Quote: (08-29-2015 05:05 AM)Going strong Wrote:
I found this old (excellent) post about Puerto Rico, would you say it is still accurate? What about this (worrisome, from a bar-business point of view) quote: "There are lots of bars, but many of them are only open or busy around the holidays, basically December and January."
Quote: (08-02-2011 07:36 PM)lilseezie Wrote:
Please take the majority of the info posted here so far with a grain of salt. Here are the facts about Puerto Rico, based on having lived there for 6 months:
1) Life is not like Mexico or Colombia. PR is a US territory, and offers pretty much all the same amenities you'd expect in the US. Yes it's poorer than the mainland, has crappier service, and a shitty school system, but I still wouldn't go as far as comparing it to Mexico or Colombia. It strikes a pretty good balance between being familiar/Americanized but also feeling exotic and noticeably different at the same time.
2) The local men are no more alpha than the average mainland-US guy, nor are they particularly stiff competition. It's just like back home - some guys will be alphas with game, but most won't.
3) The females don't necessarily prefer the local men, and do like white guys just fine. They just don't come across many white guys who aren't the stereotypical obnoxious douchebag tourist, so if you're meeting girls in a touristy area it's possible they might have a shield up. The local girls do tend to think highly of themselves, but that doesn't mean they don't like to fuck. Just play it cool and you'll be fine, but do realize that...
4) Being a gringo will do nothing for you. These girls see white guys running around every day, and many of them have been to the States multiple times or even lived there at some point. So you won't encounter any sort of exotic factor like you might in, say, Colombia (unless you go to the smaller rural towns). Fully expect to bring the same A-game as you'd have to use back home, but keep in mind that...
5) Knowing some Spanish IS important. Despite PR's relationship with the US, you'll come across a surprising number of girls who don't speak English. Also, even the ones who do speak it often don't like to. Plus, the ones who do speak it tend to be the educated ones who have higher morals and don't put out as much. If you want the local hunnies who like to party and get wild and grind their ass on you all night, you're going to need some conversational Spanish.
6) Locals do hang out in the touristy areas, but there are many other places they go to party that tourists rarely hear about. For some reason finding PR party info online is very difficult, and a lot of it is word-of-mouth. One San Juan staple, though, is La Placita. It's a little area with lots of bars next to each other, and turns into a big outdoor block party. Talent is everywhere, and very few tourists. It's only really hopping on Thursday and Friday nights. Go early, around 9 or so.
7) Yes, Puerto Rico sees a large number of the dorky cruise ship crowd, but no one said you have to hang out with them.
9) The local food is awesome, but not at all healthy. Go eat in Guavate (mountain town) on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon - it's a big, pig-scoffing party.
10) The El San Juan hotel is a great place to party, but it's upscale so the women will be difficult. Anywhere else in Isla Verde is garbage, except Drums (which I think may have closed, or perhaps was just closed temporarily).
11) One of the best places to party in San Juan is Shannan's (yes that's how they spell it), but it's a pain in the ass to get to unless you have a car. It's huge, and the number of gorgeous, dolled-up Latinas there can be eye-opening.
12) One-night stands in PR are possible, but rare. This is mainly because people commute from all over the island to San Juan to party, and have to drive/ride home with their friends at the end of the night (sometimes an hour or more away). However, if you get a girl's number and hang out with her a couple of times, you're pretty much golden. Girls will fuck quickly, and fall in love with you quickly, too.
13) San Juan is the spot for nightlife. There's something going on there every night of the week. After that would be Ponce and Mayaguez (large student population), but only on Fridays and Saturdays. There are also quite a few clubs in the Northwest region, around Isabela, Aguadilla, and Aguada, but again pretty much weekends only. Rincon is tiny and has very little going on, so I wouldn't recommend hanging around there at night.
14) Old San Juan is awesome. Yes it's touristy, but for good reason - it's beautiful. There are lots of bars, but many of them are only open or busy around the holidays, basically December and January. Two night spots that tend to have good crowds year-round are Tio Danny's and Lazer. Lazer is very ghetto, but attracts females who like to get down. Music is 100% reggaeton. Fridays are quiet, and Sundays are the busiest night.
15) The San Sebastian festival in January is just okay. It's cool to some degree, but it gets so crowded that it's hard to even walk around. If you love huge crowds you'll like the event, but personally I wouldn't go to PR just for that. If you do go, staying in Old San Juan is an absolute necessity otherwise you just won't get in or out with all the stand-still traffic.
16) There are tourist beaches and locals beaches. In San Juan, Isla Verde beach is all tourists. For locals, go to either Ocean Park (upper class locals) or Escambron (lower class locals). Escambron is prettier with calmer water, but OP is much larger.
17) Crime in PR is not an issue. Yes it exists, but you have no greater chance of running into problems there than any major US city.
18) Medalla is the local beer, and it flows like water. The most popular rum is Don Q. Go to Casa Don Q in Old San Juan for a free drink. Don't go to the Bacardi factory.
19) Puerto Ricans love to party, and will find almost any excuse to do so. The energy on the island is the highest in December and January.
20) In summary, I would say PR isn't the best place to go for a few days if you're hoping to get laid. But if you're looking for somewhere to go for an extended period, it's great. There's also the added convenience of the currency being the same, your cell phone still working fine (assuming you're from the US), and no visa issues to worry about.
Don't believe the negative crap. PR is legit.
-LS
I would say its all pretty accurate.
Since 2011
1. The economic crisis has worsened and more people have left, but there are more opportunities to rent or buy places cheap.
2. In 2012 they passed the world's best tax incentives for people and many types of businesses. Many mainland Americans are moving there, including some high profile billionaires.
3. There is a resurgence of food, agriculture, and local culture being born after the island reaching 80% imported food. Local people are reviving their own food culture and this is happening NOW.