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Message |
    
amandacat
Citizen
Username: Amandacat
Post Number: 744
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 6:25 pm: |     |
Am thinking about a trip to Vieques next month, anyone have any recommendations for places to stay? I've checked Tripadvisor.com, lots of good info there but of course it's always better to get advice from someone you actually know, and I sure do feel like I know you guys!
Budget is $150/night max, don't need luxury (not at that price!) but some form of island charm would be nice, and of course clean quiet and safe wouldn't hurt either. I'd love a good view, too, and someplace outdoors (a patio, deck, balcony, pool) to enjoy it from . . .
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Master Plvmber
Citizen
Username: Master_plvmber
Post Number: 295
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 11:43 pm: | |
We stayed at the Inn at the Blue Horizon. It was exceptional. I think we stayed in an especially cheap room that we booked at the last minute, much smaller than the rest.
The hotel and grounds are beautiful and I recommend it highly.
If you are going to rent a car, use Vieques Car Rental and get a Jeep. You'll need the ground clearance as there aren't many paved roads.
The owner of VCR told me of another hotel that really sounded great and much cheaper for next time. Perhaps he still recommends the same place.
You're doing the right thing going to Vieques now, in my opinion it won't be long before it's full of casinos.
Here are the hotel grounds on an overcast day.
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Master Plvmber
Citizen
Username: Master_plvmber
Post Number: 296
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - 11:46 pm: | |
Vieques from the plane (do not take the boat) to mainland Puerto Rico (Fajardo).
Master Plvmber |
amandacat
Citizen
Username: Amandacat
Post Number: 745
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 7, 2005 - 10:29 am: | |
Thanks for the pics, Master Plvmber, Vieques looks absolutely amazing; we bought our tickets last night, I can't wait!!!
The Inn at the Blue Horizon looks gorgeous but a little steep for our budget, I've queried them about that cheap room but in the meantime have booked us at The Crow's Nest for $110/night; not as chic as IATBH, but looks simple and comfortable in an Island sort of way, I think it just might do. |
Master Plvmber
Citizen
Username: Master_plvmber
Post Number: 297
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 7, 2005 - 6:36 pm: | |
Did you click the pics?
Master Plvmber |
howardf
Citizen
Username: Howardf
Post Number: 264
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 8, 2005 - 11:15 am: | |
One of the foremost scholars on Vieques is a Maplewood resident. Check out:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0813530911/qid=1105200894/sr=8-1/r ef=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/104-0818982-6721538?v=glance&s=books&n=507846 |
Mark Fuhrman
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 1091
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 9, 2005 - 9:12 pm: | |
howard
Do you get a commission? |
nina
Citizen
Username: Nina
Post Number: 139
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 9, 2005 - 10:15 pm: | |
We got back from Vieques last week, and it is absolutely beautiful. Be sure to kayak/swim in the bio-bay. I agree that it is best to fly to the island from San Juan. We took the ferry. It was not pleasant. We stayed at the Wyndham Martinaeu Bay, which was beautiful but pricey. One thing you may want to check out at the Wyndham is the Wine Tasting for $15 dollars hosted by a local chef - it's either on Monday or Wed. night. |
howardf
Citizen
Username: Howardf
Post Number: 265
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2005 - 1:43 pm: | |
Mark:
No commission, just the satisfaction of making sure the world is aware of an excellent, well-read and accessible work that from the world's premiere scholar on Vieques. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 1847
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2005 - 1:57 pm: | |
Is there any practical way to day-trip to Vieques to kayak/swim in bio-bay & then return to San Juan, without staying over in Vieques? |
howardf
Citizen
Username: Howardf
Post Number: 266
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2005 - 2:34 pm: | |
MHD:
Not really. You need to go to Mosquito bay in the dark (preferably, a moonless night), and there are no planes or ferries leaving late enough. You can do a one night stay-over though.
