Puerto Rico recommendations

[meganew]

I’m searching in the travel board and reading threads, but figured I’d ask too in case anyone wants to share!

A group of us (at least 4, maybe 6) are thinking about spending 5 nights in Puerto Rico the end of March. Having never been there I’m a little overwhelmed at the choices. The goal is to explore the island- do some hiking, kayaking, etc- but then spending the rest of the day relaxing a lounging. Not interested in an Airbnb or anything, none of us feels like making food and cleaning. One of the ladies is recovering from back surgery, so while some of us are out hiking she’ll be relaxing poolside or at the beach, so easy access to that is important. I would love a swim up bar. Lol.

Any recommendations? Must dos? Favorite things? I’m equal parts nervous and excited to take a trip this like without my kids for the first time.

[devonpow]

I’ve done a few girls weekends in Puerto Rico and stayed at the Condado Vanderbilt twice for them - really enjoyed it there both times! I’ve also stayed at the St Regis with my family - very nice but pricey.

The kayaking to a bioluminescent bay was a highlight - we used Kayaking Puerto Rico for our tour . We had a great meal at Semilla in Condado

[estrellita]

I'd suggest the place we went on our honeymoon (Gran Melia) because it was beautiful, but unfortunately it's connected to a particular brand of golf resorts I wouldn't want to support (this was 2013 and we had no idea until we got there. We didn't use our golf passes anyway because we don't golf, lol). But some things we did were going to El Yunque, Luquillo Beach, and wanted around Old San Juan. We went to the Bacardi factory and a couple of the forts. We only had 3 full days so we were limited, but if we ever get to go back, I really want to do a bioluminescence (I def spelled that wrong lol) tour, and seeing more of the island!

[mofongo]

Def agree with Condado area, you’ll be close enough to El Yunque and the bioluminescent bay.

[devonpow]

I will say the hotel I recommended does not have beach access - so if you want beach then it’s not for you (great pools and spa though!)

[mofongo]

There’s also a resort called El Conquistador, not in Condado. You have access to their private island, the beaches are beautiful. The resort itself is beautiful. Now, I have not been since Maria, so I don’t know if the experience has changed. It’s definitely rebuilt, though.

[mofongo]

Jan 2, 2023 12:54:53 GMT -5 devonpow said:

I will say the hotel I recommended does not have beach access - so if you want beach then it’s not for you (great pools and spa though!)

Yes, the Condado beaches aren’t necessarily for swimming!

[isabel]

Jan 2, 2023 12:33:02 GMT -5 devonpow said:

The kayaking to a bioluminescent bay was a highlight - we used Kayaking Puerto Rico for our tour . We had a great meal at Semilla in Condado

Ditto this. It's a must. So freaking cool.

[fernweh]

I have not been there but I really want to go see the bioluminescent bay!

[devonpow]

I gave the wrong restaurant name lol - I checked with my friend. We went to Santaella for dinner - so good!

[mofongo]

Jan 2, 2023 13:18:49 GMT -5 devonpow said:

I gave the wrong restaurant name lol - I checked with my friend. We went to Santaella for dinner - so good!

Omg, LOVE this place!!!

[meganew]

Thank you guys! The Condado place looks like it might check the most boxes. We're renting a car, so I assume we'll be out and about most of the day.

Besides staying in San Juan, how is the Luquillo area for staying?

[mofongo]

Jan 2, 2023 14:49:59 GMT -5 meganew said:

Thank you guys! The Condado place looks like it might check the most boxes. We're renting a car, so I assume we'll be out and about most of the day.

Besides staying in San Juan, how is the Luquillo area for staying?

Luquillo is more beach than Condado, you’d also be closer to the bioluminescent bay and El Yunque. It may be better for you, if you want more beach. 

[sonrisa]

I went *years* ago but the island of culebras was the highlight of our trip.

[mofongo]

Jan 2, 2023 14:54:51 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

I went *years* ago but the island of culebras was the highlight of our trip.

The island owned by El Conquistador, that I mentioned above, is very close to culebra, so the beaches are pretty beautiful there too. Vieques and Culebra are gorgeous!

[keweenawlove]

We went with DD when she was 5 last spring. We stayed at the Courtyard in Isla Verde. For what we needed, it was great. Super close to the airport and a 20 minute cab ride to Old Town San Juan. DD loved the pool and it did have a swim-up bar we used a lot. The beach was pretty but rough swimming for kids but it wasn't an issue with the pool right there. For calmer beaches the Liquillo beach area seemed to be a better bet. We stopped there on 2 day trips.

Rental cars were pricey so we only got one for some of the trip. Driving into the rainforest was fun. We did a boat tour from Fajardo which ended up being too long for DD but would have been fun for adults. I really wanted to go to Culebra for some of the trip but wouldn't male the logistics work in a way that made sense.

[sunnysally]

We are going for a week at the end of March. I am really excited to eat here: tableagent.com/san-juan/portela-by-orujo/

We plan to do the bioluminescent bay at Laguna Grande, a catamaran trip to Culebra, hiking in El Yunque, and zip lining the world's second longest zip line which only recently lost the title of first. There is so much to do it was hard to narrow it down.

I know PR is part of the US, but when I went to St Croix, I had an easier time leaving because I had my passport and not only my driver's license. Is the same true in PR?

[mofongo]

Jan 2, 2023 16:13:11 GMT -5 sunnysally said:

We are going for a week at the end of March. I am really excited to eat here: tableagent.com/san-juan/portela-by-orujo/

We plan to do the bioluminescent bay at Laguna Grande, a catamaran trip to Culebra, hiking in El Yunque, and zip lining the world's second longest zip line which only recently lost the title of first. There is so much to do it was hard to narrow it down.

