El Salvador

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have vacationed in El Salvador recently, what were your impressions? Thinking of going there, Puerto Rico, or Costa Rica for spring break. The properties in El Salvador are lovely but I am less familiar with how safe it might be. Considering area near El Zonte. Thanks!

We went to El Zonte about five years ago. We had already been all over Central America, and finally went to El Salvador because flights were cheap and we wanted to check the country off of our list.

El Salvador is a world away from either Costa Rica or Puerto Rico. It's much, much poorer, much dirtier, has nowhere near the same tourist infrastructure, and -- whether accurate or not -- feels far less safe. Also, the beaches are not pretty, very remote, mostly rocky and dark and often difficult to walk on -- and generally better for surfing than swimming.

Don't expect to be sitting under a umbrella at a ocean side bar sipping a tropical drink. Don't expect to see a single North American either, especially during spring break, when the locals arrive in droves. Expect to see are lots and lots of Salvadoran families swimming in their cut off jean shorts and t-shirts -- even in their under wear. Many can't afford or don't bother with bathing suits.

We loved our visit to El Salvador, but we are fluent in Spanish and are very seasoned Latin American travelers. We went there knowing that you don't go there for the beaches. I wouldn't recommend it at all to any North American with that kind of vacation in mind.

I'm not the OP
This is disappointing feedback. I was in Nicaragua a few weeks ago and had to connect in the San Salvador airport. I was actually so impressed with how nice everyone/everything was at that airport that I've been considering a trip to El Salvador myself.

For someone that isn't just looking to sit under an umbrella sipping a drink, is there good things to do? Hiking volcanos?

I’m the PP who recommended El Salvador. If you can handle Nicaragua, you will do fine in El Salvador. Similar geography, topography, etc. If you like Granada, try Suchitoto or Ruta de Flores for example.

Nicaragua is far safer than El Salvador from a crime and violence standpoint. Nicaragua is actually one of the safest countries in the hemisphere. El Salvador is better from a health care standpoint, in case there are any problems. It certainly has a much better handle on covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have vacationed in El Salvador recently, what were your impressions? Thinking of going there, Puerto Rico, or Costa Rica for spring break. The properties in El Salvador are lovely but I am less familiar with how safe it might be. Considering area near El Zonte. Thanks!

We went to El Zonte about five years ago. We had already been all over Central America, and finally went to El Salvador because flights were cheap and we wanted to check the country off of our list.

El Salvador is a world away from either Costa Rica or Puerto Rico. It's much, much poorer, much dirtier, has nowhere near the same tourist infrastructure, and -- whether accurate or not -- feels far less safe. Also, the beaches are not pretty, very remote, mostly rocky and dark and often difficult to walk on -- and generally better for surfing than swimming.

Don't expect to be sitting under a umbrella at a ocean side bar sipping a tropical drink. Don't expect to see a single North American either, especially during spring break, when the locals arrive in droves. Expect to see are lots and lots of Salvadoran families swimming in their cut off jean shorts and t-shirts -- even in their under wear. Many can't afford or don't bother with bathing suits.

We loved our visit to El Salvador, but we are fluent in Spanish and are very seasoned Latin American travelers. We went there knowing that you don't go there for the beaches. I wouldn't recommend it at all to any North American with that kind of vacation in mind.

This is absolutely ridiculous advice. El Salvador is wonderful, and the beaches are nice. Try San Marcelino nearest to San Salvador. Broad beach like California and great seafood. The mountain coffee route (Zona Cafetera) is also nice, as is Suchitoto. Also some interesting sites around the capital. Don’t listen to this person PP. It’s not exactly Club Med, but it’s hardly Mogadishu either. I think some people like this PP just get off on how interesting and worldly they are. Quite sad really.

^^Correction: it’s the Ruta de Flores that I meant. The Zona Cafetera is in Colombia. And plenty of Canadian tourists frequent the Decameron resort on the coast. El Salvador is actually quite developed, especially when compared to Honduras and Nicaragua. Don’t let people scare you away.

