ChevyVanMiller Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 (edited) Wife and I are headed out soon for a week at a luxury resort near San Juan. Has aanyone ever been? Any tips on what to see and do would be greatly appreciated. Aside from spending some quality time on the sandy beaches, we love tours and trips. Old San Juan is a must, but would love to visit any must-see attractions. Thanks in advance. Edited November 4, 2019 by ChevyVanMiller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IslandBillsFan Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 Hi Chevy, I lived in Puerto Rico for about 10 years. Have since moved to Virginia but still go there every month or so for work. Actually, I just flew back last night. I have a lot of thoughts on things to do in PR. Below are some of my trips/activities I always enjoy. Wander around OSJ. You can hit the forts, the governors mansion, the bars, the cathedral etc. A lot to do. Most of this can be done with little to no cost and you don't need a tour guide. I always tell people to visit El San Juan Resort on a Friday or Saturday night. Nice old school hotel lobby with live music. I like visiting La Placita in Santurce. It is an area of San Juan with many restaurants and bars. Pretty local. You are allowed to drink on the streets which is nice. People often go up to El Yunque (Rain forrest.) This is fun but you need a car or to go with a group. I would drive up the mountain during the day and then hit Luquillo Kioscos for food on the way back. Guvate- Otherwise known as the pork highway. Up in the mountains but a lot of fun. If you want to go on a real adventure, rent a jeep and go up to Cerro de Nandy. This is a restaurant on a mountain. Only assessable via 4 wheel drive. Arecibo area things- If you want to trek about 1.5 hours West of San Juan there are a couple cool things to do near Arecibo. Zip Line Tours, Cueva del Ventana (Window Cave), Cueva del Indio (Indian Caves), Radio Telescope, Columbus Statue. West Coast has great beaches and seems to be more chill than San Juan. However, to get to Rincon or Isabella its a bit of a drive. PM me with any questions or anything I should elaborate on. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 24 minutes ago, ChevyVanMiller said: Wife and I are headed out soon for a week at a luxury resort near San Juan. Has as anyone ever been? Any tips on what to see and do would be greatly appreciated. Aside from spending some quality time on the sandy beaches, we love tours and trips. Old San Juan is a must, but would love to visit any must-see attractions. Thanks in advance. Do a night kayak trip at the bioluminescent bay near San Juan. It's a neat little excursion from SJ. https://www.kayakingpuertorico.com/home/tours/bio-bay-kayak-tour/ Old San Juan is a little boring, IMO, but if you have never been, it's okay to sort of walk around the forts and the streets for 1/2 a day. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 Had a really good meal at Oceano last time I was there. There was a place in the Condado Hilton that was really good too (had the lamb chops) but don’t remember what it was called. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 Never been to PR but have a few friends that visited while they were in the military. There's a thing in Puerto Rico called "The Donkey Show" Don't take the kids Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 I believe @fansince88's son - and @PromoTheRobot's friend - both assisted after PR got nailed by the hurricane. Not sure if they were ever able to spend any enjoyable time, but I figured I'd loop them in, just in case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 12 minutes ago, Gugny said: I believe @fansince88's son - and @PromoTheRobot's friend - both assisted after PR got nailed by the hurricane. Not sure if they were ever able to spend any enjoyable time, but I figured I'd loop them in, just in case. It was all work for my friend. Not a happy time as you can imagine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fansince88 Posted November 7, 2019 Share Posted November 7, 2019 7 hours ago, Gugny said: I believe @fansince88's son - and @PromoTheRobot's friend - both assisted after PR got nailed by the hurricane. Not sure if they were ever able to spend any enjoyable time, but I figured I'd loop them in, just in case. Same here for my son. He did get 1 day off for a break over the 5 weeks he was there. He said 3 recomendations. 1) do not drink coffee from a local if your heart cant handle it. He had some and he felt his heart for the whole day. LOTS of caffeine. 2) He said Old San Juan is a must see! 3) Stay in the tourist areas. Crime is heavy otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richmond_Bills Posted November 7, 2019 Share Posted November 7, 2019 Look up a restaurant called Bottles. Awesome! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted November 7, 2019 Share Posted November 7, 2019 22 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said: It was all work for my friend. Not a happy time as you can imagine. 15 hours ago, fansince88 said: Same here for my son. He did get 1 day off for a break over the 5 weeks he was there. He said 3 recomendations. 1) do not drink coffee from a local if your heart cant handle it. He had some and he felt his heart for the whole day. LOTS of caffeine. 2) He said Old San Juan is a must see! 3) Stay in the tourist areas. Crime is heavy otherwise. PTR, your friend and Fan, your son - are both wonderful people for helping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeviF Posted November 7, 2019 Share Posted November 7, 2019 Magna is the superior local beer. Mofongo is awesome. I had excellent 2-for-$5 mojitos at some rooftop bar in San Juan. The Bacardi distillery is actually a really cool tour. $15 gets you the tour and a drink. That's pretty much all I remember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted November 7, 2019 Share Posted November 7, 2019 2 hours ago, Bandito said: Why would you ever go to that crap hole? It is a place full of corruption who the US should cut off from mooching off of us and let them fend for themselves. I bet you’re a lot of fun at parties. I’ve found Puerto Rico to be a beautiful and charming place the few times that I was there. Yes, it’s corrupt but so is everywhere. I’d go back to PR in a second. