Advice for last-minute family Caribbean trip
 

My family of four, which includes two teenagers, is planning a last-minute trip to the Caribbean - hopefully leaving in the next week or so! Since we don't have passports, I assume our choices are limited to Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands. We like outdoors recreation (snorkeling, biking, hiking, boating), cultural experiences and just plain relaxing. We're not looking for shopping or night life. Which place do you recommend for this kind of family getaway? In the past we've had good luck renting condo units (usually through VRBO) so we get 2 bedrooms and a kitchen. Would this work for either Puerto Rico or USVI? Areas you'd recommend us to stay in, or stay away from? Someone just told me he thought there was now a problem getting into even these destinations without a passport. Is that true? Thanks for your help!

I am gathering you are US citizens without passports, and if so, no, you don't need a passport. There are plenty of two bedroom condos on St Thomas- look at Elysian, Cowpet and Secret Harbour. The east end of St Thomas has plenty of activity and easy access to St John- no passport there either. ;-)

St John, USVI

It probably is too late to get passports unless you go to a passport agency. If you are US citizens you don't need passports for Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands.

<i>DO I NEED A PASSPORT TO VISIT THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS?

If you are a U.S. citizen a passport is not required, but it still serves as the best identification when traveling. Otherwise, you must be prepared to show evidence of citizenship when departing the islands, such as a raised-seal birth certificate and government-issued photo ID.

If you are not a U.S. citizen, then a passport issued by your country of origin is required.

If you are not sure of your status, please contact the U.S Customs & Border Protection agency. (www.cbp.gov)</i>

http://www.visitusvi.com/frequently_asked_questions

There are plenty of villa rentals on St. John in the USVI. I think St. John ticks most of your boxes except maybe the cultural experience. The snorkeling around St. John is very good and there are hiking and boating opportunities. Not sure about biking. It's a very hilly island without shoulders on the roads so I'm not sure how safe it would be. Cruz Bay is a cute town with a little shopping, grocery stores and restaurants.

Puerto Rico might also work but I'm not very familiar with the island. There's a lot of recent information if you do a quick search. Go to the top of this page and beside the heading Caribbean Islands Forums there's a drop-down menu. Choose Puerto Rico and you'll get the threads that were tagged PR.

When you return from your trip why not go ahead and apply for those passports. Then you'll have them for your next trip and you'll have a wider range of choices.

Plenty to see and do here in Puerto Rico especially if you rent a car

Rainforests
Ziplines
Caving
Water Tubing
Kayaking
Bio luminescent Bays
History and Architecture
Old San Juan - 2 forts, cathedral. open air plazas and more
Restaurants for all tastes and budgets

Plenty of tours will picj you up from San Juan locations if you dont have a car, but you will enjoy the trip more if you do the driving :o)

As for places to stay - plenty of option son VRBO
Condado / Isla verde area San Juan if you want to be near restaurants, Old San Juan etc

Luquillo area is you want to be away from it and near nice beaches and El Yunque

Vieques / Culebra Islands if you REALLY want to get away from everything

Rincon on the west side is also an option

There is a ton of info on what to see and do in Puerto Rico here http://www.discoveringpuertorico.com

Speaking PR there are just so many options. Sure,you can stay in S Juan with the large hotels & Casinos...lots of restaurants and so forth..Or you can check out the islands of Culebra or Vieques off of the east coast. Both are very laid back with lots of hombres still on horseback..There are also some very nice beaches. I rented a 1 bedroom house on a small beach in a very nice neighborhood. At the time the military base was open but it since has closed and the beaches and snorkeling there are very nice. As far a going with teens, I'd suggest going to the Bahamas with the large hotels,waterpark and casino for the adults and kids. But for a relaxing time for most, Vieques or Culebra fits the bill..There is kayaking,fishing,snorkeling ect..The Seabourn Hotel on Culebra is or was very nice and laid back but it's more of a B&B than thriving hotel. I hear a good restaurant is on the premesis but there are tons of little but fantastic joints all over the place. The only thing to be wary of is petty theft for the most part. I haven't been there for about 10 yrs but the violent crime rate was low, but petty theft happens...I was out snorkeling at Red Beach once, hid my underwater camera in the sand under our towel...Was about 100yrds out,looked back and saw two gauchos ride onto the beach and snatched it...LOL...Have a great trip!

Oh I forgot..To get to Vieques or Culebra there are two options. You can fly from San Juan on a puddle jumper or travel by car,bus or taxi to Fajardo I believe on the eastern coast and take a ferry which is cheaper. One other option given previously is going to St John where I lived and worked in the 90's. It's a lovely island, tons of world class beaches,snorkeling,dining,kind of funky in a good way.Gallows Point Resort is a nice place to stay. Make sure you take the kids for a day/snorkeling sail which will visit usually 4-6 different spots/islands.Have a ball..!