Puerto Rico Master Thread

[myb821]

i may have "fallen" out of my kayak in the bay.

[Joe4007]

i may have "fallen" out of my kayak in the bay.

Poor you

Either way, I believe they can't really enforce touching the water, swimming OTOH isn't allowed at the other bays either.

[myb821]

it was pretty cool.

[milechazzer]

Can anyone provide any current/recent feedback on staying (with family) in the Rio Grande area at either Gran Melia or Wyndham? It seems that most people around here have stayed closer to the city, but both of these hotels seems to have very nice facilities, and I see great "mystery hotel" deals for them on hotwire and travelzoo (as low as $145/nt including taxes and fees).

thx

[Crazy tools]

Can anyone provide any current/recent feedback on staying (with family) in the Rio Grande area at either Gran Melia or Wyndham? It seems that most people around here have stayed closer to the city, but both of these hotels seems to have very nice facilities, and I see great "mystery hotel" deals for them on hotwire and travelzoo (as low as $145/nt including taxes and fees).

thx

I just stayed at Gran Melia for 2 nights. We got it on express deals on priceline for about $115. (there aren't many options in that area, so if you know how to work priceline you'll know which hotel your getting. We knew before we booked that we would get that hotel.)
The hotel is a couple minutes from any other civilization, but the grounds are really nice.
Room is decent size, was clean and there was plenty of room for a rollaway. View from room was really nothing. They wanted to charge an extra $150 for ocean view which didn't seem like there was any major view anyways. You need to request a refrigerator and they bring this thing they call a minibar, it worked OK. We had to switch rooms due to the ac not working well (new room didn't work great either), service was not to great, room did have a slight smell with old furniture.
But the grounds are really nice with an awesome huge pool that was pretty empty most of the day and night. The beds that they have in the pool were heavenly!
For the chilling out style vacation with factoring in the price that we paid we enjoyed.

From seeing the pictures I thought I was getting a gorgeous room, I was pretty let down with it when I arrived. After I switched rooms and my mindset it was a nice stay

[curly]

The W in Vieques looks beautiful, and that island hold the Guinness world record for the most powerful bioluminescent bay in the world.

Yes, and there is also a really high cancer rate for Vieques.

Google it. Scary stuff.

[Danny29]

I am going to be staying in the Intercontinental the week of 12/7. I booked using the Chabad special rate for 149, which includes complimentary breakfast for 2, as stated on the chabad website. Does anyone know if this is a kosher breakfast? (If not, I don't really understand what the perk for the Chabad special)??

[Danny29]

Anyone?

[Mordyk]

I am going to be staying in the Intercontinental the week of 12/7. I booked using the Chabad special rate for 149, which includes complimentary breakfast for 2, as stated on the chabad website. Does anyone know if this is a kosher breakfast? (If not, I don't really understand what the perk for the Chabad special)??

to save money???

[Danny29]

Not that much cheaper than the regular rate. Few bucks

[milechazzer]

I am considering either the Embassy Suites (San Juan) or the Hampton Inn (San Juan) for a family trip (with kids), since they seem to be the only two hotels with reasonably priced suites or large rooms for a family. They both seem to have very similar rooms and are in the same general area.  Can anyone provide any input on either or both of these hotels, and which one might be better for a family stay with young kids.

Also, would appreciate any suggestions on finding the best rate for these (other than conventional hotel sites or Hotwire/Priceline).

Thank you

[Aaaron]

I am considering either the Embassy Suites (San Juan) or the Hampton Inn (San Juan) for a family trip (with kids), since they seem to be the only two hotels with reasonably priced suites or large rooms for a family. They both seem to have very similar rooms and are in the same general area.  Can anyone provide any input on either or both of these hotels, and which one might be better for a family stay with young kids.

Also, would appreciate any suggestions on finding the best rate for these (other than conventional hotel sites or Hotwire/Priceline).

Thank you

Can't directly answer your question, but we looked at those when I took my mom and sister and ended up using Airbnb for a 3br.  It worked out perfectly.

[Lunatic]

I am considering either the Embassy Suites (San Juan) or the Hampton Inn (San Juan) for a family trip (with kids), since they seem to be the only two hotels with reasonably priced suites or large rooms for a family. They both seem to have very similar rooms and are in the same general area.  Can anyone provide any input on either or both of these hotels, and which one might be better for a family stay with young kids.

Also, would appreciate any suggestions on finding the best rate for these (other than conventional hotel sites or Hotwire/Priceline).

Thank you

Embassy suites usually gets you two separate rooms, which is nice with kids

[Geshmakeh Chulent Fresser]

Can't directly answer your question, but we looked at those when I took my mom and sister and ended up using Airbnb for a 3br.  It worked out perfectly.

We just booked a beautiful looking 3 bedroom apartment in Fajardo through VRBO.  At $155 per night its a small fraction of what a comparable option in a hotel would cost.

[Geshmakeh Chulent Fresser]

Does anyone know a way to purchase a "day pass" for the El Conquistador water park for someone who is not a guest at the resort?  It looks like this was an option years ago but their website now says only guests can get in.  Any advice would be appreciated. 

[milechazzer]

We just booked a beautiful looking 3 bedroom apartment in Fajardo through VRBO.  At $155 per night its a small fraction of what a comparable option in a hotel would cost.

Does that come with a pool?

[Aaaron]

We just booked a beautiful looking 3 bedroom apartment in Fajardo through VRBO.  At $155 per night its a small fraction of what a comparable option in a hotel would cost.

 

VRBO/AirBNB are great when needing multiple rooms.

[Geshmakeh Chulent Fresser]

Does that come with a pool?

The apartment is in a gated complex with multiple pools.  You can see pictures of the apartment I reserved below, but there are many apartments in this complex (Pena Mar) available on VRBO.

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p254969?utm_source=SYS&utm_medium=email&utm_term=20141030&utm_content=hascpropid_text_o_lprop&utm_campaign=VRBO_replied

[milechazzer]

The apartment is in a gated complex with multiple pools.  You can see pictures of the apartment I reserved below, but there are many apartments in this complex (Pena Mar) available on VRBO.

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p254969?utm_source=SYS&utm_medium=email&utm_term=20141030&utm_content=hascpropid_text_o_lprop&utm_campaign=VRBO_replied

It does look nice. But you booked my nights 

[Geshmakeh Chulent Fresser]

It does look nice. But you booked my nights 

Lucky for you there are plenty of other nice apartments available in the same complex:

http://www.vrbo.com/398502
http://www.vrbo.com/594413
http://www.vrbo.com/281418
http://www.vrbo.com/489295
http://www.vrbo.com/293922