Traveling to Puerto Rico in February.
Any suggestions on nice places to stay (could be anywhere in P.R.) and also (safe) places to swim (open water)?
Would love to stay somewhere right on the beach.
Thanks in advance!
-YT
Aguadillo is the place to swim. And not too far from the capital.
You have a 500m that parallels the shore. You are in a cove, so no waves, and the crowds are always low. And you got amazing scenery with mountains in the background. Beautiful!
Wes
I don’t know if it’s quite what you want, but my wife and I stayed at the Rio Mar Resort last year (although I wasn’t there to do the half-Ironman), which is in the Rio Grande area, and was very nice:
http://www.wyndhamriomar.com/
I would try to get one of the condos from www.vrbo.com (http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/caribbean/puerto-rico#a632). They are right on the beach if you want to do some real open water swimming, and they also have a couple of lanes in the pool. It’s nice if you’ve got a family coming along.
I am a San Juan local.
Will shoot you a PM with some ideas later if you want.
Emmanuel,
I am a San Juan local.
Will shoot you a PM with some ideas later if you want.
Emmanuel,
Thanks for the ideas all. Yes- Emmanuel I’d love to get your “insider’s” take on it. Thanks very much for that!
-YT
This is a bit pricy but…
Caribe Hilton is about 2-3 miles from Old San Juan (I think) and on the beach. There is a rock protected beach there where you could do open water swims probably 75+ meters before you have to turn around. Local triathletes swim there in the AM.
El Conquistador has a separate lap pool. I didn’t do any open water swimming but heard that you could.
How did Augusta go Emmanuel? Hope it was a success.
RE: Your hometown (my trip) …
Here are some places that looked / sounded good:
Las Casitas Village
Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza
Caribe Hilton San Juan
El Conquistador Resort
What do you think?
I’m trying to do a “package deal” on Expedia (otherwise I might try something a little more exotic). I’m using Expedia for the insurance b/c there is a SLIGHT chance I have to cancel.
I’m only staying a Sat. / Sun. / Mon. (haven’t figured out when yet) so I suppose that’s not a whole lot of time to do much.
Thinking about mostly beach / pool time (or any other suggestions you may have).
Sorry- couldn’t figure out how to PM you.
-YT
Hi YT,
-
Las Casitas and Conquistador are in the same property/resort, eastern coast of the Island. Nice place, good views, plenty of pools, a lap pool and if you hop on the ferry, great open water swim of Palomino Island/cay.
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Caribe Hilton: Also nice. Was and will still be the host hotel for IMSJ70.3. Smack in the middle of San Juan/Condado area, private beach, next to the Condado Lagoon and the Conrad’s beach area, where the IMSJ swim venue takes place.
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Conrad: similar experience of the Caribe Hilton (I would prefer the Caribe Hilton, although CH is probably more expensive than the Conrad, check it out).
February is right in the middle of surfing season if you are into it or would like to learn it. Look up for surf lessons if you are interested.
If you have the time and want to do something different I would recommend Toro Verde Zip Line park or similar adventure. Make sure you end with “the Beast” (a.k.a. Superman) zip line ride, second highest and longest in the world.
Hope you can make it and enjoy the trip. Better yet, come over in March and participate on the IMSJ70.3
CA
P.S. Emmanuel had a great Augusta. Heard he is very happy with his overall performance.
Thanks CA!
I pulled the trigger on Las Casitas.
Going for 3 days mid-February.
Looking forward to it!
-YT
I agree. Isabella is close to aguadilla. GREAT BEACHES, boardwalk to run. Mountain views. THE WORKS. Definitely check out Aguadilla or Isabella. You can fly directly to Aguadilla airport and that can save you some time because if you fly into San Juan its kind of a hassle to get to where you want to go.
So…staying at Las Casitas Villages.
How is swimming at Palomino Island?
Is it advisable? Never been to PR so just wondering what the bottom is like there (hard / soft?) Currents? Waves? Critters (i.e.- sharks)?
