Looking to go on vacation in San Juan! (where to stay, to rent) - U.S. Territories -Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, etc. - City-Data Forum

evilnewbie · 02-20-2010, 12:19 PM

I am looking to vacation in San Juan, where the Radisson Hotel is... cause I am not filthy rich like other US travelers, I was wondering if anyone here can tell me where to eat good Puerto Rican food for cheap (could you tell me the price and what dishes is your favorite) and also what to do in the great country of yours (hopefully ones that doesn't cost too much and are accessible by bus)... thanks in advance!

jepalau · 02-23-2010, 06:12 PM

Sorry but in order to answer I wish to ask you how many are in your party if its just you. Long of stay. Budget.??

Theres PLENTY to eat and PLENTY of places to visit. Let me know

I can help you!

evilnewbie · 02-24-2010, 07:37 AM

Party of 3... staying for 5 days... budget around $1500...

jepalau · 02-24-2010, 12:59 PM

Ok for the most part thats a good budget. If you wish to visit more of Puerto Rico you can either sacrifice luxury(hotel) for gas(transportation) or gas for luxury. Many hotels offer trips to places unfortunately most of the time it is over priced

But yet you are guaranteed security and time management. When are you planning to visit? Also How much are you planning to spend at a hotel per night, which amenities do you need most? I guess you which to stay at San Juan, ocean view hotel? Near clubs or near historic sites? Theres many hotels. I can help you look for a good, on budget, reputable one instead of staying say Intercontinental for $300 a night. Are there minors -18 in your party? If not you prefer 1 bedroom or 2 bedrooms?

Another possibility is that you can stay out of the San Juan area, maybe to the south-western Puerto Rico. Has so much to visit. And still you are around a hour and a half drive to San Juan. But I see you wish to stay in city and take advantage of public transportation. Let me warn you something about that. It is a pain in the ... it is NEVER on time. The bus gets there when it does. This wont be a problem if youre not into getting to know tons of PR and just having a good time. Usually bus transportation around say Isla Verde, Ocean Park, San Juan and Condado area are much more tidy than those in the nearby company areas. Taxis for transportation to Old San Juan usually have a fixed rate of about $10-$15.

On a tight budget you may want to plan ahead what you will be doing. Like places you wish to visit. You wont have any trouble finding great stuff to do. I will post a link of the must sees of Puerto Rico. Let me know when you are planning to visit and I can call hotels for you and try to find a good, ocean front, cheap one. If you plan to visit soon you must take action because I was searching for deal for you and many hotels are already booked on the weekends.

This is the link to must sees. Puerto Rico Attractions | PRTC - Attractions & Entertainment | Puerto Rico Tourist Attractions
There is too companies which will take you to this places with private tour guides. But thats money involved.

evilnewbie · 02-24-2010, 06:18 PM

I already have a hotel booked and paid for.. the $1500 is spending money... coming over in april

jepalau · 03-11-2010, 07:11 AM

great! i hope you enjoy yourselves

Notepad · 03-17-2010, 09:32 AM

Around the Old San Juan, specifically on Fortaleza street, at around the intersection of Fortaleza Street and San Jose street, but more on Fortaleza street, theres a restaurant called El Punto. That would be the best puertorican food you can get. Its not on San Jose street, its on Fortaleza. Its about across the street from a restaurant called Barrachina and some tacky t shirt tourist trap stores.
Old San Juan is absolutely nothing like the rest of PR, nothing. Nothing like the rest of the metro area either, so when your there, dont think thats the way they live, the streets are not cobblestone in PR, only there, the houses dont look like that either, at all, and the streets aren that narrow. Its called the Old City, and its all about government buildings, tourist traps, and high prestigue local PR businesses, but you wont see those really cause they dont have giant signs and stuff, really like referral places, like the highest caliber reputable doctors, lawyers, engineers, and architects. But theres of course, others outside of the Old City. Hmmm. I really feel bad for tourists coming to PR and like 95% of them only see Old San Juan and Isla Verde, its a shame they dont see the Golden Mile, the finance center of the island, or any other area in PR to see what PR is really like, of course, the nicer normal areas of course. Its because the Old City and Isla Verde really arent as nice of a difference compared to say Times Square or Chicagos Magnificent Mile where tourists there end up, and in comparison to the rest of the Metro area in PR. But theres nothing you can do about it really, unless you know a local here, or rent a car or shell out money for a cab to take you everywhere, you kind of dont have much of a choice. Like in the other cities too.Its just so different from the "real PR" that it bugs me a little. People do go to the rainforset (El Yunque) but thats nothing like the metro area either haha, so its doesnt help much. Old City, in my opinion, is very unique though, dont get me wrong, it looks like your in 1800s Spain or something, its colonial as hell,and was all a military housing for Spaniards back in the days, so its not like its not something impressive, but its really not like...well.. PR. Have fun, go crazy, its a crazy place,like NYC.

