Overview
Sights And Activities
Planning Your Trip
Accommodations
Cultural Essentials
Beyond Tourism
Basics
The currency chart below is based on August 2007 exchange rates between local currency and Australian dollars (AUS$), Canadian dollars (CDN$), European Union euro (EUR€), New Zealand dollars (NZ$), British pounds (UK£), and US dollars (US$). Check the currency converter on websites like www.xe.com or www.bloomberg.com, or a large newspaper for the latest exchange rates.
As a general rule, it’s cheaper to convert money in Puerto Rico than at home. While currency exchange will probably be available in your arrival airport, it’s wise to bring enough foreign currency for the first 24 to 72 hours of your trip.
When changing money abroad, try to go to banks that have at most a 5% margin between their buy and sell prices. In Puerto Rico, the ubiquitous Banco Popular usually offers competitive rates. Since you lose money with every transaction, convert large sums (unless the currency is depreciating rapidly), but no more than you’ll need. However, there is little need to convert foreign currency in Puerto Rico as traveler’s checks and credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs are everywhere.
If you use traveler’s checks or bills, carry some in small denominations (the equivalent of US$50 or less) for times when you are forced to exchange money at disadvantageous rates, but bring a range of denominations since charges may be levied per check cashed. Store your money in a variety of forms; ideally, at any given time you will be carrying some cash, some traveler’s checks, and an ATM and/or credit card.
Traveler’s checks are one of the safest and least troublesome means of carrying funds. American Express and Visa are the most recognized brands. Many banks and agencies sell them for a small commission. Check issuers provide refunds if the checks are lost or stolen, and many provide additional services, such as toll-free refund hotlines abroad, emergency message services, and assistance with lost and stolen credit cards or passports. Traveler’s checks are readily accepted in most tourist areas of Puerto Rico, such as San Juan and other big cities. They are less useful in the rural areas and usually not accepted at small establishments. Ask about toll-free refund hotlines and the location of refund centers when purchasing checks, and always carry emergency cash.
Credit cards are widely accepted throughout Puerto Rico, although small establishments only accept cash. Major credit cards—MasterCard (including its European counterpart EuroCard) and Visa (including its European counterpart Carte Bleue)—are the most prevalent. American Express is slightly less common, followed by Discover and Diner’s Club.
Where they are accepted, credit cards often offer superior exchange rates—up to 5% better than the retail rate used by banks and other currency exchange establishments. Credit cards may also offer services such as insurance or emergency help, and are sometimes required to reserve hotel rooms or rental cars.
The use of ATM cards is widespread in Puerto Rico. Depending on the system that your home bank uses, you can most likely access your personal bank account from abroad. ATMs get the same wholesale exchange rate as credit cards, but there is often a limit on the amount of money you can withdraw per day (usually around US$500). There is typically also a surcharge of US$1-5 per withdrawal.
Debit cards are as convenient as credit cards but withdraw money directly from the holder’s checking account. A debit card can be used wherever its associated credit card company (usually MasterCard or Visa) is accepted. Debit cards often also function as ATM cards and can be used to withdraw cash from associated banks and ATMs throughout Puerto Rico.
The two major international money networks are MasterCard/Maestro/Cirrus (for ATM locations ☎800-424-7787 or www.mastercard.com) and Visa/PLUS (for ATM locations ☎800-847-2911 or www.visa.com). Most ATMs charge a transaction fee that is paid to the bank that owns the ATM.
If you run out of money while traveling, the easiest and cheapest solution is to have someone back home make a deposit to your bank account. Failing that, consider one of the following options.
It is possible to arrange a bank money transfer, which means asking a bank back home to wire money to a bank in Puerto Rico. This is the cheapest way to transfer cash, but it’s also the slowest, usually taking several days or more. Note that some banks may only release your funds in local currency, potentially sticking you with a poor exchange rate; inquire about this in advance. Money transfer services like Western Union are faster and more convenient than bank transfers—but also much pricier. Western Union can be found in almost every Pueblo supermarket in Puerto Rico. To find locations worldwide, visit www.westernunion.com, or call in Australia ☎1800 173 833, in Canada and the US 800-325-6000, and in the UK 0800 833 833. To wire money using a credit card (Discover, MasterCard, Visa), call in Canada, the US, and Puerto Rico ☎800-CALL-CASH, in the UK 0800 833 833.
