Subject: puerto rico
Date: Fri Apr 18 17:12:35 2014
User: Denny
Message:Nellie and I are going to spend a week in Puerto Rico leaving the kids with the in-laws. It'll be early autumn probably. Any suggestions what to do or where to stay? I speak pretty good Spanish for what it's worth, not quite fluent but well beyond "tengo arroz con pollo en mis pantalones."
Denny
Date: Fri Apr 18 17:34:12 2014
User: wallen4nj
Message:Go to one of the bioluminescent bays. There are two in Puerto Rico and one on the island of Vieques -- its absolutely amazing. You need to check with tour guides on the best nights to go and make reservation in advance. Its great for kids and older folks. I went to the one in Vieques, and we went by bus to the bay, then out in a boat. Anyone who wanted to get in the water was able to do so. Every motion you make creates a trail of light. Stunning.
http://biobaypuertorico.com/
Date: Fri Apr 18 18:36:31 2014
User: Denny
Message:wallen--not sure I can take the necessary mind altering substances on the airplanes. :-)
aero--wow, that looks cool. Can't figure out the price tho. It says "start at $1200 per person" but doesn't give a timeframe. Is that per week, per night, what?
Denny
Date: Fri Apr 18 18:46:26 2014
User: macbeth
Message:Vieques is incredible!! I have been there 6 times already. It is a quiet and relaxing place....we always stay at Hectors by Sea but they book up well in advance. You have already heard about the bioluminescent by.
Date: Fri Apr 18 22:40:01 2014
User: JoeBenign
Message:If you are staying on the beach east of San Juan, think about renting a car. It's much cheaper than the daily excursions. Also a drive down to Ponce is worth the trip.
Date: Sat Apr 19 10:55:51 2014
User: oneway
Message:Respect the sun
You could ruin your stay with sunburn on your foot and ankle
Trust me on this
Date: Sat Apr 19 10:59:07 2014
User: Dr.X
Message:Don't forget your ears and hair part, if you have a hair part. Leave no part unblocked.
Date: Sat Apr 19 14:21:44 2014
User: aerostat56
Message:The boat charter is for 7 days. Call Dave, he is really easy to get along with and shows everyone a great time. You will be talking about this trip for years.
Date: Sat Apr 19 17:50:12 2014
User: w4qnw
Message:recently stayed at the EL CONVENTO in Old Town SJ
rented a car and drove to the PORK HIGHWAY for lunch.... good !!!
(1/2 way to Ponce from SJ)
only stay 3 days after cruise.
Date: Sat Apr 19 20:58:34 2014
User: Lancer
Message:If you get to downtown San Juan, the "Parrot Club" is a delightful restaurant and fun place. If you're cruising to PR, it's within walking distance of the docks.
Date: Sat Apr 19 23:02:09 2014
User: RalphWiggum
Message:"Dos Cerveza por favour" and "Donde esta el bano" are the only two Spanish phrases you will ever need. I survived a 6 month trip through south America using nothing else.
Date: Sat Apr 19 23:06:43 2014
User: OrianaFallaci
Message:For a great spiritual experience, go to a church called "Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal." This is the name of a denomination, so there should be lots of them. The sign could say "Roca de Consolacion" or other name.
Dios te bendiga! Tenga una buena viaje!
Date: Mon Apr 21 12:10:34 2014
User: grogers7
Message:Depends on how you like to vacation. We like some days on the beach and some days exploring. The Island is big enough and diverse enough to support days of exploring, unlike most islands in the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands and the southern Caribbean islands.
San Juan traffic is a significant block to east/west driving in the north.
We have stayed in Dorado, San Juan, and Ponce. There is a Hilton & Hilton timeshare west of San Juan in Dorado that is quiet and removed from the city of San Juan. You can get to Old San Juan by ferry from Dorado faster than driving (and there is nowhere to park). It is worth seeing. For those interested in history, there is El Morro that has been a defensive military position since the 16th century. The home of Ponce deLeon in old San Juan is a look at how one of the most storied conquistadors lived when he was at home. And there are some good restaurants in Old San Juan.
I recommend the drive to the radio telescope at Arecibo: First, it is a trip into the non-tourist central mountains (be sure to have good maps and Garmin). Second, it is a good museum that describes the accomplishments and uses of radio telescopy. Third, it is the radio telescope in the movie "Contact" with Jodie Foster. You can drive south from Arecibo Observatory to Ponce on back roads. The town of Arecibo, north of the Observatory, is a Puerto Rican costal city that is not visited much by tourists. You can get a flavor of real life. The same is somewhat true of Mayaguez. Ponce is nothing special, but there is a nice Hilton on the Caribbean there.
I have not spent much time in eastern PR, but have driven through on back roads. Be sure to have good maps. Good to see what daily life is like and get an appreciation of the difficult economy.
Date: Mon Apr 21 19:24:16 2014
User: JamaicaJoe
Message:mi advice is wat we tell evrybady who a go to de Miami or de New York.
... don't drink de wata !!!
But seriously, eat no cold foods. Eat no salads unless you take hot sauce with it. Watch out for Montezuma's revenge.
Stay? ...... healthy.
Have ..... fun.
Make .. peace & love.
Date: Mon Apr 21 19:29:31 2014
User: Gener
Message:Go to the old town. Plan on walking. See the El Convento Hotel and the church across the street. See the castle at that end of the island and the place where the pigeons live. Fascinating. It is a beautiful island. Enjoy --- and report. I will love to read about what you see, where you go, and the things you enjoy. Gene
Date: Mon Apr 21 20:59:04 2014
User: alhubb
Message:We took a fantastic trip to the rain forest, and I can't begin to tell you where it is-I was there in 1974. The coconut candy we got at the little roadside shops was great, but too much results in some unpleasant intestinal issues.
