San Juan is not known as a cheap Caribbean destination, but it can be totally affordable if you are smart about where you choose to spend your money.
I spent seven days in Puerto Rico during my school vacation week in April. Although I spent most of my time in San Juan, I also ventured a bit farther out to El Yunque and to the bioluminescent bay in Fajardo, two bucket list places that were really important to me.
Read my tips below for getting the most out of your trip to San Juan: 5 ways to save money while you’re on vacation and 5 things that are worth shelling out a little more.
5 Tips for Saving Money in San Juan
1.) Pack light and use a budget airline
I am a huge fan of Spirit Airlines. I flew roundtrip from Boston to San Juan for $263. Because of my job, I was locked into school vacation week, but with flexible dates I could have gotten an even better deal. I use Google Flights for my initial search – it has excellent features for comparing flights if you have flexible plans. Once I find the flights I want, I book directly through the airline.
The trick with these budget airlines, however, is that you will be charged for add-ons that most airlines include in your ticket price. That means carry-on bags and checked bags will incur a hefty fee. Note that the fees listed on their website are one-way, so for a round trip flight you will need to pay that fee twice!
Spirit allows one free “personal item” – typically a purse or backpack. For this trip, I checked the measurements online and found an over-sized purse that was within the acceptable limits for a personal item. I laid out clothes ahead of time so I was only bringing the essentials, and I wore my bulkiest items (jeans, sneakers, raincoat) to the airport. I brought a string backpack and a small purse so that I would have options while I was there.
You will also be charged for snacks and drinks on the plane, so bring an empty water bottle or buy one at the airport that you can refill.
2.) Stay in a hostel
I almost always opt to stay in hostels when traveling solo. Not only does it cost a fraction of what you would pay for a hotel, it is a great way to connect with fellow travelers. Hostels often have really helpful amenities too – kitchens, guided excursions, rentals, and games!
I researched several hostels and Airbnbs around San Juan and ended up picking Casa Santurce because it had a lot of positive reviews, it was within walking distance from the beach (about 15 minutes), it had a community kitchen (see #4), and it was one of the cheapest options. Their website also provided a detailed travel guide which helped me immensely as I was planning my trip. Every day, the hostel offers a guided outing, and they sometimes offer multi-day excursions to other corners of the island.
I stayed in a 10-person mixed (co-ed) dorm, but most nights there were only 3-5 other people in my room, so it didn’t feel crowded. Private rooms and female-only dorms are also available for a slightly higher cost.
3.) Take yourself on a walking tour of Old San Juan
Some of my best memories from my time in Puerto Rico were when I was just exploring Old San Juan by foot. It was a bit of a hike from my hostel in Santurce (about an hour walking), but I took my time and saw some amazing things along the way. There are some really neat murals under bridges and along the sidewalk, and I saw some manatees near the Puente de Dos Hermanos. I felt completely safe doing this walk during the day, but at night I chose to take an Uber back to my hostel.
Give yourself a day or two to see all the sights in the old city. Find iguanas, cats, and ocean views along the Paseo de la Princesa. Make your way to Calle Fortaleza for the classic Instagram shot under the rainbow umbrellas. Pick a place to stop for lunch (I enjoyed Deaverdura). For a unique wildlife experience, wander through the Parque de las Palomas.
The Castillos de San Cristóbal and del Morro are both worth a visit. There is a small fee that covers both castles, or if you already have a National Parks pass you can get yourself and one guest in for free.
At night, check out the unique bars in Old San Juan. La Factoría is fun and worth a visit, but I had a better time at Mono Stereo, right next door. Go to the back and upstairs through the open patio, then go to the balcony for people watching on a busy night.
4.) Cook some of your own meals
Most hostels and AirBnBs will provide access to a kitchen, which gives you the opportunity to save some money and prepare your own meals. I went to Freshmart Condado on my second day and got everything I needed for the week, and I challenged myself to prepare two meals every day. My hostel had an awesome kitchen on the terrace where people tended to gather in the mornings and evenings, so most days I made my own breakfast and dinner.
