Fransine

I am planning a trip with my girlfriends to Puerto Rico this May. I have heard that this is not a safe island to visit. Is this island any less safe than any other Caribbean island? Also, we are thinking of staying at the Caribe Hilton. Is this a nice hotel? How is the beach? Is it safe to leave the resort at night?
What is the difference between Old San Juan and San Juan? Where is the best beach?

caribtraveler

fransine: do a search for my screen name and you'll find my trip report from february. we stayed at the caribe hilton.
we personally did not think safety was an issue in puerto rico. i think you just need to exercise the same precautions as you would anywhere in the u.s. (assuming that that's where you from).
let me know if you have additional questions.

Rusalka

I've been to Puerto Rico twice and didn't like it either time. Hotels we stayed in were fantastic-so no issues there but Puerto Rico was not a particularly pleasant island to visit-it had a menacing feel outside the hotel. Tourist sights were a disappointment. Fortunately on both visits we were in transit to somewhere else (Anguilla & Antigua).

MIG

There are certainly less safe places in the Carib, but many safer islands as well. It does have a very urban feel to it which many people associate with "unsafe".

There are certain areas which you do NOT go to, such as the la Perla neighborhood. These are well documented in any decent guidebook.

I've found that if you exercise good judgement (secure your valuables, don't flash a lot of money around, stay out of poorly lit places, don't get wildly drunk, etc), you will be fine.

"San Juan" is the strip - it is miles of hotels which front on the beach. Lots of casinos, restaurants, etc. My feeling is that it is very urban feeling, and not at all attractive.

Old San Juan is a few miles to the west. It is the historic district of San Juan - there are great restuarants, scenic walks, and some great cultural stops.

I don't think there are any really good beaches in San Juan. The beach at the Hilton is OK.

docluyan

Let me clear a few things to you , as a resident here in Puerto Rico and let me be as plain and truthfull as possible.San Juan is the whole city, the capital, including suburbs, tourist areas and comercial districts, the largest city in PR with aproximately 500,000 residents. Old San Juan is the old historical district whitin the northest part of the city including hispanic fortress ruins and the harbor. The beach in Caribe hilton is OK, the best beaches in PR are probably outside the San Juan Metro Area maybe culebra island which is a short ferry ride from fajardo which is a city at the northeastern tip of the island. Beaches in the condado-isla verde-ocean park region are good whith a pretty relaxed crowd. Safety!!Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory and as such is a very lucrative place for links of drug importing and trading, many crimes
in the largest city of the island are related to drugs, everything else is probably average. Yes you can leave the resort, but use common sense and just ask the locals , we'll be as truthfull and helpful as possible