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frustrated traveler needs help
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Bryan Martin (---.triad.res.rr.com)
Date:   12-07-10 16:25

Ok so I want to come to culebra my wife is very sick on chemo and I promised her I would take her to a wonderful blue water beach so I was thinking flamenco beach.

I contacted Flamenco airlines only to be told it was 700 dollars for two people round trip to culebra I have the email I was shocked.

We are on a tight budget so I was thinking fly to san juan get a taxi to the ferry take the ferry then take public transport and camp on flamenco beach. Is this the least expensive route to take.

Is there food available at flamenco beach. How do you all get your coolers ect. I am assuming people purchase them once there in puerto rico is there a local walmart or other store on the way from san juan. So far the responses I've gotten from allot of these companies hasn't been good allot of super super high prices. 700 dollars for a short flight is a little bit ridiculous

I really need some detailed help to plan this trip I'm doing it for my wife and I'm trying to get this trip planned all help is greatly appreciated.

Are there any flights to culebra in a reasonable price range for two people and can I just book the flight once I get into san juan or no. What is my best route to go.
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Re: frustrated traveler needs help
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Doug (---.148.130.148.nw.nuvox.net)
Date:   12-07-10 17:34

Very sorry about your wife's illness. I can relate. Is she physically up to camping?

Anyway, check out the transportion section of this website for suggestions of ground transpo to Fajardo. Make sure you land in San Juan in time for you to travel that far - about an hour; or more if you stop in time for the ferry. When you call to reserve your ride mention the stop. There are Walmarts and other stores along the way.

Good luck. Culebra isn't the easiest place to access, but it is worth the effort.
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Re: frustrated traveler needs help
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Kyle Stevenson (---.t1.cavtel.net)
Date:   12-07-10 17:35

Vieques Air Link is $115 roundtrip per person = ~$260 total

the $700 is the price for a "chartered" flight, which means the flight is for you and your group only. Go with VAL instead.
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Re: frustrated traveler needs help
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Kyle Stevenson (---.t1.cavtel.net)
Date:   12-07-10 17:38

No edit button, sorry my math is wrong it should be around $230 +taxes and whatever other surcharges they have.
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Re: frustrated traveler needs help
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Linda H (---.dhcp.mrqt.mi.charter.com)
Date:   12-07-10 18:57

There are food kiosks at Flamenco Beach, food is good and pretty reasonable. If you want to hit some of the other beaches, like Zoni (my favorite) you may want to rent a vehicle from Jerry, Carlos or Dick and Cathie.

If you fly ask about weight limitations on luggage. If yoiuo decide to take the ferry, renting a car can be cheaper than John's Publico or Henry, if you want to deal with traffic and finding the ferry docks in Fajardo on your own. (If I can do it anyone can!) That way you can stop wherever you need to. If you're not comfortable with navigating in new places, or don't want the hassles of picking up and returning a car, then if you're taking the ferry I'd recommend John or Henry. Their contact info is in the transport section. They can stop at stores along the way if you want them to. There are also several small grocery stores on Culebra, although none close to Flamenco if you are camping and don't have a car.

I hope you can make the trip. Culebra is beautiful and truly is a special place. Also hope your wife will soon be recovering -- the sun and sand should be a real morale-booster for her. If she's not up to camping I'd suggest calling Culebra Vacation planners, or check out their website, to see if you can find accomodations in your price range. While there are no budget motels on Culebra, there are some reasonably-priced places that might be available.
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Re: frustrated traveler needs help
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Bryan Martin (---.triad.res.rr.com)
Date:   12-09-10 03:02

presently she's still able to camp well I don't see any reason she wouldn't be able too campings not really to different from a hotel in many respects just no AC every time I've camped a good pop up tent and an air mattress and plenty of bug spray suffices. Only thing is the heat during the day. Recovery unfortunately is not the hand thats been dealt this is one of those times where you just do everything you can to help a person enjoy the time they have and fulfill a lifelong dream out of love. Were on a pretty tight budget 60K a year in medication costs alone will knock anyones budget to the floor. I can get to san juan no problem getting to the docs I don't see as being a major issue. I had thought about renting a car. What I was thinking was camp in culebra 2 nights then take the ferry to viesques stay 2 nights then on run through old san juan on the way home.

