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The Kitchen Table Vacations

Vacation in Puerto Rico

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

DH and I would like to vacation in Puerto Rico in January/February 2019. We like nce beaches and good food. We do not surf and would like to swim. Do you have any recommendations?

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jim_1 (Zone 5B)

7 years ago

Old San Juan. Lots of history and beaches on the north side. There are other parts of the island are in OK (only) shape, but if the city doesn't recover, the country folks cannot recover either.

And the food...wonderful. Lots of small places that are for the locals and the service is supreme. If you speak Spanish, it is a plus, but not a requirement.

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Comments (8)

eld6161
7 years ago
Is PR up and running after all the devastation? Unless someone has been recently I think I would reconsider this as a trip.
chisue
7 years ago
We've enjoyed winter stays in the USVI (St. Thomas and St. John). The Bahamas should have warmed up by end of January.
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Keriann we stayed in Dorado and I'm so glad that we did. Where are you staying? It's fairly isolated but I like that and the beach that the resort was on was spectacular and not crowded. It was in the mid to upper 80's but was very comfortable. You must have a car if staying in Dorado or you'll be at the mercy of the taxi's which will cost you an arm and a leg to get into town. Just book a rental car before you go and a shuttle will take you from the airport, just like anywhere else. I think we used Avis but all the big companies are there. We brought our GPS but they'll give you directions to wherever you are staying. If you have a GPS I'd bring it or you can rent one with the car. Like I mentioned they are terrible drivers and think nothing of just stopping in the middle of the road! There's plenty of local restaurants in Dorado as well as the fast food places. We had a condo so we went to the grocery store and usually had lunch in the condo or at the pool bar. Schedule the biobay and or the bioluminescent bay tour at least a month before you go. That was our mistake. All the tours were already full when we were there. You also need to make sure that the moon is at a quarter or less when going to the bioluminescent bay. It's not that far from Dorado, maybe an hour. Even the western side of the island, Rincon, Mayaguez, etc is only about 2 hours from Dorado. Have a great trip.
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Thanks all for posting. Yes! I really am excited about moving. Will have to check to see if there are many roses down in Puerto Rico. Haven't seen anyone post on this forum though, at least that I can remember. Nicey - I did see your pic of San Juan from the plane in your post a few days ago... Glad you had a good vacation! Florence - My roses will be around when I come back... I'll miss them probably more than they'll miss me, haha! Planning on returning for vacation during winter break in Dec/Jan, so I can winter protect everything then. Carol - I really like the brighter colors too. And Perfect Moment lasts for a long time! Most of the roses I bought this year were bright. But I had to look at the diagram of my rose bed just to make sure that first picture really WAS Perfect Moment - normally it has a bright orange/red color. However, I think I like its pink side... Don't have to wear my shades just to look at it ;-)
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eld6161
7 years ago
The Bahamas would be a good choice!
terilyn
7 years ago
The resort areas in PR could definitely use the business! Check out Trip Advisor for resorts.
krmarchese thanked terilyn
krmarchese
Original Author
7 years ago
Terilyn - that is the exact reason we want to vacation in PR - we want to help the economy. We were in Rincon in June 2018 for a wedding and it was gorgeous. There was some evidence of the hurricane but not too much on the west end of the island. The resort we stayed in was very nice, but remote. We want something closer to restaurants and entertainment.

I am looking on trip advisor and hoping that someone here can also help.
User
7 years ago
I'd been several times before the storm...I'd go again! Hike the El Yunque Rain Forest. It took us ALL day to hike up each tower, make it to the top, out of the mist. Then on the main road, we hiked in to the local waterfall...which is the local swimming hole.

The Arecibo Observatory...fantastic! Yes, it was damaged in Maria, but still might be cool to visit. The cave tour, it's nearby. The fort and the Bacardi Rummery are in old San Juan. The snorkeling tours in Rincon. There's a "water glow" tour.

Quote:

The cause of this glow is flagellates, which are tiny micro-organisms. Specifically, the flagellates in Bioluminiscent Bay are dinoflagallates, a specific type of flagellate that is able to make its food via photosynthesis, and it is this process which causesthe bay to glow.
krmarchese thanked User
krmarchese
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you to Jim & Nicole - we will be looking at San Juan!

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