Puerto Rico Getaway!

PR Experience

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I researched a lot online before planning a trip to Puerto Rico. There is a lot to see here and I just wish I stayed here for longer than 4 days. PR is beautiful and even though it's a small island, there is plenty to do and it's worth visiting the different cities.I went to Old San Juan and I loved it, it's beautiful to simply walk and see the history, visit the shops, and eat at many of the restaurants there. It's very safe and I highly recommend walking around here as it's the size of 20 city blocks. There are 2 forts, both have lots of history and it will take hours just to cover every part and read about the history. There are lots of shops, many outlets and souvenir shops which...Read More

I researched a lot online before planning a trip to Puerto Rico. There is a lot to see here and I just wish I stayed here for longer than 4 days. PR is beautiful and even though it's a small island, there is plenty to do and it's worth visiting the different cities.

I went to Old San Juan and I loved it, it's beautiful to simply walk and see the history, visit the shops, and eat at many of the restaurants there. It's very safe and I highly recommend walking around here as it's the size of 20 city blocks. There are 2 forts, both have lots of history and it will take hours just to cover every part and read about the history. There are lots of shops, many outlets and souvenir shops which are worth to stop and check out. There are also many restaurants, some of them have the best food so research online which is rated the best instead of walking around and looking which can get quite tiresome.

El yunque is the name of the rain forest there which is huge and very pretty, there are many trails within this rain forest which can be quite a lot of fun and tiring depending on the level of the trail. Some of these lead up to waterfalls which are nice but if you are looking for some thing equivalent to Niagara falls then you will be let down big time. There are small waterfalls here, the biggest is 50 feet which is right off the road. There is plenty of wildlife here which most of them you will hear but wont see if you stick to the trails. I would recommend a visit here but be prepared to walk a lot and have plenty of time if you decide to do the trails.

The best experience out of this trip by far is the bio bay tour to Vieques. East winds along with island adventures have an excursion trip to the island of Vieques which takes you to the Bioluminescent bay there. Vieques is a small island which is part of PR but is an 1 hour boat ride away. This small island which is about the size of 20 miles is beautiful and definitely worth a trip in its own to check out. The bio bay which is best described and explained here (www.biobay.com) was the best experience, swimming at night in the darkness with glowing planktons was an amazing experience. Even if you cannot swim, they provide you with floating belts which are totally safe and let you float in the water. I cannot describe this experience in words, its one of those you definitely have to go and see for yourself.

This trip experience was my first in the Caribbean and I loved it, wish it was just longer since there was a lot there that I could not see due to time constraints. I highly recommend visiting PR and researching online for reviews and information on restaurants, hotels, and things to do. Read Less

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Driving Experience

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If you plan to stay in the San Juan area then you do not need a car as there are lots of cabs and buses which will take you almost every where. There is lots of traffic there since the roads are small and parking can be an issue so be prepared to pay to put it in a lot.If you plan on visiting cities outside of San Juan then its a really good idea to rent a car. I rented a car from Charlie's car rental for $60 for the whole day which includes full insurance and it was well worth it. I got to drive around and visit the El Yunque rain forest at my own pace as oppose to relying on a tour bus's schedule. Also, driving through the luquillo area was nice and for the Bio Bay tour I had to go t...Read More

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Day 1

Metropol

Restaurant | "Dining Review at Metropol"

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This restaurant was located right on Isla Verde Avenue which was about a 15-minute walk from the Courtyard Marriott that I stayed in. This restaurant was packed on a Friday night as people were standing and waiting for tables inside and outside the restaurant. The decor is relatively simple, nothing fancy and felt as if I was at a neighborhood diner. The atmosphere here is anything but quiet and that's partly because this place gets super busy on the weekends since there are lots of neighboring hotels.The food was decent, the mixed appetizer platter (Cheese, empanadas, and fried plantains) that we got was small in portion and it was too oily for our liking. The main course that I order...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on July 17, 2008

Metropol
Av. Isla Verde
San Juan, Puerto Rico
(787) 791-4046

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Courtyard Isla Verde Beach Resort

Hotel | "Vacation Stay at the Courtyard Marriott Beach Resort"

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This was my first time staying at a beach resort and it was one of the best stays that I have ever had. Before going on my trip to PR, I contacted the general manager at this Marriott for general questions and he was very helpful in answering them and helped accommodate my entire stay. I had an ocean view room with a king size bed and a balcony - This was awesome and nothing beats opening the curtains and seeing the ocean right in front of you. The general manage was even nice enough to leave a complimentary fruit basket for us.The rooms were small but very comfortable, once you close the doors then its very peaceful which is good considering the airport is nearby and the rooms are well...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 17, 2008

Courtyard Isla Verde Beach Resort
7012 Carr. Boca De Cangrejos
Carolina, Puerto Rico
(787) 791-0404

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Day 2

Bioluminescent Bay at Vieques Island

Attraction | "My Amazing Experience at the Bio Bay"

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I highly recommend this excursion to the Vieques island, it's one of those experiences which words or pictures cannot describe. East wind in conjunction with Island Adventures let you take a trip to Vieques without having to spend a night there. The east wind boat leaves at 5:30pm and brings you back to mainland Puerto Rico at 11pm. The price for this tour includes the back and forth boat trip to Vieques, dinner at a restaurant and the shuttle bus tour to the bio bay where you go on another boat. This price is well worth the $117 that I paid and would do it again.Visit the www.biobay.com site to learn and understand behind this magic that takes place here. You need to research the moo...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 17, 2008

Bioluminescent Bay at Vieques Island
Island Adventures
Vieques, Puerto Rico
(787) 741-0720

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El Yunque National Forest

Attraction | "Day Trip to El Yunque - Rainforest"

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This was my first time in a rainforest and it was a wonderful experience. The are many trails here, from beginners (20 mins long) to expert (2 hours long) so you can pick the one which you are comfortable with. A lot of these trails lead you down to waterfalls which makes it more or less adventureous. I did the trail down to the La Mina waterfall, which was a pretty good hike - Took 30 mins each way and had lots of scenary along the way. A lot of the waterfalls in the El Yunque are at most 50 feet so if you are looking for some thing equivalent to Niagara falls then I suggest you prepare your heart to be broken. These waterfalls usually have water outlets where you can swim so it can be very soot...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 30, 2008

El Yunque National Forest
Road 191, Off Highway 3 To Luquillo Beach
Palmer, Puerto Rico 00721
(787) 888-1880

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