Author Topic: Puerto Rico Master Thread (Read 263863 times)

milechazzer · « **Reply #380 on:** February 04, 2015, 04:29:52 PM »

Quote from: Mordyk on February 03, 2015, 01:55:37 PM

http://www.chabadpr.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/2370163/jewish/Charlie-Car-Rental.htm

this should be cheap

I would suggest comparing rates will all the other car rental companies, which could be higher or lower. I got a very good rate from Dollar.

Mordyk · « **Reply #381 on:** February 04, 2015, 04:32:52 PM »

Quote from: milechazzer on February 04, 2015, 04:29:52 PM

I would suggest comparing rates will all the other car rental companies, which could be higher or lower. I got a very good rate from Dollar.

i compared it last year. charlie was pretty cheap with the chabad rate. but i was too young for him

beachbum · « **Reply #382 on:** February 11, 2015, 02:33:34 PM »

Going to PR next week and staying at the Sheraton in San Juan for a few days then to Dorado. Does anyone know if you're able to walk from Sheraton San Juan to Old Juan? I tried finding out on google maps and I'm not sure if thats a walking bridge or a highway. I'm thinking about biting the bullet and renting a car.

Mordyk · « **Reply #383 on:** February 11, 2015, 02:43:50 PM »

Quote from: beachbum on February 11, 2015, 02:33:34 PM

Going to PR next week and staying at the Sheraton in San Juan for a few days then to Dorado. Does anyone know if you're able to walk from Sheraton San Juan to Old Juan? I tried finding out on google maps and I'm not sure if thats a walking bridge or a highway. I'm thinking about biting the bullet and renting a car.

dont know about your question. but i went with taxis everywhere and was extremely convenient

Martyb · « **Reply #384 on:** February 11, 2015, 04:27:31 PM »

Quote from: beachbum on February 11, 2015, 02:33:34 PM

Going to PR next week and staying at the Sheraton in San Juan for a few days then to Dorado. Does anyone know if you're able to walk from Sheraton San Juan to Old Juan? I tried finding out on google maps and I'm not sure if thats a walking bridge or a highway. I'm thinking about biting the bullet and renting a car.

Im pretty sure it is possible to walk. Although it did seem like a pretty far walk. (i drove it, so i cant say forsure)

beeweegee · « **Reply #385 on:** February 11, 2015, 09:27:01 PM »

Quote from: beachbum on February 11, 2015, 02:33:34 PM

Going to PR next week and staying at the Sheraton in San Juan for a few days then to Dorado. Does anyone know if you're able to walk from Sheraton San Juan to Old Juan? I tried finding out on google maps and I'm not sure if thats a walking bridge or a highway. I'm thinking about biting the bullet and renting a car.

It's pretty far. But i think it's walkable.

mechayamom · « **Reply #386 on:** February 14, 2015, 08:52:29 PM »

Trip Report:
Arrived in Puerto Rico on Sunday 2/8
Flew American using British Airways points..free checked bag using AA credit card.
Uneventful flight, lucky to get out before flights were canceled.

Beautiful weather ..temps in the 80s. Quick rain showers in the afternoon. Dries up right away.
Windy day on Tuesday...water was very choppy so no snorkeling or scuba diving.
I rented a car from Enterprise at the airport using Costco. Just wanted a rental car on site at the airport so paid a bit more. It was $145 for 5 days and that included an upgrade for me to the next to smallest car. It was fine.

Sunday: Checked into Las Casitas reserved via VRBO. 1 BR condo for $249. On the property of El Conquistador. Rented through owner. She got us passes to get onto Palomino Island. The grounds of El Conquistador are very pretty.

Stocked up on groceries and swam in their gorgeous infinity pool.
This is located in Fajardo about an hour and a quarter from the airport.
There is a Ralphs grocery in Fajardo that had plenty of stuff. Walmart had some basics as well. There is a Walgreens and CVS there too.
There is an Amigo in Rio Grande that I passed on Route 3 but didnt go in.