I'm the poster who you attacked for trying to give an objective assessment of El Salvador. I've been to Colombia, Nicaragua, and Honduras as well. I'd recommend Nicaragua over El Salvador for "spring break." It's safer and has more to offer for sure. No, I wouldn't recommend mainland Honduras -- but the Bay Islands are beautiful and its beaches breathtaking. Roatan is definitely worth a look.

LOL, how did I know Roatan is where you went in Honduras? That’s not real Honduras. Sure, Nicaragua is fine, but it sounds like OP is looking for a beach vacation (which Nicaragua of course has). I don’t know where you have (or haven’t been), but I didn’t find El Salvador particularly dirty, and its beaches were fine. Certainly much cleaner in my experience than Rincon or Condado in PR. Colombia is great too of course. Really anything is more interesting than Costa Rica, with its greedy locals who have a 50 year head start on scamming Gringos. But to each their own of course.

[Anonymous]

This is great. Let’s get this up to ten pages. Much more fun than twenty pages on Disney!

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP who said Guatemala.

Antigua
Lake Atitlan (Panajachel)
7 Altares
Fuego volcano
Tikal

Alternatively, ive always wanted to go to Bacalar, Mexico and the lagoon of 7 colors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have vacationed in El Salvador recently, what were your impressions? Thinking of going there, Puerto Rico, or Costa Rica for spring break. The properties in El Salvador are lovely but I am less familiar with how safe it might be. Considering area near El Zonte. Thanks!

We went to El Zonte about five years ago. We had already been all over Central America, and finally went to El Salvador because flights were cheap and we wanted to check the country off of our list.

El Salvador is a world away from either Costa Rica or Puerto Rico. It's much, much poorer, much dirtier, has nowhere near the same tourist infrastructure, and -- whether accurate or not -- feels far less safe. Also, the beaches are not pretty, very remote, mostly rocky and dark and often difficult to walk on -- and generally better for surfing than swimming.

Don't expect to be sitting under a umbrella at a ocean side bar sipping a tropical drink. Don't expect to see a single North American either, especially during spring break, when the locals arrive in droves. Expect to see are lots and lots of Salvadoran families swimming in their cut off jean shorts and t-shirts -- even in their under wear. Many can't afford or don't bother with bathing suits.

We loved our visit to El Salvador, but we are fluent in Spanish and are very seasoned Latin American travelers. We went there knowing that you don't go there for the beaches. I wouldn't recommend it at all to any North American with that kind of vacation in mind.

I'm not the OP
This is disappointing feedback. I was in Nicaragua a few weeks ago and had to connect in the San Salvador airport. I was actually so impressed with how nice everyone/everything was at that airport that I've been considering a trip to El Salvador myself.

For someone that isn't just looking to sit under an umbrella sipping a drink, is there good things to do? Hiking volcanos?

Ha ha. I've been through that airport 15 times. It's a hub. Nothing special at all.

Maybe I was just so happy to be there because the Managua airport is truly bleak.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have vacationed in El Salvador recently, what were your impressions? Thinking of going there, Puerto Rico, or Costa Rica for spring break. The properties in El Salvador are lovely but I am less familiar with how safe it might be. Considering area near El Zonte. Thanks!

We went to El Zonte about five years ago. We had already been all over Central America, and finally went to El Salvador because flights were cheap and we wanted to check the country off of our list.

El Salvador is a world away from either Costa Rica or Puerto Rico. It's much, much poorer, much dirtier, has nowhere near the same tourist infrastructure, and -- whether accurate or not -- feels far less safe. Also, the beaches are not pretty, very remote, mostly rocky and dark and often difficult to walk on -- and generally better for surfing than swimming.

