reduce the House Edge a touch. You will be taking on the dealer, but you’d do well to chat to the other people around the table given the fact that their decisions will influence which cards you get dealt. If you don’t fancy that then maybe the bingo on offer at Casino de la Plaza will be more you taste, given that there is no skill required whatsoever. There are plenty of prizes on offer thanks to the fact that ‘Bingo!’ is normally called on a line, two lines and House, just like they do in Blackpool.
The Resort
If you are looking for somewhere in Puerto Rico to stay that is boutique in nature then the hotel at Ponce Plaza is right up your alley. There are 69 rooms available here, so there is a very good chance that you’ll have a really good experience from the excellent staff. Of those rooms, 62 are standard and junior suites, whilst the other seven are referred to as ‘glorious suites’, replicating the colonial style of the building that the hotel is located in. That dates back to 1882, so there is plenty of history in the hotel itself as well as the surrounding area, should you wish to be educated as well as relaxed during your stay on the island.
Hotel Facilities
The hotel’s facilities are decent considering it isn’t exactly the biggest in the world. Rooms have a coffee maker, a desk for you to work on and free internet to use, a 32-inch television as well as the other sorts of amenities that you’d imagine come with a hotel room. The staff will do what they can in order to make your stay a memorable one, including pointing out where you need to go in order to take advantage of the Lola restaurant, with its eclectic cuisine offering. The Melao Coffee Shop is another place you might want to head to if you fancy getting a bite to eat or a snack before heading out into Puerto Rico itself.
Things to Do in Ponce
Once you get out of the hotel and away from the casino, there are numerous things to do in Ponce itself that will keep you entertained. The Museo de Arte de Ponce is a brilliant place to spend an afternoon if you’re looking to get out of the sun, whilst a trip to visit the coffee farms in the mountains is a must. Isla Caja de Muertos, known as ‘coffin island’, is a little way off the coast but is definitely somewhere that you’ll want to spend some time whilst you’re there. There are also rum distilleries that you can visit, should that be your sort of thing. If nothing else, you can sunbathe, swim in the sea or just dive into the hotel’s pool to cool off.