Aruba or San Juan

[Anonymous]

We have free airline tickets on Air Tran. We flew to Jamaica and had a lot of company-related issues. In any case, we still plan to use the tickets. We also have 2 free nights at a Marriott hotel in either location from travel points. We will probably pay for a couple of extra nights, so think 5 nights, total. We want to go to either Aruba or San Juan. We are taking our 2 kids, who will be ages 2 and 6.

Any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Shorter flight to San Juan, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shorter flight to San Juan, right?

Yes, but not enough for me to make a difference. That wouldn't be a factor as much as the cost to fly to Puerto Rico is lower and we do have to buy just one ticket (out of 4).

[Anonymous]

I think there isn't much to see/do on Aruba. If you just want to lie on the beach it might be nice, but PR has the rain forest, Old San Juan, etc.

[Anonymous]

I think with the age kids you have I would choose Puerto Rico. Shorter flight, more variety of things to do.

[Anonymous]

I love PR! I go every winter break.

[Anonymous]

PR (Puerto Rico)

[Anonymous]

With ages 2 and 6 I would do Aruba. The beaches are nicer and the water is much calmer. The kids are too young to enjoy the rain forest or Old San Juan except for el more. The beach at the marriot in San Juan is tiny. You are pretty much Guaranteed perfect weather in Aruba. If you go to San Juan from June on, you chance hUrricane season.

[Anonymous]

well, if those are your only 2 choices, I feel for you. They both sucked in my opinion. lower your expectations before you go. Mine were high.

[Anonymous]

I've been to both and for the most part, think San Juan is a dump. The police patrolled the beach at El San Juan (best hotel) on horseback and did not clean up after they went poop on the sand.

The Marriott has a huge complex in Aruba on a nice, big stretch of beach. Although we didn't stay there, all the Marriott's had nice pools and lots of activities/amenities. There are also tons of restaurants within walking distance. You take your life into your own hands when you stroll the streets of San Juan after hours.....

There are direct flights to Aruba from Dulles and BWI. It was a direct (4.5 hour) flight. Arrange for Bully to pick you up at the airport in Aruba. You can rent a car or jeep at your hotel and take the kids to the Donkey Santuary, the Butterfly Museum, the caves, on a boat ride, etc etc. Plenty to do for 4 or 5 days....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:well, if those are your only 2 choices, I feel for you. They both sucked in my opinion. lower your expectations before you go. Mine were high.

Please tell us where your expectations were exceeded.

[Anonymous]

I have been to both a few times and prefer aruba. We only stayed in san juan once and hated it. We did stay at the wyndam rio mar and liked it. We stay at either the hyatt in aruba. If you choose aruba, do your reseach on the hotels. Some are way better than others, even when on the same stretch of beach. We have done Jeep tours, snorkeling tours, boat rides,.and fishing.

That said, there may be more to do with children of that age in PR. I wouldnt stay in san juan though.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the notes, everyone!

My husband and I travel a lot with our girls, and we're accustomed to caribbean islands so I think we have realistic expectations. I didn't think the Marriott there seemed as nice as the one in Aruba, but I had read elsewhere that Aruba isn't as good for young kids as Puerto Rico. It seems this thread is confirming those posts. I had been thinking Puerto Rico may be good with slightly older children because most of the kids clubs are open to children ages 4 or 5 and up and the nicer hotels seemed to be not "in" San Juan. I'll keep looking and, if anyone's stayed at those Marriotts, let me know that too! I was thinking Dominican seemed like the kind of place you never leave the resort at all, which isn't my ideal, but it is on the list of possibilities.

We can go anywhere AirTran flys. Other suggestions are definitely welcome.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Find a Marriott in Orlando if you are trying to entertain the kids 24/7. Otherwise Aruba should fit the bill.....

[Anonymous]

OP fWIW, we just got back from San Juan and stayed in Isla Verde at the intercontinental with our 2 girls, ages 4.5 and almost 2. Was an easy flight, food was good, hotel nice, staff very friendly. Did the Morro castle one day but pretty much stayed at beach the rest of the time. If we had stayed longer we would have done the rainforest but we just wanted to chill and were there for 4 nights.