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted November 7, 2019 Share Posted November 7, 2019 3 hours ago, Bandito said: Why would you ever go to that crap hole? It is a place full of corruption who the US should cut off from mooching off of us and let them fend for themselves. You are way the ***** out of line, here. Way out of line. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChevyVanMiller Posted November 7, 2019 Author Share Posted November 7, 2019 We are here now. Went to old San Juan today. Beautiful. Too much to take in all in one day. Taking a rainforest tour tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestions. Keep them coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Fischer Posted November 7, 2019 Share Posted November 7, 2019 I've been to San Juan a few times. In OSJ, my wife and I like the following: - La Taberna Lúpulo. A cozy "American" bar with an extensive draft beer selection. Also have nice small plate menu. Nice, open-air place to hang out for an hour or two to get out of the sun or rain. 151 Calle San Sebastian. - El Jibarito. Neighborhood restaurant not far from Taberna Lupulo. Good, cheap local food and drinks. If with a group, order a few things to share. Glorified street eats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted November 7, 2019 Share Posted November 7, 2019 25 minutes ago, ChevyVanMiller said: We are here now. Went to old San Juan today. Beautiful. Too much to take in all in one day. Taking a rainforest tour tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestions. Keep them coming. Make sure that you climb the waterfall while at El Yunque. It’s pretty cool. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnC Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 4 hours ago, ChevyVanMiller said: We are here now. Went to old San Juan today. Beautiful. Too much to take in all in one day. Taking a rainforest tour tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestions. Keep them coming. Make sure you don't wear one of those red MAGA hats and throw paper towels at the locals. They might respond by throwing rocks at you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 (edited) 2 minutes ago, Bandito said: It is true though. Sorry your feelings get hurt by facts I'm sorry you're too ignorant to figure out that there's a time and a place. There's never a right time for that comment and this CERTAINLY isn't the place. Please go elsewhere with your bigoted crap. Edited November 8, 2019 by Gugny 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 5 minutes ago, Bandito said: Assuming my ethnicity? I am part Puerto Rican. Hence my user name. You sound like the bigoted one here. Not a good look for you to assume like that. I didn't assume anything and I don't give a rat's ass about your ethnicity. I'm bowing out of this part of the conversation out of respect for the OP, as well as other obvious reasons. Enjoy your hatred-filled day. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Hammersticks Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 8 minutes ago, Bandito said: Talk to you later, bigot. Wow. Hate to pile on, but you’re being a jerk. Why would you even waste your energy posting such crap? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 On 11/7/2019 at 11:55 AM, Bandito said: Why would you ever go to that crap hole? It is a place full of corruption who the US should cut off from mooching off of us and let them fend for themselves. FYI, I only liked your post because I feel sorry for you. It must be tough being so pathetic. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 17 minutes ago, Bandito said: So you're cool with your buddy calling me a bigot even though I am Puerto Rican? How am I bigot against my own people? PR is a crap hole. It is dangerous. It is corrupt. I am surprised mainland Americans want to go there. I don't give a ***** what he called you. I'm calling you pathetic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 18 minutes ago, Bandito said: So you're cool with your buddy calling me a bigot even though I am Puerto Rican? How am I bigot against my own people? PR is a crap hole. It is dangerous. It is corrupt. I am surprised mainland Americans want to go there. Shirley, you understand that someone who is Puerto Rican can still be a bigot toward Puerto Ricans. I never assumed you were anything but a bigot - which has NOTHING to do with your ethnicity. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChevyVanMiller Posted November 8, 2019 Author Share Posted November 8, 2019 In an attempt to get this post back on track, our tour to the Rainforest was amazing. The people of Puerto Rico that we have met have all been gracious and kind. They are very appreciative of tourist dollars been spent in the areas still being rebuilt after the hurricane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Hammersticks Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 9 minutes ago, ChevyVanMiller said: In an attempt to get this post back on track, our tour to the Rainforest was amazing. The people of Puerto Rico that we have met have all been gracious and kind. They are very appreciative of tourist dollars been spent in the areas still being rebuilt after the hurricane. Glad you’re having a good time. I spent a week in San Juan with friends during college. I absolutely loved it there. Beautiful place, friendly people, and some really great food. I recall some pretty incredible night clubs and casinos too. I would definitely go back there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 16 minutes ago, ChevyVanMiller said: In an attempt to get this post back on track, our tour to the Rainforest was amazing. The people of Puerto Rico that we have met have all been gracious and kind. They are very appreciative of tourist dollars been spent in the areas still being rebuilt after the hurricane. 3 minutes ago, Johnny Hammersticks said: Glad you’re having a good time. I spent a week in San Juan with friends during college. I absolutely loved it there. Beautiful place, friendly people, and some really great food. I recall some pretty incredible night clubs and casinos too. I would definitely go back there. I want to bring my son to Puerto Rico. It's part of our ancestry, so it's important to me. I wish I realized that when I was younger. I went to Puerto Rico a few times whilst in the Navy and never left the base. I kick myself for that. My great grandparents and grandparents lived in Ponce. That's where I'd like to go. Glad you're having a blast, Chevy! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts