Help plan our Puerto Rico itinerary

[Anonymous]

you may be referring to Rincon Beach resort nice place located in Anasco w/ a private beach. As for the Good Friday closings i'd doubt that will be an impact. I've bought liquor on Christmas day after 4:00 in the afternoon. Regular stores don't close neither do restaurants on Good Friday

[Anonymous]

We went last summer. El Yunque and Old San Juan were both full day trips.

We stayed in Condado which was very conveniently located to the airport, Old Juan Juan and El Yunque.

Enjoy your trip. Sounds like a whirlwind but pack light and you will have fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're taking our four boys to PR for Easter week. This will be our first time in PR with our kids. Past trips were decades ago with just DH and I mostly hanging out relaxing on the beach...which we can't do for an entire week with our boys (they'll get bored).

We decided to rent a car and explore the island from one homebase hotel (admittedly, because we got a great rate for a suite). We haven't formalized an itinerary yet, but we plan to visit Old San Juan, El Yunque, Luquillo Beach (and the kioskos). We have other beaches off the beaten path on our list along with some off the beaten path seafood restaurants (little dive bars and beach shacks suggested by a local we know).

Rincon is supposed to be cool and laid back, and there's a cute resort over there that was suggested in another PR thread. I researched it and almost booked it, but DH wanted to stay in a more central location for our first trip to the island with our kids.

I would skip Ponce, fwiw.

Have you heard that everything shuts down on Good Friday? I've been cautioned to plan to stay at the resort that day since the entire island shuts down. Restaurants will reopen on Saturday.

Mind sharing the details on your suite/rate? We have 3 kids and its so hard to find a reasonable hotel that sleeps 5/6 (and my 11 yo is 5'6 so yeah, we need sleeping space).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're taking our four boys to PR for Easter week. This will be our first time in PR with our kids. Past trips were decades ago with just DH and I mostly hanging out relaxing on the beach...which we can't do for an entire week with our boys (they'll get bored).

We decided to rent a car and explore the island from one homebase hotel (admittedly, because we got a great rate for a suite). We haven't formalized an itinerary yet, but we plan to visit Old San Juan, El Yunque, Luquillo Beach (and the kioskos). We have other beaches off the beaten path on our list along with some off the beaten path seafood restaurants (little dive bars and beach shacks suggested by a local we know).

Rincon is supposed to be cool and laid back, and there's a cute resort over there that was suggested in another PR thread. I researched it and almost booked it, but DH wanted to stay in a more central location for our first trip to the island with our kids.

I would skip Ponce, fwiw.

Have you heard that everything shuts down on Good Friday? I've been cautioned to plan to stay at the resort that day since the entire island shuts down. Restaurants will reopen on Saturday.

Mind sharing the details on your suite/rate? We have 3 kids and its so hard to find a reasonable hotel that sleeps 5/6 (and my 11 yo is 5'6 so yeah, we need sleeping space).

Embassy Suites in Dorado. $169. Includes breakfast.

[Anonymous]

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Mind sharing the details on your suite/rate? We have 3 kids and its so hard to find a reasonable hotel that sleeps 5/6 (and my 11 yo is 5'6 so yeah, we need sleeping space).

Stop being cheap and either get two adjoining rooms, or rent a condo or house.

[Anonymous]

That's a very ambitious itinerary. Doesn't sound like a relaxing vacay at all. Nope. I second the suggestion to do a couple days in Old San Juan and the rainforest, then spend the rest of the time exploring Vieques OR Culebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Mind sharing the details on your suite/rate? We have 3 kids and its so hard to find a reasonable hotel that sleeps 5/6 (and my 11 yo is 5'6 so yeah, we need sleeping space).

Stop being cheap and either get two adjoining rooms, or rent a condo or house.

I hope you are a troll...perhaps a bored teenager or house frau? If not, then I sincerely hope you get help. It's not normal to have so much energy on this.

Note: there's no need to rent two hotel rooms or a condo when you can stay in a hotel suite with two beds plus a living room with a pullout couch...particularly if you plan to merely the hotel as a crash pad.

[Anonymous]

OP here. 18:14 could you tell me more about this?

"We have other beaches off the beaten path on our list along with some off the beaten path seafood restaurants (little dive bars and beach shacks suggested by a local we know)."

We are still trying to figure out whether to stay put and do day trips like you plan or go from hotel to hotel. I've never been and so hard for me to picture how long to get to, say, Ponce from Luquillo.

Our hope is lots of outdoors time: beach, snorkel, hike, explore. My younger son saw a thing on Ponce in Spanish class and is really interested in it. My older son not so much, but we're trying to compromise.

There's a lot in PR!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, I'm listening. where to rent in Vieques? And what else to do but beach and biobay/snorkel? Is there good hiking in the reserve?
(also, I'll insist on hiking at El Yunque, at least!)

I think we may end up either killing the Vieques part of the trip and doing biobay tour at Farrado and going to southern beach near Ponce, or kill the Ponce part (as you suggest) and spending more time in Vieques.

I would kill the Ponce part of the trip. You won't regret Vieques! I haven't been in a few years and stayed in guest houses so my accommodation recommendations may not be relavent any more, but if I were to go back I'd look into a rental in the Esperanza area. Close to the beaches and there was a little strip of restaurants/beach bars. You can always drive up to Isabel Segunda for other restaurants. The BioNsy tour is great. I did go "hiking" there to the highest point on the island, but I would d save your hiking for El Yunque!

Definitely take the puddle jumper from SJU, it would be fun for the kids. The ferry would eat up a lot more time.

[Anonymous]

Sorry BioNsy = Biobay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Mind sharing the details on your suite/rate? We have 3 kids and its so hard to find a reasonable hotel that sleeps 5/6 (and my 11 yo is 5'6 so yeah, we need sleeping space).

Stop being cheap and either get two adjoining rooms, or rent a condo or house.

I hope you are a troll...perhaps a bored teenager or house frau? If not, then I sincerely hope you get help. It's not normal to have so much energy on this.

Note: there's no need to rent two hotel rooms or a condo when you can stay in a hotel suite with two beds plus a living room with a pullout couch...particularly if you plan to merely the hotel as a crash pad.

Two hotel rooms double the cost-not realistic for normal people.

[Anonymous]

My experience is that getting around by car takes twice as long as you think it will. But, my experience was before Google Maps, which looking now seems to give reasonable estimates.

Ponce is a long drive from San Juan -- 90 minutes. It will seem much longer due to the winding roads and the greater attention you have to keep. If you really want to it's doable.

[Anonymous]

You have GOT to eat mofongo. Lots and lots of mofongo.

I had mofongo a good 15 years ago in PR and still dream about it....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My experience is that getting around by car takes twice as long as you think it will. But, my experience was before Google Maps, which looking now seems to give reasonable estimates.

Ponce is a long drive from San Juan -- 90 minutes. It will seem much longer due to the winding roads and the greater attention you have to keep. If you really want to it's doable.

What are you talking about it? It's a major high from SJ to Ponce- 52. Very easy drive.