I know PR is part of the US, but when I went to St Croix, I had an easier time leaving because I had my passport and not only my driver's license. Is the same true in PR?

No, just a license is fine.

[wildrice]

I don't have any recs (I came in here to get them!) but I'll mention that you don't have to cook and clean in an airBNB, lol. When I've rented places with friends we do usually bring coffee and stuff like bagels/muffins because it's easy and nice to hang out at whatever pretty house we've rented and drink our coffee, not have to run out the door first thing because we're hungry, etc. But when my H and I stay in them just us we rarely eat in. Usually cleaning is just doing any dishes we used and taking out trash. You can read instructions in advance and just not book anything that requests any more involved cleaning. Of all of the ones we've stayed in (probably at least 25-30 at this point) I think only one has asked us to do anything more.

I only mention this because I've found renting a house or apartment to be nice when traveling with a group - you get more space to just hang out and chat and you don't have to DO something all the time to get that social time together. Typically I've been meeting people I don't get to spend much quality time with otherwise, so it's nice to have those common spaces to maximize our time.

[DotAndBuzz]

Jan 2, 2023 14:49:59 GMT -5 meganew said:

Thank you guys! The Condado place looks like it might check the most boxes. We're renting a car, so I assume we'll be out and about most of the day.

Besides staying in San Juan, how is the Luquillo area for staying?

We're staying in the Luquillo area in April, with plans to go to El Yunque, the observatory, and ride horses (may not be a good idea for your friend post back surgery).
Just look at those sites well in advance - you may need reservations/tickets. When I looked a while back I remember needing them for some things, and it's on my list of things to do this week.

[jwright]

My SIL and BIL are there now. A friend recommended Jose Enrique, Marmalade and Santealla for restaurants as well as El Batey Bar and La Factoria for drinks.

I’m so jealous!

[just]

Marmalade was amazing. I'm not a dessert person, but I had the best dessert of my life there. Also back when I was there the chef/owner used to reply to yelp reviews and was hilarious.

[fortnightlily]

Following this topic because I really want to go, though I'm supremely annoyed that there seem to be very few direct flights from the DC area. The cheapest flights connect in Boston, which is almost doubling the time it ought to take to get there.

[sju]

We went during Thanksgiving and they still had a reservation system to be able to visit El Yunque. Super easy and just a few dollars per car. Several trails were closed due to the recent storms but it was still worth it. I have been to El Yunque numerous times and I found a new trail with a waterfall I had not visited. I would just check the official website a couple weeks before the trip. If you visit Old San Juan, which may be a little tricky for your friend due to the steep hills, you can get a pass that covers both forts (El Morro and San Cristobal). 

My favorite beaches are located in the south and west regions of the island but the Luquillo area is nice. Beaches tend to be rougher on the Atlantic side so that’s why I like the south.

[mofongo]

Jan 2, 2023 20:44:54 GMT -5 sju said:

We went during Thanksgiving and they still had a reservation system to be able to visit El Yunque. Super easy and just a few dollars per car. Several trails were closed due to the recent storms but it was still worth it. I have been to El Yunque numerous times and I found a new trail with a waterfall I had not visited. I would just check the official website a couple weeks before the trip. If you visit Old San Juan, which may be a little tricky for your friend due to the steep hills, you can get a pass that covers both forts (El Morro and San Cristobal). 

My favorite beaches are located in the south and west regions of the island but the Luquillo area is nice. Beaches tend to be rougher on the Atlantic side so that’s why I like the south.

Are you from there? I may have asked before:)

[sju]

Jan 2, 2023 20:48:49 GMT -5 mofongo said:

Jan 2, 2023 20:44:54 GMT -5 sju said:

We went during Thanksgiving and they still had a reservation system to be able to visit El Yunque. Super easy and just a few dollars per car. Several trails were closed due to the recent storms but it was still worth it. I have been to El Yunque numerous times and I found a new trail with a waterfall I had not visited. I would just check the official website a couple weeks before the trip. If you visit Old San Juan, which may be a little tricky for your friend due to the steep hills, you can get a pass that covers both forts (El Morro and San Cristobal). 

My favorite beaches are located in the south and west regions of the island but the Luquillo area is nice. Beaches tend to be rougher on the Atlantic side so that’s why I like the south.

Are you from there? I may have asked before:)

I am :-)

[mofongo]

Jan 2, 2023 20:50:04 GMT -5 sju said:

Jan 2, 2023 20:48:49 GMT -5 mofongo said:

Are you from there? I may have asked before:)

I am :-)

I am so grateful that the tiny island of PR has become such a big part of my life:) 

[minzy]

Tagging on, how far along are they with Maria reconstruction? How complete is recovery? And where are the best places to snorkel?

[fortnightlily]

What is the snorkeling like at the private island of The Conquistador resort or in Culebra? Good variety of wildlife? Right off the shore or do you need to pay for an excursion to boat to you to the right spots?

[shauni27]

Jan 2, 2023 14:49:59 GMT -5 meganew said:

Thank you guys! The Condado place looks like it might check the most boxes. We're renting a car, so I assume we'll be out and about most of the day.

Besides staying in San Juan, how is the Luquillo area for staying?

we are going to Luquillo the first week in April and I am so excited. We are hiking El Yunque and doing a catamaran to culebra. Mostly we picked that area because it was a new part of the island for us (we used to have a home in Rincon) and we wanted to be near the food kiosks, lol.