Why haven't I heard more people talk about vacationing in Puerto Rico (with children)?
Apr 17th, 2007, 06:39 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why haven't I heard more people talk about vacationing in Puerto Rico (with children)?
My husband and I have decided not to invest in over $700 for passports right now (and then the extra fees to rush them), so we are thinking of fun, warm places to go on American soil. We are considering going to Puerto Rico this summer for a vacation w/our 4 children, ages 3, 10, 12, and 14. I was looking at VRBO, and every place I look at seems to have availabilities, and the prices seem very reasonable. Then I started thinking that I don't know of anyone who has actually taken a vacation there. Is there something undesirable about Puerto Rico? Am I missing something here? Even on here on Fodors, it doesn't seem like there are as many posts on Puerto Rico.
Apr 17th, 2007, 08:05 AM
#2
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,070
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Go for it. I think you will find Puerto Rico just wonderful. We like it because, with the Spanish language, we feel like we are in another country without leaving the USA (not that we do not travel to other countries, we do). It has great food, wonderful music, good hotels, nice beaches, a fantastic rain forest to visit, friendly people. Try it.
Apr 17th, 2007, 09:56 AM
#6
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,070
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Note that the Westin Rio Mar (which by the way was a wonderful place to stay with a great beach and pool area) has been taken over by Wyndham effective I think as of this month (maybe May)....hopefully Wyndham will maintain it or improve it.
Apr 17th, 2007, 04:52 PM
#7
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,870
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't have children but if I did I would not hesitate traveling with them to PR. After all, it's the only non-stop Caribbean flight from our airport!
PR has lots to offer, including the only rain forest in US territory. Old San Juan offers amazing architecture, incredible history. There are great restaurants throughout San Juan. And the offshore island of Vieques offers some of the Caribbean's most incredible beaches plus the incredible bioluminescent bay which is perfect for children.
PR has lots to offer, including the only rain forest in US territory. Old San Juan offers amazing architecture, incredible history. There are great restaurants throughout San Juan. And the offshore island of Vieques offers some of the Caribbean's most incredible beaches plus the incredible bioluminescent bay which is perfect for children.
Apr 17th, 2007, 04:59 PM
#8
We just took our two kids to PR for spring break. It is has reasonably priced airfares, nice hotels, good food, and friendly people, and is the US like everyone mentioned..so easy.
We stayed at the Caribe Hilton and had a great stay. (My kids are 12 and 14 like yours.)
We stayed at the Caribe Hilton and had a great stay. (My kids are 12 and 14 like yours.)
Apr 18th, 2007, 11:27 AM
#11
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We went to Puerto Rico and Vieques for Thanksgiving last year. Our kids (16 and 10)loved the beaches, biobay, rainforest and snorkeling in the warm crystal clear water.
Hire a car and don't spend all your time in a resort. Luquillo is a gorgeous beach. You can visit the rainforest and hike to the waterfall without a tour guide (your 3 yr old might find this hard as it's slippery and takes maybe an hour to hike back (up)... slightly quickly to get there)
Hire a car and don't spend all your time in a resort. Luquillo is a gorgeous beach. You can visit the rainforest and hike to the waterfall without a tour guide (your 3 yr old might find this hard as it's slippery and takes maybe an hour to hike back (up)... slightly quickly to get there)
Apr 18th, 2007, 06:58 PM
#12
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,834
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We went to Puerto Rico 3 years ago with our kids, then 6 and 8. We stayed at the Westin Rio Mar. It was quite nice and family friendly. We went to El Yunque (the rain forest) and wandered around Old San Juan. It was a good trip.
Apr 19th, 2007, 01:11 PM
#14
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
we're going to PR for our fifth time next month, not because of the passport issue, we have those, but because with kids it's an easy direct flight. no changing planes.
we've stayed at the Westin, palmas del mar and San Juan. it's a great place and friendly people, enjoy.
we've stayed at the Westin, palmas del mar and San Juan. it's a great place and friendly people, enjoy.
Apr 19th, 2007, 07:14 PM
#15
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
just learned tonight that elconquistador has a cataraman that brings their folks to vieques for the biobay tour(not sure ifit is the boat or kayaks)
I have not seen this before but pulled into the docks around 6 pm tonight. saw it also on tues. night also and was not sure what it was. nice service as no one provides trips to the vqs biobay that take you back the same night.
I have not seen this before but pulled into the docks around 6 pm tonight. saw it also on tues. night also and was not sure what it was. nice service as no one provides trips to the vqs biobay that take you back the same night.
Apr 20th, 2007, 07:41 AM
#16
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Christie,
I don't know of any laws dictating whether or not you can explore the biobays on your own but practically it wouldn't be easy.
I went with Island Adventures and to get to the boat we took a windy, potholed beach 'road' in the dark... no visible signs and it was single track for the most part with vegetation brushing the bus on both sides.
