Puerto Rico on a budget

[Anonymous]

Hi, help me plan a spring break trip to Puerto Rico on a budget. Single mom to two teen girls. We want to relax and explore but also feel safe and not spend a lot of money.

[Anonymous]

Push to a summer trip, that’s how you spend less.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately I need a trip for Spring Break. I just don't know where to start. Like really!! Any help and tips for a safe, relaxing time would be appreciated

[Anonymous]

Well the amount you can spend would help to know

[Anonymous]

We are going in January. We're flying with Frontier which looks a bit cringey (not even free plane snacks) but wound up a couple hundred cheaper than Southwest. We will be staying in rental apartments via VRBO rather than hotels since it's cheaper for 5 of us and we can cook most meals there. Those really seem like the major cost drivers, although of course we haven't made the trip yet so I can't give advice on what's good. What's your budget, OP?

[Anonymous]

Might consider Vieques— in general it’s less developed/a little less expensive with beautiful beaches and felt very safe.

Downside would be you need to get there— flights are most reliable and convenient but more expensive. Also you might want some way to get around the island.

[Anonymous]

See if anything in Isla Verde is in your budget. They have typical US chains that aren’t directly on the beach (albeit very close) so without beachfront premium. Condado area is another one to look at, but is pricier.

[Anonymous]

VRBO usually has worse cancellation policies than AirBnB so be careful about that.

I have flown Frontier twice and it was just fine.

[Anonymous]

Southwest has a few direct flights a day from BWI.

Isla Verde is a good tourist area. There are second-tier hotels not directly on teh beach but a block from it. For example, look up Fairmont El San Juan on Google Maps, then zoom into that area. There's a Residence Inn and Hampton Inn across the street. Oh, and it's near the cockfighting place (Gallistico Club) if you're into that

[Anonymous]

Frontier is fine if you know what to expect and pack light.

Do people usually rent a car in PR? Can you get around easily without one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Frontier is fine if you know what to expect and pack light.

Do people usually rent a car in PR? Can you get around easily without one?

If you stay just outside of San Juan, many of the tour groups offer transportation from the hotels. We survived off that and Uber rides for less than the price of a rental car.

[Anonymous]

Inexpensive Caribbean trip: use travelbyjen.com

Don't see what you want? Call them. Have taken 3 family trips (4 of us) with them now (well, 2 taken, 1 about to be taken)

[Anonymous]

I just came back and outside of the frontier flight, nothing was budget about PR . The food is very expensive! Shockingly expensive actually... I highly recommend choosing your accomodations and possibly eat at home. But even if you eat at home, the groceries are still pricey

[Anonymous]

Single mom with two tweens who went last year. Never felt unsafe. We hiked, did waterfalls/waterslides. I did pay for zip lining and the biobay. Public beaches, grocery shopping at Amigo. We stayed in SJ two nights and the conquistador the rest of the time. Used points on flights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just came back and outside of the frontier flight, nothing was budget about PR . The food is very expensive! Shockingly expensive actually... I highly recommend choosing your accomodations and possibly eat at home. But even if you eat at home, the groceries are still pricey

Odd, I’m the pp and was actually surprised the Amigo grocery prices were in line with what we pay at our local grocery store.