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Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Posted on 12/15/14 at 3:00 pm
Posted on 12/15/14 at 3:00 pm
Anyone been recently and can provide recommendations on where to stay, places to eat/drink, things to do? Preferable hotel would be walk/short cab ride to shops, bars, restaurants. Willing to consider all price points for the hotel. Thanks.
6
Posted on 12/15/14 at 3:10 pm to Slip Screen
We only stayed a couple of nights in OSJ. My wife was looking for kind of authentic experiences. We stayed at a hotel called Da House. It is in the heart of OSJ right near one of the more popular salsa clubs.
It is very nice and cheap as hell...but also very barebones. They don't offer amenities like shampoo or hair dryers, and there is no elevator. Its kind of like a hippie hostel but it IS nice. The salsa club can get loud so pick your room accordingly. They also have a very nice rooftop with a jacuzzi and all that.
It wouldn't be for everyone. If you have the money, stay at El Convento, that's probably the nicest place in OSJ.
It is very nice and cheap as hell...but also very barebones. They don't offer amenities like shampoo or hair dryers, and there is no elevator. Its kind of like a hippie hostel but it IS nice. The salsa club can get loud so pick your room accordingly. They also have a very nice rooftop with a jacuzzi and all that.
It wouldn't be for everyone. If you have the money, stay at El Convento, that's probably the nicest place in OSJ.
Posted on 12/15/14 at 3:15 pm to Slip Screen
Also pretty much any place IN OSJ will be close to everything. Its basically a clean French Quarter. Everything is easily walkable.
If you're staying more than 3 days, I recommend renting a place on the east side of the island in, say, Fajardo for a few days, visiting the rain forest, bio bay and one of the islands like Vieques or Culebra.
Then stay in OSJ a few days. After 3 nights of OSJ I was done with it.
If you're staying more than 3 days, I recommend renting a place on the east side of the island in, say, Fajardo for a few days, visiting the rain forest, bio bay and one of the islands like Vieques or Culebra.
Then stay in OSJ a few days. After 3 nights of OSJ I was done with it.
Posted on 12/15/14 at 3:29 pm to Fun Bunch
There is a Grocery Store called SuperMax on Calle Cruz, with cheap booze and wine. Good to pick up whatever.
We went to a pizza place called Pirilo Pizza Rustica,which had awesome pies. St. Germain Cafe had good lunch stuff and awesome mojitos.
As a whole, Puerto Rican food was pretty meh. Maybe I didn't eat it in the right restaurant, but we had a local tell us about a place on the way to Fajardo that was supposed to be the best. They even had pick your own lobster. It was absolute shite.
When you are in Old San Juan, you can take the Ferry over to Cantano ($0.50/person) and take a taxi ($3/person) to the Bacardi Factory. It was kinda cool, pretty touristy, but fun for a few drinks. When you get off the ferry at Cantano, walk right about a block to a yellow parking garage. That is where the taxis are.
We also took a sail charter out of Fajardo with Erin Go Bragh. That was a ton of fun.
LINK
We had a rental car, and it wasn't too bad to drive in. We traveled all over the northern coast. I swear their roads were nicer than some in LA.
We just got back a few weeks ago, so if you have more specific questions, let me know.
We went to a pizza place called Pirilo Pizza Rustica,which had awesome pies. St. Germain Cafe had good lunch stuff and awesome mojitos.
As a whole, Puerto Rican food was pretty meh. Maybe I didn't eat it in the right restaurant, but we had a local tell us about a place on the way to Fajardo that was supposed to be the best. They even had pick your own lobster. It was absolute shite.
When you are in Old San Juan, you can take the Ferry over to Cantano ($0.50/person) and take a taxi ($3/person) to the Bacardi Factory. It was kinda cool, pretty touristy, but fun for a few drinks. When you get off the ferry at Cantano, walk right about a block to a yellow parking garage. That is where the taxis are.
