Evening star., 1950-01-29
The Travellers Notebook

/ around . pineapple: . bottle OF
Puerto Rican rum of brand we'll
known In the States, and another
native pineapple from the growers
association. Don't be puzzled by
the absence Of . knife. It is not
an oversight. The top has been
severed and the inside cut into
long strips.
Such amenities could not be
traced to Alfaro Sera. one Of the
assistant managers. He was en-
countered later. Washingtonians
may expect especial attention from
him. however. He lived in the Ma
tion's Capital about II years while
with the Mayhower Hotel. He was
superintendent of service there
before coming to the Caribe a few
months ago.
Operation Bootstrap'-Unlike
a number Of islands In the Carib-
bean area, Puerto Rico has no cur
rency devaluation bargains to offer
its visitors. The familiar United
States dollar. quarter and dime are
official here, and, with some ex-
ceptions, prices follow the pattern
on the mainland. The cost-of- -liv-
ing index varies but a few points
of that in the States.
This is by way Of explaining
that prices at the Caribe Hilton
are in line with what the vaca-
toner could expect of a fashion,
able resort hotel in Florida or
Southern. California. To be speci-
nc, single rooms are 50 to $12.
double, $12 to SIS. These rates are
on the European plan, and are
constant throughout the year. The
hotel takes the position that
Puerto Rico is year. round resort.
with no high" or "low" season.
Vacationers. discovering new
and exciting lands. are not likely
to dwell on the reason tourist
facilities are built. That there
might be some profit in them is not
the complete answer, especially in
the case Of the Caribe Hilton.
Nor is 1t the sole reason the long
popular Condado Beach Hotel,
also at San Juan, Is spending
about 100000 in an expansion
and renovation program. It is
part Of governmental plan to
popularize the vacation possibili-
ties Of the island. In turn, this isl
one phase of a larger plan TO
lift the island out of economic
difficulties virtually by its boot
straps.
The islands experts have fig
ured that $30,o0o,oo is It's right
ful share Of the travel into the
Caribbean. and Is building to-
ward that goal. It's . step-by-
step business-the more tourists.
the more facilities; the more IA
c1lities. the more tourists. Also,
the better the highways, the more
easily other sections Of the island
can be reached: the better The
transportation facilities, the easi-
er 1t will be for travellers to come.
Puerto Rico Is banking heavily
on the growing inclination of the
modern traveller to fly. Work has
started on a new $4,000, 900 air.
port. Isla Verde. east of San
Juan and near the Atlantic
shore. BY the time 1t is completed
several years hence. an improved
highway will bring 1t within Isl
minutes Of the city. Isla Verde
will be operated on q scale COM
parable with Miami's Interna-
tional Airport. .gasfss
The present Isla Grandes Airport,
virtually in the heart OF San Juan,
Is handling about 1900 flights a
month. Outnumbering planes of
other lines are those Of Pan
American World Always, with di-
rect flights to New York and to
Miami, and over a 70,000-mile
Latin American network of routes.
When Isla Verde fortifies Puerto
Rico's position as an aerial hub
Of the Caribbean, its 5000 feet of
runways will make 1t possible to
clear 1000 operations a day.
| Il n 4
Day In Puerto Rico-During the
Caribbean's peak season, as many
as 800 air passengers step daily
Continued on Page B-l0.)