Great!!! Puerto Rico is Paradise!!! and is the most modern of all the Islands and has the best standard of living in Latin America. I still keep a House there after this Spanish Experience i probably go back to my Island. Puerto rico is a U.S territory but is an Autonomous one. Puerto rico is a Estado Libre asociado ( Commonwealth) is the most free of the American territories. Puerto rico is Self rule by Puerto ricans which are very Nationalistic they called their Island a Country and is consider one under U.S territorial Status. Now allot of people talk English specially around San Juan because of the big business center but don’t be fool the official language of Puerto rico is Spanish. English is widely spoken as a Business language but only people in the tourism industry, business people and and younger people speak English. All the signs are in Spanish all the daily life of Puerto ricans are conducted in Spanish. When you get to San Juan you will find a city full of Expressway, highway systems like the U.S all the major U.S chains are there. Also you will find allot of American dept. like Walmart, K-mart, Sears, JCpenney, Macys, Home Depot, Best buy, Circuit city, Compusa. All the mayor fast foods just like any american city. But Puerto rico has a mixture of allot of Spanish culture and European is very well balance you have some Spanish business like Santander and BBVA of over the place actually you will see more Spanish banks than Americans. You will see Zara, Ikea, Casa botin, Pans & Company etc.. also remember Puerto rico was the last Spanish colony in the Americas so Spanish culture is in the blood of all Puerto ricans. For Example we do not use miles we use Kilometers we do not use gallons we use liters, we call our money chavos o pesetas!!!! and old San Juan is a Piece of Spain in the Americans and it is after Santo Domingo the 2nd oldest city in the hemisphere. Please note that in 2008 is election time in the Island and from June- November the Political climate is very hot remember that Puerto rico is trying to Decide if it will become a 51 state of the U.S stay a commonwealt( Like Now) or be independent. During that time there is allot of traffic and it is a very turbulent time so try to avoid it. Also remember that even thou the Euro is higher than the Dollar now!! Puerto rico is a very high end destiny for tourist there is no all inclusive and most hotels are 4 -5 star American standards which are higher than Europe. Rent a car we got a great highway system the Island is very Small 35 miles wide by 115 miles long but the Island is very crowded specially San Juan which is the most important Business center in Caribbean with more than 2.5 million people living in a Small area!!!!!!!!!!! but have fun if you have any question plese dont hesitate to ask.

I forgot to tell you that Tourist high Season in Puerto rico is from December- April and a average hotel room during high season starts at 300 Euros and Up. But if you go in low Season from May- November you could find deals starting at 90 Euros in a 4 Star or maybe 5 star hotels. Also be reminded that from July- November is hurricane season so watch the weather for hurricanes but don’t worry!!! the last hurricane we got was in 1998 i was there in 4 days everything was normal!!!!!!!!!!!! but it is an experience…. I think the best time to visit is May and june not that hot because Puerto rico is hot 90 degree weather is very common but the humidity factor is like 90% so it feels like 105 farenheit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! is 10 times worst than Sevilla and Madrid in Summer. But the good thing is that Puerto rico is very Americanize everything is Air conditioning please allow your self to visit Plaza las Americas Mall is the largest and most modern mall in Latin America and the 4th largest in the world. I have not seen in Europe a Mall like that….. Don’t take taxi most of them are not metered and they start with a Flat fee of 10 Euros any trip will cost you between 20-30 euros so you could rent a car for less than 15 euros a day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also Puerto rico is a very artistic country so you will hear allot of Salsa, Reageton and specially music from our icons Ricky Martin, Chayanne. Puerto rico has allot of international stars and concerts going on all the time….. so try to see if you could book them prices are lower than Spain.

Hmm, that’s a lot of good information. Thanks.
We will probably spend some time in San Juan, but I think my relatives would like to spend most of their time at the beach relaxing… any suggestions for that? It looks like we’ll be there during high tourist season (spring?) so I guess it could be pretty expensive?
There’s also rainforest there, right? El Yunque -Is that a nice place to visit? Most of us really like hiking and nature walks.
OH also, what’s this in the news about Dengue fever?? Is that something to be worried about??