Don't expect to be sitting under a umbrella at a ocean side bar sipping a tropical drink. Don't expect to see a single North American either, especially during spring break, when the locals arrive in droves. Expect to see are lots and lots of Salvadoran families swimming in their cut off jean shorts and t-shirts -- even in their under wear. Many can't afford or don't bother with bathing suits.

We loved our visit to El Salvador, but we are fluent in Spanish and are very seasoned Latin American travelers. We went there knowing that you don't go there for the beaches. I wouldn't recommend it at all to any North American with that kind of vacation in mind.

This is absolutely ridiculous advice. El Salvador is wonderful, and the beaches are nice. Try San Marcelino nearest to San Salvador. Broad beach like California and great seafood. The mountain coffee route (Zona Cafetera) is also nice, as is Suchitoto. Also some interesting sites around the capital. Don’t listen to this person PP. It’s not exactly Club Med, but it’s hardly Mogadishu either. I think some people like this PP just get off on how interesting and worldly they are. Quite sad really.

^^Correction: it’s the Ruta de Flores that I meant. The Zona Cafetera is in Colombia. And plenty of Canadian tourists frequent the Decameron resort on the coast. El Salvador is actually quite developed, especially when compared to Honduras and Nicaragua. Don’t let people scare you away.

I'm the poster who you attacked for trying to give an objective assessment of El Salvador. I've been to Colombia, Nicaragua, and Honduras as well. I'd recommend Nicaragua over El Salvador for "spring break." It's safer and has more to offer for sure. No, I wouldn't recommend mainland Honduras -- but the Bay Islands are beautiful and its beaches breathtaking. Roatan is definitely worth a look.

LOL, how did I know Roatan is where you went in Honduras? That’s not real Honduras. Sure, Nicaragua is fine, but it sounds like OP is looking for a beach vacation (which Nicaragua of course has). I don’t know where you have (or haven’t been), but I didn’t find El Salvador particularly dirty, and its beaches were fine. Certainly much cleaner in my experience than Rincon or Condado in PR. Colombia is great too of course. Really anything is more interesting than Costa Rica, with its greedy locals who have a 50 year head start on scamming Gringos. But to each their own of course.

You are really a piece of work. I said I wouldn't recommend mainland Honduras but Roatan is worth looking at, didn't I? And do you know how I was able to come to that recommendations? From being to BOTH. A very close relative was a Peace Corps volunteer in a remote village on the mainland, and we visited and explored the country more than once. That's how we discovered Roatan in the first place.

One of us is trying to help. One just wants to be as asshole. It's pretty obvious which is which.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have vacationed in El Salvador recently, what were your impressions? Thinking of going there, Puerto Rico, or Costa Rica for spring break. The properties in El Salvador are lovely but I am less familiar with how safe it might be. Considering area near El Zonte. Thanks!

We went to El Zonte about five years ago. We had already been all over Central America, and finally went to El Salvador because flights were cheap and we wanted to check the country off of our list.

El Salvador is a world away from either Costa Rica or Puerto Rico. It's much, much poorer, much dirtier, has nowhere near the same tourist infrastructure, and -- whether accurate or not -- feels far less safe. Also, the beaches are not pretty, very remote, mostly rocky and dark and often difficult to walk on -- and generally better for surfing than swimming.

Don't expect to be sitting under a umbrella at a ocean side bar sipping a tropical drink. Don't expect to see a single North American either, especially during spring break, when the locals arrive in droves. Expect to see are lots and lots of Salvadoran families swimming in their cut off jean shorts and t-shirts -- even in their under wear. Many can't afford or don't bother with bathing suits.

We loved our visit to El Salvador, but we are fluent in Spanish and are very seasoned Latin American travelers. We went there knowing that you don't go there for the beaches. I wouldn't recommend it at all to any North American with that kind of vacation in mind.

I'm not the OP
This is disappointing feedback. I was in Nicaragua a few weeks ago and had to connect in the San Salvador airport. I was actually so impressed with how nice everyone/everything was at that airport that I've been considering a trip to El Salvador myself.

