I would not want to live in the majority of the states I have visited. Puerto Rico was one of my first trips where I could see myself there long-term. The island is beautiful, the locals are kind and helpful, and there is plenty to see and do: clear-water beaches, vibrant nightlife, live music, and dancing in the streets of Old San Juan, just to name a few. All while surrounded by another culture and the island’s tropical ambiance. Whatever it is you search for when you travel, Puerto Rico has it. Here are the essentials for both of our next trips to Puerto Rico!
What I would do again:
Find activities ahead of time – I am not one for a daily itinerary; too many unforeseen circumstances such as weather, energy levels, local events, etc. I still like to have an idea of what I want to get done within the time frame I have. It goes quick and it’s good to have an idea of how much needs to fit in each day.
Always read reviews – Airbnb, rental places, activities, or whatever your plans entail. Talk to locals for the best insights. People are so much more friendly than you’d expect and usually more than happy to share a thing or two. That being said, it’s still stranger danger and essential to be careful with the info you share. Trust your gut and always be aware of your surroundings.
Only take a personal bag – This was an easy decision when I saw carry-on bags were an additional sixty to a hundred dollars. I would be getting my stuff to fit in a free personal bag regardless of the difficulty level. Budget traveling requires being picky regarding certain luxuries. The way home was definitely trickier. Highly recommend vacuum seal bags for clothing. Life saver!
Bring a camcorder – Our best idea yet. It helped keep us off our phones because we didn’t need to use them for pictures and videos constantly. The media came out so cute, and the quality was perfect (to us, of course, not in comparison to an iPhone, but exactly the vibe we were going for). Note: If you want the correct date displayed on the pictures, make sure to set it ahead of time 😉
Get a pina colada in a pineapple – Self explanatory, being the home of the pina colada. I don’t blame you if just one isn’t enough.
What I Would Reconsider next time:
Reconsider a rental car – Renting a car was convenient, and we had no issues; however, driving in PR was no joke. I assume the same could be said about foreign countries. Ubers were cheap and easy to find. I’d want to look into more regarding which way is more cost-efficient.
Write a shopping list – Unfortunately, we had to go to Walmart almost every day because we kept thinking of things we needed after. The shopping mall was not ideal, and we would have saved a lot of time and energy if we figured out those things ahead of time.
Rush food for activities – A lot of the time, we ate for energy, but I wish we had eaten more to experience the culture. I have always been a picky eater, so when traveling, I go for safe foods to ensure I can eat them and prevent wasting money or time. Next trip, I would like to be more daring and try different foods.
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