San Juan Puerto Rico

[Gsquared]

Anybody been? Instead of Isla Mujeres this year, we booked San Juan for March 7th-12Th.

[Farmersfan]

Never been to San Juan. We booked Honduras and Belize in August though. Last year we spent a week in Cabo. For any young party goers I highly recommend Cabo.

[Sville]

Yep went last June for a week and loved it. I can recommend some restaurants and other things to do if you want

[nexfan]

I went there a few years ago for a week. Loved it. Hope you like rum.

[Gsquared]

Yep went last June for a week and loved it. I can recommend some restaurants and other things to do if you want
Yes sir, please do!

[hollywood]

Went back in '08 for a week. Absolutely loved it and have recommended to all my friends who frequent Mexico.

We stayed in El Viejo San Juan (Old San Juan's historical region) where we could walk up and down the old streets to all the bars and restaurants. Rented a car for the week as well so we could travel the East Coast... it's a hidden jewel IMO. Most speak english well and the currency is US dollar. Great food.. not "Tex-Mex". A lot of seafood of course with various other cultural favorites. Mojito's are awesome there and make a spot on your itenerary to visit Bacardi's head quarters. ;)

Also make sure you go and see El Yunque!! http://www.elyunque.com/about.html Breath taking! We spent a whole day there.

Wish we could have stayed a month!

[Gsquared]

Went back in '08 for a week. Absolutely loved it and have recommended to all my friends who frequent Mexico.

We stayed in El Viejo San Juan (Old San Juan's historical region) where we could walk up and down the old streets to all the bars and restaurants. Rented a car for the week as well so we could travel the East Coast... it's a hidden jewel IMO. Most speak english well and the currency is US dollar. Great food.. not "Tex-Mex". A lot of seafood of course with various other cultural favorites. Mojito's are awesome there and make a spot on your itenerary to visit Bacardi's head quarters. ;)

Also make sure you go and see El Yunque!! http://www.elyunque.com/about.html Breath taking! We spent a whole day there.

Wish we could have stayed a month!

Thanks Hollywood!!! How long of a drive is it from San Juan to El Yunque?

[nexfan]

We ate at a place called Richie's and the food, view and atmosphere were fantastic. I highly recommend this place.

[Gsquared]

We ate at a place called Richie's and the food, view and atmosphere were fantastic. I highly recommend this place.
This is in San Juan also?

[hollywood]

Thanks Hollywood!!! How long of a drive is it from San Juan to El Yunque?

From memory, it's an hour or less drive. It's a newer toll road to get there, about like Gearge Bush Turnpike in Dallas area. Then you turn off and head up into the mountains on a narrow rural road. Very primitive but cool.

Didn't get to spend much time in Nuevo San Juan.. it's more touristy but cool as well. Don't be surprised to see topless sun bathers. ;)

Most places we found had good to great food... can't think of the names... possibly the rum had something to do with that.

[Cam]

Anybody been? Instead of Isla Mujeres this year, we booked San Juan for March 7th-12Th.

I've been to San Juan.....Texas that is....was born there.......guess I'm no help.....

[Gsquared]

From memory, it's an hour or less drive. It's a newer toll road to get there, about like Gearge Bush Turnpike in Dallas area. Then you turn off and head up into the mountains on a narrow rural road. Very primitive but cool.

Didn't get to spend much time in Nuevo San Juan.. it's more touristy but cool as well. Don't be surprised to see topless sun bathers. ;)

Most places we found had good to great food... can't think of the names... possibly the rum had something to do with that.
Topless sunbathers, thats cool, ima go bottomless so it all works out.

