Puerto Rico Tourist Traps

  The Bacardi Bat!
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Most Viewed Tourist Traps in Puerto Rico

1.

Hard Rock Cafe   San Juan

Hard Rock Cafe, San Juan

 2 Reviews  Of course, there's a Hard Rock Cafe in San Juan, and so many gringos would rather stay with the tried and true (expensive hamburgers and beers) than dare to try other chow places. Too bad. There are... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

The Bacardi Rum tour!

by jgemini65

The Bacardi rum tour is a tourist trap...albeit, one that rewards you with 2 drinks of your choice! The ferry ride is free from San Juan and the tour is free! The only thing you pay for is the taxi ride from the dock to the plant...3.00 if you share with a few people! You can take a local bus for nearly nothing if you don't mind taking a tour of the city going the long way around! The tour is what it is! I was hoping to see the inner workings of the plant! No! Thats not what you get...you get a history lesson and 2 free drinks! Oh well...could be a lot worse!

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Tour Packages aren't always better

by Kaleisu

You do not have to join a tour to visit the sites! Old San Juan, El Morro, San Christobal, El Yunque, the Rio Camuy caves, Arebico Radio dish are all easily day trips out of San Juan and you do not need to join pricey tours to see them. When we first arrived the concierge at our hotel told us that El Yunque was not accessible by car and that she could hook us up with a tour. I called the Visitor's Center for the park and the concierge's info was completely false. We drove there ourselves (thanks to our handy Lonely Planet guide book instructions), parking was free and there are no park fees if you pass the first visitor's center (there are 4 info centers in the park). AND the tour buses cannot navigate the winding roads to get to the free visitor's center further on in the park (km marker 11.6) where all of the great trails start. You can do almost anything on Puerto Rico via rental car,...

Small towns/small stores

by Marcisteffen

In the big city things will be more costly. Get away to smaller towns & find stores like Pitusa, Kmart or Walmart. They'll usually have somethings puertorican that you can buy to take home with you. The small local clothing stores also have a nice variety of items. Just take out money only what you think you'll need to spend. Then put the rest away in your 'safety' place like money belt. Like stated before... go to a smaller town or even the suburbs of the big city. You'll find something. Just ask the locals in the suburb or small town. Like for instance..San Lorenzo is the town of the good samaritans. Friendly people... If you look on the web @ beachfront rentals 'cottages' be ware that some places might show the beach looking really nice & when you get there the beach is nothing like the picture!

Get out of Isla Verde!!

by BergsFinest

With a string of hotels come tourist traps. In Isla Verde, there are many of both. The best places to eat are the ones that have the more rundown look. Lupi's on Ave Isla Verde is a popular place among tourist. For this reason, the food is expensive as well as the drinks. It does have a good atmosphere, though. Oyster Bar is another popular place that tourists flock to. Steer clear. Piu Bello has decent gelato, but the food is terrible and the service is much worse. Make sure you look over your check so they billed you correctly. Some chupacabres try to take advantage of tourists. Don't go drinking at Lupi's or there will be an empty wallet. If you want Mexican, it's the place to go, but otherwise walk a little further to Metropol or even Edith Cafe. Metropol is the best bang for your buck in the San Juan metro area. It's great Cuban food with a fun and busy atmosphere. I ate there 15...

SAFETY

by PrincessK

Robbery and theft does happen occasionally as any place else, but you need not be concerned. Just don't be too careless. Women can wear as much jewelry as they want anywhere (as the locals do) with no fear.

Best time to go

by PrincessK

The peak tourist season is between December and April, but this has more to do with the climate in U.S. mainland than anything else. The best time to avoid the crowds is the low season between May and November, which is also hurricane season (June-November). Climate and Time An agreeable climate is one of Puerto Rico's most attractive characteristics. Puerto Rico has a tropical marine climate, with an average annual temperature of 82 °F (28 °C). Puerto Rico enjoys year round summer temperatures. The dry season is December to March. Note that temperatures in the mountains are significantly cooler than the coast, so if you intend to travel inland bring a sweater for the evenings regardless of when you visit. Annual rainfall is 62 inches.

