3 Things to Know About San Juan, Puerto Rico
The Oldest City in the U.S. is Worth a Visit
I’ve visited Puerto Rico five times in the past 18 months, and it just keeps getting better! Normally when I’m in Puerto Rico, my time is spent in Condado Beach. What I love about Condado Beach is that it’s very walkable with lots of great shops and restaurants nearby. But on my last visit I decided to branch out a bit and split my stay between Isla Verde and Old San Juan. Isla Verde is a bit more residential, but it is home to the iconic Fairmont Old San Juan hotel, where I stayed. And Old San Juan is celebrating its 500th year of history with lots of celebrations and festivities.
The Perks of a Two Hotel Stay
I split my 6 night stay between the Fairmont El San Juan and Hotel El Convento is Old San Juan. Old San Juan reminds me so much of New Orleans, that sometimes I’ll look out of the window and forget where I am! Hotel El Convento is centrally located, about to undergo a major refresh, and has one of the best views in the city. Both hotels are steeped in history, offer award winning dining, and are Virtuoso properties, so I can add on VIP amenities like complimentary breakfast and a $100 hotel credit. For longer stays, I like to split my hotel so that I can experience different hotels, areas, and amenities.
What to do in San Juan
Both are great home bases for when you want to get out and explore the city a bit more. I opted for a tour of Ponce with Javier of Private Tours of Old San Juan, a cooking class with a local chef, and a rum tasting at Ron del Barrilito. If you want to explore the area outside of Isa Verde then head to Carolina to visit the Ocean Lab Brewery and Playa Pinones to visit food stalls and to swim in natural pools. And for my beach lovers, don’t worry Hotel El Convento shares beach privileges with El Convento Beach Club, and you can easily get a quick ride share there to catch some rays.
If this sounds like how you love to vacation then keep reading for the 3 tips that you need to know about your next trip to Puerto Rico!
3 things to know about visiting Puerto Rico:
1. Rent a car or book a private tour to explore areas outside of San Juan- If you’re going to explore the rainforest, natural springs, or areas like Ponce, plan on renting a car for the day, or working with a guide like Javier. You may be able to get a ride share to pick up from your hotel and take you to the location, but it will be extremely challenging to get back home.
2. Decide where to visit based on what your interests are- Puerto Rico has a unique ecosystem, which means that certain parts of the island are good for certain activities. Go west if you want to surf, south if history is what makes you happy, and east if you want to experience the only tropical rainforest in the U.S.
3. Rum and food play a big part in Puerto Rican culture- Puerto Rico exports more rum than anything else, so no trip is complete without a Pina Colada at the very least. Create a self-guided Pina Colada tour by booking a cocktail class at Bacardi or Ron del Barrilito, then visit spots like Barachina, the Caribe Hilton, Casa de Rones, and La Factoria to sample their versions.
Reach out when you’re ready to plan your next Puerto Rico trip!