For someone that isn't just looking to sit under an umbrella sipping a drink, is there good things to do? Hiking volcanos?

Ha ha. I've been through that airport 15 times. It's a hub. Nothing special at all.

Maybe I was just so happy to be there because the Managua airport is truly bleak.

Now that it definitely true!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have vacationed in El Salvador recently, what were your impressions? Thinking of going there, Puerto Rico, or Costa Rica for spring break. The properties in El Salvador are lovely but I am less familiar with how safe it might be. Considering area near El Zonte. Thanks!

We went to El Zonte about five years ago. We had already been all over Central America, and finally went to El Salvador because flights were cheap and we wanted to check the country off of our list.

El Salvador is a world away from either Costa Rica or Puerto Rico. It's much, much poorer, much dirtier, has nowhere near the same tourist infrastructure, and -- whether accurate or not -- feels far less safe. Also, the beaches are not pretty, very remote, mostly rocky and dark and often difficult to walk on -- and generally better for surfing than swimming.

Don't expect to be sitting under a umbrella at a ocean side bar sipping a tropical drink. Don't expect to see a single North American either, especially during spring break, when the locals arrive in droves. Expect to see are lots and lots of Salvadoran families swimming in their cut off jean shorts and t-shirts -- even in their under wear. Many can't afford or don't bother with bathing suits.

We loved our visit to El Salvador, but we are fluent in Spanish and are very seasoned Latin American travelers. We went there knowing that you don't go there for the beaches. I wouldn't recommend it at all to any North American with that kind of vacation in mind.

This is absolutely ridiculous advice. El Salvador is wonderful, and the beaches are nice. Try San Marcelino nearest to San Salvador. Broad beach like California and great seafood. The mountain coffee route (Zona Cafetera) is also nice, as is Suchitoto. Also some interesting sites around the capital. Don’t listen to this person PP. It’s not exactly Club Med, but it’s hardly Mogadishu either. I think some people like this PP just get off on how interesting and worldly they are. Quite sad really.

^^Correction: it’s the Ruta de Flores that I meant. The Zona Cafetera is in Colombia. And plenty of Canadian tourists frequent the Decameron resort on the coast. El Salvador is actually quite developed, especially when compared to Honduras and Nicaragua. Don’t let people scare you away.

I'm the poster who you attacked for trying to give an objective assessment of El Salvador. I've been to Colombia, Nicaragua, and Honduras as well. I'd recommend Nicaragua over El Salvador for "spring break." It's safer and has more to offer for sure. No, I wouldn't recommend mainland Honduras -- but the Bay Islands are beautiful and its beaches breathtaking. Roatan is definitely worth a look.

LOL, how did I know Roatan is where you went in Honduras? That’s not real Honduras. Sure, Nicaragua is fine, but it sounds like OP is looking for a beach vacation (which Nicaragua of course has). I don’t know where you have (or haven’t been), but I didn’t find El Salvador particularly dirty, and its beaches were fine. Certainly much cleaner in my experience than Rincon or Condado in PR. Colombia is great too of course. Really anything is more interesting than Costa Rica, with its greedy locals who have a 50 year head start on scamming Gringos. But to each their own of course.

You are really a piece of work. I said I wouldn't recommend mainland Honduras but Roatan is worth looking at, didn't I? And do you know how I was able to come to that recommendations? From being to BOTH. A very close relative was a Peace Corps volunteer in a remote village on the mainland, and we visited and explored the country more than once. That's how we discovered Roatan in the first place.

One of us is trying to help. One just wants to be as asshole. It's pretty obvious which is which.

OK then. Glad you had a Peace Corps volunteer to hold your hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have vacationed in El Salvador recently, what were your impressions? Thinking of going there, Puerto Rico, or Costa Rica for spring break. The properties in El Salvador are lovely but I am less familiar with how safe it might be. Considering area near El Zonte. Thanks!

