Anyone been to San Juan, PR lately?

Thinking about a winter vacation and loved it there years ago. Wondering what it's like now. Clean? Safe? Affordable? Crowded beaches? 

The_Soulful_Mr_T said:

Thinking about a winter vacation and loved it there years ago. Wondering what it's like now. Clean? Safe? Affordable? Crowded beaches? 

you should go to Vieques. 

The_Soulful_Mr_T said:

Thinking about a winter vacation and loved it there years ago. Wondering what it's like now. Clean? Safe? Affordable? Crowded beaches? 

Define lately.

We were there Christmas 2016. 3 days in San Juan and 4 in Rincon on the west coast. We found both to be clean, but we stayed in Old San Juan.  The areas around the airport and outskirts of San Juan were pretty run down and not clean. Yes on safe and affordable. We didn’t do beaches in San Juan but the ones in Rincon were beautiful and uncrowded - well known as a surfer’s paradise.

As Straw said, Vieques is supposed to be beautiful, but we didn’t go - not enough time.

jimmurphy said:

The_Soulful_Mr_T said:

Thinking about a winter vacation and loved it there years ago. Wondering what it's like now. Clean? Safe? Affordable? Crowded beaches? 

Define lately.

We were there Christmas 2016. 3 days in San Juan and 4 in Rincon on the west coast. We found both to be clean, but we stayed in Old San Juan.  The areas around the airport and outskirts of San Juan were pretty run down and not clean. Yes on safe and affordable. We didn’t do beaches in San Juan but the ones in Rincon were beautiful and uncrowded - well known as a surfer’s paradise.

As Straw said, Vieques is supposed to be beautiful, but we didn’t go - not enough time.

Thanks, Jim. I may try to go in Feb. I'm seeing conflicting info on flight pricing. 

If you do decide to try Vieques instead of SJ, you should try to stay at Casa De Amistad, which is owned by John and Mike, two former Maplewood residents and all round lovely people.

https://casadeamistad.com/

ridski said:

If you do decide to try Vieques instead of SJ, you should try to stay at Casa De Amistad, which is owned by John and Mike, two former Maplewood residents and all round lovely people.

https://casadeamistad.com/

Wow! Yes, indeed, I'l look into it 

I was thinking you meant since Covid, but we went right before, Thanksgiving two years ago with all our daughters. We stayed at a little place called  Tropica beach hotel about a mile from the condado strip which was easily walkable from where we were. At first my family was disappointed we weren’t in the thick of it, but to be honest those hotels were so crowded and loud, and ours was a little slice of heaven and walking distance to so many little restaurants. 
we just went for about five days and did some more adventurous stuff with the girls but also went to the beach almost every morning or later afternoon and spent one afternoon exploring old San Juan to see the sights and have lunch. 
my only complaint about our hotel was that they didn’t have coffee available when I wake up (an ungodly hour) but we walked to Kasalta for espresso and pastries for the girls almost each morning. There was a little cafe attached to the hotel too but they didn’t open early enough for me. 
we enjoyed it and would go back, maybe to Rincon, although I liked this location. 

I will add, the guide who took us on our most exciting excursion (hiking, rappelling and ziplining followed by lunch at abuelas house) said FEBRUARY was a great time to go. 

shh said:

I will add, the guide who took us on our most exciting excursion (hiking, rappelling and ziplining followed by lunch at abuelas house) said FEBRUARY was a great time to go. 

Thanks, s. 

Since the hurricanes and Covid, I've stayed away from PR as well. I almost went this past January until I learned the beaches and pools were still closed. I would love to go back so it would be nice to hear from someone who's been there in the past 4-6 months or so.