Practical information : Accomodation Puerto Rico
Budget & Tips
As far as accommodation is concerned, Puerto Rico's profile is rather at the top of the range. Let's just say that it is often difficult to find a hotel for less than 50 US$ per night per person. From 100 US$ per night for a double room, the offer becomes more complete. Puerto Rico offers a wide range of accommodations. From the seaside campsite to the 3 star hotel, from the luxurious villa rented by the week to the resort for the masses, it is possible to find everything. Note that some establishments are "adults only".
Budget travelers can choose camping or one of the few youth hostels found in the most touristy areas. Guesthouses require a greater, but not excessive, financial effort, and some have a unit of beds in dormitories (mixed or not), allowing you to stay at a lower cost
Another solution is to take a flight+hotel package with a travel agency that offers attractive rates, although this formula is not very common, at least in French agencies. Finally, some hotels, still rare, offer an all-inclusive package. You should also keep an eye on the regular offers that they can make, often between 3 and 7 nights. In Puerto Rico, hotel rates are often subject to a municipal hotel tax of between 7 and 9%
To be booked
The pricing policy of the Puerto Rican hotel industry is based on the distinction between low season, normally from May to December, and high season, from the end of December to mid-April. In the low season, prices can drop by 20 to 30%, depending on the establishment. It should be noted that the months of June and July, which correspond to the Puerto Rican school vacations, are also generally considered high season. Christmas, Easter(Semana Santa), American Spring Break (March) are among the periods when hotels fill up and prices rise. In September, it is not uncommon for some establishments to go on vacation. This is also the most sensitive period due to the risk of hurricanes in the Caribbean region.
What's very local
Bed & Breakfast. Among the establishments that offer overnight stays for less than US$100, there are mainly Bed & Breakfasts and guesthouses. However, there are not many of them, and when you find them, they are more like small hotels than real guesthouses. Be careful, some of them do not include breakfast in the price. The main advantage is the family atmosphere that often reigns there, and that allows to exchange and learn a lot about the country. The owners, always very welcoming and accommodating, usually do their best to make life easier for their guests, by giving them practical advice, useful information about restaurants in the area, walking possibilities, etc. They know how to be available while remaining discreet so that the privacy of their guests is preserved. Most of these establishments also have websites, where you can make reservations, but also agree in advance on extras such as airport transfers.
Youth hostels. Hostels in Puerto Rico are still few and far between. You can find a bed in a dormitory at a very competitive price, between 30 and 40 US$. Reservations can easily be made through the popular hostel website www.hostelworld.com. You will have to pay a deposit of a few euros and pay the rest on arrival
Good to know. Youth hostels and related guesthouses recruit volunteers who, in exchange for a few hours of work (reception), on a commitment of several weeks, receive free accommodation. This is a good way for young volunteers to spend some time in Puerto Rico at a lower cost.
Taxes. Beware! As in the United States, the prices advertised never correspond, in their great majority, to the final price to pay. Depending on the product and the location, a federal or local tax may be applied. For example, in tourism, each municipality has its own property policy, with some levying 0.5 to 1.5 percent of the price of a night's stay, while others levy nothing at all. The municipality of San Juan, for example, systematically adds a tax of 3 or 5 US$ per person. A government tax of 11% is added to each room rate for hotels with a casino, 9% for those without a casino and 7% for small hotels such as paradores (commonly known as guesthouses). When booking rooms or planning a trip, it is therefore very useful to ask for confirmation of the overall costs to avoid unpleasant surprises. Finally, a tax, more or less corresponding to the French VAT, called IVU, is applied on most products. It amounts to 6% of the item's price
For food lovers
Breakfast is not always included in the price of hotels and guesthouses. Most establishments only provide accommodation, others have in their rooms at least the first tea/coffee of the morning. In any case, if the hotel does not have a restaurant, there will always be a coffee shop or cafeteria nearby to provide the first coffee and meal of the day. Brunch is common in Puerto Rico (American style, including pancakes, muffins, eggs, etc. or Puerto Rican style, with the famous Mallorca sandwich, a typical local sweet and sour combination), it's a time for everyone to do what they want; you'll find many establishments that offer several a la carte options, complete meals in themselves.