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Puerto Rico Travel Guide
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Travelwithall Puerto Rico destination, getaway, and travel guide is where you can book a room, make hotel reservations at a place to stay, and find information and tips on travel to Puerto Rico. This hotel guide will help our readers find the perfect lodging accommodations in Puerto Rico, where you can shop and compare rates. Whether you are traveling with your family on a leisure holiday vacation or visiting for corporate business, our Puerto Rico hotels guide will help you find a hotel room that suits your specific needs. This is where you can find our free searchable list of available luxury five star Puerto Rico resorts, comfortable four star Puerto Rico hotels, clean three star Puerto Rico lodges, convenient two star Puerto Rico inns, and budget one star Puerto Rico motels.
Geographically, Puerto Rico is a Caribbean hub, presiding squarely over the waters between Hispaniola and the Virgin Islands. As a commonwealth of the US, however, it remains a world apart from its island neighbours, over a distance that can be measured not just in kilometres, but in dollars. It's island life with infrastructure, the likes of which the Tropic of Cancer seldom sees: excellent interstate highways, for example, allow travellers to zip from coral reef to five-star restaurant, and hikers can traipse through the spectacular El Yunque rainforest on well-paved trails maintained by the US National Forest Service.
American influence is strongest in San Juan, where even the ramparts of El Morro - which staved off European aggressors for 500 years - haven't managed to prevent the influx of big-name American fast-food and retail chains. But the capital retains a distinctly Latin character at its core, with Old San Juan hosting a treasure-trove of pastel Spanish colonial architecture on exquisitely restored cobblestoned streets.
Despite the threat of overdevelopment from US dollars, most of the 35-by-100-mile island has managed to elude despoilment. Even in the crowded capital, it's hard to find a sullied beach, and outside the major cities nature is largely untouched - especially in the jungly, mountainous interior; on the relatively hidden beaches along the southwest coast; and on the offshore islands. In fact, the rich natural resources and wide range of hiking, birding, diving and caving opportunities make Puerto Rico as much a magnet for eco-tourists as for sun-worshippers.
If you rent a car, you'll make the most efficient use of your time. While you may get a cheaper deal from a local rental company, national chains such as Avis, Hertz and Budget are very likely to be more reliable, and offer 24-hour emergency service. Weekly rates for an economy car in San Juan start at around US$280. AAA also operates emergency roadside assistance for members. Driver's licences from the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are valid for up to three months. Highways are fast and fairly well maintained. As in the US, motorists drive on the right side and speed limits are posted in miles per hour. Unlike the US, distances are posted in kilometres and road signs are in Spanish. In the cities, be aware that drivers are often reckless and impatient.
While Puerto Rico is without islandwide bus or rail transportation from city to city, públicos are an inexpensive, if less than efficient, way to traverse the island. Part-bus, part-taxi, these vehicles transport up to ten people over somewhat flexible routes and distances Monday to Saturday. A trip from San Juan to Ponce costs about US$10 one-way, US$20 round-trip. Each city has its own terminal; most don't have phone numbers, however, so you have to go there in person to ask about schedules. In San Juan, the terminal is in Rio Piedras. You can also call the público line and ask them to pick you up at your hotel, but expect to pay an additional US$3 or US$4. Don't be surprised if you have to wait at least an hour, at either the terminal or your hotel. While públicos are inexpensive, they make frequent stops, so travel over great distances can be extremely slow.
Puerto Rico offers a number of outdoor adventures, including hiking, backpacking, boating, fishing, bicycling, and more. The ability to walk considerable distances without becoming overtired (an ability generally acquired through practice) also enhances the enjoyment of such other Puerto Rico activities as bird watching, nature walks, field trips, and sightseeing.
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