I do not know what your budget is? but i recommend that you look into El conquistador Resort this resort is one of the largest and most luxurious in the Caribbean with stunning views of the Caribbean Islands has a Casino and like 7 restaurants and 7 bars including nightclub. It also has a private island with pristine waters this is connected from the big island by the hotel private ferry. While in the island there is a grill restaurant and staff to bring you anything you want while your laying in the sun. El conquistador resort has 2 championship golf courses as well as 10 hard & clay tennis courts one of the best Spas in the world!!!!!! also another feature is relatively close to el Yunque like 15-20 minutes and is also very close to the Airport about 45 minutes. If your budget is somehow limited there are more budget hotels in the metro area of San Juan like Courtyards by Marriott, Holiday Inns, Hampton inn and small hotel inns like el Canario inn etc.. look go the the website of puerto rico http://www.gotopuertorico.com is interactive and they will help you. Like i told you before Puerto rico is very well connected with highways and expressways thru out the Island. I know most Europeans are use to quality public transportation while in the Metro area there is a very modern bus and Metro system if you want to take advantage of it. Puerto rico is very safe tourist there is crime but mainly between he drug traffiquers. People are extremely friendly and always willing to lend a hand. They love Americans as well as Spanish but there are certain areas in the Island where are very Nationalistic and Americans are not welcome. But don’t worry you probably wont go to those very few!!!!! like i told you try to make it during may and june best prices and best weather. Just to let you know Puerto rico is a very tropical and humid place and it rains almost every day but during the months of May and June it is pretty dry and you get great days!!!!!!!!!!!!

I forgot about the dengue??? really don’t have to worry what is happening is that this summer it has rain allot in the Caribbean and the dengue mosquito is growing fast!!!! There has been 4 deaths reported in the Island mainly of people that have been mis diagnose or non taken to doctors but it is very contain comparing it to the Dominican Republic were hundreds of cases and more than 75 deaths have been reported. When i was a little kid i got Dengue is Flu like symptoms and if you go to the doctor take allot of Fluids and gatorade you won’t have a problem!!!! Puerto Rico different to our big brother in the U.S it has Universal healthcare with average public hospitals and great private state of the art Hospitals far superior to Spain!!!!!!!!!!! Don’t Worry!!!!!!!

This is a videos i found in Youtube it has remix music but is part of a documentary of Puerto rico from the Air that is like a year old is fairly new this link and i hope it works is from San Juan metro area!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGz80qof0dc

Thanks Rokipatel. That video offers some nice views of Puerto Rico. For such a small island, it sure offers a lot, huh?  I’m starting to look forward to our trip even though it’s months away. We’re also going in part because mi suegra’s sister was married to a Puertorrique?o and lived there for years. He passed away a long time ago but she’s ready to return to visit family. When I find out what parts we’ll be in I’ll let you know!
It would be nice to go in June or May but we have to go when all our vacation dates correlate, that being March (semana santa, spring break). How are things then? Any procesi?nes? So Dengue shouldn’t be a worry then?

Look March is still high season but mainly the end part of it so maybe you will probably get good prices.  Semana santa you will see processions in Old San Juan and all the Pueblos plazas. In Puerto rico semana santa is very important to Puertoricans unslike in the United States good Friday is a normal working day in Puerto rico everything is closed like it is in Spain. Also on Resurrection Sunday is also a big holiday it is a big tradition in Puerto rico to get together for Eastern Sunday Lunch either at somebodies house or at different restaurants. But also during that week there is allot of people that go to the beaches for that weekend as a Party!!!!!. March is one of the driest months in Puerto rico together with april you will probably get great weather 80-85F as high and at night 70 or less weather with a awesome soothing breeze. In Puerto rico they use the Puente like they do in Spain so people pretty much take most of the week off. Officially the government recognizes From Thursday - Sunday as holidays. But on Saturday must shopping malls open at regular hours!!!!!!!

Hey Roki, more questions about Puerto Rico…
We’re planning our trip now.  There are going to be like 9 of us so we’re renting a villa instead of staying at a hotel or mega-resort. We’ve found accommodation in ?Rincon?. It seems like there’s some nice beach there. Is that a place you’d recommend? It’s not one of the nationalistic places you mentioned that doesn’t welcome tourists, is it?  I think we’d be taking day trips to other parts of the island, like San Juan and El Yunque.
And we also might spend a couple of nights in or near San Juan. Is Dorado nice?