[Sville]

I echo Hollywood's about going to EL Yunique Rainforest. It is the only rain forest operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Dept. I took a bus from the hotel I stayed at and it took about 45-50 minutes to get to. Use this site as well: http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/ I took the Culebra Island trip to Flamenco Beach and it was incredible. Link to Culebra with East Island Excursions (http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/culebra-east-island-excursions/)

Here is a pic from Flamenco Beach http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/ahycb/IMG-20110605-00022.jpg

We stayed at the Marriott Courtyard (https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sjuiv-courtyard-isla-verde-beach-resort/). Their suites were not full at time of check in and they let us upgrade to their best ocean front suite for $40 more dollars a night. It was worth it. Plus they havea good casino. The only down side is they were literally right across the freeway from the airport but after the first day we didn't even notice the jets and the hotel rooms were sound proofed so you didn't hear them at all inside. There is a shopping center near by where we bought some food and incidentals from Walgreens b/c the hotel was rather pricey for their food and drinks. We went out to local restaurants to eat which are very reasonable. One of the best places we went to and ate here two nights was Metropol.

The highlight of the trip for me was the day trip we took to Culebra Island. The snorkeling and beaches were incredible. The next time I go I am staying directly on Culebra.

[Gsquared]

I echo Hollywood's about going to EL Yunique Rainforest. It is the only rain forest operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Dept. I took a bus from the hotel I stayed at and it took about 45-50 minutes to get to. Use this site as well: http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/ I took the Culebra Island trip to Flamenco Beach and it was incredible. Link to Culebra with East Island Excursions (http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/culebra-east-island-excursions/)

Here is a pic from Flamenco Beach http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii18/ahycb/IMG-20110605-00022.jpg

We stayed at the Marriott Courtyard (https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sjuiv-courtyard-isla-verde-beach-resort/). Their suites were not full at time of check in and they let us upgrade to their best ocean front suite for $40 more dollars a night. It was worth it. Plus they havea good casino. The only down side is they were literally right across the freeway from the airport but after the first day we didn't even notice the jets and the hotel rooms were sound proofed so you didn't hear them at all inside. There is a shopping center near by where we bought some food and incidentals from Walgreens b/c the hotel was rather pricey for their food and drinks. We went out to local restaurants to eat which are very reasonable. One of the best places we went to and ate here two nights was Metropol.

The highlight of the trip for me was the day trip we took to Culebra Island. The snorkeling and beaches were incredible. The next time I go I am staying directly on Culebra.

Sweet! Thanks for the info, looks like ill have plenty to do

[turbostud]

Been to San Juan many times when I was active duty in the Coast Guard. Make sure you go see the Bacardi Rum Distillery in San Juan. It is freezing inside the tour building so dont wear shorts and you can send ecards from the tour to email addresses of friends. Plus there is free drinks. The tour takes about an hour and then we chilled out with the drinks for about another half hour, so it is a nice way to spend a half day.
Been all over the island, had friends that were stationed with me that were from Rincon, Aguadilla, and Mayaguez so I got a chance to spend time with their families and all the locals, lots of pretty women and good food. After dark the stop signs and lights become yield signs so you dont get robbed. The driving is horrible all over the island.

If your looking for a really fun time check out the Black Angus, Lots of drunk sailors and women for hire, it's a modern day version of an Old West saloon.

[Gsquared]

Been to San Juan many times when I was active duty in the Coast Guard. Make sure you go see the Bacardi Rum Distillery in San Juan. It is freezing inside the tour building so dont wear shorts and you can send ecards from the tour to email addresses of friends. Plus there is free drinks. The tour takes about an hour and then we chilled out with the drinks for about another half hour, so it is a nice way to spend a half day.
Been all over the island, had friends that were stationed with me that were from Rincon, Aguadilla, and Mayaguez so I got a chance to spend time with their families and all the locals, lots of pretty women and good food. After dark the stop signs and lights become yield signs so you dont get robbed. The driving is horrible all over the island.

If your looking for a really fun time check out the Black Angus, Lots of drunk sailors and women for hire, it's a modern day version of an Old West saloon.
So its a bit dangerous at night in Old San Juan?

