Where should I live in Puerto Rico/ San Juan?

Question

I have the opportunity to move to PR with my job. I want to live near the city of San Juan because I hate traffic.

I have a wife and a child and a dog. I need a recommendation of a place to rent that is safe and dog friendly.

Also, what are the best elementary schools?

Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

Ocean Park will be  a good  choice...near the beach  and  is  at the  border  of  Carolina /San Juan...

Answer 2

Reminds me when my mom and dad moved all of us down here to the island 24 years ago. Congratulations on your new job. Depending on your income and preferences and where in San Juan you want to live, I would recomend renting a condominium  for a couple of months until you determine where you would like to live,  by the ocean or close to your job, because the traffic here in the morning and evening is quite a shock to your nervous system. There is also a train and bus service in the Metropolitan area which is exellent, you may be able to go by train to your job, which with gas going up the way it is, has become quite a blessing to have as an alternative. San Juan is quite big and has many barrios, some of them are Santurce, Rio Piedras, and Hato Rey, I don`t remember the rest of the barrios. Then you have Bayamon to the south-west, Guaynabo to the south, and Carolina to the east, these 3 towns and San Juan compose the Metropolitan area. Then within all these towns and barrios, you have Urbanisations, condominiums, sectors,and communities. Most condominiums and Urbanisation have good security and accept dogs, most also have swimming pools and tennis courts. About the schools, I highly rcomend a private school, they may be a little expensive but most of them are very good schools. The ones that I remember that are good and have an English language curriculum are Robinson School, Welseyan Academy, Menonite Academy,  there are some more but these are the only ones I remember. You will also have to decide wheather to drive your child to school or pay a schoolbus van to pick-up your child and drive your child to and from school. These drivers have to pass courses and tests in order to get their licences, they also have to have proper insurance and usualy have a good reputation in the community they work. Me and my brother would get picked up by the school bus at 7:AM, our sister would get picked up by one of the schoolbus vans at 5:30AM, she used to get up around 4:30 in the morning. Most people get up very early to avoid the heavy traffic, children also have to get up very early to get to school on time. We never had any problems with the drivers and always got to school on time. Since it`s summer weather all year long, there are a lot of Pee-Wee football, baseball and basketball games in many communities. Volleyball tournaments are also very popular, specialy girl tournaments. There is just so much for children to do all year long. Puerto Ricans are mostly very friendly and encourage those around them to relax and have a good time. Their hospitality is world known, one of their most popular sayings is "Mi casa es su casa." It means my home is your home. On top of that they have the best Tropical Criollo cooks in the world and the best oriental restaurants. They cook their food deliciously down here. I have eaten at oriental restaurants in many of the states and the way they cook it down here is much better, I don`t know why, perhaps it`s because the majority of the Puerto Rican population is so friendly and willing to help others adapt to their island and culture. You may try contacting the Newcomers Club of San Juan, they have very helpful information about places to live and schools, amonngst other helpful information. Like where to go to get your phone, internet, electricity, water, cable. How to get your local drivers licence and many other things. Good luck and welcome to the island.

Answer 3

Ocean Park or Condado.  You'll be close to some of the best private american schools(St Johns, Robinson). Both are friendly to dogs, cose to the beach and in the middle of San Juan. Take care, Raul