Thanks in advance to any locals or folks with knowledge about the Fajardo / Palomino Island area.
Want to get some running / swimming (won’t have bike) in during the 3 days I’m there.
Later,
YT
Smooth reef for the most part with sandy bottoms mixed in. I have surfed these areas most of my life. Surf is the key word and it can go XL down there in the winter. There are some jellies around and urchins so bring a lighter and some surf wax to melt onto your feet and pull out whatever you step on that same night (so you do not get infected). There are little nooks and crannies where protection from surf can be found, but, if you are not used to large surf, use caution. And, lock your stuff up where ever you go. I have been robbed countless times down there i.e.…don’t leave your towel on the beach because it will walk away! And they drive on very sketchy roads like it’s their last day on earth.
I used to be an auditor with Marriott/Ritz Carlton and PR was within my region. Obviously my vote would be with one of the following:
Condado
Marriott San Juan Resort
Renaissance
Carolina
Ritz Carlton
However, there are some similar quality locations very close
Condado
Carib Hilton
Carolina
El SanJuan Hotel and Casino
All of these hotels allow beach access.
+1 on watching out on the roads. I worked there for a month a few years back and holy crap! Morning commute of ten miles was absolutely insane with people passing me at 90 plus on both sides and the shoulder. Coming from a daily NYC commute it was way more intense than anything on my Stamford to Bronx drive.
El Conquistador Resort is the place to be, I lived in PR for a while, and while it’s in Fajardo and on the East Coast, you could easily stay there for a short time, then catch a ferry or fly to Vieques and enjoy the island for another few days. You could then head back to San Juan, specifically Isla Verde, a beach in Carolina.
Here is a pic of the resort
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/jswiftbb/19967_231825783936_580283936_3209014_437073_n.jpg
Here are two pics of the beach in Isla Verde in February, it’s empty that time of year! I went there all the time among other beaches around the island.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/jswiftbb/n580283936_1546258_2195599.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/jswiftbb/n580283936_1546251_6795940.jpg
If you need other pics, let me know, I will see if I have them because I have a ton, just need to find them 
Here is where some people live just off the resort, has some friends who owned some of the places here.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/jswiftbb/19967_231825813936_580283936_3209017_8116651_n.jpg
This was also at the resort
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc78/jswiftbb/19967_231825788936_580283936_3209015_7321863_n.jpg
Thought I would share some more pictures
Governor’s mansion during Xmas, Fortuño at the time
Front gate to my gated community
Wall to one of the forts, actually the one featured on bizarre foods
This is the walkway going out the fort wall shown above, goes out to the sea and some huge trees, beautiful scenes with lots of cats running around and crabs!
Thanks for posting some pic’s.
I will in fact be staying at the Las Casitas Villages which are as I understand it, on a 300 ft. cliff above the El Conquistador Resort.
Should be pretty cool.
-YT
Hi again Y-Tri & happy new year!
Swimming @Palomino will be just fine. As you have probably read, it is the resort’s private island so no crowds except for guests or some few locals. My last time there, they had a swimming area marked/protected by buoys. Sandy bottom. At least the side of the Island facing the Casitas will be wave free. The back side of the Island will be rougher, with some shallow reef (good for snorkeling). You can try to swim to Palominito which is a sister cay; maybe some small current. The lifeguards there can advice you. Outside the resort, very near though, there is a beach called Seven Seas. Very long stretch of beach and shallow. Critters? Well, it is open water, but nothing to worry, I am sure you will enjoy your swim time.
Now running? You can probably run following the Golf Course. You will find it very hilly, challenging, certainly good training ground within the hotel’s boundary. Perhaps an idea would be to run/jog to Seven Seas, stash your shoes, put on your goggles, swim, then run back. Then at sunset, out to one of the many terraces within the Casitas area, drink in hand, sipping and enjoying the view. Hope you get nice weather.