See: http://www.vieques-island.com/val/index.html for a schedule. By the way, when leaving from San Juan try the Isla Grande airport, not the international airport. Isla Grande is easier to deal with and has better schedules. There are also very early flights back to San Juan. When I used to work in San Juan and spent weekends in Vieques, where my wife was living at the time, I would leave work early on Friday, and get back Monday morning, but I never tried to go and come back in one day. |
howardf
Citizen
Username: Howardf
Post Number: 267
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2005 - 2:35 pm: | |
hey, did anyone check my earlier link? |
amandacat
Citizen
Username: Amandacat
Post Number: 750
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2005 - 5:41 pm: | |
MHD, this link http://www.virtualtourist.com/f/p/72fd/
might answer your question about non-overnight trips to the Vieques Bio Bay; looks like you might have to settle for one of the other Bio Bays on the mainland, if you're looking just for a daytrip.
Master Plumber, Nina, if you have any suggestions for specific places to visit, things to do, or especially places to eat while on Vieques, please do let me know! So far we are hoping to get in a biobay kayak trip, some snorkeling (possibly combined with a day trip to Culebra), and of course lots of beach time. I also read that the island has some really great mountain biking, which got my husband all hot and bothered, I'll have to find something to amuse myself while he's busy pedaling his heart out.
MP, thanks for the photo links, didn't realize they were there! I've emailed VCR about a Jeep rental, hope it works out . . . |
amandacat
Citizen
Username: Amandacat
Post Number: 751
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2005 - 6:07 pm: | |
MHD, I did a little more poking around and found this link http://www.eastwindcats.com/pages/powercat_excursion1.html
for one-day catamaran trips to Bio Bay Vieques, might be worth checking out . . . |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 1848
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2005 - 8:44 pm: | |
Nice job, amandacat! Thanks very much!! |
Master Plvmber
Citizen
Username: Master_plvmber
Post Number: 299
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2005 - 9:29 pm: | |
Try to schedule your bio bay experience for a night with as little moon as possible.
Only one company does the canoe trip when there is a full moon and it really isn't worth it.
The extra light really diminishes the biolumenescence.
Most of the food on Vieques is not very good,
and everyone will tell you to go to Chez Shack, but that's not the answer.
When we were there last, a serious effort to open a top-shelf restaurant was in the works. I'm sure it's open now. It was near where the boat docks (Isabel Segunda). Sorry I can't give you more info.
Here is a picture from Isabel Segunda at dusk:
There isn't much to tell about Vieques.
Just wear your sandals, know where the Green Store is, get a map and visit all the beaches.
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nina
Citizen
Username: Nina
Post Number: 140
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 10, 2005 - 10:42 pm: | |
Sorry I can't offer too much more. We had the kids with us, so we did hit Red Beach (which was beautiful) and the bio-bay but not much heavy duty trekking. You may enjoy this article:
http://www.vieques-island.com/articles/columbus_dispatch.html
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howardf
Citizen
Username: Howardf
Post Number: 268
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 - 2:43 pm: | |
When we used to live in San Juan and Vieques, my wife and I biked all around Vieques, but only because we couldn't afford another car besides the one in SJ. It is invigorating, but very hilly, and we were in our twenties then and in excellent shape.
The bioluminescent bay in Vieques is far beyond anything on the mainland. Comparing them is like asking an average heterosexual male who he would rather sleep with: Heidi Klum, or Madeleine Albright. No contest. And it is worth waiting for a moonless night. And we also found there were many restaurants worth going to, including many with only locals. |
cleo
Citizen
Username: Cleo
Post Number: 18
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, January 15, 2005 - 5:19 pm: | |
Any ideas about what to do and see in Vieques with a 15 month old baby? We absolutely loved Culebra when we honeymooned there years ago. For this trip I guess my husband and I could take turns snorkeling - but that is not the same as snorkeling together. So any thoughts about vacationing in Vieques with a baby would be welcome. We are thinking about staying there for five nights. And aside from what are good Vieques activities for a 15 month old, I also would welcome thoughts about the flight there from San Juan -- I guess we would have to pay for three seats? And we will also have to deal with the car seat issue, unless vacationing without renting a jeep is possible there - in Culebra it seemed like it would be very limiting to not have a jeep.
Thanks. |
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