San Juan Travel Answers

hi Karen. I have never set foot in Puerto Rico, but regarding putting your foot down ... I had some dear neighbors from PR. The father was an engineer and they had both their teenage boys in school here. "Something" happened - there was never full details, but due to a girl in school who was being a bad influence, they took both boys back to PR for a couple of years. This is a family where the mom did not work and she drove the kids around to sports until the boy got old enough to drive. On one of her visits back, she said they could not wait to get back to the US. Their neighborhood, which used to be a good neighborhood, was quite unsafe at night, crime was getting out of hand, and sometimes you heard gun shots. Now I'm sure there will be numerous posts saying how exaggerated I am being, and how I do not have very clear facts. I do not recall the particular neighborhood they lived in in PR - all I know is that they said crime had gone very high and things were not good - my two cents worth.

Your daughter is better off in Puerto Rico vs. going to Mexico. If she has not hit 21 yet then she is not allowed to drink. That is the law. However in Mexico she would be allowed to drink and do whatever she wants. Which would you prefer? (Also she is over 18 not much you can do to stop her other then not give her money)

Your daughter is better off in Puerto Rico vs. going to Mexico. If she has not hit 21 yet then she is not allowed to drink. That is the law. However in Mexico she would be allowed to drink and do whatever she wants. Which would you prefer? (Also she is over 18 not much you can do to stop her other then not give her money)

wow. difficult question but only you know your daughter. however, given your worries that she doesn't travel with other friends--I'd book/hire a private car hire with driver to do the pickups and dropoffs. carey.com/Carey/cities/US/Pu...

And...uhh..where is the hotel? There are many taxis at the airport and fares are regulated so there shouldn't be any problem.

She can't meet them at the airport? (i.e., is the time between flights unreasonably long)? I've not been to San Juan Airport, but it seems to me that the place is probably crawling with men and women in uniforms and with guns, and is likely one of the safest places around. Bill

I am sure there are many nice places in PR - but if her friends are the type you can trust, someone should be able to be at the airport to meet her. Perhaps I'm just getting too old - but yes I would definitely try to persuade her against it. Do you know her friends? Something about this makes me extremely uncomfortable. There are many pretty young girls who disappear during spring break and the creeps who prey upon them. Where in PR is she staying? Does the hotel where she is staying arrange airport pickup? oh my! Is there anyone trusted in this group with her? ohhhhh ....

So ... at the risk of repeating my last post - how about paying the hotel where she is staying to arrange the transportation to the hotel - most places will do that and although a few dollars more, well worth it. Would make sure they wait for her with her full name written. I've done this in China and Istanbul and worked like a charm.

I can't recall if you've met my daughter Carla at any VT meets but she's been traveling internationally since she was 15. Solo at 17, 19 and 21. Yes I know she had wine with dinner in Paris and Florence but she also took note of her roomates "antics" with too much imbibing and never drinks to excess ever when she could have. I do recall she and most of the ship's "cruise staff" barely making it back to the ship in PR on one cruise which happened to be during winter break. They danced the night away and then raced back when they remembered we had a 4:00 AM sailing time. Only you can tell for certain but in general I've always found San Juan to be a friendly city. It's been many years since I used the airport there but I don't recall the trip being too long.

Some additional information in answer to the questions above: I do not think my daughter and her friends have booked their hotel yet - I expect they will go for something centrally located, popular with tourist, and not in a neighborhood with shootings and gunfire. Yes, I know the friends well. All roommates/students at a top university with good grades, very good girls, not a wild one in the bunch. They haven't booked their flights to SJU yet so I don't know how far apart they are. Yes, ideally if the flights are close together, they will wait for each other at the airport, but don't know that yet. Worst case - flights are hours apart - I wanted to be prepared to tell her the safest way to get to her hotel. A car service or a hotel shuttle, if she is alone, sounds like a good idea. Thanks for the link to the limosine service. That company looks reliable. Drinking age is 18 in PR. No, that doesn't concern me. The age 21 limit in the US doesn't stop the college kids from drinking, so an age 18 limit in PR doesn't really make a difference as far I can see. She doesn't go overboard, and I trust her. Thanks, Al, for your note. I felt much better after reading it. Are you back in Loreto?

WAIT!!!!!!!! WAIT!!!!!!!!!! WAIT!!!!!! First..PR is a VERY safe country! VERY safe! Firstly re getting to the hotel.....simply take a cab from the airport. There are many available at the airport. Your daughter is a grown woman who has traveled in the past. Honestly, the posts re this not being a good idea seems crazy IMO! I have been to PR MANY times. Where is she staying? San Juan? Resort? This is not a 3rd world country. She can have a good time and not "fear for her life!" Re drinking.....as with anywhere in the world...she CAN drink if she wants to(and I know that you would prefer her not to.) Some bars will proof her and some won't. She can also buy alcohol at stores etc. So becasue something is the law does not make it cut and dry(I have been going to clubs in NYC since I was 15 and drinking.) PR is a great country and with EVERY country in the world, there are great places and not so great places(show me a country w/o a shifty area.) Spring break isn't really that "wild" in PR as say Cancun. I would relax and tell her to call when she lands and check in every day to make sure all is ok. Tell her to use common sense(don't flash$, get drunk, etc) and she will be fine. Geez!

FYI...my "geez" was more so for the negative posting re PR and this not sounding like a good idea! I just don't get it!

**Something about this makes me extremely uncomfortable.** I must disagree. As I said...I just don't see it. MANY college age people travel to PR every year w/o much fanfare. It's a VERY safe country...I have been there many times and also recently. PR is not a 3rd world country and not overrun by thieves and body snatchers. If she is staying in San Juan, she can hang out in Old San Juan and have a great time: eating/shopping/sites/etc. without getting nabbed. Isla Verde is also a good area with many hotels/restaurants/beach access/etc. She will be fine. That's my.02....

Good grief lady lighten up! She's 21! You need to let her experience things in life not constantly treat her like she's still 3!