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)

Airfare Updates

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

ATL-SJU: from $300 with Delta (DOWN $105)
AUS-SJU: from $430 with Delta (SAME)
CHI-SJU: from $375 with Delta (SAME)
DEN-SJU: from $782 with Continental (UP $234)
GDL-SJU: from $816 with Continental (UP $115)
MSY-SJU: from $768 with Continental (UP $190)
NYC-SJU: from $380 with Delta (UP $30)
SFO-SJU: from $530 with Delta (SAME)
STL-SJU: from $405 with Delta (SAME)
TPA-SJU: from $530 with Delta (SAME)

AA seems to continue to come down really slowly, while United and Continental went up significantly. I noticed this week that Monday had cheaper tickets prices. I will see next week if that trend continues.

The Holidays in Puerto Rico

It means a lot to us that you will take time out of the holiday with your families to celebrate our wedding. The holiday season is the most beautiful time to visit Puerto Rico. Our Christmas traditions are rooted in Catholicism and influenced by American and Spanish customs. Today, We pride ourselves as the country with the longest holiday season, starting right after Thanksgiving and lasting 8 days after Epiphany.

Homes are decorated with lights and poinsettias, Christmas trees and scenes of the Nativity, also known as "nacimientos" or "pesebres" are very popular. The season combines delicious food, great music and festive merry-making. Typical dishes are roast pork, seasoned rice with pigeon peas, fried plantains, cooked green bananas, cooked yam and "pasteles", made of mashed plantains or yucca, filled with meat and other vegetables, wrapped in the leaves of the banana tree. The favorite desserts are "arroz con dulce" (rice cooked with spices, raisins, sugar, milk, and coconut milk) and "tembleque" (a custard made with cornstarch, sugar, and coconut milk). The most famous drinks are rum and "coquito" prepared with coconut milk and rum (Puerto Rico's counterpart to the American eggnog). Other Christmas foods include Spanish "turrón" (a hard white nougat with almonds), Spanish apple cider, nuts, and assorted candies.

Friends often form "parrandas", "asaltos" or "trullas", a more joyful group than typical North American Christmas carolers. Lively music is sung usually to bongo, guitar, güiro and other musical instruments as the group goes to visit homes of unsuspecting friend's, eats and drinks, and then moves on to the home of another friend. The cycle repeats itself, usually until next day.

Misas de Aguinaldo are held for nine consecutive days ending on the day before Christmas Eve. This Catholic Mass is almost completely a song service. Aguinaldos are sung and the musical instruments used are the traditional cuatro (Puerto Rican guitar), guiros, and maracas.

On December 24th, a Catholic mass is celebrated at midnight, called "Misa de Gallo" (Rooster Mass), to commemorate the birth of Jesus. On this day, commonly known as "Nochebuena", many families organize a special dinner or party to celebrate.

On December 25th, Puerto Ricans celebrates Jesus' birthday. Santa Claus brings gifts to the children who had been good during the year. This tradition has been part part of Puerto Rico's Holiday season since the 1940s.

December 28th marks the day of the Holy Innocents. Catholics commemorate the mass slaying of male children by Herod in Bethlehem following the birth of Christ, as it is told in the Gospel. This feast used to be celebrated much like a carnival, where men dressed as the "evil soldiers of Herod" went house to house, "kidnapping" the first-born boy from every family. To recover their children, the families offered the soldiers gifts and candly. This tradition continues today in a small town called Hatillo. The celebration in the rest of the island is more like April Fool's Day in the USA, where people trick each other.

On December 31, people celebrate the end of the year with relatives and friends. The major event occurs at midnight, when everybody greets and hug each other and wishes good luck and happiness to everyone. Some traditions includes: a) eating 12 grapes, one for every time the clock rings its bells to tell time. It is believed to bring good luck to those who can eat all 12 grapes before the clock stops ringing the bells b) throw out a bucket of dirty water by the balcony or window, it is believed to scare away bad luck.

On January 5th, the feast of Epiphany's Eve, children place water and grass under their beds for the three wise men's (or the Three Kings, as they are better known locally) camels, and in return, the Three King's brings presents, which they leave under the bed, after the camels eat the grass. Children wake up early on January 6 ("Dia de Reyes") to check out what Baltazar, Melchor, and Gaspar left them. Epiphany commemorates the day in which the three wise men arrived bearing gifts for the Christ child.

During this season Old San Juan is decorated beautifully. I would really recommend a visit to the town at night so you can fully enjoy the sights.

Information from:

http://www.elboricua.com/traditions.html

http://welcome.topuertorico.org/culture/folklore.shtml