How safe is it to drive around Puerto Rico? Advice from a friend is to get an uber or lyft and not to drive.

[rickandcindy23]

We will be on the island for two full days before our cruise and wondered about driving around to see the sites. I assume this is not a good idea after talking to a friend. We are staying away from the airport at the Hyatt Regency.

Any advice? Should we just take an uber and stay at the resort until we have to leave?

 

[claraj]

Uber is very cheap in Puerto Rico!

 

[rickandcindy23]

Uber is very cheap in Puerto Rico!

So you recommend uber over driving? After talking to our friend about it, I am picturing it being like Rome. I would never drive around Rome. We used ubers only.

I am fine doing the uber thing but it will be our first time on the island, so we thought it might be fun to drive.

 

[claraj]

If you are planning to stay in the San Juan area, I would just Uber. I remember the rides were only $6. If you want to go to the western part of the island, you may want to drive because I don't know how easily it would be to get an Uber back once you get there.

I just heard back from my sister in law. They went one year and borrowed a car to see the western part of the island and she said she didn't recommend it and to just stay in the old San Juan area. I've only been to San Juan and Dorado, where the Hyatt time share is.

 

[mjm1]

We will be on the island for two full days before our cruise and wondered about driving around to see the sites. I assume this is not a good idea after talking to a friend. We are staying away from the airport at the Hyatt Regency.

Any advice? Should we just take an uber and stay at the resort until we have to leave?

For just two days you may want to consider staying at the Hyatt Place or Hyatt House, which are next to each other just outside of the San Juan main district. It’s also a lot closer to the cruise terminal. We stayed there one night before a cruise and it was very convenient to seeing the historic area etc. Taxi and Uber worked well. The Hyatt Regency is the opposite direction from the airport.

That said, we did rent a car for the four days we stayed at the Hyatt timeshare in Dorado before moving over to the Hyatt House. Driving for me was pretty easy. We even took a day trip to Palmas Del Mar on the southeast side of the island, since we stayed there on our honeymoon in the 80’s. Our experience on the roads there was fine.

 

[claraj]

@mjm1 This is exactly where I've been staying last few years and heading back in 2 weeks. We stay 3 nights in Dorado and then 4 nights at Hyatt House.

The Hyatt House/Hyatt Place has a shuttle that loops from the hotel to old San Juan until around 4pm (I can't remember the exact time). It's very convenient.

 

[Hindsite]

No problem at all driving around the whole island, roads can be poor in some places so take the toll roads if you are going long distance.

I found it no different from driving anywhere in the US, but the side roads can be in poorer condition.

Driving in San Juan is similar to driving in any high density urban area, so if you are staying in and around San Juan just for a couple of days, then Uber is worth considering instead of dealing with traffic and parking. I'm with you on Rome and not driving there, but San Juan wasn't that bad.

 

[GrayFal]

We are staying away from the airport at the Hyatt Regency.

Any advice? Should we just take an uber and stay at the resort until we have to leave?

Is this where you are staying?
Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico
I have 4 nights booked before a cruise.
We don’t plan to drive.

 

[TolmiePeak]

We will be on the island for two full days before our cruise and wondered about driving around to see the sites. I assume this is not a good idea after talking to a friend. We are staying away from the airport at the Hyatt Regency.

Any advice? Should we just take an uber and stay at the resort until we have to leave?

Why would driving in Puerto Rico be any different than Colorado? Both are very dangerous.

 

[WorldT]

Depends on what you are trying to do and where you are trying to visit. Last time I was there was 13 years ago and stayed in Humacao. We had a car for a week, no issues driving. Having a car gave us flexibility to go anywhere, anytime.
Will be heading back there March 21 for 10 days and intend on renting a car for the entire duration.
Maybe I am different, I drive in Mexico too. And in Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Antonio, Baltimore, DC, and many other places in the USA. I can't tell the difference, there are always bad drivers on the road.
A friend of mine used to live there and he says I should get a car.

 

[rickandcindy23]

We are staying

Is this where you are staying?
Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico
I have 4 nights booked before a cruise.
We don’t plan to drive.

Yes, we are staying at that one. We will probably just uber. Is that what you'll do? We will have to uber back to the cruise terminal.

