What to do in San Juan for 24 hour flight stopover?

Question

I will be going from Atlanta to Dominica through San Juan. My transition time in San Juan is about 24 hours. I arrive at 3 pm of April 30th and leave at 4 pm of May 1st. Do you think its feasible and better if I stay at the airport for this long with my collected luggage? Can I stick around at the airport? Also, any ideas or suggestions as to cheapest hotels near the airport? What can I do in San Juan while staying for only 1 day in transition? any interesting things that I should definitely look into? This will be my first time to Puerto Rico.

Answer 1

What to do If it's your first visit you have to go to the Forts in Old San Juan. The bigger is called El Morro and the little one San Cristobal, in here you can find La Garita Del Diablo (Devil's Guerite) where two lovers disappeared when Spain ruled San Juan, as the legend says. In Old San Juan you have to try the Piraguas, puerto rican snow cones, try the frambuesa flavor, and the ultra cool limbers in front of La Rogativa Statue. El Nuyorican Cafe offers salsa and rumba lessons every weekend. If you are staying in Condado you are within walking distance of Old San Juan, but is a long walk, a taxi can take you there in five minutes but if you choose to walk, and you're going straight, with the ocean to your right, you will pass a surfers beach called La Ocho and in front is a place called El Hamburger, best hamburgers in Puerto Rico. Condado is more upscale. Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Cartier are there enticing the window shoppers. There's a couple of open plazas to the ocean where you can have a drink and enjoy the view. You can go kayaking in the Condado Lagoon and if you like trendy restaurants and good looking people you can go Buddatai for drinks. In Old San Juan, the south of Fortaleza street has been renamed SoFo, where trendy restaurants, like Dragon Fly and Agua Viva, and good looking people also inhabit. Next To Condado, and before getting to Isla Verde is Ocean Park, one of my favorite San Juan hangouts. Ocean Park is mainly a residential area but a couple of small hotels have surface during the recent years. Ocean Park beach is famous and can get a little crowded. Just around the exit/entrance to the beach is Pinky's, seven dollars sandwiches and cool smoothies. Cool people, professional hippies live here. Also you can get a real breakfast in Kasalta, good coffee and pastries. Ocean Park is also home to many Kite and Wind surfers. The airport is in Isla Verde. Big Name hotels like the Ritz and El San Juan Hotel = Expensive restaurants and nice Casinos. Good long, sandy beaches. Couple of nightclubs and touristy bars along Isla Verde Ave. If you have time to work out, rent a bicycle or bike and ride towards Pinones, great virgin beaches. If you want to dare, try Cuchifritos, puerto rican fried food, go to los kioskos de Pinones, really loud music and tasty food. For good music and chill atmosphere visit Bamboobei, right at the beach, also in Pinones, for more upscale and trendy drinks go to Wet, at Water Club, Isla Verde. For Pizza visit El Conde on top of Vela Uno Surf Shop, in Punta Las Marias, be patient and wait, it's a good pizza. There is a bus system to move around all this places but don't count too much on it. Taxi vans are preferred, you can divide the tab in five or six and save a couple of bucks. 15% tip is recommended for restaurant tabs, one or two dollars for taxis and parking hobos. What else.

Answer 2

If you like seafood, Isla Verde or Pinones is the best for it. You will never try better. Is very close to the airport. There's lots of things to do around in one day.  Have fun!!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

i'm not sure about your other questions, but i would definitely suggest checking out "old san juan" while you're in PR.

it's really beautiful with it's cobble stone streets, not to mention GREAT shopping!

:)

Answer 4

There is a Best Western with a small casino right there at the airport check the rates right away.  There is a type TGI Fridays right across the terminal where you can eat, drink and they play live music.  To do anything else you would have to rent a car and that depends on your budget.  If your budget is not a problem, then drive to Old San Juan and back (the rent a car will give you a map it's close and easy) along the way you will have plenty of places to choose to make stops to eat drink and look at.  Enjoy!

Answer 5

leave her luggae with the airline

make sure u bring  a extra bag for change of clothes

the airport is 4 minutes away from the beach

my advice cuz this is what i do when i have a lay over

go to the beach enjoy the beautiful water

go to the el san juan hotel and hang out there

there are plenty of place to eat in the area so u could do that

hit up a bar

then a night go to the el san juan hotel

there s a nice nightclub

hang out there and from there go back to the airport and hang out there

dont waste a day in pr at the airport

Answer 6

Be sure to check out Old san Juan, its the place to be to see a piece of what Puerto Rico has to offer. In OldSj you can find a lot historic sites  like El morro ( a 500+ yrs old fort), The capitol house ( where you have to watch for your personal belongings, because the legislators can steal them ! :P :P) and El caurtel de Bajalla, all the plazas of san juan and a lot more. Taxi charges you $19 dollars to go from the airport to old san juan, :P

Answer 7

I suggest not staying the 24 hours at the airport. check with Puerto Rico WOW or just write Hotels in Puerto Rico and you can see which prices are available. The hotel area close to the airport is Isla Verde. If you want to say money, then check the Bed and Breakfasts also there is Howard Johnsons.  These have no casinos which makes them less expensive.  Isla Verde has a beach near by, there are shops and all types of restaurants.

  If  you do go into Old San Juan for a visit I suggest you take a one day rental because taxis are expensive.  Unless the airport can provide you with transportation to the nearest hotel.  

Also check with your airline if there are offers for hotels with your airfare just for the 24 hour stay. I believe they should have something available.

Answer 8

The  cheapest hotel near the airport is the Mario's hotel is  in Isla Verde behind Denny's..nothing  Fancy....

You can go  to  Old San Juan in the afternoon and  stay there until  late at nite..

Museums, walk the Paseo La Princesa  and  then go clubing..

check this  sites

www.welcome.topuertorico.com

www.gotopuertorico.com

www.tripadvisor.com  (for the hotels)