We have been a few times now. The costa del Sol area is 40 minutes from the airport and has nice enough beaches.

Spanish is helpful, it’s no Costa Rica.

FFS just go to Costa Rica lady

El Salvador has been through enough. The last thing they need is this smug OP and her snowflake family coming to visit. Spain is probably more your speed.

We were there a few months ago. It's totally safe. Prices are very reasonable too. We went to the best steak restaurant in town, ate huge steaks and drank copious wine, and it cost us $50/person.

Also, they have really nice Pizza Huts for some reason, like with table service and slightly fancy.

It helps to speak a little Spanish. Those outside of tourist spots may not know English.

Anonymous wrote:2 colleagues went (separately) over Christmas. Both sade safe, inexpensive, beautiful, and had a great time. One has family there.

Family would be the only reason I would go. I don't support the government that locks up everyone, including those caught up accidentally with zero proof and no way to fight their situation

Op here. I mean….does that mean you also don’t support the US? Because our incarceration rate is also pretty terrible.

I know that the incarceration rate is controversial but my understanding is that the citizens of El Salvador on the whole support it. Look at how Mexico has struggled with the cartels and gangs. Kind of amazing that El Salvador has made such progress in that regard.

2 colleagues went (separately) over Christmas. Both sade safe, inexpensive, beautiful, and had a great time. One has family there.

Family would be the only reason I would go. I don't support the government that locks up everyone, including those caught up accidentally with zero proof and no way to fight their situation

I haven't been to El Salvador recently, but I've been quite a lot in general.

One thing to keep in mind is that it's much, much smaller, land wise than Guatemala and Mexico. It doesn't have the Mayan influence that they have. It's a lot more like Honduras or Nicaragua. I haven't been to the beach there so I can't tell you if a beach would be worth it, but probably it would be fine. It has a lot of fast food restaurants and highways. Also a lot of beautiful crafts and artisanry.

Anonymous wrote:Haven’t been but heard it’s nice now. And safe.

Op here. Thank you! I’ve heard the same that it’s really changed in the last year or two.

Haven’t been but heard it’s nice now. And safe.

I’m wondering if anyone has been there recently since the new president came in and incarcerated all the gang members. It’s supposed to be much safer now.

Looking for cheap spring break ideas for family of 4 (me, DH, and kids ages 6 and 8). We speak Spanish fluently and I previously traveled all over Guatemala and Mexico but this was before kids.