This review was wrongly located for a while under guide books to Puerto Rico in the Caribbean ! Don't even ask for an explanation. Thanks to Jess and Co. at Ciao, that has been deleted and now inserted here. Happy reading - and thanks to those who waited patiently to read and comment.
Puerto Rico has welcomed us as a family, and as a couple on about 7 occasions. I suppose the real attraction is the near-guaranteed sunshine.
But I'll try and give you a feel for the whole town of Puerto Rico....I hope I can do a great PR job on PR
GETTING THERE : ==============
Flights leave several UK destinations for Gran Canaria's Las Palmasairport, and you can reckon on a flight of about 4 hours.
The airport has been modernised and is very welcoming - bright, modern and cool. Formalities consist of a quick passage through the passport control and a bit of a wait at the baggage carousel.
From the airport to Puerto Rico, is a journey of about 40 minutes drive, and you do have options. Tours usually have their own buses laid on. The affluent get into a taxi and get ready to dish out about 40 euros when they arrive.
We stick to our routine of hiring a car on the internet at home before we leave, and picking it up at the airport for the rest of the week. At around £80 a week, its not bad value for the independent traveller.
ACCOMODATION =========== Puerto Rico was created by the Roco family out of a barren valley. It is a holiday centre and packed with all kinds of accommodation. You can rent villas, bungalows, apartments and rooms or opt for a hotel of as many stars as you want - or can afford.
It is worth thinking about the distance from your room to the beach, restaurants and shops. The further away you are, the higher you have to climb back home. The other way of looking at it, is that the further away you are from the centre, the cheaper it should be, and the more money you have to pay taxi fares.!
BEACH ======
The beach is man-made, with sand imported from North Africa - but none the worse for that. In fact in ensures it is clean, safe and suitable for the whole family. Paddle boats, row boats and water scooters can all be hired in the harbour area.
You can also parascend, go deep sea fishing, sail in a catamaran, or take a trip in all kinds of ferry and pleasure craft.
Simply walking round either of the two harbours, is itself a pleasant jaunt at the end of the day.
SHOPS ======
The shopping centre is a huge concrete monstrosity, housing 'duty-free' shops, restaurants, bars and clubs. I loathe it, yet we end up strolling through it almost every evening. Some goods are really good offers, but I am convinced that a lot of the goods are counterfeit, or not what they seem.
The restaurants vary and are good for a cheap stomach fill, which is fine if you have a horde of kids with you - but I'll point you to decent food in a moment.!
There are some other shops scattered round the resort and the Netto supermarkets are well geared to supplying the tourist with all the food from home you could want.
Markets are held in all the surrounding towns on different days of the week. While some stalls sell fruit and veg. most cater for the tourist who is eager to take home a counterfeit T-shirt, a souvenir ( made in China ) , or the kind of tack seen on market stalls in the UK!
RESTAURANTS =============
There are myriads, and I reckon all are safe enough to eat in.! Most represent better value than we get at home, specially if you love your meat in big quantities. But most disappoint if you are looking for something truly typical of Spanish cuisine. Canary potatoes are the nearest that most will offer to anything really 'local'.
'Oscars' on the sea front, is Scandinavian, and serves quality food to a full house 6 nights of the week. This is melt-in-the-mouth meat, served beautifully. La Taberna is under new management this year, and is expensive by local standards - but is gourmet cooking that is a real treat. Go to Arguinegan harbour and you can enjoy wonderful fish fresh from the fishing boats, or nearby find some genuine tapas bars. If you want an extended review on the eating experience in the area, I have another review on Gran Canaria for those with a Gran Hunger.
FUN & GAMES ============
Relaxing at the pool with a book and an occasional fishing trip keeps me happy most of the time. Equally there are plenty of possiblities for walks, fishing from the shore, or simply promenading along the shore. A car opens up lots of other possibilities - once you have controlled the nervousness inspired by local roads and drivers.! Most of the roads around Puerto Rico traverse the cliffs, with precious little to prevent a long drop if you are careless.
There are mini-golfs, play areas for the kids, and other amusements in the wider area. Buses and organised trips can take you round local destinations as well as the popular choices which are further afield. Mogan has a weekly market, as do most of the towns in the area, if that is your idea of fun. Las Palmas city interests us for at least one day a week - and has a brand new museum of technology and science this year.
Night life involves a couple of clubs, and plenty of bars for those interested, and most of the hotels and apartment complexes run their own specials - Canarian evenings etc.
CONCLUSION =============
I like Puerto Rico as a week's relaxation in the sun. When the children were small, they came and thoroughly enjoyed it. There are plenty of young couples around who seem to find plenty enough night life to bring them back for a second time.
But there will be many who could be excused for thinking the whole island to be a bit small, and lacking in challenge for the adventurous.
I encourage at least one visit - and make up your own mind thereafter.
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We propose some unforgettable holidays in "El Capistrano Villages", in Nerja, the privileged balcony of the Costa del Sol. "El Capistrano Villages" is, possibly, the most beautiful and exclusive Urbanisation on the Costa del Sol.
Advantages: Virtual year round sunshine and only 4 hours away Disadvantages: Some areas rather built up - full of fish and chip shops, singlets and neon signs
Advantages: Virtual year round sunshine and only 4 hours away Disadvantages: Some areas rather built up - full of fish and chip shops, singlets and neon signs
Sep 29th, 2005
very helpful by (100%):
