Puerto Rico
 

Has anyone been to Puerto Rico on vacation? if so any tips...Hubby has been
looking into taking a vacation there...

Hi, I took my sister to Puerto Rico for her 50th birthday! We had a blast....perfect weather, rode horses through the jungle, walked the rainforest ect. We stayed at the Westin for $99.00. I kind of wondered why it was sooo cheap and why there was hardly anyone on the beach.....I didn't realize that it was Hurricane season....August. We left and the very next day the whole place was shut down, no electric, no planes leaving.....I used my frequent flyer miles for getting us from St. Louis, MO to Puerto Rico so that was free. I liked it, but would go somewhere closer...It seemed like it took all day to get there from St. Louis.

I went once for a wedding... stayed at the home of the rum guy Joaqin Bacardi. He made a stop on the way and told us to stay in the car with the doors locked as the area was not safe. And we were only a few blocks from the marina. The music was very loud everywhere. Not my kind of place. But I've heard the same about Acapulco... if you stay at the tourist hotels and don't venture away, you should be safe and have a good time.

My husband has spent a lot of time there on business near Ponce. Great weather, great fishing, fascinating old buildings, bad traffic and crazy drivers. He seems to think it could be a good place for a vacation, but it is a long way from home for you.

Thanks for all your responses, don't know what we will decide just yet...

I have been there for vacation and for work. The rain forrest is beautiful and that part of the island is very beautiful. But PR has a high crime rate. Even in the day time when in San Juan be on guard of your valuables. Do not wear you jewlery to PR... its one way the criminal element targets individuals , based on the jewlery they are wearing.
I have been there various times, once on a cruise ship stop. The cruise advised those going into San Juan not to wear jewelry and stick to main streets. When I was there for business purposes , the hotel advised us not to "go to town" after dark.
Resort areas and higher priced hotels do their best to provide additional security on their property and you can be quite safe at those locations.

I have not been there, however there is so many places in the US I would like to see, I would see those first.

We have done that by going to the national parks and have enjoyed those travels. My bucket list includes visiting the lighthouses around Lake Michigan. I would like to go abroad to visit Venice and England/Scotland. The thought of the long plane trip just does me in on that!

I went on a school trip when I was taking Spanish. I stayed out in the country, in a person's home in Sabana Grande - not in a hotel. Live chickens, turkeys and pigs walking around the yard - nests of fire ants that I stepped into and they started crawling up my entire leg (biting me all the way to my thigh) - and they have flying cockroaches as big as your fist (one flew into my hair). I mentioned something about the rooster crowing so early in morning and they served it for dinner that night. No screens in window - lizards on walls - had to sleep with a net around bed at night. Yuch!

That said the rain forest is beautiful - no crime where I was (people in neighborhood very very nice) - and I cut down and ate real sugar cane.

It was an interesting experience but I'd never pay money to go there.

Puerto Rico is part and has been part of the US since the 1800's!

It is a beautiful place to visit and very historic. Helps if you speak some Spanish and don't have a holier than thou or ugly American attitude because they are Americans too(by law at that!) There is crime, but I have been there many times and have NEVER had any problems. The traffic is chaotic and the streets are very narrow in San Juan and small outlying towns. DH complained about the fact that rules of the road are not followed. I thought driving was interesting and never had any problems but then I speak the language. It is a very modern city in many places. Fashionistas everywhere! Pricey. Puerto Ricans are very proud of their heritage. Most speak English. When people say not to wear jewelry, they mean don't flaunt your stuff. Use common sense. You would do that in NY, so why not in San Juan? You would not go into back alleys in Detroit or Chicago either!

So, use your common sense, get a good guide book or a guide, a Spanish/English dictionary, good walking shoes, a nice comfortable bathing suit, and sunblock. Bring money. Lots of it as there are many boutiques, expensive shops, etc. Bring an open mind and a fun attitude and you should be just fine. **Ask about the town in the mountains where they have the pork fests on the weekends. You will have the time of your life!

About the flying cockroaches and lizards and fireants. You are in the tropics for goodness sake! This is what I mean about common sense. If you are somewhere different, adapt. Have you ever been to Houston, Texas? They have all of those there too. Sorry you missed out on a great experience. uj