YBF · 10-04-2010, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jepalau

Ok for the most part thats a good budget. If you wish to visit more of Puerto Rico you can either sacrifice luxury(hotel) for gas(transportation) or gas for luxury. Many hotels offer trips to places unfortunately most of the time it is over priced

But yet you are guaranteed security and time management. When are you planning to visit? Also How much are you planning to spend at a hotel per night, which amenities do you need most? I guess you which to stay at San Juan, ocean view hotel? Near clubs or near historic sites? Theres many hotels. I can help you look for a good, on budget, reputable one instead of staying say Intercontinental for $300 a night. Are there minors -18 in your party? If not you prefer 1 bedroom or 2 bedrooms?

Another possibility is that you can stay out of the San Juan area, maybe to the south-western Puerto Rico. Has so much to visit. And still you are around a hour and a half drive to San Juan. But I see you wish to stay in city and take advantage of public transportation. Let me warn you something about that. It is a pain in the ... it is NEVER on time. The bus gets there when it does. This wont be a problem if youre not into getting to know tons of PR and just having a good time. Usually bus transportation around say Isla Verde, Ocean Park, San Juan and Condado area are much more tidy than those in the nearby company areas. Taxis for transportation to Old San Juan usually have a fixed rate of about $10-$15.

On a tight budget you may want to plan ahead what you will be doing. Like places you wish to visit. You wont have any trouble finding great stuff to do. I will post a link of the must sees of Puerto Rico. Let me know when you are planning to visit and I can call hotels for you and try to find a good, ocean front, cheap one. If you plan to visit soon you must take action because I was searching for deal for you and many hotels are already booked on the weekends.

This is the link to must sees. Puerto Rico Attractions | PRTC - Attractions & Entertainment | Puerto Rico Tourist Attractions
There is too companies which will take you to this places with private tour guides. But thats money involved.

You seem to have alot of great tips!!! Maybe you can assist me. I am planning a trip to PR in June with about 4 or 5 other people (2 of them 17 y/olds) I really dont want to rent a car or drive while there but my main concern is where to stay?!? I want to go to San Juan in a hotel near the beach. A friend said she stayed in OLD San Juan but couldnt remember the hotel name. What is the difference between San Juan and Old San Juan? Which would be a better area to stay in. Also I would like to be near clubs and nightlife. Are the historic sites very far from the nighlife areas? Please any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

efrenb5 · 10-04-2010, 03:07 PM

Old San Juan is usually used to refer to the historic area of San Juan. You can find El Morro and San Cristobal fortresses there and several clubs as well. From Old San Juan you might have to take a taxi to Isla Verde Avenue, where you can also find several clubs and nightlife.

San Juan is usually used to refer to everything beyond Old San Juan. Many suburbs and maybe not that lively nightlife.

From your post I assume that you would want to stick with Old San Juan. Lots of hotels there, don't know how expensive they can get.

aab7855 · 10-04-2010, 03:41 PM

You can find budget places in San Juan if you look. I stayed at a fabulous place in El Condado (in the city, on the beach, ritzy, near Old San Juan, tons of nightlife, access to public transit) called Casa del Caribe. Don't expect 5 stars but it's a really nice small inn that takes care of its guests. Check it out online, the price is right!