Dan always used to tell me this when I started in on a long story. I think he said it was from Dragnet. But now that he's no longer working and I am (well when I'm not on vacation) I now tell him this. Just the facts.
So here are the simple unvarnished facts if you decide that you would like to visit Puerto Rico. I have learned this all firsthand as I was wandering, driving, being driven and finally falling my way through San Juan. This information is from personal experience, not research on the internet or any travel agency site such as Expedia or Cheap Hotels etc. I am not now nor have I ever been a travel agent. I'm simply someone who likes to travel. So I do. I hope this helps you if you plan a visit to this very beautiful Caribbean island.
Travel to and from the Island can be done either by air or cruise ship. I chose air, and we booked a flight on Air Tran. They are based out of Atlanta and fly to many destinations in the Caribbean such as Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Aruba, Jamaica and at least three destinations in Mexico among other places. The flights are not too expensive in the overall scheme of airfare. They are currently owned by Southwest Airlines so I was also able to use my ticket purchase for my frequent flyer club membership miles. Upping my miles toward free flights. Unlike Southwest they do offer Business class which is an upgrade and they charge for luggage. $20 for the first bag.
Hotel Verdanza is where we stayed as I've stated before. It has plenty of amenities to make almost everyone happy and my overall impression was satisfactory. Because of the snafu with the WiFi I won't say very satisfactory. But I will say that the Hotel staff was very attentive, polite and helpful throughout our stay, the amenities were plentiful and the restaurants were very good. During our stay we heard live music playing on weekends during the day at the pool area. It was very soft and light background music, not intrusive but pleasant and relaxing. There is also live music in the lobby during the weekends. Other amenities include laundry facilities, a gym, an eighth floor terrace, several restaurants, handicap accessible rooms, rental car desk in the lobby, tour agent in the lobby, room service, party facilities, sports bar, pool, jacuzzi, water park for the kids, gazebo in the pool area, party facilities the hotel is located about a 3 minute walk from the beach.
Hotel Verdanza is well situated in area commonly known as Isla Verde for the beach here but technically it is a suburb called Carolina. It is a major tourist destination due to the number of hotels, casinos and vacation condo rentals. There are several major upscale hotel chains, most major restaurant chains are also located within easy walking distance and I counted more than a handful of casinos as well. It is in close proximity to the air port also.
While you are visiting you will need to consider ground transportation or getting around. Especially since most of the areas where tourists stay are a distance from the tourist sites. You will have a choice of private car service, taxis, rental car or public transportation. All of those choices have pros and cons. Here are the particulars for you. There are two different classes of taxis, those for locals and those for tourists. Tourist taxis range in price from $15 to $40 or more, depending on where you are going. And that is one way, not round trip. So from our hotel to Old San Juan we payed $20 one way. Taxis are easily available, plentiful and most drivers speak English & are very helpful in giving you advice, walking directions, and tips on things to see.
Private car services are available but pricey. You could pay several hundred dollars a day for one depending on the time that you contract to have them. The upside is that it is the ultimate in convenience. They are at your beck and call. Employees speak English, are helpful, polite and very accommodating.
Most major hotel chains have a rental car desk in their lobby. Our hotel had Dollar for their car rental agency. Cost of a car for us was $41 per day, economy size with military discount. We had unlimited mileage but were offered an option of purchasing any gas we used or purchasing their gas. Gas in Puerto Rico is dispensed by liter not gallon. So after the conversion gas costs around $4 per gallon. Downsides for driving yourself around are parking is scarce and costly. We paid just under $6 for 1 1/2 hours of parking. All the traffic signs are in Spanish and the vocabulary is different from what I am used to, making me really have to think. Local drivers are not the most polite either. They honk a lot, especially at tourists. Another thing that is kind of unnerving is that they ride your bumper, swerve in and out of lanes indiscriminately, drive fast, stop for anything and everything and back up without warning in the middle of a lane. Last of the downsides is that some roads are not marked at all, others are not clearly marked and some even turn from tow way traffic to one way with no notice.
Finally public transportation in San Juan is officially known as MetroBus but is commonly known as Guagua. Buses run fairly close to schedule, are clean, air conditioned, and have plenty of seats. Cost is 75 cents per rider per trip (exact change only pease) and there are plentiful Paradas or bus stops. The downsides are that most operators do not speak English, and are not necessarily helpful. Stops are not generally called out in advance either so you must know when and where you need to exit. From our hotel we could take either the #5 or the #53 to Old San Juan. Termination of the route is at the station just a block or so from the Plaza de Colon, the piers & casinos, the beginning of Old San Juan and about 4 blocks downhill from El Morro. If you are bilingual, then getting on the MetroBus website would be a cinch, but otherwise ask for information from your hotel staff for using the bus system.
