Back in April, a couple of my friends and I finally took the trip out of the group chat.

We had been talking about doing a trip for years, but with school, work, marriages and babies, we could never find the time. We finally had to make it work since my friend was moving to another country, which would limit our opportunity for travel together even further.

Our criteria was simple: somewhere out of the continental USA; somewhere warm and tropical; somewhere easily accessible via nonstop flights; somewhere relatively affordable and somewhere none of us had visited before. And San Juan fit the bill perfectly.

How to Get There

The largest and most accessible airport is the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, commonly known as the San Juan Airport (SJU). Located in Isla Verde, the airport is just minutes away from San Juan. There are nonstop flights available from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Hartford, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Newark, New York, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis, Raleigh-Durham, Nashville and St. Louis.

U.S. Airlines: American Airlines, Delta, United, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit & Frontier

I flew on American Airlines out of O’Hare airport, and I was in Puerto Rico in less than 5 hours. For a quick long weekend jaunt (Friday - Monday), my roundtrip ticket was about $450.

Where to Stay

My friend found a really cute 3-bedroom apartment on Airbnb in the bustling neighborhood of Condado.. We were on a quiet, quaint street, but walking distance to some great restaurants and the beach. We shared 1 bathroom but we each had our own rooms, which was amazing for privacy. I would stay there again!

What To Do

Walking tour of Old San Juan

Old San Juan is a historical district in San Juan and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Very charming and soulful and full of color and vibrancy. It feels transported to a golden era of Puerto Rican history and culture. It is a must-visit. Next time I visit, I may even stay there. While you’re there, don’t miss out on a walking tour of Old San Juan!

Visit Distrito T-Mobile

Distrito T-Mobile was a great time. There were plenty of bars and restaurants in a vibrant and energetic atmosphere, the music was loud and there were a lot of people. You can even zipline! We didn’t stay long - it is more like a fun start to the San Juan nightlife - but the time we were there was exciting.

Hang out on the beach

We didn’t have that much beach time but it was fun to walk along the beach, dip a toe in the sand and sea and relax. We visited Condado beach but San Juan has several beaches to explore!

Watch a Bomba performance at Plaza de Armas

After our walking tour, we hung around the square in Old San Juan and were just in time for the Saurday evening free show featuring Bomba dancers and drummers. Bomba originated in Puerto Rico over four centuries ago among the island’s enslaved Africans as a means for resistance, resilience, and self-expression. While we didn’t get the chance to do a bomba class , I am glad I was able to witness the dancers. I felt it in my spirit, for sure.

Party in La Placita

After dinner at Distrito T-Mobile, we headed over to La Placita. La Placita in the Santurce neighborhood is a popular area for young travelers looking for nightlife, with its numerous restarants, bars and street limes. Make sure you check it out!

Do a mixology class at Casa Bacardi

The Bacardi factory has different tour options to choose from. I have done several distilery tours and wanted to switch it up a little bit so we decided to do that mixology class.. Upon entry, we received a welcome cocktail from the outdoor bar in the welcome pavillion. Shortly after that, we took a quick tour of the grounds via trolley car and learned a little bit about the Bacardi family and the different types of rums they produce.

Then the exciting part: making our own drinks! We were taught to make 2 drinks using two different Bacardi rums. It was a fun class and the drinks were excellent. It was a great pre-game to out evening plans.

If you go, make sure you book your reservations in advance. Some time slots are more popular than others, so it does sell out sometimes.

Where to Eat & Drink

The food we had was simply amazing! No complaints; 5 stars everywhere we went.

Santaella: Local and traditional dishes with delicious and unexpected twists! Recommended: alcapurrias, escargots, chillo frito, lacon asado & pollo deshuesado en crema de sofrito criollo.

Wicked Lily: A delicious traditional brunch with $25 bottomless mimosas on the beach! Recommended: French Toast

La Central by Mario Pagán: Located in Distrito T-Mobile. It is a fine dining restaurant where local flavors and dishes are served with creative flair. I also liked the dimly lit space with the charcoal kitchen visible to see. Recommended: langostinos al ajillo de achiote, beef filet, cafe rubbed rack of lamb

Cocina Abierta: Located in the heart of Condado, this spot The menu takes an open-minded and eclectic approach to food with its ever-evolving menu inspired by different cultures' cuisines and culinary techniques. Their five-course menu was to die for - so delicious.

Christianson: The specialty meal at this restaurant is French toast - any type of delicious french toast you desire with a wide variety of flavors and sizes to choose from. Top it off with their amazing pina coladas! When we visited, they did not take reservations, but it seems like they do now. Make sure you reserve a table in advance.

OLA Oceanfront Bistro: Set inside the beautiful Condado Vanderbilt hotel, OLA Oceanfront Bistro is a perfect summer vibe with great food and drinks and an amazing ocean view.

La Factoria: La Factoria is probably the best-known cocktail bar in Old San Juan and currently holds the title of Best Bar in the Caribbean. You may have even recognized it in Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” music video. It is right on Calle San Sebastián, the main party street in Old San Juan. It’s unique feature is its “secret passages” within the establishment to 6 different bars with different drink menus. The vibe in each room is different with different music genres - my friends and I stayed within the afrobeats and salsa room the most. Note: it is very crowded. Recommended: lavender mule, champeta