Frommer's Puerto Rico

by Porter, Darwin; Frommer, Arthur; Prince, Danforth

• ISBN13: 9780764560880
• ISBN10: 0764560883
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-08-01
• Publisher: Pgw

Summary

You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go - they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us! Come along with Frommer's and discover one of Europe's most charming and scenic regions, from the towering peaks of the Alps to the beer gardens of Munich. Frommer's Munich and The Bavarian Alps offers up-to-date coverage of all the highlights - music festivals, skiing, hiking, cafes, castles, alpine villages, spas, and more. Inside you'll find candid, detailed reviews of the very best dining and accommodations; accurate color maps; and insider tips on shopping. We offer a wealth of sightseeing, sports, strolls, and special moments - from highlights for the first-time visitor to off-the-beaten-track discoveries that will impress even the most seasoned traveler.

Table of Contents

List of Maps	vii
The Best of Puerto Rico	1	(13)
The Best Beaches	1	(2)
The Best Scuba Diving	3	(1)
The Best Golf & Tennis	4	(1)
The Best Hikes	4	(1)
The Best Natural Wonders	5	(1)
The Best Family Resorts	6	(1)
The Best Honeymoon Resorts	7	(1)
The Best Big Resort Hotels	8	(1)
The Best Moderately Priced Hotels	9	(1)
The Best Attractions	9	(1)
The Best Restaurants	10	(1)
The Best Offbeat Travel Experiences	11	(3)
Planning a Trip to Puerto Rico	14	(47)
The Regions in Brief	14	(5)
Visitor Information	19	(1)
Entry Requirements & Customs	19	(2)
Money	21	(2)
What Things Cost in Puerto Rico	23	(1)
When to Go	23	(6)
Puerto Rico Calendar of Events	25	(4)
Health & Insurance	29	(1)
Tips for Travelers with Special Needs	30	(3)
Getting There: Flying to Puerto Rico	33	(5)
Cyber Deals for Net Surfers	36	(2)
Package Tours	38	(2)
For the Cruise-Ship Traveler	40	(3)
Getting Around	43	(3)
Highway Signs	45	(1)
The Active Vacation Planner	46	(6)
Take Me Out to the Beisbol Game	48	(4)
Tips on Choosing Your Accommodations	52	(9)
What the Symbols Mean	54	(2)
Fast Facts: Puerto Rico	56	(5)
Getting to Knows San Juan	61	(8)
Orientation	61	(3)
Neighborhoods in Brief	63	(1)
Getting Around	64	(5)
Fast Facts: San Juan	66	(1)
Great Discounts Through the LeLoLai VIP Program	67	(2)
Where to Stay in San Juan	69	(20)
Old San Juan	70	(3)
Puerta de Tierra	73	(1)
Condado	74	(6)
Miramar	80	(1)
Santurce & Ocean Park	81	(2)
Isla Verde	83	(6)
Family-Friendly Accommodations	87	(2)
Where to Dine in San Juan	89	(24)
Best Bets	89	(3)
Old San Juan	92	(8)
Take a Strong Coffee Break	94	(2)
A Toothpick on Your Table	96	(4)
Puerta de Tierra	100	(1)
Condado	100	(5)
Miramar	105	(1)
Santurce & Ocean Park	106	(2)
Punta Las Marias	108	(1)
Isla Verde	108	(5)
Family-Friendly Restaurants	109	(4)
Exploring San Juan	113	(32)
Suggested Itineraries	113	(1)
Seeing the Sights	114	(14)
Walking Tour:Old San Juan	123	(5)
Nearby Attractions	128	(1)
Diving, Fishing, Tennis & Other Outdoor Pursuits	128	(4)
Shopping	132	(7)
San Juan After Dark	139	(6)
Birth of the Pina Colada	141	(1)
Barhopping	142	(3)
Side Trips from San Juan	145	(10)
Arecibo & Camuy	146	(1)
Dorado (The Hyatt Resorts)	147	(3)
El Yunque	150	(2)
Luquillo Beach	152	(3)
Ponce, Mayaguez & San German	155	(24)
Ponce	155	(15)
Walking Tour: Ponce	159	(5)
Wet & Dry: A Hiking & Kayaking Tour	164	(6)
Mayaguez	170	(4)
Mona Island: The Galapagos of Puerto Rico	172	(2)
San German	174	(5)
Western Puerto Rico	179	(18)
Rincon	179	(6)
Southwest Coast Beach Resorts	185	(7)
Puerto Rico's Secret Beaches	189	(3)
Paradores of Western Puerto Rico	192	(5)
Life After Death	194	(3)
Eastern Puerto Rico	197	(10)
Driving Tour of Eastern Puerto Rico	197	(1)
To the Lighthouse: Exploring Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve	198	(1)
Las Croabas	199	(4)
Portal of Luxury	202	(1)
Palmas del Mar	203	(4)
Vieques & Culebra	207	(14)
Vieques	207	(10)
Center Vieques: About to Lose Its Innocence	216	(1)
Culebra	217	(4)
From Leathernecks to Leatherbacks	218	(3)
Appendix A: Puerto Rico in Depth	221	(29)
1 The Natural Environment: Beaches, Mountains, the Rain Forest & More	222	(2)
2 Puerto Rico Today	224	(2)
3 History 101	226	(11)
Ponce de Leon: Man of Myth & Legend	227	(10)
4 A Portrait of the Puerto Ricans	237	(3)
Sweet Songs of Love	238	(2)
5 Puerto Rican Handicrafts	240	(6)
6 Puerto Rico's Exotic Bill of Fare	242	(1)
Strange Fruit	243	(3)
7 Salsa & Bomba: Dancing to the Beat	246	(4)
La Vida Loca	249	(1)
Appendix B: Useful Terms & Phrases	250	(5)
1 Basic Spanish Phrases & Vocabulary	250	(2)
2 Menu Terms	252	(3)
Index	255