Pandemic Puerto Rico
After being vaccinated for over a month, I decided it was time to hit the travel streets again! Of course, I was apprehensive because it’s still a pandemic, but I felt more comfortable knowing that my family was fully vaccinated. Every year since about 2014, I have traveled for my birthday to celebrate. I was very upset when I was unable to travel in 2020 so I was adamant to keep up that tradition in 2021.
Why Puerto Rico?
There wasn’t a particular reason I chose Puerto Rico for my 2021 Birthday Vacation. Like most destinations, I chose it last minute and because it was the cheapest flight to the Caribbean at that time. I picked a Tuesday approximately two weeks before my birthday and decided I would look up flights that evening. Whatever location had the cheapest flight, is where I would spend my birthday vacation. I found a flight for $276pp round trip on Google Flights so I booked three tickets.
I should probably add that my mother’s birthday is five days before mine, so I decided I would just take her on the trip with me and we could celebrate together. My partner also accompanied us so that’s three travelers in total.
The other reason I chose Puerto Rico was because I live in the United States and if you are a citizen you can travel to Puerto Rico without having to go through customs or showing your passport. My partner and I have Global Entry but my mother does not have Global Entry, so to keep things simple I decided leaving the country wasn’t the best idea at the time.
Getting There/ Travel Logistics
Once I booked the flight, I started doing my COVID research. I knew we had to get tested, but I didn’t know what the rules were and where to get tested at. The Discover Puerto Rico website had all the information I needed.
Prior to our visit we had to fill out an Online Travel Declaration Form, receive a PCR COVID Test at least 3 Days before arrival, and upload the results of the test. I scheduled a test for all three of us at my local CVS for the Saturday before we left (we left on a Tuesday) and we received our results the day before our flight left. The test results were negative of course, because we are all vaccinated.
Since, my trip to Puerto Rico the rules have changed for vaccinated travelers. Please check the Discover Puerto Rico website for updated information before booking your travel.
The Weather and What to Pack
I visited Puerto Rico in mid-May and the temperature was quite warm. The weather was not unbearably hot, but you will probably break a sweat while walking around if you are prone to that, like myself. At night, it was cool and I kind of regretted not bringing a jacket with me on a few occasions. I would also like to mention that it was very windy in several locations I went to in Puerto Rico. I don’t know if that’s a regular thing, but it was the week I visited. Here is a list of items I packed for my trip.
My carry-on luggage included these clothing items:
*1 Pair of Denim jeans
*2 Two Piece Sets
*2 Dress
*2 Pair of Shorts
*2 Bodysuits
*1 Jumpsuit
*4 Tops
*5 Bikinis
*9 Pair of Underwear/ 4 pair of Socks
*2 Pair of Sandals
*1 Robe
*1 Beach towel (not really clothes but worth mentioning)
COVID Restrictions
I thought it would be worth mentioning what type of COVID restrictions I experienced while traveling Puerto Rico. Everyone is required to wear a mask in public even when walking on the street (although I didn’t see it super enforced). You can take your mask off for photos and no one was trippin. Each business you walk into requires you to do a temperature check and use hand sanitizer before entering. I also noticed that some places only allowed outdoor dining and had a low-capacity requirement. The last COVID restriction I noticed was that a lot of places closed early. Prior to our arrival there was a curfew but by the time we arrived the curfew had been pushed back. Although it was pushed back, I just think business still weren’t open as late as usual.
Where I Stayed
There were three parts to our trip. The first part consisted of 3 Days in Old San Juan, the second part was 3 days in Rincon, and the third was 1 Day in San Juan. Here is what I gathered from my time in each of the areas.
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Old San Juan is where you will find those beautiful different colored buildings you often see pictures of on Instagram. Honestly, this part of town probably has the most Instagram worthy photo ops which include a door with the Puerto Rican flag painted on it, the I Love PR sign, Umbrella Street, and the old Spanish fort Castillo de San Cristobal. I’m sure there are more places but those are just a few.