[Leopard4Life]

This was an interesting thread. My wife and I went to Puerto Rico in 04 (I think). It was absolutely the worst vacation we ever had. I'm glad to see other's enjoyed their time there. We have no plans to ever go back. We've spent time in several places in Mexico and also vacations in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. When we were there in 04 no bartender had heard of a Mojito and I was telling them what was in it. Also, there were definitely no topless beaches or that many pretty local girls. Be careful driving there, there isn't a dent less car on the island. Whatever you do, do not stop at a stop sign... That is the quickest way to get rear ended. In my travels I've found that people that live on islands have their own take on traffic laws; normally this take is that there shouldn't be any traffic laws. This applies to Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Manhattan and so on.

The rain forest was cool and I went surfing in Isabela and ate at a place called Happy Belly's that everyone recommended. The food was OK, but the view was great (a few surf bunny's/betty's and oh yeah, the ocean) and the beer was cold.

Update us when you get back.

[Sville]

I also wanted to add that the live music at the Marriott Courtyard was very good. They had live music nearly every night. This hotel and some others are situated in the Carolina district just outside of old San Juan. It is basically an upper middle class suburb of San Juan. San Juan is like any other major city if you stick to the tourist spots you will be fine. But there are areas after dark that you dont want to be in just like in Dallas, New Orleans, Ft Worth....ect Basically stay out of the barrios'. You will be able to easily tell where they are.

One other thing I thoroughly enjoyed was zip lining over the rain forest canopy. What an experience!

I did find it interesting as I traveled through the SE parts of the Island, I would go through areas that looked like any other metro-suburb with Bestbuys, Walgreens, and other common chain stores then I would go through blocks that looked like I was in old Mexico. I found everybody to be nice and helpful. If you use cabs negotiate the price before you get in to go. They do have a public bus service you can use that is very cheap but not real reliable as far as being on time for their routes, like many have said driving is an adventure in PR. To be honest with you I was so busy from the time the sun come up to the time it went down I was exhausted and in bed pretty early every night and did not experience much of the night life.

[Gsquared]

I also wanted to add that the live music at the Marriott Courtyard was very good. They had live music nearly every night. This hotel and some others are situated in the Carolina district just outside of old San Juan. It is basically an upper middle class suburb of San Juan. San Juan is like any other major city if you stick to the tourist spots you will be fine. But there are areas after dark that you dont want to be in just like in Dallas, New Orleans, Ft Worth....ect Basically stay out of the barrios'. You will be able to easily tell where they are.

One other thing I thoroughly enjoyed was zip lining over the rain forest canopy. What an experience!

I did find it interesting as I traveled through the SE parts of the Island, I would go through areas that looked like any other metro-suburb with Bestbuys, Walgreens, and other common chain stores then I would go through blocks that looked like I was in old Mexico. I found everybody to be nice and helpful. If you use cabs negotiate the price before you get in to go. They do have a public bus service you can use that is very cheap but not real reliable as far as being on time for their routes, like many have said driving is an adventure in PR. To be honest with you I was so busy from the time the sun come up to the time it went down I was exhausted and in bed pretty early every night and did not experience much of the night life.
We are staying at a Marriot but its not the one you are talking about. Its Marriott something or another and is a casino. This is dangerous, ill wait till Mrs. Squared falls asleep every night and sneak down and lose all our money.

[hollywood]

Gsquared, not sure if you have kids or not, but we left ours with the in-laws. We like to experience the countries culture as much as possible and have the freedom instead of stayin in resorts and being restricted.

We found a great studio style apartment in Old San Juan on vrbo.com for $150/nt (in '08) that was freshly remodeled. It was amazing. The windows had wood shutters without glass. Owners were very nice and gave us do's and don'ts tips to best experience PR. We rented a car, it's not as bad as driving in Mexico, but not far from it. To some others points before, it can get pretty rough. We rented a Toyota Corola I think and that was almost too big! lol A lot of one way streets and like most countries outside of US, they have traffic circles. And do stay on the main roads, I got off course in an area between Old San Juan and New San Juan, it was pretty bad. It was daytime so I wasn't too nervous.

Here's where we stayed. It was really cool.
http://www.vrbo.com/88413