Booking your Trip

Friends and family are starting to book their trip to Puerto Rico! To get great deals when booking your trip, look for airfare + hotel + rental car deals.

I didn't get a block of rooms at a hotel because they were offering prices that were way over the fares you find online. To get the best hotels fares, either book it together with your airfare and car rental, or go directly to the hotel website. Regular hotel prices are between $135-$200 per person per night.

Some of our friends are staying at the Embassy Suites, Dorado. It is about 20 minutes from San Juan, so not in a very touristy place. Yet it is still close enough to all the tourist attractions and it has a great beach right there!


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If you need some other hotel recommendations send us an email at pearsonacevedo@gmail.com.

Airfare update

Again, I used kayak.com to search for Dec. 25, 2009 to Jan. 1, 2009 +/- 3 days.

Prices include all taxes and fees.

ATL-SJU: from $284 with Delta (SAME)
AUS-SJU: from $508 with Delta (UP $50)
CHI-SJU: from $360 with Delta (SAME)
DEN-SJU: from $458 with Delta (SAME)
GDL-SJU: from $759 with Multiple airlines (UP $265)
MIA-SJU: from $451 with Delta
MSY-SJU: from $617 with Delta (SAME)
NYC-SJU: from $393 with Delta (UP $137)
SFO-SJU: from $558 with Delta (UP $100)
STL-SJU: from $408 with Delta (SAME)
TPA-SJU: from $474 with AA (Down $24)

I am hoping AA comes down in prices, specially for travel on Dec. 25th and Jan. 1st. If you book with AA, don't forget to use our discount code. Another factor to consider is that smaller airlines have not released tickets for these dates yet. I think Spirit will release by mid-April and JetBlue will release by May. Skyscanner.com is a cool website that compares fares from all the different airlines.

List of airlines that travel to PR:
Air Canada; Air Sunshine; Air Tran; American Airlines; American Eagle;Continental; Cape Air; Copa; Delta; Iberia; JetBlue Airways; LIAT; Northwest Airlines; PAWA Dominicana; San Juan Aviation; Seaborne Airlines; Spirit Airlines; United Airlines; US Airways

Group Discount Codes

Airfare

American Airlines
If you are traveling to Puerto Rico (SJU) from anywhere where American Airlines and One World partners provide services between Dec. 20th and January 3rd you will get 5% off the lowest published fare. The authorization number is A23D9AC. The percentage discount can be booked on-line at www.aa.com for AA/AE flights only. Use the authorization number noted above without the preceding A as the aa.com promotion code. A ticketing fee of $20.00 USD per ticket will apply for any ticket purchased through an American Airlines Reservation Office, subject to change. For airport purchase the ticketing fee is $30.00.

Car Rental

Avis
The code is AWD# D003737. You can book online or by calling 1-800-331-1600.

Vacation Homes

Ryan's family will be staying at Malibu Condo Rentals in Loiza. They have 3 bedroom/2 bathrooms units. Here is a link to their website: http://www.prvacationcondos.com/.

Aquatika Beach Resort is a similar community, about 2 miles east from Malibu: http://www.prvacationcondos.com/4436/31403.html.

Rates at both communities range between $150-$200/night and the apartments fit about 7-10 people. If you are looking for a smaller apartment, any other community in the Loiza area will probably give you a great deal. For links to more vacation rental sites you can refer to my previous blogs by clicking here.

If anyone is interested in hotels let me know. I've looked at about 15 hotels in the area and rates start at $140 + tax + gratuity per person per night.

And if you have any questions or need help with reservations, email us at pearsonacevedo@gmail.com

"Save the Date" boarding passes are out!

Today I sent out a big batch of save the date boarding passes for our out of town guest. It was a fun project for Ryan and I (and our cat). I got the template for the boarding passes from Aylee Bits blog. I also created a template for the envelopes. Check out the pictures below for the "making of" process.

Coqui helped to cut envelopes.

Envelopes are cut and glued.

Boarding Passes are cut.

Envelopes and boarding passes are assembled.

Envelopes are addressed and stamped... ready to be mailed!

Airfares

I used kayak.com to search for Dec. 25, 2009 to Jan. 1, 2009 +/- 3 days.

Prices include all taxes and fees.

ATL-SJU: from $284 with Delta (SAME)
AUS-SJU: from $458 with Delta (SAME)
CHI-SJU: from $360 with Delta (SAME)
DEN-SJU: from $458 with Delta (SAME)
GDL-SJU: from $494 with Delta (Down $271)
MSY-SJU: from $617 with Delta (SAME)
NYC-SJU: from $256 with Delta (SAME)
SFO-SJU: from $458 with Delta (SAME)
STL-SJU: from $408 with Delta (UP $45)
TPA-SJU: from $498 with Delta (SAME)

Vacation Homes

I found very affordable vacation homes in the coastal town of Loiza. Loiza is a town a little bit east of Isla Verde (where all the resorts are) and quite close to the airport. It is also pretty central to tourist attractions like the Rain Forest and Old San Juan. It is not a very touristy area yet, but it has been developed a lot in the last couple of years. This means you get all the amenities without paying the price. The town is located about 40 mins away from the Church and 30 minutes from the Reception Site. Check out the links below for vacation home listings.

http://www.cyberrentals.com/search/keywords:loiza
http://www.vacationrentals411.com/city/loiza_vacation_rentals.php3


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Airfares

I used kayak.com to search for Dec. 25, 2009 to Jan. 1, 2009 +/- 3 days.

