Wyndham Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa, Puerto Rico

It would be easy to give in to the impulse to just check in and not ever leave the Wyndham Rio Mar for your whole vacation. And while you can certainly do that -- there are two pools, a mile-long beach, several bars and restaurants, a spa, casino, tennis and golf courses located on the 500-acre property -- there’s plenty close by to visit on day trips, such as Old San Juan and the El Yunque rain forest. The resort can arrange everything for you: after all, nobody wants you to strain yourself while on holiday.

Some hotels masquerade as "resorts" in name only, but the Wyndham Rio Mar offers a truly comprehensive range of amenities and activities: It would take some doing to be bored at this large, self-contained property in Rio Grande, which is only 19 miles from the San Juan international airport but feels far more remote. The only downside is that the property is a fair distance from local attractions, so if you plan on outside excursions, keep in mind it will take some time to get to them.

On property, you can head to the beach to chill out or take a free sailing class, rent a wave runner or a take out a kayak. Towels, chaise lounges and umbrellas are all on hand for guests. Or you can soak up the sun at an adults-only pool with lap lanes and a waterfall or the family pool, which has a water slide and kiddie pool.

The delicious Balinese-themed spa has dozens of treatments to make sure you’re truly relaxed, including my personal favorite, the hot-stone massage.

If you are more inclined to exercise, there’s a tennis program run by Peter Burwash International Tennis for those who want to take skill-building lessons, clinics and tips. There are 11 Har-Tru and two hard courts, four of which have lights for night-time play. And if you don’t bring your own equipment, everything you need is available to rent.

I’m not a golfer, but it’s hard not to be impressed by the two courses here, one designed by Greg Norman, the other designed by Tom & George Fazio. The 6,782-yard Fazio ocean course features four sets of tees and elevated greens with fantastic views. The Greg Norman river course is along the Mameyes River. Norman opted to let nature dictate the design and allowed native foliage to determine the layout.

For those who like to gamble, the 7,000-square-foot casino features 12 gaming tables, including roulette and poker, as well as 150 slots.

Top-notch dining, but no place for leftovers

Forget about any preconceived notions you may have about hotel dining here. The restaurants at Rio Mar are truly among the best I’ve eaten at in a resort. Often, I can’t wait to leave the hotel to sample local fare, but that wasn’t the case on my visit here. Palio offers an Italian menu in a fine dining setting, while Shimas is the resort’s Asian restaurant with a Caribbean twist. Everything from an outdoor tiki bar to a casual café cover all the bases. And on a clear day, the Iguana Pub has great views of the rainforest and quite a delicious mojito.

My room, with a view of the pool and the Atlantic Ocean, had a private balcony where I enjoyed my room service breakfast every day. While the room was modern and bright with a tile floor and natural wood furniture, I felt like the bathroom could use some updating. And it is worth noting that there is no in-room fridge -- if you want to store leftovers or have cold drinks on hand, you have to rent one for $10 per day.

Tempting tours abound

As tempting as it may be to stay put, you really should get out a bit. You can easily book tours from the hotel so you don’t have to drive anywhere or worry about getting lost. And, in a nice “breaking the ice” kind of way, you’ll likely be on a tour with fellow hotel guests. On my visit, I ran into several people on tours and it was nice to both have familiar faces on an excursion and to see the same folks waving at me later at the hotel. You can choose from a variety of options, but two of the most popular tours are Old San Juan and the El Yunque rainforest.

The hotel offers a few options for visiting the historic city, from night-time guided trips where you’ll visit clubs and bars to day-time shopping trips, where you are let loose on your own to explore at your leisure. On my visit, I meandered through the old town, window shopping.

My favorite excursion was to the rain forest. El Yunque is the only tropical forest in the U.S. National Park system, spanning 28,000 acres with an elevation of 3,624 feet at its highest point. Make sure you wear appropriate walking shoes; it gets slippery. If you choose to walk down to the lowest waterfall pool, which I highly recommend, be prepared for a bit of a hike. Don’t forget to wear a bathing suit and bring a towel and waterproof camera.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.