When we reached the water there was very little space to park and the bus left to pick up the people for the later trip that evening.
We really enjoyed our experience and it didn't feel like we were with a crowd of people except when we were invited to swim under the boat in single file where the total darkness intensified the bioluminesence.
The rest of the time we were spread out around the boat and because of the darkness we barely noticed the other people
Island Adventures are very eco conscious and are trying to preserve the biobay by educating visitors and lobbying to avoid light pollution from any building around the bay.
If you tried this trip on your own you'd have to get to the bay before dark... get chewed by mosquitoes at dusk and risk getting lost on your return.
I don't know of any laws dictating whether or not you can explore the biobays on your own but practically it wouldn't be easy.
I went with Island Adventures and to get to the boat we took a windy, potholed beach 'road' in the dark... no visible signs and it was single track for the most part with vegetation brushing the bus on both sides.
When we reached the water there was very little space to park and the bus left to pick up the people for the later trip that evening.
We really enjoyed our experience and it didn't feel like we were with a crowd of people except when we were invited to swim under the boat in single file where the total darkness intensified the bioluminesence.
The rest of the time we were spread out around the boat and because of the darkness we barely noticed the other people
Island Adventures are very eco conscious and are trying to preserve the biobay by educating visitors and lobbying to avoid light pollution from any building around the bay.
If you tried this trip on your own you'd have to get to the bay before dark... get chewed by mosquitoes at dusk and risk getting lost on your return.
Apr 20th, 2007, 09:36 AM
#18
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,070
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
One small correction about El Yunque - it is not the only Rain Forest in the US. Hoever, you can see from this that it is very unique:
"The Caribbean National Forest, known as El Yunque, is located in the rugged Sierra de Luquillo, 40 km southeast of San Juan (latitude 18º 19’ N, longitude 65º 45’W). Get its name from an Indian spirit Yuquiye, which means "Forest of Clouds", that gave the mountain that dominates the 28,000 acre of tropical forest. It is the only tropical forest in the United States National Forest System. Originally set aside in 1876 by the Spanish Crown, the Forest represents one of the oldest reserves in the Western Hemisphere. With over 240 species (26 species are found nowhere else) of trees and plants, give reason to the government of Puerto Rico to spend a great deal of moneymaking to preserve floral species and animals that are on the verge of extinction. The total area is 11,270 ha (75% of Puerto Rico virgin forest is here)."
"The Caribbean National Forest, known as El Yunque, is located in the rugged Sierra de Luquillo, 40 km southeast of San Juan (latitude 18º 19’ N, longitude 65º 45’W). Get its name from an Indian spirit Yuquiye, which means "Forest of Clouds", that gave the mountain that dominates the 28,000 acre of tropical forest. It is the only tropical forest in the United States National Forest System. Originally set aside in 1876 by the Spanish Crown, the Forest represents one of the oldest reserves in the Western Hemisphere. With over 240 species (26 species are found nowhere else) of trees and plants, give reason to the government of Puerto Rico to spend a great deal of moneymaking to preserve floral species and animals that are on the verge of extinction. The total area is 11,270 ha (75% of Puerto Rico virgin forest is here)."
Apr 20th, 2007, 03:35 PM
#20
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Christie,
We've been twice to the Bio Bay in Vieques. The first time it was through a tour. The second time, I asked at the guest house where we were staying and they gave us "directions." Yes, it was through a dark, unpaved "road". We came to a dead halt when a cow jumped in front of us (no kidding!). It was an adventure! But we did find it (at night) and "walked" right in. I say "walked" because what keeps the luminiscence (sp?) so strong is the high concentration of those creatures; and the high concentration is very much due to the bay being very stagnant. So when we walked right in, it didn't feel like walking into a beach, it felt like we were walking on soft, decomposing mud. I brought water shoes, so I was fine, but others in our party didn't and they thought it felt a little yucky. So, yes it can be done, but you need to decide if this sounds like the type of "adventure" you would want. The last time I was there was at least 8 years ago, so things may have changed quite a bit. We were the only ones at the bay that night.
We've been twice to the Bio Bay in Vieques. The first time it was through a tour. The second time, I asked at the guest house where we were staying and they gave us "directions." Yes, it was through a dark, unpaved "road". We came to a dead halt when a cow jumped in front of us (no kidding!). It was an adventure! But we did find it (at night) and "walked" right in. I say "walked" because what keeps the luminiscence (sp?) so strong is the high concentration of those creatures; and the high concentration is very much due to the bay being very stagnant. So when we walked right in, it didn't feel like walking into a beach, it felt like we were walking on soft, decomposing mud. I brought water shoes, so I was fine, but others in our party didn't and they thought it felt a little yucky. So, yes it can be done, but you need to decide if this sounds like the type of "adventure" you would want. The last time I was there was at least 8 years ago, so things may have changed quite a bit. We were the only ones at the bay that night.