Checked out the Pueblo in Isla Verde. You can get whatever you want there..not cholov yisrael..but cottage cheese, yogurt, cereals, PollyO string cheese. I did notice no fresh milk with the OU so bought boxed milk.. Was fine. Pueblo even had some fresh bread with a hechsher on it.

Monday was a busy day:
Hiked El Yunque. Drove to La Coca Falls...took the photo op pictures. Drove to Yokahu Tower and climbed it for a sensational view. Drove to the La Mina Falls trail and hiked down and back. Alot of steps and slippery at spots but not too bad.
Was getting late and we didnt feel like doing another full hike to Mt. Britton...next time.

Did ATV at Carabali. Not impressed. We did the 1 hour trail. Could be that there was another couple and they were just city folk. There is a digital speedometer on the ATV ...I hit 20 at one point. Most of the time it was 10-11 MPH. Not the heart pumping ATV ride I had in Israel but pretty enough.

At night did the first session of the Bio Luminescent Kayak Tour. Did this with Kayaking with Puerto Rico. Went out when it was still light outside so we could see where we were going. When we hit the bay, they tied all the kayaks together while the guide went over what we would be seeing and described the organisms. That kept us all together. They had about 4 guides along with us. Going back was pitch black. You cant see a thing. You follow the kayak in front of you which has a cyalume stick attached. However, if the kayak in front of you is in the mangroves, you will find yourself there as well

.
When we returned, they had some granola bars and some fruit and drinks and they took a group picture. They also photograph you on the ride and post on their facebook page.

There is a movie theater in Fajardo and the movies are $6. Caught up on our movies..saw 3 movies. That was our evening activity.

I brought my own food in microwaveable containers so that was our dinners. Breakfast I made omelets, had cereal, yogurt, etc.

Sandwiches for lunch, snacks, fruit, held us till dinner.

Tuesday: Hung out on Palomino Island. This was the only day with heavy wind. It was in the 80s just windy. We were planning on going snorkeling or scuba diving. Didnt get to do that.
They also have jet skiing on Palomino Island, you can rent a raft, you can rent snorkeling equipment. They provide towels and water. Very nice beach. There is a ferry that you take from El Conquistador to Palomino Island. It is reserved for the guests of El Conquistador. They had a large chess game, ping pong tables..They have horseback riding too there.

Wednesday: Drove into Old San Juan. Toured the two forts/castles and walked around for quite a few hours. Took the trolley from one fort to the other. Found Ben & Jerry's..Yummy. Also went to Kosher in Paradise, the tiny Chabad food stand that had fries and falafel. nice to have a place to go too. Checked out the cruise ships..shops...etc.

Thursday: Drove to the Bacardi factory and did the tour. Interesing. $12 admission entitles you to a hard plastic glass and a drink. They go through the history of the factory.
Then off to the airport to fly home.
Flight home uneventful..got in 40 minutes early. Flight was half empty so plenty of room to spread out.

Lots of stuff to do in Puerto Rico that we didnt get to or didnt have any desire to do.
I think these are listed above as well:
Arecibo Observatory in the center of Puerto Rico, Large radio telescope
Toro Verde - ziplining
EL Yunque has ziplining too
Fajardo Lighthouse..but we didnt find it
Horseback riding by Campo Verde
Surfing in Rincon
I saw kite surfing on Palomino
They have paddleboarding places...etc.
Anyway..leaving NY in freezing temps..it was really nice to get away to temps in the 80s for a few days.

mechayamom · « **Reply #387 on:** February 14, 2015, 08:54:42 PM »

If you want to go scuba diving I would mention Sea Ventures in Fajardo. They seemed very nice although we didnt get to go this time due to the weather on the day we had planned to.

Joe4007 · « **Reply #388 on:** February 14, 2015, 09:18:52 PM »

Nice report, thanks!