5.) Explore San Juan’s beaches
If you are escaping cold weather, there is nothing more satisfying than spending time at the beach. I spent my first beach day at Condado beach because it was close to my hostel. It was beautiful and not too crowded, and vendors walked up and down the beach selling ice cream, fresh coconuts, and empanadas. Later in the week I visited Balneario El Escambrón, which was great for seeing wildlife – tropical fish, starfish, and crabs.
Bonus: Many hostels in the area will rent beach towels, beach chairs, and snorkels to guests.
5 Things that are Worth the Extra Cost
1.) Safety
I never felt unsafe while I was in Puerto Rico, but I always take basic precautions when traveling and even when I’m at home in Boston.
Most of the time, I used Uber to get around at night rather than walking. One of my drivers told me that there is currently a surplus of drivers in San Juan, which causes prices to be much cheaper than what I see at home. There is an extensive public transportation system around San Juan, but a fellow hosteler told me that he didn’t think the buses would be safe for a solo female traveler, so I chose to spend a little more for Uber.
I purchased a power bank that I charged every night and carried with me all the time so my phone was always charged. I use the Anker PowerCore 10000 ($31.99) and it has been totally reliable, compact, and easy to use.
The day I rented a car (see below) I opted to purchase the collision damage plan for an additional $11. I had read online that the roads in PR were pothole-ridden, narrow, and dangerous, and although I didn’t find this to be the case, I appreciated having the peace of mind that I would be protected if anything happened to the car.
2.) Rent a car if you leave San Juan
If you want to take a day trip to El Yunque, Cueva Ventana, Luquillo, Fajardo, or anywhere else outside of San Juan, it’s worth it to rent a car. A taxi may cost slightly less, but for me it was worth it to spend a little more and have the freedom to go where I wanted on my own schedule.
I rented a car for a day trip to El Yunque. I used Expedia and found a lot of options for under $40. I took a chance on Nu Car Rentals, which was the cheapest option ($22 for the day), although I had never heard of it and it got mixed reviews. I took an Uber to the rental agency near the airport ($7), and I found it very easy to get my car. At the end of the day I returned my car and took an Uber back to my hostel.
If I were to do it again, I would have planned to see El Yunque and the Bioluminescent Bay in Fajardo in the same day to avoid the cost and time of traveling that direction on two different days. Unless you are planning a particularly long hike, it would be easy to spend a day in El Yunque and be done in time to drive to Fajardo in the evening for a Bio Bay tour.
3.) Kayak in a Bioluminescent Bay
If you only do one touristy thing in Puerto Rico, this should be it. There are only five bioluminescent bays in the world, and three of them are in Puerto Rico. Of these, Laguna Grande, in Fajardo, is the easiest one to get to from San Juan.
There are several companies that offer kayaking tours of Laguna Grande, and they are practically all the same price (about $50). I went with Pure Adventure and thought it was an excellent tour! They were accommodating to me as a solo traveler and let me share a double kayak with one of the guides, who pointed out constellations and told me about the different kinds of mangroves in the bay. This company also offered transportation to/from San Juan (for a $20 fee), and they picked me up right at my hostel!
4.) Local Food
Tasting the local cuisine is a huge part of the cultural experience. If nothing else, make sure to treat yourself to mofongo, a dish made with mashed, fried plantains. If you can, stop by the kioscos in Luquillo – a row of 60 eateries situated next to the beach – to sample lots of local favorites all in one place.
5.) Take a taxi from the airport
Although Uber is a reliable option anywhere around San Juan, they are not allowed to pick you up from the airport. When you arrive, you will follow signs to lead you outside to the taxi stand, where you will tell the attendant where you need to go and she will find you a taxi. It will be faster if you have cash because only some taxis take credit cards. Expect to pay about $20 if you are going to San Juan.
One of my Uber drivers mentioned that I could have taken a taxi to Carolina Beach, then gotten an Uber from there. There is also a cheap public bus option, but I preferred to spend a little more here to go exactly where I wanted to go quickly.
At the end of your trip, you can take an Uber back to the airport, probably for less than half of what you paid for the taxi when you arrived.
Did you find this helpful? Let me know in the comments!
Best of luck on your travels!
Boston and Beyond 