We sit at the outdoor bar adjacent to the convention center, sipping the local Medalla beer, waiting for our buses to arrive.  The welcome conference has just let out, sending over 500 travel agents outside the convention center and into a massive line, waiting for transportation to the beach party.

The first bus arrives as we settle our bill, hurrying to join the massive crush of people waiting for transportation to the party.  One of our hostesses for the week from the Puerto Rican Tourism Complany spots us as we meander over towards the lines.  She gives us a hurried wave and urges us to join her and the rest of our group near the front of the line for the very first bus.

“We will go on first,” she exclaims as we bypass the other 500 people patiently waiting.  I feel a bit guilty, but as our hostess says nonchalantly, we are the press.  I have to chuckle a bit at that statement as we board the first bus, wondering in the back of my mind how, in less than two short years, I’ve gone from enduring a day long mini-bus ride in Laos, complete with live chickens and the roadside purchase of dead squirrels for God knows what, to being treated like a total rock star in Puerto Rico.

This past week, and for the first time in my short career as a travel writer, I was invited on a press trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico to participate in the ASTA’s (American Society of Travel Agents) International Destination Expo and to find out why Puerto Rico Does it Better.  I obviously jumped at the chance, not only to go to Puerto Rico for a week, all expenses paid, but also to participate in activities that made me feel like a real journalist.  The latter is honestly what excited me most.  Validation for my hard work over the past year had me proud and excited.

But this trip was a bit different to our usual travel style.  In the eleven years that Megan and I have been together, we have taken many trips on the cheap.  Camping our way around the American Southwest and Northeast, going to music festivals and eating Chef Boyardee and quesadillas made from canned chicken and jarred salsa.  Nearly getting electrocuted while trying to get the lamp to work in a less than adequate motel room in New Mexico.  Staying in some questionable establishments while backpacking around Europe.  And of course traveling around the world for a year on about $70/day.

While a certain sect of backpackers take pride in that grungy, inexpensive lifestyle, and while it has afforded us to travel to many places we otherwise would not have been able to, I have to say, I could get used to this.  I had to pinch myself many times, and while I know that not all press trips are made equal, staying in nice hotels, eating at 5 star restaurants while meeting the head chefs, managers, and owners, and being introduced to important travel people multiple times a day was rather exciting for a newbie travel writer like myself.

It began at the airport.  For once, I was one of the people greeted by a driver holding a sign with my name on it rather than having to figure out the local bus or train routes.  As the trip went on, I put my Type A travel personality on the backburner for once, not having to plan a single thing or make a decision about anything (I didn’t make a single list-a first for me while traveling).

We were whisked away on many adventures, from ziplining to ATV riding to horseback riding.  From walking tours of Old San Juan to rum tastings to snorkeling on catamaran trips out to beautiful beaches.

And the food, don’t get me started on the food.  We experienced some of the top restaurants in the San Juan area.  From a 9 course lunch at a roadside restaurant (that opened just for us) to dinner on the beach to meals at some of the most renowned restaurants in San Juan, the food we were fed made me feel like a king (don’t worry, in true World Travel for Couples fashion there will be a food post coming soon!).

Being treated in this manner was certainly exciting and unusual for me, but the work part of the week was also very thrilling.  Sitting at the table marked Press at the welcome speeches was pretty cool.  Participating in my very first press conference with the Executive Director of Puerto Rico Tourism and the CEO and President of ASTA had me both eager and nervous, wondering if I’d be able to maintain my composure enough to even ask a question (I asked a few!).  Being introduced as a journalist time and time again to important people in the travel industry had me blushing on the inside.

I have to admit, I felt out of my element some of the time, but hopefully I did a good job covering it up.  While I don’t plan on completely giving up our budget travel ways, I admit that this new way of traveling was a welcome change.  Who doesn’t like to feel like a rock star every once in a while?

I know a lot of other travel bloggers out there follow this site, and we all know that it’s a tough road ahead of us while trying to make this into a legitimate career.  And while I personally have a long way to go in that respect, this was a huge first step.  We all know it takes patience, tons of patience, but if your dream is to someday be called a journalist, it can happen.  This past week won’t all of a sudden make me a successful travel writer, but it’s a start.  It was an experience that taught me a lot, and participating in an event like this has given me a great deal of confidence moving forward.

Have you been on a press trip of any kind before? Where to?  What was it like?  Comment below to share your stories.