Help - Brides familiar with Puerto Rico

[angelny]

Hi Everyone -

 

I'm in the initial stages of planning my destination wedding. Its just going to be my immediate family, so I'm trying to find something good for everyone.

 

Basically I want to get married on a beach, my fiancee wants white sand with clear blue water, and my parents are really interested in visiting old San Juan and doing some sightseeing (I think they would be bored at a typical all inclusive resort type place). I'm just wondering if Puerto Rico can please everyone. Are there hotels in Puerto Rice with great beaches and quick access to Old San Juan?

 

Thanks!

Angelny

[jamisoncollette]

There are no places in Old San Juan that will have white sand and blue water access. Condado & Isla Verde have easy access to Old San Juan via taxi or bus and there are several hotels with beachfront access. PR does not currently have an AI's. Do you know about how many people?

[**~Linda~**]

PR does have AI hotels they are just extremely expensive lol! One is Copamarina(it has an AI option) but its located in Guanica which is south of the island and pretty far away from SJ and the other is the Paradisus Gran Melia(price is insane). I agree that in the San Juan area you will not find any resorts or hotels with white sandy beaches and crystal clear water(they are gorgeous beaches either way just not white sandish) but most hotels do have access to the beaches. A word of thought on wedding in the beaches of PR is that the law in PR makes the beaches public which means that your wedding will be set at the beach but you cant prevent ppl from being in a bikini and sunbathing right in front of it lol! Although obviously most ppl have some respect but trust me Ive seen it happen. Many hotels have gazebos like boardwalks right next to the beach where they do their beach front weddings make sure when you call the hotels you let them know that you want the wedding AT the beach per say and not just beachfront.

If you'd like crystal clear waters id suggest Culebras Island in PR, and Palomino Island(which is a private island exclusively rented by the El Conquistador Hotel and Im not sure if you can have weddings at the island per say but its gorgeous). Also the southwest tip of Puerto Rico has GORGEOUS beaches but again super far away from the SJ area.

I don't know if you can please everyone but if your willing to compromise on certain things almost any beach view in PR is spectacular! HTH

[jamisoncollette]

You may want to check with your travel agent, the last few times I've been to PR there were no AI's but hotels change frequently, especially when there is a change in management like when Paradisius became Gran Melia. Many of your guests may expect a set up similar to Sandals when they hear AI but add on packages that include food/drink/activities at PR hotels are not quite the same and more expensive than the AI chains. A la carte is sometimes more economical. There is usually a large bridal show in february/march where you can meet with hundreds of vendors in San Juan which might also be helpful.

[Nunina]

Hey girlies! I am from Puerto Rico. We do have AI and they are Copamarina, in Guanica, and Gran Melia in Rio Grande. They do have beautiful beaches, although they are far from Old San Juan.

 

You also have the option of the Hilton, which although not AI, does have its own beautiful beach. Also the Conquistador Hotel could be another option.

 

One of the best parts of coming over is you do not need passport to travel over. And the plane ride it's fairly simple.

 

Enjoy all your planning and feel free to PM me if you want more info!

 

Congratulations on your wedding!!!