Puerto Rico Brides!

[Neha]

Evie, Where are your guests staying? I am looking into the El Convento- it's such a beautiful hotel! u I don't think our guests could afford it! I was looking into alternatives but can't get a feel for where all the other hotels are in relation to the El Convento. Any help is appreciatied!

[evie]

Hi, many of my guests are staying at El Convento and sharing room costs. Others are staying at the Marriot and Sheraton. There are other hotels in Old San Juan within walking distance-such as those. If they stay in Isla Verde or Condado they will have to take a cab. It is about 20 dollars for a cab roundtrip depending which hotel, traffic.Maybe a little less. Some guests are booking packages with flight and hotel on Expedia. There are also apartments in Old San Juan they can rent for about $150 a night which can sleep sometimes up to six people.

[uconncruiser]

I was just checking out Vacation Rentals in Florida, California, Oregon, Hawaii & More - CyberRentals tonight for other alternatives to hotels as well...I don't think it will work in my circumstances - but there were many 1 and 2 BR places that would work out cheaper than hotels!

[Neha]

Evie, thanks for the information! Puerto Rico is in our top 3 and we appreciate any information we can get.

[jamisoncollette]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neha Evie, Where are your guests staying? I am looking into the El Convento- it's such a beautiful hotel! u I don't think our guests could afford it! I was looking into alternatives but can't get a feel for where all the other hotels are in relation to the El Convento. Any help is appreciatied!

If a hotel is in Old San Juan than it is within walking distance of El Convento. The old city is very small and condensed so you can go from one end to the other in fifteen minutes give or take.

[jamisoncollette]

Quote:

Originally Posted by evie Hi, many of my guests are staying at El Convento and sharing room costs. Others are staying at the Marriot and Sheraton. There are other hotels in Old San Juan within walking distance-such as those. If they stay in Isla Verde or Condado they will have to take a cab. It is about 20 dollars for a cab roundtrip depending which hotel, traffic.Maybe a little less. Some guests are booking packages with flight and hotel on Expedia. There are also apartments in Old San Juan they can rent for about $150 a night which can sleep sometimes up to six people.

There is also public transportation that runs from the 'burbs into San Juan. It costs fifty cents and is very safe. I've used it by myself and with groups for huge savings! The terminal is next to the docks and Sheraton hotel in San Juan. Every hotel I've stayed at in Condado or Isla Verde has a bus stop very close by. I would just give extra time at the beginning of a trip as it is not always on schedule.

[Neha]

Thanks for all the info! The more I look at the El Convento, the more it seems like where I want to get married-it's so beautiful! FYI- the Intercontinental was recently renovated and seems like a good alternative for people who want to stay on the beach. I think it is also a little less expensive (but not by much!).

[uconncruiser]

We finally put the deposit down on the reception at the El Convento and the photographer - I feel like I'm ready to get into full wedding planning mode!! I appreciate all the advice that I've received so far on this thread. I'm still working on the group rates for the hotels.

 

Was anyone married in the Old San Juan Cathedral? I'm curious of how the interview with the priest goes?!

[evie]

lol--uconncruiser this is my third post to you -the other ones refused to post! I really apologize if this pops up three times. We just came back from our meeting with the priest. We didn't know what to expect and were a little nervous. It was fine! Easy! We had to fly from NY to PR on a Wednesday because that was the only day he could meet. When we got there it was children's celebration day and they told us that he may not be free. I was not happy and reminded them I flew there because they told me I had to. He met with us. He sort of reviewed our paperwork (pre-cana certificate, communion cert. etc..). The receptionist looked at it closely. He asked us basic questions from the form i.e. address, occupation, parents place of birth. We talked about NY, the weather, NJ, PR, the political status of PR, how much money lawyers make...seriously! Nothing about God, values, morals, etc..He was funny and nice. It lasted about 1/2. I do not know if you will get a different priest! I asked if we would get the opportunity to meet our priest (a bilingual one comes from another parish) and they said no. Unless we visit his church which we will not have time to.

 

He allows you to ask any questions you have. They also have sample programs that you can look at and copy. They were all very nice.

[uconncruiser]

Evie - thank you so much for sharing your experience! My fiancee is Catholic and I'm not so I'm nervous about it. We're scheduled for our pre-cana in April and then hope to get all of our paperwork submitted so we can schedule the meeting ASAP. What kind of decorations are you doing in the church? I've seen some footage of the inside of the church on YouTube (yes YouTube!!) and it looks beautiful so I don't think it needs too much in decorations.