San Juan, Puerto Rico

[LELANDJANE]

My husband and I are going to be in San Juan for a week next month.
Anything fun to do or anything we should see while there?

[Mikitv]

You should go to their rain forest. I was there in 2005 and it was really beautiful. We took a guided hike and hard to believe it has been there so long. I think they told us 130 years. There is probably some information on any web site about Puerto Rico.

[Trish Crocker]

When we went to San Juan, it was just for 2 days while waiting to get on a cruise ship. We stayed in Old San Juan and loved it..just walking around the town and eating at the little restaurants there. We also went to the fort, if you are in Old San Juan, you can actually walk there. We were going to check out the Rum Factory but didn't have time. The people there were very nice and we felt very comfortable and safe walking around the town in the evening. There is also casino gambling if you enjoy that. Have a great time, and I'll be looking forward to hearing (reading) how it was.

Trish

[tippyclubb]

Like Trish said make sure you visit Old San Juan and the Fort. Lots of history there and its very interesting. We stay in the Condado Beach area and it was stunnigly beautiful so try to make it to that beach.

Be very alert in San Jaun and don't venture off the main roads. There are plenty of vendors trying to sell their goods, but are not too over bearing and usually leave you alone after saying " No "

Have fun!!!

[cybermuda]

Old San Juan has free trolley buses running all round it - hop on hop off

The old forts there are well worth a visit, as is the walk in front of the main one

[new peeps]

LelandJane,
I went to old San Juan on buissness about a lifetime ago. Well 20 + years ago. If I remember correctly Old San Jaun was paved with blue bricks at that time. History was ships would unload the bricks used as ballast and load up Rum as a new ballast before heading back out to sea. This is the only island in the Caribbean that I have been too that used blue bricks as roadway material in a city. Most others have been asphault, dirt or concrete. I do not know if it still remains that way or not.
There was also a tropical rain forest and a couple of forts on each end of the island. Very pretty veiws and sunsets. The people was very nice. Back then the road signs was in Spanish and I would also guess 98% of the people I worked/associated with did not speak english. I could not speak spanish either so the company hired a translater for most of the two weeks I was there. I very clearly remember having a few drinks at a outside bar beside my motel costing me about $6.00 each the first few nights. After that my translater started hanging out with me after hours for the remainder of my trip. The drinks at the same outside bar only cost .25 each after the third night and for the remainder of my trip. When I first questioned my bill the bartender laughed and said something in Spanish. My translater said that the bartender said I did not need to pay the tourist prices any more because he considered me a local now. I guess that is when I really started enjoying my time and the history of the island while working over there. I am sure things have changed and somebody will give you a more up to date list of things to see.
I hope you enjoy your trip as much as I did.

[new peeps]

Wow, That is what I like about the Villagers. When I started the reply I was the first one. When I finished I was the sixth to reply. I guess I am slow. Very slow.

[KayakerNC]

The El Yunque Rain Forest is a Must-See.:thumbup:

http://www.elyunque.com/about.html
http://www.concierge.com/images/destinations/destinationguide/caribbean_atlantic/puertorico/puertorico/puertorico_029p.jpg

[jblum315]

MY husband and I went to San Juan on our honeymoon. I don't know if you enjoy fishing. We went deep sea fishing and he caught a big tuna. It was so beautiful on the sea in the fishing boat.

[BillCongo]

One of our sons married a wonderful young woman who is from Puerto Rico. Naturally we have the inside track on touring there. There is so much to see and do. Get a rental car and go to the rain forest as someone mentioned above. If I had to pick one thing that anyone can do and is memorable in San Juan, I would suggest the walking lunch tour of Old San Juan. We used this outfit and would recommend them to any friend:
http://www.sanjuanfoodtours.com/san-juan-food-tickets.html

They (and others) also do dinner tours. You can easily rent a condo and base yourself wherever that is. Our last trip we based in Fajardo (on the eastern end of the island) and loved it. We found a neat condo overlooking a marina on line. Regardless of what you do, you'll love it. P.R. is the best kept secret vacation spot!

[LELANDJANE]

Thank you all for the great suggestions.We will be staying at the Conrad San Juan Condado Beach Hotel. I believe it is very near Old San Juan. I'm really looking forward to seeing what we can see.

[herbaru]

Thank you all for the great suggestions.We will be staying at the Conrad San Juan Condado Beach Hotel. I believe it is very near Old San Juan. I'm really looking forward to seeing what we can see.

LELANDJANE, thanks for asking about San Juan. This is so timely for me but I never thought to ask for recommendations on TOTV. I am going on a cruise leaving from San Juan in Nov. Just last night I spent many hours trying to figure out a game plan for our stay in San Juan. Now I know I should make it longer than we originally thought. I even have your hotel on my list to consider. Do let us know how your trip went after your return.

Sounds like you will have lots to see and do.
Have fun!

If you are a member of AAA they have a nice article on San Juan that you can read in their August online magazine. You might be able to read it even if you are not a member.

[doccrocker]

Just to follow up on Trish's comment. In 2008ish, Even tho' we didn't go to the Bacardi Rum tour, we DID go just down the street from the Sheraton Old San Juan to the Don Q facility where we were able to sample a "few" rums. Don't know if they still have that place open. Even so, old San Juan is a nice place to go walking for a different flavor of life. (There is a McDonald's there if you need a USA fix)

[Bonny]

Go on Trip Advisor. There is always alot of good info there that is recent, plus alot of reviews.

[swrinfla]

l'll add my 2 cents' worth:

Take a tour to El Yunque Rainforest. Gorgeous scenery and naturalism.

"Downtown" San Juan also full of destinations!

Have fun!

SWR
:beer3: