Leslie's 40th Bday Booty Poppin' Bash
Our Activities |
Our Itinerary |
Cost |
Our Bookings/Accomodation |
About Puerto Rico |
Other Activities |
Other Accomodations
Puerto Rico & the Spanish Virgin Islands
June 27 - July 3/7, 2009
We're so excited to be going to the birthplace of Reggaeton for Leslie's big four O. For Steve's 40th we went to the birthplace of kiteboarding after all. Everyone we know (and even those we don't) are welcome to join in the fun. We'll post more details as they come.
Our Activities
Old San Juan - Drink, dine, and dance on cobblestone streets in the most romantic part of Puerto Rico. 500 years of tumultuous history in just seven square blocks.
SoFo - Explore the gastronomic delights of the sexy south end of Calle Fortaleza.
Nightlife - Enjoy Reggaeton, the bastard child of reggae, salsa, and hip-hop.
Club Lazer sounds fun in San Juan. La Nasa and Cafe Media Luna in Vieques. El Batey, Happy Landings, and Mamacita's in Culebra.
Need to brush up on your booty pop?
Just check out
this video, or better yet
THIS ONE!
Vieques - The Caribbean's best bioluminescent bay (Laguna Grande) beckons, as do several newly opened beaches on what used to be US Navy territory.
Bioluminescent Bay - A trip through Bahia Mosquito is nothing short of psychedelic, with hundreds of fish whipping up bright-green contrails below the surface as your kayak passes by. But the best part is when you stop to swim: it's like bathing in the stars. Travesias Yaureibo
Culebra - Snorkel, swim, and sail through protected cays and bays; it's where Puerto Ricans come when they want a vacation.
Playa Flamenco - One of the best beaches on the planet; don your swimming costume and find out what makes a legend, Culebra's little piece of paradise.
Scuba Diving/Snorkeling - Experience the prime snorkelling and diving off the cays of Culebra.
Turtles - Bronze yourself alongside sun-worshipping turtles at Culebra's Playa Zoni.
El Yunque - Listen to the whispering winds of El Yunque, a dark interior jungle full of misty secrets (e.g. raining frogs). The only tropical rainforest within the US National Forest system.
Itinerary
We're just going to plan what we want to do since it is a selfish bday, and everyone is welcome to deviate as they wish.
Day 1 Sat, June 27 |
Fly to San Juan
|
Day 2 Sun, June 28 |
Walk around town, enjoy dinner in SoFo, go out dancing that night
|
Day 3 Mon, June 29 |
Head to Vieques (via publico & ferry 9am, 3pm, 6pm from Fajardo),
rent a car, beach it, Bioluminescent Bay that night
|
Day 4 Tue, June 30 |
Adventure around the island in rental car, snorkel
|
Day 5 Wed, July 1 |
Head to Culebra (via ferry 6am), walk to beach it on Playa Flamenco, enjoy the nightlife
|
Day 6 Thu, July 2 |
Adventure around the island in rental car, snorkel, check out turtles at Playa Zoni
|
Day 7 Fri, July 3 |
Travel to San Juan (via ferry 6:30am, 11am, 3pm to Fajardo & publico), fly home OR alternatively extend your stay and go to Gran Melia 5-star resort*
|
Day 8 Sat, July 4 |
Enjoy the pool and beach
|
Day 9 Sun, July 5 |
Day trip to El Yunque forest in rental car
|
Day 10 Mon, July 6 |
Do some other cool day trip.
|
Day 11 Mon, July 7 |
Back to San Juan (via publico), fly home |
Cost
A quick search for flights looks like fly LAX to San Juan for less than $500RT.
We will only rent a car when necessary, but if you want one the whole time, it costs about $200/wk. San Juan to Fajardo drive time about 50 min.
Driving directions here.
Rough cost based on itinerary:
$80 |
for 2 nights hotel in San Juan (sharing a double) |
$30 |
for dinner in SoFo |
$10 |
cover for club |
$32 |
for 4 drinks at the club |
$6 |
publico mini bus from San Juan to Fajardo if we can get one otherwise...
|
$4 |
ferry to Vieques |
$80 |
for 2 nights hotel in Vieques (sharing a double) |
$15 |
for 1 day car rental (sharing w/ 4 people - walk to beaches one day)
|
$25 |
bioluminescent bay tour |
$10 |
snorkel gear |
$8 |
ferry to Culebra |
$60 |
for 2 nights hotel in Culebra (sharing a double) |
$30 |
for 2 days car rental (sharing w/ 4 people) |
$12 |
snorkel gear |
$30 |
dinner/night out |
$4 |
ferry to Fajardo |
$6 |
publico or $20 taxi from Fajardo to San Juan if going home now |
$250 |
(ish) for total trip misc, food, drink, etc. |
(not including flight and based on lowest hotel price) |
If extending stay:
$90 for 3 nights hotel at Gran Melia (sharing a double)
$50 car rental to go to El Yunque (we'll rent one so people can share with us)
Everyone has very different travel styles.
You can do this for less,
or much more.
We are more the buy-your-food-and-booze-in-a-gorcery-store-and-cook-your-own-meals
type of traveller which could save quite a bit of $.
For others, there are plush hotels, plenty of fine dining, etc.
Our Bookings/Accomodation
| FLIGHT
$407 after taxes & fees ABQ - SJU. Not bad! |
9:45A-12:29P ABQ-DFW American Flt 1236
2:35P-5:20P SJU-MIA American Flt 588
|
|
 |
Da House, Old San Juan
We have booked 2 nights in one of the rooftop rooms w/ the patio. Would be cool if someone else wants the other room next to it and we'll have our own private patio! |
|
 |
Casa de Amistad, Isabella Segundo, Vieques
We have a message in to book this place. Don't have reservation yet. |
|
 |
Hotel Kokomo, Dewey, Culebra
We booked the Sailfish because it is just too cool. If another couple wants to share it with us, you can have the private bedroom and Steve and I will sleep in one of the beds in the common area. Splitting the cost would be about the same as having a 'regular' room w/ out private deck and kitchen. |
|
 |
Gran Melia Resort, near Luquillo
Booked this today. Will be interesting to see if it actually pans out. Only $129 includes 4 nights and all taxes, etc. |
About Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is where the easygoing Caribbean collides with the slick efficiency of modern America over syncopated Latin rhythms and rose-tinted tropical sunsets.
No passport needed for US citizens.
Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the US and uses the US dollar which is often referred to as the "peso". ATMs (called ATHs) are everywhere.
Tap water is considered safe to drink. Milk is pasteurized and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.
Atlantic Time Zone which during this time of year, is the same as EST.
The general rule in Puerto Rico is United Standards 110 and 120 volts AC, and the outlets take the same two-prong plugs found in the United States.
Tipping is about the same as the US.
Other Activities
Observatorio de Arecibo - Test your extraterrestrial communication skills at the world's largest radio telescope.
Barranquitas - Soak up island history from this mountainside town while trying to navigate the steeply pitched streets.
Cayo Santiago - Trade glances (from a safe distance) with wild monkeys.
Punta Santiago - Enjoy seaside snacks while watching the surf crash against the point.
Scuba Diving/Snorkeling - around Isla Caja de Muertos, a nearly pristine reef system, and a 40 foot wall just offshore. Snorkeling is also excellent here.
Ferry to US and British Islands - 2 hrs on Sat or Sun ($75RT) 340-776-6282
Other Accomodations
Some other suggestions if you'd like something a little different than what we have listed above.
Yes David & Summer, this means you. ;) If you'd like something other than above, please book on your own.
P.S. Summer & David have found a nice deal at the Marriott in San Juan. It's about 2 miles from the old town.
$85-$145/night |
Hotel Milano, Old San Juan
|
 |
$187-$1297/night |
Hotel El Convento, Old San Juan
|
 |
$69-139/night |
Tropical, Isabella Segundo, Vieques
|
 |
$130-400/night |
Inn on the Blue Horizon, Isabella Segundo, Vieques
|
 |
$100+/night for 4pp |
Casita Linda, Dewey, Culebra
|
 |
$100-$175/night |
Harbour View Villas, Dewey, Culebra
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