Puerto Rico recommendations?

[semillama]

I'm going to Puerto Rico in April for a conference in San Juan, and if anyone has been there, I'd love to hear about your experiences. I plan on one extra day after the conference to visit the rain forest, and would be especially interested in any recommendations for tour companies (my main interest is bird watching).

[fudge stripe cookays]

1. We stayed here...

http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll?qscr=dspv&itid=&itdx=&itty=&from=f&shtl=1

Not sure what your budget is like, but American actually put us up there when we missed the last flight out to Dallas when our flight from St. Kitts was late and we got held up in customs.

I ADORED Puerto Rico. I only got to see the beach there in San Juan and that hotel, but everyone was very warm and friendly, and I so wished I could have seen more of it.

Definitely get into Old San Juan. From what I heard, it's really great.

[semillama]

2. I got an "old bookmark" page from your link

Could you find a different link to what you are talking about? Right now I'm looking at picking up an extra $169 hotel stay on my own and would like to defray the cost if possible. My conference hotel is the Caribe Hilton, so that will be nice while I'm at the conference and NOT paying, but if I can pay a little less for a decent clean and reputable place, that's preferable.

[fudge stripe cookays]

3. Ah bummer...

It's the Marriott Stella Solaris HOtel and Casino, with a beautiful location right on the beach.

We had a city-facing room, with a balcony overlooking the Condado, and we ate outside for both of our meals, dinner and breakfast, poolside, right next to the beach. Absolutely beautiful. If you have an extra meal you need to figure out where to go, the restaurant was great too.

Try this one:
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage.mi?marshaCode=SJUPR

[chascaz]

4. There's a bed and breakfast there, for Deadheads...

If you care to avoid the casino scene, it's not in San Juan, and I can't remember the name, but maybe you could google it. Also, there's that big radio telescope there, which is cool to go check out, if you're into astronomy at all. Have fun in P.R.

Peace - :)

[semillama]

5. Well, i took care of accommodations

I'm staying at the Hotel La Playa, on the beach in Isla Verde.

I'm looking at Adventours for the birding trip - that's one of their specialities and their website mentioned they participate in the Audubon christmas bird count, a good sign.

[Midlodemocrat]

6. I'm going there next month

and staying at the El Conquistador.

[Hobo]

7. Condado Beach is a good hotel..

If you are looking to stay outside San Juan, the dorado beach hyatt is a great place. If you have drive to Ponce on south side of island great to walk around.


Hobo

[wakeme2008]

8. Laundry on a Ship was my last thing I did there in 2005

I hate San Juan...

But the 28th of March I will be flying there :)

[FM Arouet666]

9. Do not stay at the Hilton Caribe

500$ a night was the only rate I could get, they offered a cheaper rate for the conference I am attending but that sold out almost immediately. The room is the size of my bathroom at home. Lumpy beds, I am sitting on the balcony as I write this because the Hilton wants to charge me 15$ a day for internet. Fortunately the Holiday Inn does not and their network is close enough to the Hilton to allow free connections. Great connection sitting outside.;) And to top it off I have waited for 2 hours for someone with a masters degree in toiletry to come up and unplug my toilet.

First impression; over priced dump. Seems to go with my second and third and .........

[FM Arouet666]

11. Currently in Puerto Rico

I would definitely go to the bio-bay tour, it took three hours to get there and three back, but it was worth it. A very unique experience.

I like the rain forrest and the caverns, also do not miss out on the giant radio telescope. Tomorrow I am going to Ponce for the day.

Organized tours from the hotel can be a pain, as was the case with the bio bay. We left on Friday, which was a bad idea, rush our in San Juan is nuts. I have taken two private tours which are great, just your party in a van with an english speaking guide. Saves time, and you get more out of the tour. I have the guys card if you are interested. The price is steep, but not so bad if you have three or four people. $200 bucks to the rain forrest split between four of us. Ponce is $250 for the whole day.

As for Old San Juan, walk if you can, taxis are $10 flat rate to the city center. Sometimes a bit more, depends on the cab driver, no one uses a meter you are at their mercy.

Food in Old San Juan is pricey, tourist rates, but many of the restaurants are pretty good.

Have fun.......... Oh, and the tour of Casa Bacardi, not much to see. A big advertisement for their rum. Ok if you want to buy the stuff at the source but a very limited tour.

[jeffrey_X]

10. If you are going to the rain forest....

and you want to hit the beach, there is a GREAT local beach just across and down the street. LaQuillo Beach is the name. Great views of the rain forest while you are on the beach checking out the ocean.

Can't recommend this place enough.