We went to El Zonte about five years ago. We had already been all over Central America, and finally went to El Salvador because flights were cheap and we wanted to check the country off of our list.

El Salvador is a world away from either Costa Rica or Puerto Rico. It's much, much poorer, much dirtier, has nowhere near the same tourist infrastructure, and -- whether accurate or not -- feels far less safe. Also, the beaches are not pretty, very remote, mostly rocky and dark and often difficult to walk on -- and generally better for surfing than swimming.

Don't expect to be sitting under a umbrella at a ocean side bar sipping a tropical drink. Don't expect to see a single North American either, especially during spring break, when the locals arrive in droves. Expect to see are lots and lots of Salvadoran families swimming in their cut off jean shorts and t-shirts -- even in their under wear. Many can't afford or don't bother with bathing suits.

We loved our visit to El Salvador, but we are fluent in Spanish and are very seasoned Latin American travelers. We went there knowing that you don't go there for the beaches. I wouldn't recommend it at all to any North American with that kind of vacation in mind.

This is absolutely ridiculous advice. El Salvador is wonderful, and the beaches are nice. Try San Marcelino nearest to San Salvador. Broad beach like California and great seafood. The mountain coffee route (Zona Cafetera) is also nice, as is Suchitoto. Also some interesting sites around the capital. Don’t listen to this person PP. It’s not exactly Club Med, but it’s hardly Mogadishu either. I think some people like this PP just get off on how interesting and worldly they are. Quite sad really.

^^Correction: it’s the Ruta de Flores that I meant. The Zona Cafetera is in Colombia. And plenty of Canadian tourists frequent the Decameron resort on the coast. El Salvador is actually quite developed, especially when compared to Honduras and Nicaragua. Don’t let people scare you away.

I'm the poster who you attacked for trying to give an objective assessment of El Salvador. I've been to Colombia, Nicaragua, and Honduras as well. I'd recommend Nicaragua over El Salvador for "spring break." It's safer and has more to offer for sure. No, I wouldn't recommend mainland Honduras -- but the Bay Islands are beautiful and its beaches breathtaking. Roatan is definitely worth a look.

LOL, how did I know Roatan is where you went in Honduras? That’s not real Honduras. Sure, Nicaragua is fine, but it sounds like OP is looking for a beach vacation (which Nicaragua of course has). I don’t know where you have (or haven’t been), but I didn’t find El Salvador particularly dirty, and its beaches were fine. Certainly much cleaner in my experience than Rincon or Condado in PR. Colombia is great too of course. Really anything is more interesting than Costa Rica, with its greedy locals who have a 50 year head start on scamming Gringos. But to each their own of course.

You are really a piece of work. I said I wouldn't recommend mainland Honduras but Roatan is worth looking at, didn't I? And do you know how I was able to come to that recommendations? From being to BOTH. A very close relative was a Peace Corps volunteer in a remote village on the mainland, and we visited and explored the country more than once. That's how we discovered Roatan in the first place.

One of us is trying to help. One just wants to be as asshole. It's pretty obvious which is which.

OK then. Glad you had a Peace Corps volunteer to hold your hand.

^^PS, you’re right, there’s nothing of interest in Mainland Honduras. Like Copan Ruinas for example. Total waste of time! Please just stop giving advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is great. Let’s get this up to ten pages. Much more fun than twenty pages on Disney!

LOL. DCUM really is interesting. I can't believe I'm getting this attacked for offering my honest perspective!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have vacationed in El Salvador recently, what were your impressions? Thinking of going there, Puerto Rico, or Costa Rica for spring break. The properties in El Salvador are lovely but I am less familiar with how safe it might be. Considering area near El Zonte. Thanks!

We went to El Zonte about five years ago. We had already been all over Central America, and finally went to El Salvador because flights were cheap and we wanted to check the country off of our list.