We also took a sail charter out of Fajardo with Erin Go Bragh. That was a ton of fun.
LINK
We had a rental car, and it wasn't too bad to drive in. We traveled all over the northern coast. I swear their roads were nicer than some in LA.
We just got back a few weeks ago, so if you have more specific questions, let me know.
This post was edited on 12/15/14 at 3:34 pm
Posted on 12/15/14 at 3:31 pm to Slip Screen
I was just there a week ago. I was on a Disney Cruise though. Historic points of interest were great. People in the area were very shady though. Its a city I would definitely not choose to drive in. The Sheraton seems to be in the middle of most things you would likely want to see.
Posted on 12/15/14 at 3:32 pm to TigerRob20
quote:
Bacardi Factory. It was kinda cool, pretty touristy, but fun for a few drinks
They charge like $20 or so now for a tour.
Posted on 12/15/14 at 3:32 pm to Slip Screen
Old San Juan Casino and Hotel.
Posted on 12/15/14 at 3:50 pm to Traffic Circle
Funny to see this. I'm in OSJ now and have been in PR for a week. East PR was awesome. Stayed at the El Conquistador and enjoyed the beach for the first few days. Weather couldn't have been better. Ate at a good restaurant called Kasavista and La Estacion close to the resort. It was a nice break from the over priced and underwhelming resort food.
The coolest thing I have done so far was go to El Yunque Rain Forest. We went about 9:30-12 during the week and beat the tour crowd for the most part. It was one of the coolest places I have been and that's saying a lot.
As far as San Juan and OSJ, I wish I would have stayed at the beach and rented a car for a day trip. A cool place to eat and have drinks is Pirilo. It's an Italian pizza place right I. The heart of OSJ recommended to us by locals. They also recommended Sophia's. The are can be shady. I felt uncomfortable near the cruise ship ports and I've been all over the world. Some scammer tried to tell us some story about his dad getting mugged. Don't buy it. I've liked PR, but San Juan is nothing special. Overall though the island is a cool place.
Edit: I stayed in an AirBNb near the Sheraton Convention center. It was a little sketchy, but not bad. I would look at the Sheraton OSJ or the Hilton properties in Condado
The coolest thing I have done so far was go to El Yunque Rain Forest. We went about 9:30-12 during the week and beat the tour crowd for the most part. It was one of the coolest places I have been and that's saying a lot.
As far as San Juan and OSJ, I wish I would have stayed at the beach and rented a car for a day trip. A cool place to eat and have drinks is Pirilo. It's an Italian pizza place right I. The heart of OSJ recommended to us by locals. They also recommended Sophia's. The are can be shady. I felt uncomfortable near the cruise ship ports and I've been all over the world. Some scammer tried to tell us some story about his dad getting mugged. Don't buy it. I've liked PR, but San Juan is nothing special. Overall though the island is a cool place.
Edit: I stayed in an AirBNb near the Sheraton Convention center. It was a little sketchy, but not bad. I would look at the Sheraton OSJ or the Hilton properties in Condado
This post was edited on 12/15/14 at 3:52 pm
Posted on 12/15/14 at 3:53 pm to LSUShock
quote:
Funny to see this. I'm in OSJ now and have been in PR for a week. East PR was awesome. Stayed at the El Conquistador and enjoyed the beach for the first few days. Weather couldn't have been better. Ate at a good restaurant called Kasavista and La Estacion close to the resort. It was a nice break from the over priced and underwhelming resort food.
We rented a house that was on a hill and you could see the little bay there and El Conquistador. It looked nice, but I'm glad we did the house instead. It was awesome. We also ate at La Estacion and had a great meal there. Good place.
El Yunque is indeed a cool experience.
Posted on 12/15/14 at 3:57 pm to Fun Bunch
quote:
Message
Fun Bunch
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
We only stayed a couple of nights in OSJ. My wife was looking for kind of authentic experiences. We stayed at a hotel called Da House. It is in the heart of OSJ right near one of the more popular salsa clubs.