I think I'm getting old

by PA2AKgirl

I stayed at the Wyndham in Old San Juan and my flight got in late. I thought we were going to experience Pinones, so I didn't eat all day. Because it was so late, all those little stands shut down and I was left with only a few choices. Kina suggested Senor Frogs because it was right behind my hotel. I had only been here for an hour, keep in mind, so even though I wasn't thrilled with the idea of going to a touristy place like Senor Frogs from my first PR meal, I went along with it. She was showing me around, afterall and I was very grateful for the company. I didn't know it was spring break still and I certainly didn't know that San Juan was a spring break destination. It was SO crowded and I felt out of place because I wasn't dressed like a whore (sorry) All I wanted was to eat but it ended up being this whole ordeal...we finally got served, I watched a lot of girls fall down drunk...

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Tour Group to El Yunque

by Radiomom

It is hard to resist taking a tour of the rainforest, El Yunque -- not too often you get to see a tropical rainforest. El Yunque itself is quite lovely. The 'trap' is that nearly all the tour vans stop at a roadside stand for a refreshment. Don't get anything in a coconut. It is not as refreshing as you might need if you're hot and thirsty. Also, the guides really stick around hoping you'll buy some of the shop's tacky souvenirs. You can if you want to, but it's nothing you can't find at the airport for less -- if those are the kind of things you want to bring back.

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PonceSince most people who...

by irinakats

PonceSince most people who come to Puerto Rico visit San Juan, Ponce is too far away, and is not worth the trip. As compared to the beauty of San Juan, or the multitude of beaches and parks this island has to offer, Ponce does not measure up. I think it's only listed in the guide books because of its' size. The best part of Ponce was the drive from it, because we took the scenic mountain road (see tip).

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AreciboThis a large...

by irinakats

AreciboThis a large observatory run by Columbia University, located in Northern Puerto Rico. If you like techie stuff, or just enjoy observatories, come on in- but otherwise I don't recommend it. There is an intersting museum that goes with it- bit it's not worth your time.

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Tourist Attractions in Puerto Rico

Top 3 Hotels in Puerto Rico

Hotel Baños de Coamo  Puerto Rico

 1 Review and 27 Opinions  This has been a spa resort where guests can enjoy the therapeutic effects of the therman waters... 

 Hotels in Puerto Rico

Hotel El Convento  San Juan

 5 Reviews and 809 Opinions  The staff was great...the rooms were great...the only place you would want to stay in Old San Juan! 

 Hotels in San Juan

Bravo Beach Hotel  Vieques

 8 Opinions

 Hotels in Vieques

276 Hotels in Puerto Rico
 
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Reviews and photos of Puerto Rico attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Puerto Rico sightseeing.

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Tourist Traps: Cities in Puerto Rico
  1. San Juan Tourist Traps
  2. El Yunque National Forest Tourist Traps

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San Juan Municipio Tourist Traps  Vieques Tourist Traps  Luquillo Tourist Traps  Ponce Tourist Traps  Fajardo Tourist Traps  Culebra Tourist Traps  Aguadilla Tourist Traps  Humacao Tourist Traps  Rincon Tourist Traps  Carolina Tourist Traps  Rio Grande Tourist Traps  Lajas Tourist Traps  Arecibo Tourist Traps  Isabela Tourist Traps  Cabo Rojo Tourist Traps 

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Looking for info on the various Carnavals and if its ok for kids? If so, which city? My wife and 2 sons (6 and 8) are traveling... 

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A: The Carnaval is in Ponce, a city in Puerto Rico. The Carnaval is like the Rio de Janeiro carnaval. I have not attended one in Puerto Rico because I was there last June.... 

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