Rio Mar Puerto Rico July 2009
 

My wife and I are staying Jul 19-24 at the Rio Mar. We are budget travelers, and usually prefer staying at smaller hotels and exploring on our own. However, due to a great deal and poor research, we will be spending our vacation this year at an out and out resort.

I was looking for some advice from someone who might have stayed here before, or knows the area. Are there any places (i.e. restaurants, attractions, places where I can buy a large bottle of rum and/or styrofoam cooler and cervezas) within walking distance? Is it possible to get to El Yunque without a car? As fans of the outdoors, we would like to check it out, but aren't sure about the logistics. We don't plan on renting a car due to cost and parking issues. However, if we spend the entire week mixing our own drinks and laying on the beach, I'd be okay with that. We'll probably splurge on one or two exceptional activities and have a nice dinner one night. Does anyone have any recommendations of things they would absolutely not miss while there? Also, as a novice golfer, I thought about hitting the links one day, but greens fees, club rentals, etc are pretty excessive. Anyone know if they are worth it?

Any and all ideas are appreciated. As always, thanks...

It'll be tough without a car. We stayed at the Rio Mar when it was a Westin a few years ago. On site restaurants were typical resort prices and apart from eating breakfast which was included we didn't eat at the hotel but we did have a car.
We didn't find anything within comfortable walking distance but there's a good bakery and there was a Chinese restaurant right at the junction when you turn off for the hotel (still a mile or more to the hotel).

At the very least try to get a car rental at the airport that you can drop at the hotel... rent for a day or two so you can stock up on snacks, make a trip to El Yunque (there are tours but it would be easier/ cheaper to drive yourself, go out to restaurants for first couple of nights etc.

The hotel is about 45mins from the airport so taxi will be expensive so you could offset this against the car hire...

You should be able to pick up a rental car for around $35-40 per day. take a look at places like hotwire.com, priceline.com there is also a local company 'Charlies Car Rental' (I have not used them).

This way you will be able to get out and about. It may be more $ than you were thinking of spending but you will save $ by not eating at the hotel and using organized tours.

The drive is straightforward and on the way you will pass close to a Walmart where you can pick up essentials.

When u turn off Route 3 to head to the hotel, there is a local bakery immediately on the right after you make the turn. You can get breakfast items there each day. There are a couple of restaurants near the hotel: Richies and Antijítos Puertorríqueños (which is close to the bakery). Others include; the food kiosks near Luquillo beach

With a car you can see:
El Yunque rainforest - trails are all well marked
Luquillo beach http://www.visit-the-coqui.com/2009/03/luquillo-beach/
Luquillo beach food kiosks
Bio Bay at Fajardo http://www.visit-the-coqui.com/2009/04/fajardo-bio-bay/
check out the moon phase - it's should be good for a tour http://www.visit-the-coqui.com/place...n-puerto-rico/
Seven Seas Beach at Fajardo http://www.visit-the-coqui.com/2009/...beach-fajardo/
and don't forget Old San Juan http://www.visit-the-coqui.com/2008/...n-juan-part-1/

hope that helps

Those sound like good suggestions! We are actually going to be at the Rio Mar from afternoon of July 20 to noon July 22, with a car, and would certainly give you a lift to Luquillo for dinner or on the 21st to hike El Yunque. Not sure how to send a message with Fodors, but if you know how to do that, we could chat about it. Traveler help, like you get on this forum, is so wonderful, and so, I'm willing to help you out if you'd like it....

Just found out that you can rent cars from Rio Mar, so we might look into that instead of getting one for the entire week from the airport. Thank you though, snorkelluvn. BTW, do you know what the snorkeling is like there at Rio Mar? Maybe we'll run into y'all. Another question for anyone that might know: What is the best way to get to Rio Mar, cab or shuttle? It looks like a cab might be better for two people, but I was wondering if there was a bus line that ran to the hotel. Thanks...

In 2000-2001, I lived at the condos at Rio Mar (on the hill above the golf course) - you will need a car to get out anywhere for shopping..although there is or was a small market on the PR 3 and Rio Mar entrance road for rum (Ron Del Barrito!)..or you can go east to Fajardo to the bigger market - Pueblo. Rio Mar is or was kind of secluded...you will not be near Old San Juan, San Juan proper etc. You will bus in from Luis Munoz airport most likely..too far and $$$ for a taxi. Ask Rio Mar if they have transportation...I would get a car for a few days..El Yunque is just up the hill across the PR3 from the Rio Mar entrance. Take a day walking and driving around up there. Farjardo is worth a day trip..or even take a ferry to Culebra (cute and nice snorkeling) or Vieques...quieter but pretty beaches (Blue and Media Luna come to mind).

