Ponce & South Coast - Puerto Rico - page 284

plaza, its shared balconies look over the street and there's a private terrace out the back
with a small hot tub. It can be a great value (especially since prices seem somewhat nego-
tiable), but pay in cash; there are lots of reports of dubious credit card charges.
Also recommended:
Howard Johnson HOTEL $$
( 787-841-1000; www.hidpr.com ; Hwy 1 Km 123.5; d $111; ) Not much
personality, but abundant in chain hotel comforts including wi-fi, exercise room, game
room and a terrific pool. A pristinely clean option and very near the airport.
Holiday Inn & Tropical Casino HOTEL, CASINO $$
( 787-844-1200; www.sixcontinentshotels.com ;3315PonceByPass;r$110-160;
) Perched atop a hill west of town, this place has a small casino, modern rooms
and bilingual staff. The poolside bar offers views of the Caribbean and surrounding moun-
tains.
Quality Inn El Tuque HOTEL $$
( 787-290-0000; www.eltuque.com ; Rte 2 Km 220, 3330 Ponce By Pass; d $119;
) This tucked-away option with tons of space and a big pool for families adjoins a
speedway and (summer) water park. In winter, the only company may be the pet turtles.
Eating
With a little effort, diners will be rewarded by a crop of creative chefs working in Ponce's
city center. For something cheap and on-the-go, there are carts around Plaza Las Delicias
where a hot dog with the works ($1.50) comes saddled with mustard, ketchup, onions, pep-
pers, processed cheese, meaty chili and crispy shoestring potato chips. Perhaps by way of
suggestion, many of them also sell gum and antacids. If you're up for a drive to the port
area, ponceños will point you to a couple of traditionally popular seafood places with white
tablecloths, water goblets, an armory of silverware and waiters in vests. La Guancha is a
good bet for open-air cafes and restaurants, which take on a festive atmosphere at sunset.
Archipielago CARIBBEAN FUSION $$$
( 787-812-882; www.archipielagopr.com ; Cristina 76; mains $15-40; lunch &
dinner Wed-Fri, dinner Sat & Sun) With a bird's-eye view above Parque de Bombas,
the sleekly designed rooftop restaurant Archipielago has single-handedly upped the ante
on Ponce's fine-dining scene. The blend of Caribbean flavors - chicken and pork stuffed