It may be fine to go to PR. and I'm listening to the positive responses posted. I'm looking for more clarification on the questions/concerns that I asked-- if you'd like to answer those specific questions-- do so (that's up to you). And, it's up to us if we do choose to go/stay in PR. and for whatever amount of time we choose.
You speak for yourself-- not for others. By the way, where are you from?

Asking if Puerto Rico is safe is like asking if Maryland or Delaware is safe. In my travels to PR, I've never felt threatened. I've stayed in hotels and I've also lived like a local in a flat. PR offers a wide variety of travel options for those looking for an exotic vacation without "leaving US territory." Go to Fajardo/Vieques, El Yunque National park (the rain forest), or tour Old San Juan's historic sites and great restaurants.

swimmr-- that's nice to know. It has it's points, sounds interesting and may be fine. In your opinion, do you think the armed police by the hotels are just extra protection? We will probably be spending some time there-- just getting the info.

xGigi: Did my post offend you? Sorry about that. It certainly wasn't meant in a negative way. I never said I spoke for others and I never said it's not your decision, so not sure what that comment of yours is all about. You seem really concerned about safety and my thought was that you wouldn't enjoy your trip if that's the case. I actually said do what feels right to you. That's all.
I think I already answered your primary questions by sharing my trip experience. I don't how many other ways I can say we weren't victims of a crime, there was an obvious police presence in Old San Juan, etc...
Does where I live really matter?
Good luck with whatever you decide.

You want specific answers to your question from a resident, well here they go:

Yes, Puerto Rico is generally safe to visit, I have lived here for 36 years and have had no problems.

San Juan airport has such tight security that it was one of first airports to reopen after 9/11. I think that this qualifies as a safe "stopping point in transit to another island".

Yes, we have a problem with drug traffic but so do a lot of places in the mainland US.

I cannot think of any urban place where you do not have to be "very alert and vigilant" so YES, you DO or should be "very alert and vigilant" and I would recommed that you stay that way in Anguilla as well as anywhere else you go.

As I posted before, Ponce has a lot less crime than San Juan. It is significantly less populated so this is basically a statistical issue.

Yes, ALL patrolling police personnel wear bullet proof vests. It is part of their uniform. Yes, you will see additional hotel guards.

Yes, most of all San Juan hotels have big casinos. They are entirely avoidable (as opposed to Las Vegas where you are almost trapped in the casinos).

Have fun during your vacation.

caribtraveler- not really concerned, just wanting more specific, good and clarifying info. You might want to re-read the posts.
marigross- always nice to hear from a local. Ponce does look nice, as does Old San Juan (which seems a must on the visit).
Some might want to look at this article by the Puerto Rico Herald on January 20, 2005 on Puerto Rico crime. It's titled, 'Crime Must Be Reduced Now' and is written by Elisabeth Roman. It's at: http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues2/
2005/vol09n03/CBCrimeMstReduce.shtml
or at:
www.PuertoRico-Herald.org

xGigi, since you seem so concerned about safety in PR (and in Barcelona as well according to the post you originated in the Europe Forum, why don't you just skip the island and go straigh to Anguila?

You also seem concerned about mosquitos and bumpy roads so it seems to me that either you are a troll or a worrying type of person not very suitable for foreign travel.

marigross- well mary, I'm posting questions on this travel forum for a few of the places we have last yet to see. It's not in being so concerned about the safety or concerned about bumpy roads or mosquitos. It's rather in taking certain precautions and then in so doing either deciding to go there or to go somewhere else or maybe to go to that same destination at a later date. There has been a lot of known concern (esp. with rampant crime in muggings and more recently violent muggings)in Barcelona (read related posts in this forum or state/gov. travel warnings). There also has been known crime in PR., and I agree, it's probably more to do w/ drug trafficing-- but, maybe it's not as well known if any of it is happening in the tourist areas. Did you read the article I posted? A forum like this can help clear up any known or unknown concerns, relating to safety or something else. As far as Anguilla is concerned, it is, as I've heard, one of the safest islands in the Caribbean. The concern I posted about bumpy roads is mainly pertaining to a health issue for us in that someone in our party has had previous back problems. And the concern with mosquitos is in contracting dengue. We have a child traveling with us, so it's more of a concern in that way. We have, however, been to places with her where there could be malaria or dengue. It sounds like the couple of questions/concerns posted for Anguilla were alleviated by the nice and complete answers. These 3 areas were posted all now, since we are planning on possibly traveling to these in the near future. Hope that clears it up for you.
Best wishes.

I think caribtraveler was just saying that if you are that worried about the crime, you might enjoy yourself more elsewhere. I live in DC and some people think it is a horrible, crime-ridden city. If these people were to visit me, they would probably not enjoy themselves regardless of how safe it is. Some people prefer to travel to more sterile places and that's fine. Puerto Rico may not be for everyone.

But it is for me, and I am currently planning my first trip- so thanks everyone for the insight!

yikes.

Stayed for five days in November at the El Convento Hotel (fabulous) in Old San Juan (also fabulous).
Never saw anything untoward and never felt threatened at any time, and we walked out to dinner every night.

Camuy caves, rain forest and Bioluminescent bay all well worth a visit.

Didnt go to Ponce so cant comment, but the 'downtown San Juan metroplex' which looked a little more dangerous wouldnt be on your 'things to see' list anyway.

xGigi...
Now Ive read through all your posts, Im not so sure you should leave your home town, let alone risk the Caribbean.
Even sleepy Anguilla isnt entirely crime-free (where is?), and the roads can definitely be bumpy and whats more, they drive on the left.

Im not sure you would like it.