My airfare to san juan the ferry fees campground fees and back to the airport needs to stay less than 2 grand for two people thats my budget. My fear is some of the rentals are ungodly expensive and I have no clue what a kyak rental or the eco tours or maybe even riding along with someone on a boat for a day is going to cost.
I'm getting the impression that some things are really expensive and some things not so much. All Advice is welcome short of saying stay home cause it's something I want to do. My best friend Catherine Hepburns nephew is coming with me to help if I need it so at least I'll have an extra hand if needed.
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Re: frustrated traveler needs help
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Herb (165.134.205.---)
Date:   12-09-10 08:23

2k....very doable
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Re: frustrated traveler needs help
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Linda H (---.dhcp.mrqt.mi.charter.com)
Date:   12-09-10 09:31

I agree 2k is very doable. The biggest variable is going to be your airfare to SJU, but if you're used to watching the various websites you should be able to get a decent fare. From previous posts I don't think there is a ferry from Culebra to Vieques. Other than a charter flight there doesn't seem to be an easy way to get between the two islands. I have never tried -- Culebra itself has been enough for us, with a week being barely enough time to explore all the beaches.

There is a place to leave your carry-ons at SJU and then you can take a taxi to Old SJ. That's what we did this past spring and it worked out great. We asked the driver who dropped us off to meet us at a certain time to take us back, and then walked around with no bags to worry about and no parking hassles. I think it costs $4 or $5 per bag to leave them at SJU.
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Re: frustrated traveler needs help
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Geronimo (---.customer.broadstripe.net)
Date:   12-09-10 10:23

I would suggest you pick one of the islands to visit. There is no inexpensive or easy way getting between them right now. Besides you would spend a lot of time just traveling. I believe time could be better spent enjoying one.
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Re: frustrated traveler needs help
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: beachbound (---.187.21.98.dynamic.ip.windstream.net)
Date:   12-09-10 10:53

I believe if there is enough interest, the airlines will fly from Culebra to Vieques, at least they used to. Three people might be enough for them to do the flight and I believe it was around $35 per person.

Also, I sent you an email Bryan.

Sue
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Re: frustrated traveler needs help
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Herb (165.134.205.---)
Date:   12-09-10 13:30

I agree with Geronimo, pick one island and relax a bit. Camping 2 days and then moving and camping 2 more days is ambitious IMHO. I would pick one island...Culebra....ssshhhhh.

Also ambitious is 4 days on the island and then going to old San Juan. In my opinion, finding a place to park your rental car (and remember where you parked it), walking into OSJ and then waiting for one of the over crowded shuttles to have 2 empty slots that you can get in to, and then fight the crowds, and then get lost, and then get lost trying to find your rental car....been there....done that....don't want to do it again. But then again, maybe I was just not prepared for OSJ.

Five days camping at Flamenco....now that sounds like the ticket.

Herb
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Re: frustrated traveler needs help
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Linda H (---.dhcp.mrqt.mi.charter.com)
Date:   12-09-10 14:57

Old SJ is nice, but it tends to be crowded and many of the shops sell PR/SJ versions of the usual tourist-y crap. There are some good restaurants and some interesting shops, and the forts are very interesting if you are into history, but if you want to maximize your beach time I would vote with Herb and stay on Culebra as long as possible.