Date: Tue Apr 22 09:57:16 2014
User: blepheritis
Message:We had a shore excursion in San Juan during a Caribbean cruise in 2010. We had read about this San Juan restaurant and its young chef, and decided to venture out, away from Old Town, with the aid of a friendly cabdriver. One of the best meals of our trip. If you go, be prepared to be patient, but it's worth the wait:
JOSE ENRIQUE 176 Calle Duffaut, San Juan, 00907, Puerto Rico
Oh, and his new restaurant in Vieques may be open by the time you get there.
Link: Chef Jose Enrique on Puerto Rico, His New Restaurant, and Winnin
Date: Tue Apr 22 13:59:17 2014
User: Halifax
Message:yes go to Mexico instead
Date: Tue Apr 22 19:28:38 2014
User: mirt
Message:El Yunque national park is a good place to go hiking.
Rio Camuy caverns too.
Date: Wed Apr 23 10:56:56 2014
User: gdbcpa
Message:I visited San Juan while serving aboard ship during the Viet Nam era. Don't remember much except drinking Black Bull scotch.
Date: Wed Apr 23 18:30:03 2014
User: sfu0w1nVa
Message:Traveling in "early autumn"?
BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE.
You are traveling at the height of hurricane season.
June too soon
July stand by
August if you must
September remember
October its over.
Please tell me you are NOT going to the Caribbean in September, or October.
Please tell me you are not traveling with your children.
Retired travel agent
Date: Thu Apr 24 14:33:13 2014
User: oneway
Message:Not one mention here about the casinos??????
Date: Thu Apr 24 15:10:59 2014
User: micgat
Message:I've been going to the island for the last 22 years for work. We bring a huge barge into San Juan, leaving the same day. Been all over the island...rent a car, San Juan traffic sucks, Ponce, ElYunque rain forest awesome, Mayaguez is like old California Cannery row.
Casinos are great too! I prefer LaConcha in the Condado area.
Date: Fri Apr 25 15:00:02 2014
User: w4qnw
Message:I WANT TO GO TO HAVANA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the music
the entertainment
the people
only super fantastic memories remain from 1957 visit...
Date: Fri Apr 25 17:15:50 2014
User: jloan
Message:I agree with sfu0w1nVa. October should be OK but Hurricane season isn't officially over until Nov 30. NEVER go in Aug-Sept. that's the really hot season. Have fun.
Date: Sat Apr 26 07:27:05 2014
User: tincan
Message:We did the zip line. It was well worth doing, fun.
Date: Sat Apr 26 13:13:38 2014
User: boobootori
Message:Denny
I have lived on the gulf coast (from Houston to Brownseville, TX ) my entire life, and anecdotally I would said that August is WAY more likely to have hurricanes and/or tropical sotrms than October would be, as the water temp in the gulf is way higher during August. That being said, the link below says that I'm sorta right about that, by it's only by a few percentage points. Surprising to me, actually, based on my 56 years here.
Link: NOAA Hurricane Research Division
Date: Sat Apr 26 17:25:43 2014
User: jackwhh
Message:Hurricane season, for the Caribbean, runs June through November. The most active time is mid August through October with Mid September experiencing the most activity.
Don't worry about it. and purchase travel insurance (not travel protection).
Date: Sat Apr 26 18:46:53 2014
User: Denny
Message:Expedia seems to offer "protection" but I haven't found insurance there. Is there an easy way to add insurance thru Expedia? Or what would you recommend?
Denny
Date: Sun Apr 27 06:23:17 2014
User: jackwhh
Message:go to travelguard.com or allianztravelinsurance.com. (or a travel agency that is licensed to sell travel insurance.) You want a third party to insure your trip, not the person you are paying for the trip.
Do it within 14 days of trip deposit and you will be covered for pre existing conditions also. very comprehensive coverage is available for you to insure your travel investment.
Date: Sun Apr 27 12:43:35 2014
User: treaty
Message:Old San Juan town is great, Hermes near the Condado plaza for dinner is a must. Rincon on the west coast if you like the best waves in the Carib. Rain forest a must and take a charter catamaran from the east coast out to where the Caribbean sea meets the Atlantic ocean, we snorkeled with seals and turtles. Screw the hurricane threats, the weather men predicted a terrible season last year and we got nothing. Try the Don Q Lemone rum with tonic water and the Aniversrio rum if you can find it. Have a great time.
Date: Sun Apr 27 12:48:09 2014
User: Denny
Message:OK, bought from travelguard.com. Thanks.
Denny
Date: Sun Apr 27 13:13:53 2014
User: jackwhh
Message:Very good. Any other travel questions......I'm sure you can access my email address. (I'm here for FreeCell, not to promote my business, that's why I use my personal email).
Have a great trip.
Jack
Date: Mon Apr 28 09:42:11 2014
User: Dr.X
Message:Don' ya worry 'boot no hurricanes, mi amigo.
Date: Mon Apr 28 13:41:27 2014
User: tabts
Message:Rain is good for us all.
Date: Tue Apr 29 16:49:21 2014
User: Klepp
Message:It's the only time the surf is up.
Date: Wed Apr 30 01:32:17 2014
User: lightfield
Message:So great to see so many people who have traveled to PR. I enjoyed my stay but it was soooo long ago, I doubt if much is the same. Enjoy your holiday, Denny!
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