The bottom line on transportation is choose your poison, budget accordingly and don't be afraid to change up.
Food costs in San Juan are generally reasonable. You can get a full meal at a nice chain restaurant for a comparable price or less depending on where you live in the U.S. There are also some very nice, delicious local only places that I would recommend you try. While in Viejo San Juan street vendors are a good and inexpensive choice, but there are also lots of Puerto Rican only places to sit & eat. I would also encourage you to be adventurous and try some Puerto Rican dishes like Mofongo. Also if you are a seafood lover, then you'll be in heaven here as there are lots of seafood choices. Like shrimp enchiladas. No tortillas involved in this dish however. Try some Puerto Rican rice and beans too while you're out on that experimental limb. It's was great! Most of our meals without alcoholic drinks cost on average between $25 and $40 for the two of us.
Now for the part most of the ladies want to know about. Shopping. First there are three large malls. The largest and most up to date is Mall of the Americas. Almost every chain store you can imagine is in one or more of the malls, prices are comparable and in some cases lower than mainland prices and certainly lower than the other Caribbean islands. Of course you will also find a variety of Puerto Rican only stores also in the Malls. As well as theaters, bowling and food courts.
There were several specialty and outlet stores in Old San Juan also. Especially on Calle del Christo, Calle San Francisco and streets close to the Piers. Some of the stores in that area were Polo Ralph Lauren, Dooney & Bourke, Crocs and Coach. But these are just a sampling. The list of shops is extensive. It is also one place that authentic handcrafted items from local artisans is available. Numerous art galleries with work in various media are located as well in Viejo San Juan and for the gentleman in your life, cigar shops are plentiful. Honestly there's a little something for everyone. Even if your budget only allows for the "cheap made in china junky souvenirs" that typically come home from vacations. Want a t-shirt that says you visited Puerto Rico or San Juan, you can get 4 for $10 in Old San Juan. Enough to outfit the entire family.
Safety concerns are an issue on everyone's minds. Here's my take. In all my wanderings many of them alone because of Dan's mobility issues I never once felt ill at ease, uncomfortable or unsafe. Most sites are in and around old San Juan which dates from 1493, sits on a bluff with streets that are narrow, steep and paved with ancient cobblestones. The sidewalks are covered in tiles many of which are broken, missing pieces or are no longer there at all. As you know from reading my blog that is why I had my unfortunate accident. You also know that there is a heavy and attentive police presence in the area. Tourism is a part of the economy and safety for tourists is taken seriously. Many locals speak English and are helpful, especially if you fall down. Couple that with my rudimentary Spanish and I was perfectly fine perusing the sights on my own. In the area where our Hotel is, it is the same. We saw lots of police, many were driving with their lights flashing. Making it obvious they were in the area.
One warning that I would give is the one I received from a couple of very nice locals who spent hours showing me around. If you decide you want to go to Old San Juan in the evening, then try not to look too touristy. Most locals wear shorts or jeans, some capris pants and a lightweight shirt or top. Not too much showy jewelry and certainly leave your camera back at the hotel. Take some money or a credit card and your ID in your pocket and forego the big bag. Or better yet, give your significant other what you need in terms of that and let him carry them in his wallet. It's also best if you're out and about at night to use a taxi. Bus schedules slow in the late night hours and sitting at a stop would make you vulnerable. So plan ahead and take that taxi back to your hotel.
Mind your own business and you'll be fine. Muggings happen, they are a fact of life. But they can happen to you in your own home town also. Relax and enjoy your vacation. How often will you get to go to a Caribbean island like this one in your life? Make the best of the time you have and have fun.
Hotel Verdanza is where we stayed as I've stated before. It has plenty of amenities to make almost everyone happy and my overall impression was satisfactory. Because of the snafu with the WiFi I won't say very satisfactory. But I will say that the Hotel staff was very attentive, polite and helpful throughout our stay, the amenities were plentiful and the restaurants were very good. During our stay we heard live music playing on weekends during the day at the pool area. It was very soft and light background music, not intrusive but pleasant and relaxing. There is also live music in the lobby during the weekends. Other amenities include laundry facilities, a gym, an eighth floor terrace, several restaurants, handicap accessible rooms, rental car desk in the lobby, tour agent in the lobby, room service, party facilities, sports bar, pool, jacuzzi, water park for the kids, gazebo in the pool area, party facilities the hotel is located about a 3 minute walk from the beach.
