Puerto Rico - Anyone Been, Any Good Websites for Deals, Do I Need a Passport? Please Share Your Info

[Anonymous]

I am thinking about planning a trip for my hubby and I....this will be our first trip together to an island.
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks

[Anonymous]

No passport needed.

[Anonymous]

American and United have good fares for nonstops from Dulles and BWI.

[Anonymous]

You do not currently need a passport, but you will after June 1.

[Anonymous]

We went for a babymoon 2 years ago and stayed at the Westin Rio Mar (now a Wyndham I think). Not recommended to stay that far out of San Juan - it was a 45 min taxi ride each way and like $70 each way I think. Plus a TON of kids - probably not what you want for a trip just the 2 of you! San Juan has some awesome restaurants and to eat at the hotel (the food was blah to terrible) is a shame. So try to stay in or near San Juan (i.e. Isla Verde, where taxis to San Juan are more like $12 I think). We will go back (esp with the direct flights from DC) but will not stay that far outside the city again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You do not currently need a passport, but you will after June 1.

No you won't. Puerto Rico is a US territory and is therefore classified as domestic travel as long as you don't travel through a foreign country.

See the Domestic Travel Tip here:
http://travel.state.gov/passport_cal/passport_travel_requirements.php#

[Anonymous]

We went when our son was about 9 months and stayed at the Conquistador (http://www.elconresort.com/index.cfm). I'd love to go back without the kids b/c although it was beyond fantastic, I'd rather do what you guys are planning on doing! We rented a car and did the rain forest thing (not a highlight) and old town San Juan, which was fine, but my favorite part of the trip was the hotel we stayed at and the amazing beaches.

[Anonymous]

I have stayed at El Conquistator and Dorado. El Conquistator was one of my favorite vacations. I went in law school. Pools are beuatiful. Beach is beautiful. When I was there there was a ferry back and forth to a private island beach. There was a nude beach which had virtually no one on it. My dad played golf every day and my mom and sister and I went to the beach or pool. We did some spa treatments. We did not do any excursions. I would go again in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

We go to the Conquistador nearly every year and have done so since before our DS was born. The resort is big enough that there is space for everyone - the honeymooners, conference goers and families travelling with 4+ kids in tow.

If you ever do go w/ kids, know that las Casitas is part of the resort - rentable apartments with 1-2 BR (ie. lots more space) and access to a few restaurants and pools beyond the main hotel. In addition to what the previous posters have said, since last year, the resort now also operates a small water park w/ slides + zero-depth pool + fountains etc.

Old San Juan is pretty, but only about 1 day's worth of looking at. It doesn't feel particularly "beachy".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have stayed at El Conquistator and Dorado. El Conquistator was one of my favorite vacations. I went in law school. Pools are beuatiful. Beach is beautiful. When I was there there was a ferry back and forth to a private island beach. There was a nude beach which had virtually no one on it. My dad played golf every day and my mom and sister and I went to the beach or pool. We did some spa treatments. We did not do any excursions. I would go again in a heartbeat.

Cool. Did you run into your mom, dad, or sister at the nude beach?

[Anonymous]

OP- Any trip I plan I use www.tripadvisor.com. It's a GREAT website for reading hotel opinions amond other things.

Have fun!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You do not currently need a passport, but you will after June 1.

So not true - Puerto Rico is a US Trust Territory, like the US Virgin Islands and Guam. No passport needed.