Ashley04- no, I don't think that's what caribtraveler was saying mainly after her first post-- she was saying more than that with interjecting her thoughts on what someone else is feeling, (which wasn't true- not "so concerned", just a concern about the crime there and wanting certain answers-- if what's out there is true or maybe a further explanation/clarification, etc.), where someone else should go and possibly not go(and caribtraveler couldn't say it coming just from herself, but instead said, "...but I'm sure none of us wants you..."), in not being accurate about her own and others statements and about saying that Traveler863 had never been to PR. when she doesn't know that for a fact. The same statements made by caribtraveler have been made on other posts, as well, by herself directed at others questioning concerns. Not every area or city has drug trafficing and to the extent that P.R. has in recent years. In fact, there have been several posts about crime in the Caribbean and specifically in P.R. on this forum, with more suggesting the crime problem.
D.C. is fine, by the way. And, we don't like sterile areas.
tom42- all you can do is sit there and say "yikes," when you were the one to first say that Traveler863's credible comments were ridiculous. That's gutsy. You did add some things about the island, though. But, you haven't added much or anything with regard to the crime and the article posted.
And tropicaldan, the question/concerns posted for Anguilla were mainly health related. Is that bad? That's partially why there is a forum-- to get some good info. There have been many postings on Fodors with the same mosquito and bumpy roads questions (just look)-- and specifically for Anguilla. Just merely wondering if some roads might be more or less bumpy and therefore more or less jarring. And some places have had malaria recently- Dominican Republic- f.y.i., although this post was related to dengue. A guy talking to a girl like that?
No comments on the article?

CaribTraveler,
Yes I've been to PR many times. Another thing that is very irksome is people who take offense to one speaking just the simple truth about a place. I am not critizing PR, in fact its a great place, I am merely pointing out that it has its problems and that is FACT, sorry if that sounds like critism. Again if you wish to bury your head in the sand because you've not personally had any problems or choose to turn the blind eye then do so...I find that ignorant and foolish.

Yes all big cities have their problems, I'm not saying they don't. But here we have someone going to the Caribbean obviously not wanting to deal with those issues. Again there are safer, quieter places to go in the Caribbean. However, if one wants to enjoy the historic parts of San Juan and Puerto Rico, the culture and charm of the island, the beaches and all it has to offer thats great too...but do so with knowledge of potential pitfalls and all places have them, they may not necessarily be crime.

Further for PR, much of the crime is drug and gang related where crimes against tourists aren't generally involved unless you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. That is not to say there is not a good share of your common theft problems, and yes they abound too and more so than other quieter islands...this happens with higher population densities...sorry again a fact.

It entirely depends on what an individual is seeking in their travels which must be decided by them and what works best for them. Providing sugar coated responses to ones inquiries is nonhelpful and could be downright injurous.

I'm also in the DC area, yes bad crime in areas...have I experienced it? No. Do I caution people? Yes. Is it a great place? Of course. But being smart leads to the most enjoyment and relaxation.

xGigi,
You are going to find almost all roads throughout the Caribbean bumpy with potholes and mosquitos are just part of the tropics...there really isn't much avoiding either of those. For malaria and dengue, yes there has been cases of malaria in Dominican Republic however those are mainly concentrated to their western coast they share with Haiti. Dengue crops up throughout the Caribbean from time to time, Puerto Rico did have an outbreak some years ago though I have not heard of any problems since nor any other areas of the Caribbean.

Happy and safe travels to all.

Traveler863: If you truly have been to Puerto Rico, fine. You didn't answer my questuon about having experienced any crime there. Have you? I said in my first post to you I could then understand your strong opinion. If not, then you're being an alarmist by saying it's full of crime. Not wanting to say PR is full of crime is not burying my head in the sand.

Caribtraveler,
Your guestion is irrelevant. One does not have to personally experience crime to know it exists unless they are ignorant and foolish. Let me put it this way based on your logic, would you say that New York or Washington, for example, are completely safe because you never personally experienced crime? And would you say that Greensville, Kansas is full of crime because you had an isolated, uncommon, once in 50 year bad experience? How ridiculous does that sound?

Again, PR has alot of problems...and you as the tourist need to be aware of and educate yourself. Do you generally go somewhere without doing your homework? I hope not.

This is an interesting article for you to read, there's many more and you can get actual statistics if you like:
http://www.puertorico-herald.org/iss...thHiMrdr.shtml

Anyone who can continue to dispute these facts has more than their head firmly embedded in the sand!

Again, Puerto Rico is a great place but its not for everyone. It is a highly populous island with many crime issues however it is beautiful and there are quiet places to visit if one chooses, San Juan is delightful and full of history, the people are friendly and culturally its a great experience. Although if someone is looking for a Caribbean destination that is overall quieter and slower pace I would not recommend Puerto Rico. It entirely depends on what one is looking for in a destination. And I beleive I adequately provided a clear cut, responsible answer to the original poster.

Happy travels.

Many people have recommended La Casita Blanca as wonderful restaurant, but the Caribe Hilton says that it's too difficult to get back to the hotel from there without a car.

Is the Hilton concerned about the neighborhood or afraid of having its guests walk a couple of miles? Is there any reason to avoid La Casita Blanca?

Thanks for letting us know.

What do you all think about staying outside of resorts with respect to safety? We are looking at a condo that is at Luquillo and wonder about the safety issue.

WE stayed at a condo in Loquillo about eight years ago. We were four women and never felt un-safe at all. We rented a car and had a blast. Our condo was just a half block from the beach. The beach was empty there and we had it pretty much to ourself.

Luquillo is quite safe and has a decent beach.