El Salvador is a world away from either Costa Rica or Puerto Rico. It's much, much poorer, much dirtier, has nowhere near the same tourist infrastructure, and -- whether accurate or not -- feels far less safe. Also, the beaches are not pretty, very remote, mostly rocky and dark and often difficult to walk on -- and generally better for surfing than swimming.

Don't expect to be sitting under a umbrella at a ocean side bar sipping a tropical drink. Don't expect to see a single North American either, especially during spring break, when the locals arrive in droves. Expect to see are lots and lots of Salvadoran families swimming in their cut off jean shorts and t-shirts -- even in their under wear. Many can't afford or don't bother with bathing suits.

We loved our visit to El Salvador, but we are fluent in Spanish and are very seasoned Latin American travelers. We went there knowing that you don't go there for the beaches. I wouldn't recommend it at all to any North American with that kind of vacation in mind.

This is absolutely ridiculous advice. El Salvador is wonderful, and the beaches are nice. Try San Marcelino nearest to San Salvador. Broad beach like California and great seafood. The mountain coffee route (Zona Cafetera) is also nice, as is Suchitoto. Also some interesting sites around the capital. Don’t listen to this person PP. It’s not exactly Club Med, but it’s hardly Mogadishu either. I think some people like this PP just get off on how interesting and worldly they are. Quite sad really.

^^Correction: it’s the Ruta de Flores that I meant. The Zona Cafetera is in Colombia. And plenty of Canadian tourists frequent the Decameron resort on the coast. El Salvador is actually quite developed, especially when compared to Honduras and Nicaragua. Don’t let people scare you away.

I'm the poster who you attacked for trying to give an objective assessment of El Salvador. I've been to Colombia, Nicaragua, and Honduras as well. I'd recommend Nicaragua over El Salvador for "spring break." It's safer and has more to offer for sure. No, I wouldn't recommend mainland Honduras -- but the Bay Islands are beautiful and its beaches breathtaking. Roatan is definitely worth a look.

LOL, how did I know Roatan is where you went in Honduras? That’s not real Honduras. Sure, Nicaragua is fine, but it sounds like OP is looking for a beach vacation (which Nicaragua of course has). I don’t know where you have (or haven’t been), but I didn’t find El Salvador particularly dirty, and its beaches were fine. Certainly much cleaner in my experience than Rincon or Condado in PR. Colombia is great too of course. Really anything is more interesting than Costa Rica, with its greedy locals who have a 50 year head start on scamming Gringos. But to each their own of course.

You are really a piece of work. I said I wouldn't recommend mainland Honduras but Roatan is worth looking at, didn't I? And do you know how I was able to come to that recommendations? From being to BOTH. A very close relative was a Peace Corps volunteer in a remote village on the mainland, and we visited and explored the country more than once. That's how we discovered Roatan in the first place.

One of us is trying to help. One just wants to be as asshole. It's pretty obvious which is which.

OK then. Glad you had a Peace Corps volunteer to hold your hand.

Ok, so you've decided to troll and ruin the thread. I'm out of here. OP, have a nice vacation.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Wow, a lot of diverse opinions! Our family has been to Costa Rica and Nicaragua and we liked both places. This time, I am taking my 70-year old mom along so I am a little more risk-averse. We are hoping for pretty beaches and also hiking. Not planning on going to restaurants or stores except for groceries. In any case, thanks to the PPs and welcome any other advice or suggestions!

[Anonymous]

I just did a search of El Salvador tourism on Google images and it looks pretty awesome! Now I want to go!

That being said, OP….I don’t really understand why you would consider this as a trip with you 70 year old mom for hikes and beaches. It definitely seems like adventure tourism to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:El Salvador LMFAO. Really?

I know tons of people from El Salvador around here. They are the nicest people and I have learned a lot from them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:El Salvador LMFAO. Really?

I know tons of people from El Salvador around here. They are the nicest people and I have learned a lot from them.

I would literally eat pupusas every single day of the trip if I went!!