We recently took a short getaway to Puerto Rico in early March, and I thought I’d share how we spent our time in case you’re ever looking for a quick Caribbean escape.
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Why We Chose Puerto Rico
We were craving some sunshine and warmth, so I used Google Flights Explore to search for cheap flights to anywhere tropical. Most places were going for around $500, but flights to Puerto Rico were only $350—an easy choice!
Another huge plus: Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, so no passport required. I’ve technically lost mine and still need to change my name on it (a task for another day). Since we planned this trip about a month in advance, it was nice not having to worry about it.
Where We Stayed
At first, I was looking for an all-inclusive, but the reviews were mixed, and the more I learned about the island, the more I realized I wanted to explore beyond just the resort.
We ended up staying at Abitta Boutique Hotel in Condado, San Juan. The photos online looked great, but I’ll admit I was a little underwhelmed when we arrived—the pool was small, and some of the paint on the walls and furniture was chipped. But I adjusted quickly: the hotel was clean, the shower was HOT, and the bed was super comfy. I’d honestly stay there again.
Our trip got off to a rocky start when our flight was delayed by a full day due to weather, but the hotel staff was incredibly accommodating. They refunded our missed night and gave us a discounted rate to add an extra night so we could still enjoy the full trip.
One of my favorite parts of the hotel was Kane Rum Bar, a little restaurant just down the block. I’m not a huge foodie, but their sliders were SO good. I had them twice in three days.
Condado turned out to be a great area to stay in—with plenty of restaurants, shops, and walkable spots. And Ubers to nearby neighborhoods like Old San Juan were never more than $10.
Another hotel that came highly recommended (especially on TikTok) was La Terraza De San Juan, located in Old San Juan. It was booked for our travel dates, but if I return, I’d love to stay there—those colorful colonial buildings and cobblestone streets are just so charming.
Since we were traveling during spring break, a lot of places were already full. In Old San Juan, the available options were either super pricey or had small, windowless rooms. In the end, Condado was the perfect alternative.
What We Did in Puerto Rico
Day 1: Old San Juan + Historic Sights
We spent our first full day exploring Old San Juan, starting with Castillo San Felipe del Morro (El Morro). I’m a sucker for anything resembling a castle, so I loved this part. But fair warning: even though the weather hovered around 80ºF the whole trip, this was by far the hottest part of the trip.
I was wearing leggings and a thick t-shirt (thanks to my delayed luggage), but everyone was sweating. It’s mostly an open-air structure under full sun, so bring water and wear breathable clothes.
After touring El Morro for a couple of hours, we walked to Iglesia de San José, the second oldest church in the Americas, built in 1532. It’s free to visit (with a suggested donation), and after I asked one of the staff a million questions (cathedral lover over here too), he kindly took us past a locked gate to peek into the church’s crypt. It was originally the resting place of Puerto Rico’s first governor, Juan Ponce de León, and his family. The remains were moved in 1836, but the crypt and original artwork remain—definitely a cool stop.
From there, we wandered around more of Old San Juan, stopping at Pigeon Park (where yes, the pigeons will land on you—ew), and grabbed piña coladas at Barrachina, which claims to be the birthplace of the original recipe.
We had a late afternoon dinner at El Raíces, a spot known for authentic Puerto Rican food and servers dressed in traditional attire. It was actually recommended by our Uber driver from the airport, and it did not disappoint.
Day 2: El Yunque Rainforest Adventure
On our second full day, we booked a day trip to El Yunque Rainforest.
If you want to go, make sure to plan ahead. You’ll need to book at least a day in advance—either reserve a parking pass if you’re driving yourself, or go the easy route like we did and book a guided tour that includes transportation from San Juan.
Important tip: Ubers can’t pick you up from El Yunque, and I read horror stories about people being stranded. So if you’re going solo, definitely rent a car.
We booked this tour through Get Your Guide and did a 3-mile hike through muddy, rocky terrain and along the river. There was a natural water slide and even a cliff-jumping spot into a spring (I skipped that part—heights aren’t my thing). If you do this, bring extra clothes, leave your phone behind (unlike me), and be prepared to get very muddy. But overall—so fun.
That night, we headed back to Old San Juan for a more relaxed vibe. We grabbed empanadas and beer at Birra y Empanadas (exactly what it sounds like), and later made a midnight snack run to The Drunken Cookie. Worth it.
Day 3: Beach Day + Snorkeling
Our last full day was a beach day—or at least, that was the plan. My travel partner didn’t know how to just chill, so we booked a short snorkeling adventure at Escambrón Beach. Totally worth it—we got to swim with sea turtles!
Escambrón was beautiful and had different zones for snorkeling, swimming, and even surfing. It’s a great all-around beach if you want variety.
Locals also recommended Ocean Park Beach and Isla Verde Beach, both popular for swimming and relaxing. We also walked Condado Beach a few times since it was near our hotel, but it’s known for strong rip currents, so swim with caution.
Puerto Rico was such an amazing destination, and we barely scratched the surface of what the island has to offer. I’m definitely planning to go back—next time with a rental car so I can explore more of the island.
You could easily spend a week or more here, but even a quick 3-day trip was totally worth it.
How I Pay for Trips (a.k.a. My Favorite Travel Hack)
The secret to affordable travel? Travel hacking with credit cards. By signing up for cards that offer sign-up bonuses (known as SUBs), you can use travel points to book flights, hotels, and more—sometimes entirely for free.
For this trip, I used points to pay for our flights and half the cost of our hotel, which made it a super budget-friendly getaway.
If you’re new to the game, I highly recommend starting with the Chase Sapphire Preferred. It’s a classic go-to travel card that offers $600 worth of travel after you spend $4,000 in the first three months.
I also just signed up for the Capital One Venture card because they’re running a generous bonus right now that’ll net me about $1,000 in travel points.
The key to travel hacking is using credit cards responsibly. Always pay off your full balance by the due date so you’re not paying interest, and only use them for purchases you were going to make anyway. Big expenses like paying taxes or buying a new appliance are great opportunities to earn travel rewards—just be sure to plan ahead!
Let me know if you want more details on travel hacking or help picking your first card—I’m always happy to chat about it!
Some other great resources are the Facebook group Girls Love Travel on Points and The Daily Drop Newsletter.
