Trying to decide if I want to take the family to Hawaii or PR. I think PR is way more affordable, but I want to factor in the whole experience, not just the cost.
Anyone been to both?
I love to hear any firsthand experiences you may have regarding PR. 
Thanks.
No-one’s been to Puerto Rico?
I was a vegetarian when I went to PR, and I can tell you that was an absolute worst. I ate a lot of mashed plantains and cheese and tomato sandwhiches. A lot of Puerto Ricans really just do not understand the concept of vegetarianism.
But other than that, it was a blast. Great beaches. Good casinos. I actually stayed in a barrio with my friend’s grandparents, and i suspect that would be an atypical experience than staying in a hotel in San Juan. We spent a lot of lazy days just hanging at the beach.
We rented a car and drove through a good portion of the island. It’s a small island and worked out well for us.
Well Ive never been to PR but I did live in Hawaii for about 7 years. Personally I would skip hawaii as a family vacation. I think it would be more expensive than its worth. Maybe a couples vacation but not family. After my time in Hawaii I decided mexico would be much better. For a few reasons: 1)cheaper, 2) people are way friendlier, and 3) food is generally better. Oahu has been taken over by japanese tourists and the prices reflect this. The other less comercial islands are actually very nice but I dont see them as being much fun for kids. Hope this helps.
I’ve been to both. I’d prefer PR. The water and air are warmer.
Never been to either, but my friend is a scuba diver and she said PR is freekin’ unbelievably beautiful. And the diving is first class.
I’ve been to both, though only to Oahu in Hawaii.
Puerto Rico is wonderful, and great for kids. I’d choose it between the two.
I’ve never been to Hawaii. I spent a summer in Puerto Rico visiting family, but it hardly counts since I was only 9 years old.
I do remember a lot though. We visited El Morro, the Bacardi Factory, toured Old San Juan, went to a bunch of beaches, including Luquillo Beach which was lovely, and into El Yunque National Forest to see La Coca Falls, as well as plenty of other touristy things.
But most of our time was spent with family in the small town in Ponce, including a couple of days riding out Hurricane David.
My husband and I have both Hawaii and Puerto Rico on our places to visit; I’m more excited about PR, but I’m probably biased.
My sister went to Viques (island off the SE coast) and loved it.
The former military base is now a park.
Not sure if there is any night life besides the bioluminescent bays.
Brian
Doper Ink a dink a dink went to Puerto Rico on vacation earlier this year and received information and suggestions in this thread there were links posted to various OTHER threads like this one and this earlier one that discuss PR in part or in whole and in comparison to other Carib locations. Look for Karl Grenze’s and my posts for the PR-specific discussion in all three. Of course, keep in mind you’ve got two natives there…
I have myself being to HI, and it’s beautiful and it’s got some quite unique things to see, BUT you have the problem of noncontiguity – the things-to-see are scattered all over the place… the volcanos in Hawaii island, the hardcore authentic culture over in Molokai, Pearl Harbor in Oahu, the rainforest and canyons in Kauai. Lotsa short-hop flying to do. Once on the ground, quite expensive. Of course, PR has the opposite effect, we’re ultra-compact so everything’s accessible but at the same time it means you can’t quite get away from the crowd w/o an effort (and we’re not exactly dirt cheap either). But check out those three threads for more comments and recommendations from KG and myself about our home and what to do and see…
Oh, I almost forgot – we’re 4.5 to 5 hours from Chicago if you catch the nonstop (AA or UA), while to HI it’s 8 to 9 hours for the straight shot. So you’re not quite as destroyed upon arrival. Of course, at our end of the line here you do have to deal with SJU Airport, about which the least said, the better…
I havn’t been to PR, but I’d reccommend it over Hawaii. There really isn’t much to do in HI except watch the money pour out of your hands. It is really a lot like Disneyworld- non-threatening, predicatable and ready to nickle and dime you for every minute that you are there.