Puerto Rico, anyone?

[Anonymous]

My father and sister visited Puerto Rico ages ago (in the '80s). My dad's business took him there and he took my sister along. We're looking for a family vacation for next summer, preferably an all-inclusive place with a lot of children's options (there are small children and exhausted parents involved), and I wondered about Puerto Rico. Same time zone. There have got to be beaches. My Dad and my sister can re-visit their special trip. It feels "abroad," which our teenagers want (as opposed to our wonderful family vacations in Bethany, which now bore the teenagers), but it's still the US. My mother and I would like something cultural in addition to the beach--perhaps all of us, including the bored teenagers, would learn something. The teens want to go to Italy, and I'm all for that, assuming they pay our way!
Any recommendations pro or con, about Puerto Rico for a family group of 10, ages 7 to 82, appreciated.

[Anonymous]

We have been many, many times -- my husband goes there for work often. It is a quick non-stop flight away. Old San Juan is beautiful, there are great restaurants, but it is not the safest. We have been to the nearby islands, Culebra and Vieques, and had an amazing time. I would recommend spending a night or two in SJ and then heading over to one of the islands, you can go by boat or ferry. They are relatively unspoilt and the beaches are truly amazing. The food is great in all of PR. Recently we stayed at the St. Regis in PR, about an hour from SJ. It was gorgeous, and an amazing resort, but definitely a resort experience. The islands are most rustic, although we stayed at the W in Vieques.

Eat at Jose Enrique in SJ if you go.

[Anonymous]

^^ sorry, I meant by small plane or by ferry. Pros are that PR feels foreign, has great food, is pretty affordable, and there is a ton to do. El Yuenque is the rainforest, and it is beautiful and interesting. There are bio bays to visit. The beaches are great. Old SJ is cool. The islands are gorgeous, and Vieques has wild horses.

Cons -- SJ is busy, congested, and if you stay there, the beaches are pretty urban. It is not that safe. I would consider the resort option, particularly the St. Regis.

[Anonymous]

This was SO helpful! Thank you, thank you. I can present a concrete option of a destination and a nice place to stay, and then be shot down/outvoted/ridiculed.
Still, I will file this away for a place I'd like to go someday.
Gracias!

[Anonymous]

I went and stayed at the Hyatt in
Dorado. It was lovely as was the beach. San Juan is dirty, congested, and a bit dodgy. There are some nice things to see there, but as PP said, you can easily see it all in a dayl. If the focus of your trip is being with family and relaxing on a warm beach, pick a spot outside of San Juan and just hang out on the resort.

I would consider St. John, or other USVI. Not a long trip from PR and no passport needed. St. John is supposed to be gorgeous with lots of interesting villas to rent.

I like to fantasize here:

www.islandhideaways.com

Have fun!

[Anonymous]

We went to Vieques Island for 10 days about 5 years ago. Absolutely loved it! We rented an apartment near the Malecon which was not fancy but lovely. We found plenty to do. The beaches were not at all crowded and unspoiled.

[Anonymous]

We have been many times and stayed in different parts. For your group, I would stay in the Condado area. There are many great restaurants in the area.

Some we like include:

marmalade
Augusto's
Pikayo (the chef, Wilo Benet appeared on Top Chef)

The Art Musuem in San Juan is worth an afternoon visit.

For outdoor stuff:

Rio Camuy Caves
Bio Bay tour
Rain Forest
zip lining (http://www.ecoquestpr.com/ecohindex1.html)


We have stayed at the Marriott in Condado and it has an ok beach not that big. The location is good because you can get to San Juan, Dorado or Rio Grande fairly easily. Be aware that the traffic can be bad so plan a full day outing for Rain forest or Rio Camuy caves.

You could do the St Rgeis for a few days to do the rain forest, bio bay, beach stuff and then stay in San Juan for a few days to do the Old City and cultural stuff.

We have also stayed at the el San Juan (interesting lobby, horrible service) and the Intercontinental both in Isla Verde (close to the airport) The area is not wonderful but the beach is really big and clean. Lots of paragliding and wave running off that beach.

[Anonymous]

Just so you know, PR is actually an hour ahead of D.C. And I don't think PR really has any all inclusives.

[Anonymous]

Really don't like PR. Too busy and too crowded, at least the few times I've been. I would rather go almost anywhere in the Caribbean than PR.

[Anonymous]

^^ San Juan is crowded. Vieques and Culebra are not crowded. The St. Regis is, of course, not crowded, and is on the other side of the island from San Juan. Like most places in the Caribbean, you can stay in crowded, touristy places, or not. I have been all over the Caribbean because my husband worked over there, and we travelled about, and it does not get much less crowded or unspoilt than Vieques. But thinking Puerto Rico is San Juan is like saying the UK is crowded because London is crowded.

[Anonymous]

Puerto Rico has a lot to offer but it's not for those who want the ensconced all-inclusive resort experience. A lot of it is overcrowded and overdeveloped, especially San Juan, but it has a lot of energy, nightlife, and good food. There is also a lot of variety in terms of culture and outdoor activities.

If you're considering PR in the summer, I would recommend August rather than July. July is the peak of internal tourism. The beaches will be crowded and dirty. Kids go back to school in early August. Beaches, hotels, and natural attractions will be less crowded then.

The Rio Grande area is a good spot to stay if you want to be fairly close to San Juan for a day trip to Old San Juan. You're also close to the rain forest and to Fajardo, which has a biobay and a marina from where you can take a lot of boat daytrips. Fajardo is also where you take the ferry to Vieques and Culebra. In Rio Grande, near the Rio Mar resort (which is now a Wyndham, I think) there are several nice beach condo complexes that would be a great alternative if you have a large group and don't want to stay in a hotel. You can find vacation rentals in that area on the usual sites: vrbo, homeaway, etc.

[Anonymous]

does it not bother anyone that vieques was the site of nuclear testing??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just so you know, PR is actually an hour ahead of D.C. And I don't think PR really has any all inclusives.

Only in the winter. PR does not have DTS, so we are on the same time zone right now.

I also don't think that there are all inclusives, but they may have added some now.

Native Puertorican here. I would recommend Gran Melia in Rio Grande, near El Yunque. You will need to get a car to go anywhere.

Be aware that traffic is horrible most of the time. It's like driving in DC during rush hour. And the pCondeople drive almost the same.

I don't think that the touristy areas are any more dangerous than other touristy areas anywhere else. Most people are just prejudiced.

The other recommendation would be Culebras for a couple of days and do a kayak expedition on the bay at night.

Although Vieques is beautiful and underdeveloped because of the Marines, I would stay away because of the nuclear testing and the fact that the Vieques population has a much higher ratio of cancer than the rest of the island (and it was only 1/3 occupied until recently).

I think Condado would be great, but maybe not with kids. I would say that the Luquillo beach is one of the nicest and then you can eat at one of the "chinchorros" some of the deep fried stuff for a full experience (I would go with an alcapurria or pionono myself).

Also, Ponce might be a good alternative and it has the Museum of Art where you will see one of the most popular paintings by Campeche, "El Velorio," and it's amazing in person. Downtown Ponce also has an old fashioned Fire station with the old cars that would be a hit with the kids and there are several stores around, the Cathedral is right there and beautiful and the first church of the area is around the corner with a ton of history.

Cabo Rojo is also a possibility if all you want is beach.

Depending on when you go, some places are better than others and the restaurants recommendations will also vary.