Puerto Rico/Alone or with 11 year old son
Dec 21st, 2008, 03:43 PM
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Puerto Rico/Alone or with 11 year old son
I have been pondering a solo trip for awhile, but then lately consider taking my son. He will not like traveling with me alot longer 
. However, it would be his first, by air trip. I do not care for crowded tourist places, so much as a good food experience, sites and need to be forced to practice my broken spanish. Thinking of going in May. Also, safety if alone and also the friendliness of people is always interesting, as even I might like a conversation after three days! I will have four nights. Looked at Ponce and also the S.W. area and the mountains, all to get a different feel, safe? Worth renting a car for it? or just stay in Old San Juan and do a tour?
Thanks, this is the best forum...
. However, it would be his first, by air trip. I do not care for crowded tourist places, so much as a good food experience, sites and need to be forced to practice my broken spanish. Thinking of going in May. Also, safety if alone and also the friendliness of people is always interesting, as even I might like a conversation after three days! I will have four nights. Looked at Ponce and also the S.W. area and the mountains, all to get a different feel, safe? Worth renting a car for it? or just stay in Old San Juan and do a tour?Thanks, this is the best forum...
Dec 21st, 2008, 04:18 PM
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Take your son who will love y9u for the trip and never forget .Rent a car and go to bio-bay . second rain forest and maybe a trip to Ponce for the day Lots to do. Old San Juan is a place to see .Good luck
Dec 21st, 2008, 04:19 PM
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In all fairness, there is a lot of fascinating history, culture and beauty in Old San Juan, so I would not recommend you skip it all together. Spend at least an overnight in San Juan and visit El Morro, La Fortaleza, etc...It would bring you back to the movies "Pirates of the Caribbean" 
. Then, rent a car and head out to Rincon or Lajas (La Parguera), plenty of surfing, beaches, snorkeling, good food, interesting towns. Have fun!!
. Then, rent a car and head out to Rincon or Lajas (La Parguera), plenty of surfing, beaches, snorkeling, good food, interesting towns. Have fun!!
Dec 21st, 2008, 04:40 PM
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miacara-- check out the following article: http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/23...r-of-san-juan/
Dec 22nd, 2008, 04:38 AM
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thanks so much, does anyone know a clean, decent...non touristic/quaint place to stay in OSJ? Also, what about the area near San Germain or the mountains? I would like to practice spanish and be off the beaten path a bit. The idea of a 100 folks just off the cruise ship is not my idea of mingling with the locals
Dec 22nd, 2008, 08:45 AM
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I have sent friends to two places in Old San Juan and have only heard good things: Acacias Seaside Inn and Wind Chimes Inn.
You can always stayed where Barack & Michelle Obama stayed last October; The Gallery Inn. GORGEOUS, not too expensive at all. The owners are recognized artists in PR, sweetest people you ever want to meet.
You can always stayed where Barack & Michelle Obama stayed last October; The Gallery Inn. GORGEOUS, not too expensive at all. The owners are recognized artists in PR, sweetest people you ever want to meet.
Dec 23rd, 2008, 02:31 AM
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Thanks to all of you. Does anyone know of Hotel Milano? I am looking for two nights, end or start in OSJ. I am the kind of gal that likes a small room with a family then the next day go have a bit of luxury. I need really reasonable for this trip. Also, I am thinking of beaches too, my son will love it. We will do the rain forest and a mercado will be nice. Late may is the time. I love to plan this stuff! I will rent a car.
Dec 23rd, 2008, 11:20 AM
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Definitely spend time in Old San Juan--but just about any hotel in the old city will be touristy simply because that's who stays there--tourists. Milano is in a nice location and gets mixed but overall good reviews. Beware that many rooms do not offer any windows. The Gallery Inn rooms are hit or miss and it's in the same price range as El Convento, which to me is the best place to stay in the old city--a former 17th century convent with beautiful interior courtard and great ambience, also in a great location. If you can afford it, it's well worth staying there.
If this is a once in a lifetime trip for you and your son, you might want to consider overnighting one night on Vieques, the small island off the east coast of PR, in order to see some of the best beaches in PR and to experience the unparalleled bioluminescent bay (biobay) there. They don't run tours on nights just before, during or just after the full moon, though, so it would depend on the moon phase during your trip. There are tons of cheap accommodations in Esperanza on Vieques where you could stay for one night to see the bay.
As far as safety, in *most* places you'll be safer than other US big cities. The Hato Rey area, which borders Old San Juan, is one notable exception. Just be aware of your surroundings and use regular precautions that you'd use anywhere at home or while traveling and you should be just fine in terms of safety. There is much petty theft from rental cars throughout PR and especially on Vieques, so don't leave valuables in your rental car and don't lock the doors when you leave it parked at the beach.
If this is a once in a lifetime trip for you and your son, you might want to consider overnighting one night on Vieques, the small island off the east coast of PR, in order to see some of the best beaches in PR and to experience the unparalleled bioluminescent bay (biobay) there. They don't run tours on nights just before, during or just after the full moon, though, so it would depend on the moon phase during your trip. There are tons of cheap accommodations in Esperanza on Vieques where you could stay for one night to see the bay.
As far as safety, in *most* places you'll be safer than other US big cities. The Hato Rey area, which borders Old San Juan, is one notable exception. Just be aware of your surroundings and use regular precautions that you'd use anywhere at home or while traveling and you should be just fine in terms of safety. There is much petty theft from rental cars throughout PR and especially on Vieques, so don't leave valuables in your rental car and don't lock the doors when you leave it parked at the beach.
Dec 25th, 2008, 04:50 PM
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Thank you all, I am looking at staying in Yauco near ponce for a night. Also, I am not a tour kind of person, but am thinking if I stayed at Wind Chimes in or Acacia by the sea, we might need to take a bus and just do a tour of old san juan. Any thoughts? I plan to leave this congested area though and "go to the country" thus what is the best of the best, thru the mountains and south with a limited five nights?
I am thinking on Vieques, if so, I would have to slice OSJ to one night.
Son loves to eat, see things but is a bit nerveous in nature.
Thanks
Jeannie
I am thinking on Vieques, if so, I would have to slice OSJ to one night.
Son loves to eat, see things but is a bit nerveous in nature.
Thanks
Jeannie
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