Eating and Accommodation Tips
1. Colmados and Fondas
These brightly painted general stores scattered throughout the country sell pastries, sandwiches, and cheap meals – usually simple local dishes such as fricase (stew) or roast chicken with rice and beans. An interesting alternative is to savor a hearty, inexpensive lunch at a fonda, a simple workmen’s café.
2. Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
There is no shortage of delicious tropical fruit to be enjoyed in Puerto Rico, but be sure to peel or thoroughly wash the food items before eating. Salads and other raw preparations in higher-end establishments are usually safe to eat, but should be avoided in colmados and fondas.
3. Bills and Tipping
Most upscale restaurants include a 10–15 per cent service charge in the bill. This may or may not find its way to the staff serving you, so feel free to leave an additional 10 per cent if the service warrants it.
4. Lechoneras
Puerto Ricans are fanatical about pork, their favorite dish, which is best enjoyed at a lechonera (an open-air roadside restaurant, where whole suckling pigs are spit-roasted). Most of these restaurants are open Friday through Sunday and are popular among locals during public holidays.
5. Alcoholic Drinks
Most international brands are available in Puerto Rico, but local beers and liquors are as good as any. Try the refreshing lager-style Criolla, Medalla, Silver Key Light and India beers. Rums are aged for three (‘white” or carta Blanca), five (“golden” or dorado), and seven or more (“aged” or añejo) years – the older the better. A tour of the Bacardi rum distillery provides a primer.
6. All-Inclusives
These large resort hotels are ideal for vacationers who prefer all the hotel costs to be included in a single rate (for further details see All-Inclusives). Most of them offer buffet meals and a choice of one or more à la carte restaurants. They usually offer watersports and entertainment too, and can be a great way to enjoy a beach vacation at bargain rates.
7. Hotel Tax
All regular tourist hotels levy a 9 per cent hotel tax, which you will find added to your bill. Paradores charge 7 per cent, while resort hotels add an 11 per cent tax on room rates.
8. Accommodation Types
Accommodations in San Juan range from charming colonial hotels with period furnishings to international-style modern beach resorts and casino hotels. There are also a few cheap guesthouses and apartments. Large all-inclusives line much of the north coast. Up in the mountains, there are country inns and guesthouses offering cozy, albeit simple, lodgings. Vieques is known for its trendy boutique hotels.
9. Paradores
Paradores are family-owned and operated inns outside San Juan. They range from centuries-old haciendas to small properties in out-of-the-way coastal villages. Although promoted for their intimacy, many are barely distinguishable from soulless motels, so if you plan on staying in one, try to check up on it before making reservations.
10. Reservations
It is advisable to book at least your first few nights prior to your arrival. During high season (for further details see When to Go), it is wise to reserve all your accommodations well in advance, as the island gets very crowded. You can usually travel around during low season without pre-booking.
