Puerto Rico

[LittleSpirit02]

Does anyone have experience with vacation in Puerto Rico? Where did you go? What did you like? Any tips/recommendations?

[BrerGnat]

We are going this summer, just DH and I. We are both from Puerto Rico but we haven't been there for a long time. For a tourist, you have to really do your homework. Puerto Rico is quite a dangerous place these days. Read up on places to avoid, and I'd recommend against renting a car. Car break ins and "bumping" incidents are common. Stay in the Condado Beach area. There are several nice resorts there, many restaurants and bars in walking distance, and a short cab ride to Old San Juan. I'd recommend a tour of El Yunque, the rainforest. There are also kayak tours of the bioluminescent bay. Old San Juan is very charming during the day but you should be careful at night. Stick to places like La Placita if you want to experience authentic Puerto Rican food/dance in a street party atmosphere. Don't walk ANY beach at night. That is not safe at all. Don't venture out alone, really anywhere. Try to stick to well traveled and well lit roads.

We will likely stay at either La Concha resort or the Marriott Stellaris. These are both in great locations, very close to each other, and are right on the beach.

Just so you are aware, the beaches in PR are not great for actually swimming. Especially on the north side of the island, rip currents are a very real threat. Often, there will be red flags flying at the beach.

If you DO rent a car, you can drive to the western parts of the island for a more laid back, authentic experience. Aguadilla and Rincon are two popular, but off the beaten path places worthy of visiting. There is far less crime on the western half of the island, but not as much to see/do.

At this time I would recommend against staying in any hotels close to the airport. Crime is a serious problem there right now. My uncle lives in a high rise right next to the Ritz Carlton, and he has been targeted recently.

[LittleSpirit02]

Thanks Natalie! That's all very good food for thought.

One place we were considering was El Conquistador in Fajardo. Looks like you can get a set rate tourist cab from San Juan to there for about 80 each way. Any thoughts on this specifically?

[BrerGnat]

I have heard mixed reviews of that place. Look on Trip Advisor. If you stay there, you should probably rent a car. I'd personally not stay there. Seems like kind of a tourist trap, with nothing else to do in the area, prices on site are jacked up to the max!

[NJGIRL]

It has been so long since we have been to PR so I don't want to give any advice for restaurants or hotel but I do have to say I loved the shopping in Old San Juan. I don't care for shopping on most islands but loved the Old San Juan shops.

[awaggett]

We went in February 2012 and are heading back this February. We stayed and are staying again at La Concha (Renaissance) at Condado. It is a really nice resort, the pools and lobby were amazing.

We rented a car for one day and plan to do so again. We enjoyed the rain forest and the Luquillo food kiosks. We drove out to the El Conquistador, but it was closed for a private event (Mitt Romney). The resort looked amazing from afar; we may try to head out there again this visit.

We really enjoyed Old San Juan and the Condado area. Plan to check out La Placita and Bacardi this trip. I've heard the mall is nice--any comments on that?

[BrerGnat]

The mall is a mall. It's the largest in the Caribbean, I think, but very similar to most malls we have here. It's nothing special if you have nice malls where you live.