I seriously cannot think of any close restaurants except the ones in the hotel - unless you go to San Juan (Condado area - you don't need to bother going into Santurce or inland much). Old San Juan has some nice restaurants. Luquillo has a few local restaurants that are good. Check out the big beach of Luquillo...and the Pina Colladas there!

A shuttle might be cheaper than taxi since the Rio Mar is so far out. But you will have to arrange that with the hotel in advance.

The on-site car rental is Avis. You might call them directly and ask if they offer free parking if you rent at the resort. Some of the agencies do.

The Rio Mar is pretty isolated, but you can certainly drive to cheaper restaurants, and you should check out the fried seafood shacks in Pinones.

I can't imagine you'd be able to get to El Yunque easily without a car, but there might be some publicos that pass by the resort. And you could always take a tour from the hotel.

We're going there as well from July 23rd thru the 27th. After reading the books and researching, I am still debating about getting a rental (dreading the traffic and what nots). Anyway, I called the hotel, and even they advertised airport shuttle, there is a fee. It costs around $70 to $75 for round-trip pick-up and drop-off, BUT this rate is only for one person. And yes, I, too, just found out that AVIS is on site. The price can range from $57 a day to $90 for the smallest car.

You will most definitely need a car - I have stayed here three times - great resort, but car is needed. Keep in mind that renting at the resort for the day will cost you quite a bit instead of reserving one in advance. If you rent for the day, go to El Junque on your own as there is no cost to get in, then head to Luqillo Beach for some great beach time, then head to the kiosks for delicious food - loved La Parilla. On your way home, stop at the Wal Mart and stock up on sodas, water, snacks, etc. to save you a ton of money. Also, Richies Cafe could possibly be walkable from the resort - great views for dinner. We also enjoyed the bakery for breakfast treats. Also, there is a great little restaurant near El Junque called "Las Vegas" and we went there for dinner one night - really delicious, authentic P.R. food and excellent service.

Can you actually walk from Rio Mar to El Yunque to get to La Mina Falls? And possibly walk from there to Luquillo and back to the resort? It is cheaper to rent a car from the airport than it is to get it on site at Rio Mar. On site charges double.

We were thinking about renting a car for just a day or two and going to El Yunque and Luqillo. The rest of the time we will probably end up on the beach at the resort. I figure renting for two days (which is all we need) will be cheaper than renting an entire week from the airport.

I saw that the hotel will provide a shuttle, but round trip for two people is $150. I'm hoping I can find a cab cheaper. travlgal: Do you know if that WalMart sells liquor? I was hoping to pick up a gallon of rum and mixes to make my own drinks on the beach.

I can't wait to hike El Yunqe. Taking a dip in a waterfall sounds incredibly exciting and is a foreign idea to me. You wouldn't dare swim in the bodies of water found in the National Parks in Southeast Texas.

I am not sure if they actually sell liquor, but I think they may sell beer/wine. Not 100% sure, but I think so! If not, there are a few grocery stores in the area - check with the concierge at Rio Mar.

Thanks again. We've been making a few more plans as we get closer to leaving. Has anyone tried the bioluminescent kayak tour at night? I believe we're going to be there during the new moon, and I've heard it is a worthwhile experience. Comments or recommendations anyone?

There is a grocery store close to the airport that sells liquor and I have been advised that WalMart sells at least some wine and beer, as well as foam coolers. Also, if you go to puertoricodaytrips.com, they offer an entertainment book for Puerto Rico that has coupons for the restaurants at Rio Mar, as well as some area restaurants such as La Parilla in Luquillo (one of the kiosks). The coupons appear to be those "buy one, get one" deals, so you could save a lot.

Absolutely do the Bio Bay at night! I have done it twice and each time was awesome. You can book directly with a tour operator or they can take care of it at the Rio Mar. Make sure the moon is right - it IS DARK through the mangroves, but an exciting experience!

Don't, by any circumstances think of walking from Rio Mar to El Yunque, it is a very long walk and really not worth it since there is no sidewalk, it is a rural road. You should check with the hotel lobby and possibly talk to some locals at the hotel to see if they can drop you off at El Yunque, same thing comming back. Right next to the bakery at the intersection between road #3 and the road going up to Rio Mar there is a Mini Market where you can buy as much liquor and beers as you want (also the cooler).

Hey, if you guys want more info just drop me a message: [email protected] and let me know that you are from this forum. I will try to help you out and answer any questions.