Hotel Verdanza is well situated in area commonly known as Isla Verde for the beach here but technically it is a suburb called Carolina. It is a major tourist destination due to the number of hotels, casinos and vacation condo rentals. There are several major upscale hotel chains, most major restaurant chains are also located within easy walking distance and I counted more than a handful of casinos as well. It is in close proximity to the air port also.
While you are visiting you will need to consider ground transportation or getting around. Especially since most of the areas where tourists stay are a distance from the tourist sites. You will have a choice of private car service, taxis, rental car or public transportation. All of those choices have pros and cons. Here are the particulars for you. There are two different classes of taxis, those for locals and those for tourists. Tourist taxis range in price from $15 to $40 or more, depending on where you are going. And that is one way, not round trip. So from our hotel to Old San Juan we payed $20 one way. Taxis are easily available, plentiful and most drivers speak English & are very helpful in giving you advice, walking directions, and tips on things to see.
Private car services are available but pricey. You could pay several hundred dollars a day for one depending on the time that you contract to have them. The upside is that it is the ultimate in convenience. They are at your beck and call. Employees speak English, are helpful, polite and very accommodating.
Most major hotel chains have a rental car desk in their lobby. Our hotel had Dollar for their car rental agency. Cost of a car for us was $41 per day, economy size with military discount. We had unlimited mileage but were offered an option of purchasing any gas we used or purchasing their gas. Gas in Puerto Rico is dispensed by liter not gallon. So after the conversion gas costs around $4 per gallon. Downsides for driving yourself around are parking is scarce and costly. We paid just under $6 for 1 1/2 hours of parking. All the traffic signs are in Spanish and the vocabulary is different from what I am used to, making me really have to think. Local drivers are not the most polite either. They honk a lot, especially at tourists. Another thing that is kind of unnerving is that they ride your bumper, swerve in and out of lanes indiscriminately, drive fast, stop for anything and everything and back up without warning in the middle of a lane. Last of the downsides is that some roads are not marked at all, others are not clearly marked and some even turn from tow way traffic to one way with no notice.
Finally public transportation in San Juan is officially known as MetroBus but is commonly known as Guagua. Buses run fairly close to schedule, are clean, air conditioned, and have plenty of seats. Cost is 75 cents per rider per trip (exact change only pease) and there are plentiful Paradas or bus stops. The downsides are that most operators do not speak English, and are not necessarily helpful. Stops are not generally called out in advance either so you must know when and where you need to exit. From our hotel we could take either the #5 or the #53 to Old San Juan. Termination of the route is at the station just a block or so from the Plaza de Colon, the piers & casinos, the beginning of Old San Juan and about 4 blocks downhill from El Morro. If you are bilingual, then getting on the MetroBus website would be a cinch, but otherwise ask for information from your hotel staff for using the bus system.
The bottom line on transportation is choose your poison, budget accordingly and don't be afraid to change up.
Food costs in San Juan are generally reasonable. You can get a full meal at a nice chain restaurant for a comparable price or less depending on where you live in the U.S. There are also some very nice, delicious local only places that I would recommend you try. While in Viejo San Juan street vendors are a good and inexpensive choice, but there are also lots of Puerto Rican only places to sit & eat. I would also encourage you to be adventurous and try some Puerto Rican dishes like Mofongo. Also if you are a seafood lover, then you'll be in heaven here as there are lots of seafood choices. Like shrimp enchiladas. No tortillas involved in this dish however. Try some Puerto Rican rice and beans too while you're out on that experimental limb. It's was great! Most of our meals without alcoholic drinks cost on average between $25 and $40 for the two of us.
Now for the part most of the ladies want to know about. Shopping. First there are three large malls. The largest and most up to date is Mall of the Americas. Almost every chain store you can imagine is in one or more of the malls, prices are comparable and in some cases lower than mainland prices and certainly lower than the other Caribbean islands. Of course you will also find a variety of Puerto Rican only stores also in the Malls. As well as theaters, bowling and food courts.