Another option would be to rent a car one way (to or from Fajardo) and drive thru El Yunque. Even without hiking you can see a couple of waterfalls and neat views, plus there are hiking trails of various lengths that are easy to get to. I'd pick El Yunque over Old SJ if you want to sightsee on the main island. My teenage daughter, who never met a souvenir shop she didn't love, would not agree, though!
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Re: frustrated traveler needs help
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Bryan Martin (---.triad.res.rr.com)
Date:   12-10-10 02:09

I'm just trying to keep the faith that everything going to come together I been disabled since 1999 from a drunk driver but try to give back as much as I can. I do allot with habitat for humanity and doing the website for our local MADD chapter but most of my times spent taking care of my wife and without good people and our faith I don't think many things that have taken place in our lives would have happened. She told me she wanted to see blue water and when we got married a friend of mine told us about viesques and she got her hopes up turns out he didn't own a place on viesques like he said so I'm doing everything I can to make a dream come true. Once I started looking at the two islands it looked like culebra was a more promising choice. My friend at triple AAA priced the flight to san juan today for two people it was 834.00 I'm going to reserve it within the next two weeks for august 2011. I got a price on the flight from san juan 384.00 to culebra round trip for two so roughly I'm 1400 into our budget now figuring out wether were camping or staying somewhere and then transportation. If were forced to camp how safe is it because we have to bring our medications and thats a big concern I really don't want them disappearing. Either way were coming to culebra I'm just trying to get everything figured out and straightened out so I can tell my wife. Thank you all for the help and well wishes.
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Re: frustrated traveler needs help
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Doug (---.148.130.148.nw.nuvox.net)
Date:   12-10-10 11:33

Forget *that* flight to/from Culebra. Your airfare should be ~ 110 apiece. It will require you to take a taxi from SJU to the regional airport, Isla Grande, a 15 minute ride except during rush hour. Roughly $20 fare plus tip. That saves you more than a $100, right there.
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Re: frustrated traveler needs help
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Herb (165.134.205.---)
Date:   12-10-10 13:25

Follow Doug's advice...he has more experience than the rest of us do in dog years ;)

A different way to do it is hire a driver one way to Fajardo. Ask if your driver can purchase ferry tickets for you on one of his earlier trips. Get on the ferry, go to Culebra. Need a budget rental?....get a VW Thing from Dick (if you drive a stick) for around $40 per day. He will meet you at the ferry dock and all you do is take him home and then your on your way to the camp ground. Five days of bliss, blue water and serenity. At the end of 5 days, rent a car and see El Yunque. Drive to the rental agency, they will drive you to the airport (careful, they will want to take you on a personal tour....and expect a tip).

Safety while camping....this thread is covered thoroughly on this forum. Do a search and you will draw a favorable conclusion. We left our stuff in our tent and was never bothered. Don't bring valuable stuff (my camera never left my side) and don't call attention to yourself. The safety issue is also dependent on how many people are camping....high season is probably more problematic than low season and my experience is based on January travel...very low season. We also left our day packs on the beach while we snorkeled and never had any problems. I would do it again in a heart beat, and not think twice about it.

Herb
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Re: frustrated traveler needs help
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: DAVID BREWBAKER (---.sub-70-213-242.myvzw.com)
Date:   12-10-10 17:46

All of the advice is good. Always fly out of Isla Grande and not San Juan International on Vieques Air. R/T $110.The wrench in the plan is if it rains a lot and it could during the peak of hurricane season. I have a 2 bedroom rental for $100/ night in Clark and I would say a Jeep rental from Jerry would be better than the VW Thing as you have a roof. Email me @ dbrewbaker@aol.com or call 515 961 6618 to to talk and /or reserve Casa Mango. Stick to Culebra, fly in on the puddle jumper, rent a Jeep cheap and stay dry for under 2K. Doc
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Re: frustrated traveler needs help
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Bryan Martin (---.triad.res.rr.com)
Date:   12-12-10 17:09

ok Mr. Baker it was super nice talking to you on the phone I sent you an email please email me back make sure I have everything written correctly and spelled correctly and I'll call VAL in the morning and u.s airways and see if I can't get booked for those dates.
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