We spent three nights at Palacio Provincial Hotel in Old San Juan, and I enjoyed our stay very much. The hotel is in a prime location near Plaza de Armas which has a grocery store and a Marshall’s just in case you left something at home. Our double room on the second floor included a Juliet balcony with a view of the street below (TikTok Room Tour Here). If you are looking for a beautiful hotel for great photos this is definitely the place. From the room, to the hallways, stairwells, lounge areas, restaurant, and pool area, every location is a good backdrop to create beautiful photography. We stayed during the week, so the property was pretty empty and quiet, but we did see a few other guests here and there. It’s also worth mentioning that this property is Adults-Only.
I have to mention the pool area at this property because it was one of the main reasons I chose it over the other hotels in the area. Palacio Provincial has a beautiful rooftop infinity pool located on their 3rd floor with a view of the water. Because of COVID, we had to make a reservation before 6pm but we basically picked anytime we wanted. When we arrived at the pool around 5pm, there were maybe six other guests the area spread apart. There is also a jacuzzi which was quite comfortable to sit in. It was quite windy up there but that seemed to be a theme in San Juan in general. It’s just windy.
Food
We ate at few different restaurants while in the area, but I will only mention the ones I actually enjoyed. I would like to point out that since Puerto Rico is an island, the seafood there is pretty good. I ate a lot of Ceviche and every time it was GOOD, even at the not-so-great food establishments.
The first night we arrived we ate at a place named La Danza that has Puerto Rican food. We ordered the Surtido del V Gigante and the Chicken Stuffed Mofongo. Both dishes were very good and exactly what I needed to eat as soon as I arrived in Puerto Rico. The second day in Old San Juan we ate brunch at a place called Chocobar Cortés where I ate a nice sized portion of Avocado Toast along with a Chocolate Old Fashioned cocktail. One last place I will mention in Old San Juan is a small bar I went to called Birra & Empanadas. If you like small bars that have a chill environment, then this place is for you.
Rincon, Puerto Rico
After spending a few days in San Juan, I thought it would be a good idea to escape to a low-key relaxing beach spot somewhere else in Puerto Rico to celebrate my birthday. My first choice was Culebra but there were no ferry tickets left for that weekend and the flights would have cost $1000 for all three of us. Instead, I found a beach front apartment on AirBnB and booked it while we were in San Juan. We decided it was more economical to book a flight from San Juan to Rincon rather than renting a car or booking a private car transfer. Rincon is about 2.5-3hrs from San Juan if you drive and about a 40-minute flight on a tiny airplane. See my upcoming post on Cape Air to learn more about my flight experience.
Once we landed, we got in the only taxi waiting outside of the empty airport in Mayaguez, PR. It was like a ghost town. We took a 25minute ($25) ride and arrived at our destination. Well not exactly, it was actually the wrong building, but we ended up finding the right one after contacting the host manager.
The apartment was clean, and the view was absolutely beautiful (See view here). The building definitely wasn’t new, but the apartment itself looked like the photos and provided what we needed for a nice relaxing weekend. There were several restaurants and a mini mart within walking distance which made it easy for us because we did not have a rental car. I recommend eating at Tamboo Bar and Seaside Grill and Kahuna Burger Bar and Grill. Overall, I liked the vibe and would return this area in the future.
San Juan, Puerto Rico (Condado)
We flew back to San Juan on Monday and spent a night at the Comfort Inn in the Condado area. There are a lot of beachfront hotels and restaurants in this area. Condado beach seemed to be a popular area for tourist, and I did notice a lot of younger black people in this part of town. We spent a few hours in the morning at a trendy beachfront restaurant at the Condado Ocean Club called SOCIAL. The food was mediocre, but the view, service and ambiance were nice. We later ate a restaurant called Waikiki. The service wasn’t great, I didn’t really like the food I ordered, but the restaurant has a beautiful view although it was quite windy the day we visited. As a matter of fact, it was very windy that entire day.
After dropping my mom off at the hotel, my partner and I ended our vacation by walking around the area, grabbing some Don Q Puerto Rican Rum from the liquor store, and sitting near the beach watching the ocean at night.
Conclusion
Overall, I enjoyed my trip to Puerto Rico and would recommend this destination for any Americans who want to travel to the islands without a passport. I also think it’s a great destination for anyone just because I believe the culture has a lot to offer, the environment is beautiful, they have great eco-tourism, the food is yummy, and the people are friendly.
If you have ever visited Puerto Rico? I’d love to know your thoughts!
