Vieques trip
 

I'll be visiting my family in San Juan in July and want to stay overnight in Vieques before it's all "built up"... last time I was there was at least 15 years ago! Any advice as to best beaches, economic lodging, and budget meals would be appreciated.
Thank you!

eaf2007 replied to my e-mail that on Vieques island you should rent a jeep and check out Blue Beach, Media Luna and Navio - you need a jeep to access these beaches as the taxis will not take you there. While I was in Vieques, the local tourist guide voted Blue Beach as being the best beach on Vieques for snorkeling. Most tourists catch a taxi to Esperanza beach which is very pretty and has a line of small restaurants and some shops - however I found it boring and there was no snorkeling to speak of.

I can't give you advice on budget lodging/meals because I didn't specifically research that before our trip, but take a look at the beaches section of my trip report (there are pics). Enjoy your trip.

It would have been nice if I had included the link to my report! :-)
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34929832

guest rooms in esperanza...tradewinds, bananas, amapola, are all under $100.

Cheapest places to eat(with great food) are the roadside stands operated by the Viequenses. Yummy Puerto Rican food.
best beaches are a personal preferance, i guess right now my favorites are red, blue and secret, sunbay. Navio is beautiful, but i do not like swimming in the waves.
Green Beach is cool as it is the western tip of the island where caribbean meets atlantic at the tip, great views of the big island. Decent snorkeling.

Have fun.

we loved Sun Bay, Media Luna, Secret Beach, Red Beach, and the beach that is one up from Red Beach whose name eludes me--maybe Garcia?

Most places on Vieques are under $100, so just start scrolling through the offerings on www.enchanted-isle.com for a sampling.

Street vendors and smaller local restaurants and food stands will be the cheapest way to go. Outside Sun Bay during the day and early evening you can find food vendors--the baked potato lady, empanadas, and other items. There's' a pizza shack on a side road in Esperanza. Banana's also has some reasonably priced starters that are perfect entree size if you don't have a tremendous appetite.

Have a great time!