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?

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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!

Anonymous wrote:El Salvador LMFAO. Really?