Extend Your Vacation

[MiketheKid]

Anyone ever use the "Extend Your Vacation" option through RCCL? You can find it on the webite, and looks like RCCL offers hotel packages either before or after your cruise. Unfortunatly, they don't provide too much info on it.

I want to stay in Puerto Rico for a few days before my cruise. Does anyone know if they offer competitive prices? Might they offer transers to and from the aiport/hotel/pier? Basically, why should I use them instead of trying to book it myself?

[TrvlPro]

Good questions Mike. There cruiseline offers pre or post hotel packages in 4 and 5 star hotels. They make it convenient and provide free transfers when you take their package. All sound great right? Yes, except for that competitive pricing part you asked about. This is a money maker for the cruiseline. They make money, they pay me and other T/A's commission to set it up for you. There is an RCI Rep waiting for you at the hotel as well. They offer excursions during your stay to tour the sights. All this means they treat you well and offer all the services you need. If you don't mind doing a little shopping around you can usually book the hotel, arrange your own transportation and go sight seeing in your own rental car instead of a tour bus with a couple dozen strangers and do it all for 1/3 to 1/2 the cost in some cases. If you like the convenience of having it all handled for you, the cruiseline or your T/A can set it all up. If you want the best value start googling hotels and car rental choices in San Juan.

Cheers, Neil

[Casanova frankenstein]

nop royal caribbean is not an option too expensive for my taste...
As You know I am from Puerto Rico
how many days before you are planning to stay on the island??
Will you like to visit just San Juan or the rest of the island?

There are many options here on my beautiful island

Some people ask me about the diferrent hotel options you can book on Puerto Rico, so here it is:

http://www.puertoricoisfun.com/

This link can give you:

* prices and vacation package

* reviews

* photos of the hotel

* direct link to the hotels websites

So this can help you a lot is all you need to know

If you need anything please let me know...

[MiketheKid]

Thanks guys - I figured that RCCL would not be the best value when it came to this stuff. Since I posted, I've actually been doing some research on the travel sites and found that I can get roundtrip flights and 4 nights in a hotel (2 people) for $1,300 or so. Still not cheap, but cheaper than most.

Now I just have to decide which hotel is near the things we want to do. We were hoping to get to the rainforest, and rent some bicyles in San Juan - essetially anything active.

Casanova - thanks for the website. I know you are the local expert, so I may come back to you with some questions. Anything I "must do"? We will be there for 3-4 days, and don't mind going out of San Juan (though expenses will play a big part on how often or how far out of San Juan we go).

[Casanova frankenstein]

well depnding on how many days before your cruise you will stay there are few things you "must do"

* please take the San Juan amphybius bus tour

* if you can visit Ponce there you can visit the museum.

* specially the west part of the island offer the best surfing beaches

the other day travel channel presented a program named "No reservations" about the west part of the island of PR that is not usually what you see on San Juan...

* please don't forget to try our typical food:

-Rice and beans (arroz con habichuelas)

- also anything from the sea is a good
option since we are an island everything is fresh from the sea.
My favorite is " chillo relleno de mariscos" is a fish with shrimps, carrucho, lobster etc. inside of it
Very good!!and is not expensive like $20 dollars depending on the restaurant

[berwyn]

I thought posting links was not allowed,

[Dave]

It depends on the link. In this case it is the official website for the Puerto Rico tourism association, which is fine.