The cost of your trip will vary considerably depending on where you go, how you travel, and where you stay. The most significant expenses will likely be your round-trip airfare to Puerto Rico (see Getting to Puerto Rico: By Plane), accommodations, and car rental. Before you go, spend some time calculating a reasonable daily budget.
Your budget in Puerto Rico will vary depending on whether you stay in a large city, like San Juan, or in rural areas where it is possible to camp. To give you a general idea, a bare-bones day in San Juan (sleeping in cheaper guesthouses, buying food at supermarkets) would cost around $55-65; a slightly more comfortable day (sleeping in guesthouses and the occasional budget hotel, eating one meal per day at a restaurant, going out at night) would cost $90-100; for a luxurious day, the sky’s the limit.
In rural areas, a modest day (camping and buying food at supermarkets) would cost about $25-35; a more comfortable day (staying at guesthouses or vacation centers, eating one meal per day at a restaurant, and catching some nightlife) would cost $100-110; and for a luxurious day, you can spend just as much as you would in any major city. Don’t forget to factor emergency reserve funds (at least $200) into your budget.
Some simple ways to save include splitting accommodation and food costs with trustworthy fellow travelers, buying food in supermarkets rather than eating out, and doing your laundry in the sink (unless you’re explicitly prohibited from doing so). Also, try staying in paradores that include meals, laundry, and Internet. Museums often have certain days per week or month when admission is free; information on such discounts is included in listings throughout the book so you can plan accordingly. San Juan also has frequent festivals with free live music and entertainment.
Wise travelers pay close attention to high season. The high season in San Juan and the eastern islands is from November to May. Hotels in these areas typically raise their rates during this time. West coast hotels, on the other hand, charge more from June to October, the high season on that part of the island. The weather is pleasant year-round throughout Puerto Rico, though, so choose your destination accordingly. Travelers willing to brave the risk of hurricane season will find that everything gets cheaper in September and October. Of course, camping is by far the most budget-friendly option. Culebra and Vieques have exceptionally nice campgrounds.
Don’t forget about walking—you can learn a lot about a city by seeing it on foot. Old San Juan is especially pedestrian-friendly. Budget travelers with flexible schedules and travel plans may consider traveling by públicos—informal public vans that carry passengers between town centers for about $1-5—instead of renting a car. Público drivers wait for passengers in public squares starting around 6am, but don’t leave until their vans are full, making departure times somewhat irregular. Visitors who plan to travel by público should note that these vans do not normally take passengers outside of town centers to sights, beaches, or nature reserves.
With bottles of water priced around $1, staying hydrated can add up quickly. Cut costs by filling water bottles in hotel sinks or potable water cisterns and requesting agua de pluma (tap water) in restaurants. Drinking at bars and clubs can also become expensive. It’s cheaper to buy alcohol at a supermarket and make your own cuba libres before going out. That said, don’t go overboard. You shouldn’t pinch pennies at the expense of your health or a great travel experience.
In Puerto Rico, it is customary to tip waitstaff and cab drivers 15-20% (at your discretion). Tips are usually not included in restaurant bills. It is unnecessary to tip at most cafeterías, panaderías, and other small eateries where you pick up food at the counter. Porters expect at least $1 per bag. Though not obligatory, it is also nice to give público drivers a small tip; about 10% should suffice. Bargaining is generally frowned upon and fruitless in Puerto Rico, but it does not hurt to ask hotel or guest house owners if they can offer a discount—many will lower rates if they are not full.
Get ready to shop; Puerto Rico has no sales tax, restaurant tax, or value added tax. There is a 9% accommodations tax, but unofficial guesthouses frequently do not charge it. Let’s Go indicates if tax is included in most accommodations listings.
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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