Our cruise is 3/15. When it your cruise?

 

[rickandcindy23]

No problem at all driving around the whole island, roads can be poor in some places so take the toll roads if you are going long distance.

I found it no different from driving anywhere in the US, but the side roads can be in poorer condition.

Driving in San Juan is similar to driving in any high density urban area, so if you are staying in and around San Juan just for a couple of days, then Uber is worth considering instead of dealing with traffic and parking. I'm with you on Rome and not driving there, but San Juan wasn't that bad.

Rick drove a fire truck for 36 years, he is a confident driver. As long as there is enough for us to do at the resort, we will probably just stick around the resort for the two days.

Coming from Colorado, I felt we really needed to get to San Juan sooner than just the day before. If there is a snow storm and air traffic is delayed, I wanted to make sure we'd get there in time. Our kids arrive the day before. I think it's risky.

We do have free nights with our Hyatt cards I could have booked at the Hyatts near the terminal. Maybe I will change things a bit. But the two nights were only 46,000 points. And it's Hyatt Regency. The beds are generally so comfortable!

 

[claraj]

The Hyatts near the terminal won't have as many amenities as the Regency (they have small pools, etc.) but they are closer to old San Juan. I stay at the Hyatt House because we need a kitchen for my nephew's diet restrictions.

 

[GrayFal]

We are staying

Yes, we are staying at that one. We will probably just uber. Is that what you'll do? We will have to uber back to the cruise terminal.

Our cruise is 3/15. When it your cruise?

I will be in touch with you after your stay to see how you enjoyed it and what you did. We are cruising after you.
There is a very active Facebook group for this resort with restaurant and activity recommendations.
We are choosing not to drive because we just want this to be relaxing.
Since we will be going airport to resort, resort to cruise ship I didn't want to deal with returning the car to the airport and still need transpo to the ship.

From what I have read, taxi/uber readily available at the resort for dinner out or a day at a different beach.
We are not hikers so going to the rain forest isn’t on our bingo card.

I got 4 nights for 80K CSR points. That would get you one night at a nice Marriott.

If we were going to the Hyatt timeshare, I would rent a car for the week to sightsee as the two of us have not been to Puerto Rico in many years. But for our pre cruise stay, we won’t.

 

[HitchHiker71]

No problem at all driving around the whole island, roads can be poor in some places so take the toll roads if you are going long distance.

I found it no different from driving anywhere in the US, but the side roads can be in poorer condition.

Driving in San Juan is similar to driving in any high density urban area, so if you are staying in and around San Juan just for a couple of days, then Uber is worth considering instead of dealing with traffic and parking. I'm with you on Rome and not driving there, but San Juan wasn't that bad.

This has been my experience as well. The Wyndham resort is about 45-60 minutes from San Juan and it's an easy drive on the main highways. That said, we've driven all over the interior of the island and along the northeastern coastline and the various small towns and have always rented a car. It's very similar to the US overall, that's why we like it actually. Some roads are not well kept - but we typically rent a 4x4 so it's not an issue. If you're just going to stay in or around SJ/OSJ - Uber is fine. PR is a big island - it takes about three hours to traverse the island end to end, so if you want to explore, you really need a rental car IME.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I will be in touch with you after your stay to see how you enjoyed it and what you did. We are cruising after you.
There is a very active Facebook group for this resort with restaurant and activity recommendations.
We are choosing not to drive because we just want this to be relaxing.
Since we will be going airport to resort, resort to cruise ship I didn't want to deal with returning the car to the airport and still need transpo to the ship.

From what I have read, taxi/uber readily available at the resort for dinner out or a day at a different beach.
We are not hikers so going to the rain forest isn’t on our bingo card.

I got 4 nights for 80K CSR points. That would get you one night at a nice Marriott.

If we were going to the Hyatt timeshare, I would rent a car for the week to sightsee as the two of us have not been to Puerto Rico in many years. But for our pre cruise stay, we won’t.

Yes, I also transferred Chase points from CSR to Hyatt to book our two nights. It was 43,000 points. Cheap compared to Marriott stays of the same quality. Marriott hotels require way too many points.