It is very nice and cheap as hell...but also very barebones. They don't offer amenities like shampoo or hair dryers, and there is no elevator. Its kind of like a hippie hostel but it IS nice. The salsa club can get loud so pick your room accordingly. They also have a very nice rooftop with a jacuzzi and all that.
It wouldn't be for everyone. If you have the money, stay at El Convento, that's probably the nicest place in OSJ.
We stayed there too. Don't expect to get ANY sleep at that place. Right next to a club.
Posted on 12/15/14 at 3:58 pm to I Love Bama
quote:
We stayed there too. Don't expect to get ANY sleep at that place. Right next to a club.
You did it wrong. They label the rooms on their site specifically on how much you can hear.
We rented an "away from the party" room and we didn't hear a damn thing. And I'm a light sleeper.
They also do provide earplugs. But we didn't need them.
Posted on 12/15/14 at 4:13 pm to LSUShock
quote:
Funny to see this. I'm in OSJ now and have been in PR for a week.
I just got back. Everybody get those Southwestern deals? Stayed on the beach at Numero Uno, went to OSJ by cab. El Convento did seem really nice. I can vouch for Pirilo. Good food and drinks. 2 nights and a day of sightseeing was plenty for me in OSJ. OP, go to Vieques. Killer little island. Rincon on the west coast is very cool, too. 
Posted on 12/15/14 at 4:15 pm to Fun Bunch
quote:
You did it wrong. They label the rooms on their site specifically on how much you can hear.
My girlfriend and I were walk ins. But yea, a huge mistake. I was right above the club and didn't get a wink of sleep.
Posted on 12/15/14 at 4:16 pm to JuiceTerry
Culebra was awesome, didn't get to do Vieques.
Did anyone get to do the Pork Highway? I really wanted to but it seemed like a hassle.
Did anyone get to do the Pork Highway? I really wanted to but it seemed like a hassle.
Posted on 12/15/14 at 4:17 pm to Fun Bunch
Ha, I wanted to hit Culebra, too. Heard the snorkeling was better there. It was pretty good on Vieques. Never heard of the Pork Highway, but it sounds delicious.
Posted on 12/15/14 at 4:22 pm to Slip Screen
El Convento is a great hotel in the heart of Old San Juan. It is pricey but staff is helpful and the hotel offers special rates that include walking tours of OSJ with admission to the old forts that are worth visiting. The Marmalade is a top rated restaurant in OSJ and definitely worth a visit. The Niche is another good restaurant and you should have a piña colada at Barrachina. Agree with others that the El Yunque rainforest should not be missed. And if time permits the bioluminescent bay on the island of Vieques is an unforgettable experience.
Posted on 12/15/14 at 4:26 pm to LSU MBA
quote:
And if time permits the bioluminescent bay on the island of Vieques is an unforgettable experience.
We did the biobay in Fajardo which was fine.
FYI, the biobays are fading. Some of them don't light up any more. So if you're going to see one, now is the time, because they may be gone forever.
Posted on 12/15/14 at 4:41 pm to JuiceTerry
quote:
Never heard of the Pork Highway, but it sounds delicious.
It is a stretch of highway in the middle of the island that has tons of Lechoneras along the road. Basically where they cook entire hogs and you get a plate of pork. Its supposed to be awesome.
But looked like a hassle to get to and somewhat unsafe. You see them on the Travel Channel and the like all the time.
Posted on 12/15/14 at 6:00 pm to Fun Bunch
quote:we did the lechoneras. Very cool, we went up there with a local who took us to a swimming hole under a waterfall so it was worth the trip
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico Culebra was awesome, didn't get to do Vieques. Did anyone get to do the Pork Highway? I really wanted to but it seemed like a hassle.
Posted on 12/15/14 at 6:09 pm to Fun Bunch
You stayed in a dump.
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