Prices include all taxes and fees.

ATL-SJU: from $284 with Delta (SAME)
AUS-SJU: from $458 with Delta (SAME)
CHI-SJU: from $360 with Delta (SAME)
DEN-SJU: from $458 with Delta (SAME)
GDL-SJU: from $762 with Orbitz.com or Cheaptickets.com (SAME)
MSY-SJU: from $617 with Delta (SAME)
NYC-SJU: from $256 with Delta (SAME)
SFO-SJU: from $458 with Delta (SAME)
STL-SJU: from $363 with Delta (UP $45)
TPA-SJU: from $498 with Delta (SAME)

Things to do in Puerto Rico

Old San Juan

You could spend an entire week exploring this historic colonial town, which also happens to be the oldest settlement within the United States. The city, almost entirely surrounded by stone walls built by the Spaniards, is characterized by narrow cobblestone streets and colorful buildings. Stop by the emblematic Fort San Felipe del Morro, visit the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, and La Casa Blanca. At the end of the day you can relax at one of the many tree-shaded plazas or grab a bite to eat at a street cafe. A free tourist trolley serves the city.

El Yunque National Forest

A trip to Puerto Rico would not be complete without a stop at the only rain forest reserve in the United States. Just about an hour away from San Juan, this place has spectacular views of the island, waterfalls and nature trails. Go ready to walk around and get wet! After the rain forest, you can visit one of the nearby beaches. We suggest La Monserrate public beach, best known around the world as Luquillo Beach. It is one of the most photographed beaches in Puerto Rico and has won many awards for its excellent water and sand quality.

Bacardi Distillery

You will find the largest rum distillery in the world just 20 mintues away from San Juan. Tour the "Cathedral of Rum" to learn the history of the product and how to make your favorite drinks. Bonus: you get two free drinks at the end of the tour!

Bioluminescent Bay

Imagine the blackness of the sea on a moonless night. Now watch it sparkle with the darting lights of a million fireflies. The phosphorescence is actually bioluminescence generated by microscopic organisms in the water. The phenomenon occurs sporadically in warm seas around the world, but Puerto Rico is one of the only places on the planet where you can depend on it every evening at two different protected bays and a lagoon. If you want to experience this phenomenon, we suggest this kayaking tour of the lagoon. TIP: This trip could be combined with a trip to El Yunque in the morning.

Canopy Tour

If you are up for an adventure, take a Canopy Tour. We suggest Batey Zipline Adventure in Utuado. It is about a two hour drive from San Juan but it is worth it! They have different tour options that include visiting a cave, zip lining, and rappelling.

Horseback Riding

Puerto Rican Paso Fino horses are prized for their smooth, natural, four beat, lateral ambling gait and are used in many disciplines, but are especially popular for trail riding. Hacienda Carabali offers a two hour scenic tour through the foothills of El Yunque and includes a half hour swimming and refreshment break at the Mameyes River.

Casinos

Players consistently rate Puerto Rico as the most enjoyable gaming destination in the Caribbean. Almost a score of hotel and resort casinos are currently in operation, from Old San Juan, Condado, and Isla Verde in the metro area to Dorado, Fajardo, Humacao, Ponce, and Mayagüez out on the island. All casinos feature state-of-the art slot machine technology, most are open until 4:00 AM or 6:00 AM, and a few are open 24 hours a day. You don't need to be a hotel guest to play; indeed, many locals and visitors make a day or evening of hopping from casino to casino. There was a time when you needed a jacket to enter, but today dress is casual during the day, and elegantly casual during the evenings - meaning no cut-offs, t-shirts or shorts. For a list of Casinos in Puerto Rico click here.

Cockfighting

Cockfighting in Puerto Rico is a gentleman's sport. The game has been legal in the island since 1933 and its considered a beloved tradition dating from Spain's colonization of the island more than five centuries ago. Club Gallistico de Puerto Rico in Isla Verde is a great place for turists to experience the sport. On Saturdays the fights go from 2-10 PM. Aside from the fights, you can watch the birds being prepared for their matches, an art in itself. As a tourist, you pay $5. They have friendly tour guides and translators to show you around. To read more about cockfighting at Club Gallistico click here.

Airfare

Today I tried something new. Now I am using kayak.com to search for ticket prices.

I searched for Dec. 25, 2009 to Jan. 1, 2009 +/- 3 days.

Prices include all taxes and fees.

ATL-SJU: from $284 with Delta
AUS-SJU: from $458 with Delta
CHI-SJU: from $360 with Delta
DEN-SJU: from $458 with Delta
GDL-SJU: from $762 with Orbitz.com or Cheaptickets.com
MSY-SJU: from $617 with Delta
NYC-SJU: from $256 with Delta
SFO-SJU: from $458 with Delta
STL-SJU: from $318 with Delta
TPA-SJU: from $498 with Delta

Airfare

Today's airfare search for tickets from Dec. 25-Jan 1, +/- 1 day.

ATL-SJU: from $300 with Delta (SAME)
AUS-SJU: from $430 with Delta (SAME)
CHI-SJU: from $375 with Delta (SAME)
DEN-SJU: from $659 with Delta (Down $124)
GDL-SJU: from $816 with Continental (SAME)
MSY-SJU: from $768 with Continental (SAME)
NYC-SJU: from $380 with Delta (SAME)
SFO-SJU: from $530 with Delta (SAME)
STL-SJU: from $405 with Delta (SAME)
TPA-SJU: from $530 with Delta (SAME)