There were several specialty and outlet stores in Old San Juan also. Especially on Calle del Christo, Calle San Francisco and streets close to the Piers. Some of the stores in that area were Polo Ralph Lauren, Dooney & Bourke, Crocs and Coach. But these are just a sampling. The list of shops is extensive. It is also one place that authentic handcrafted items from local artisans is available. Numerous art galleries with work in various media are located as well in Viejo San Juan and for the gentleman in your life, cigar shops are plentiful. Honestly there's a little something for everyone. Even if your budget only allows for the "cheap made in china junky souvenirs" that typically come home from vacations. Want a t-shirt that says you visited Puerto Rico or San Juan, you can get 4 for $10 in Old San Juan. Enough to outfit the entire family.
Safety concerns are an issue on everyone's minds. Here's my take. In all my wanderings many of them alone because of Dan's mobility issues I never once felt ill at ease, uncomfortable or unsafe. Most sites are in and around old San Juan which dates from 1493, sits on a bluff with streets that are narrow, steep and paved with ancient cobblestones. The sidewalks are covered in tiles many of which are broken, missing pieces or are no longer there at all. As you know from reading my blog that is why I had my unfortunate accident. You also know that there is a heavy and attentive police presence in the area. Tourism is a part of the economy and safety for tourists is taken seriously. Many locals speak English and are helpful, especially if you fall down. Couple that with my rudimentary Spanish and I was perfectly fine perusing the sights on my own. In the area where our Hotel is, it is the same. We saw lots of police, many were driving with their lights flashing. Making it obvious they were in the area.
One warning that I would give is the one I received from a couple of very nice locals who spent hours showing me around. If you decide you want to go to Old San Juan in the evening, then try not to look too touristy. Most locals wear shorts or jeans, some capris pants and a lightweight shirt or top. Not too much showy jewelry and certainly leave your camera back at the hotel. Take some money or a credit card and your ID in your pocket and forego the big bag. Or better yet, give your significant other what you need in terms of that and let him carry them in his wallet. It's also best if you're out and about at night to use a taxi. Bus schedules slow in the late night hours and sitting at a stop would make you vulnerable. So plan ahead and take that taxi back to your hotel.
Mind your own business and you'll be fine. Muggings happen, they are a fact of life. But they can happen to you in your own home town also. Relax and enjoy your vacation. How often will you get to go to a Caribbean island like this one in your life? Make the best of the time you have and have fun.
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| An homage to Christopher Columbus. |
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| This reminds me of New Orleans, the street names are all placed on the corners of buildings and done in mosaic tiles. |
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| The entrance to the bomb shelter, which was built during WWII. |
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| It says bomb shelter #1. It is in the old San Juan area. |
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| Coat of arms on a building in Viejo San Juan. |
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| A view of the Paseos and what you see when you stroll along them. Both Paseos are just above the water. |
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| I loved the look of this door in old San Juan. It shows its age so wonderfully. |
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| This islet can be seen from the edges of Viejo San Juan. It is now a very expensive, upscale tourist area where many ex-pats live. It used to be a designated leper colony and if you visit this part of Puerto Rico the ruins of the colony are still there. Also if you look closely you will see a small fort, which sits across from El Morro. It is part of the National Historic site like San Cristobal and El Morro. |
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| A view down the coastline. In the background of the photo you can see the new parts of San Juan. All modern and high rise. |
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| A view of the capital building in the foreground and high rises in the background. |
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| This is Pier #2 on the right. You can take the ferry from here to the Bacardi Distillery for 50 cents. On the left is one of the Casinos of San Juan. |
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| A view of the city. |
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| One of the many plazas. Only this one had a traditional style fountain, so the kids couldn't play in it. |
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| In the background you can see the mountains of Puerto Rico. I would suggest you get out of the city and see the Rainforest, but do not stay in it after about 5 p.m. as it gets dark in the forest very quickly. Also the national forest is in those mountains. |
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| Isla Verde Beach. About 2 blocks from our hotel. |
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| This was on Father's Day. A holiday in Puerto Rico. The beach was packed that day. |
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| You can see some of the high rise hotels that are situated right on Isla Verde. |
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| Night view of the city. |
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| Night view of the suburb of Carolina and Isla Verde. A popular tourist area. |
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| The high rise hotels of Isla Verde at night. |
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| I just happened to snap this picture of the courtyard and pool area of our hotel. I thought it made a great picture. |
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