Did they start charging $12 admission at Bacardi? When we were there in September it was free.

beeweegee · « **Reply #389 on:** February 14, 2015, 09:30:25 PM »

Quote from: Joe4007 on February 14, 2015, 09:18:52 PM

Nice report, thanks!

Did they start charging $12 admission at Bacardi? When we were there in September it was free.

+1 Was gonna ask that - it must be a new fee. Loved that place - went with my wife and we had a very nice tour guide who gave us quite a few extra drink coupons. And my wife wasn't drinking so...

mechayamom · « **Reply #390 on:** February 14, 2015, 11:44:27 PM »

Guess it is a new fee. No extra drink tokens for us. You pay the fee. They give you two tokens for free drinks and 2 plastic glasses. After the tour you turn in the tokens to get the drinks.

lunatic · « **Reply #391 on:** February 17, 2015, 02:01:04 PM »

Anyone here stayed at the Hyatt House in San Juan?

Buruch · « **Reply #392 on:** March 02, 2015, 01:16:17 AM »

I'll be there tomorrow night iy"H.

What are the best few hikes/drives/sights in the rainforest?

beachbum · « **Reply #393 on:** March 03, 2015, 02:11:11 PM »

Trip notes from Puerto Rico- We went from 2/17-2/23. The weather was beautiful!! It was 85 degrees during the day and 75 during the night. It only rained a few times at night. We stayed in San Juan at the Sheraton convention Center for a few days. When we left the airport, there's a taxi line and a person comes up to you to see how many people and luggage you have. We had our 2.5 yr old and 5 month old, so they ordered us a van and I was able to install both car seats. We brought our own food with us and were able to eat breakfast at the hotel(cereal, yogurt, fruit...) One day we took a bus(10 min) to Old San Juan and walked all around, really cool city. We brought our 2.5 yr old and 5 month old so we were able to bring the strollers on the bus. We went to Kosher In Paradise for dinner, it was pretty good, but a hole in the wall. After a few days at the Sheraton, we went to the Embassy Suites in Dorado. The hotel was pretty good, but the pool was gorgeous! It's also on a beach, so we switched off between the pool and beach. We brought food with us and were able to eat breakfast at the hotel. There's a walgreens and CVS about 15 min walk from the hotel, so we walked there to get some more food/junk. Overall we had an amazing time. The food options weren't so great, so make sure to bring a sandwich maker, or mini grill and food.

Buruch · « **Reply #394 on:** March 20, 2015, 06:09:50 PM »

I was there recently. Stayed in Fajardo, and went to Vieques, Culebra, El Yunque, and Old San Juan. I'm not much of a TR writer, but I'll be glad to answer any questions I can.

lunatic · « **Reply #395 on:** March 25, 2015, 12:11:28 PM »

Anyone stayed at the Radisson?

@Yehuda · « **Reply #396 on:** March 30, 2015, 10:15:52 AM »

Points hotels (besides the RC) that are walking distance to Chabad?

Emkay · « **Reply #397 on:** March 30, 2015, 10:21:23 AM »

Quote from: @Yehuda on March 30, 2015, 10:15:52 AM

Points hotels (besides the RC) that are walking distance to Chabad?

IC and courtyard by marriot

@Yehuda · « **Reply #398 on:** March 30, 2015, 10:24:59 AM »

Quote from: Emkay on March 30, 2015, 10:21:23 AM

IC and courtyard by marriot

Thanks! Looks like a decent use of IC free nights. (Decent as in the property, not as in point/dollar value.)

Buruch · « **Reply #399 on:** March 30, 2015, 12:48:03 PM »

From my personal experience, I would recommend anyone that goes to PR to go to Vieques and Culebra. Besides checking out Old San Juan and El Yunque, I don't think PR has much to offer. It didn't even feel like being on an island to me. But Vieques and Culebra are really nice. If you can't find accommodations on those islands, you can stay in Fajardo and take the ferry.

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Author Topic: Puerto Rico Master Thread (Read 263863 times)