Traveling or moving to Puerto Rico for the first time
How you can get to Puerto Rico with your car
Avoid making these mistakes in Puerto Rico
Final word
Traveling or moving to Puerto Rico for the first time
When you are traveling to Puerto Rico for the first time, it is important to prepare for the climate, culture and in general before you even start your trip there. For example, many people do not know that American citizens do not even need a passport in order to travel there.
You definitely do not need to know how to speak Spanish because the tourist industry is so large and important that the popular areas on the island will pretty much always have someone who speaks English. However, if you plan on visiting one of the smaller and lesser known areas or towns, it could be useful to know some basic Spanish or at least have a translation app on your phone.
Another thing that many people do not know upon their first trip to Puerto Rico is that you can use the US dollar as currency without having to exchange it.
If you plan on driving when you are here, you should know that traffic is a bit tricky. That is because typical driving etiquette is not really common in Puerto Rico. This means that you will see people driving through stops signs and red lights all the time, people will turn left from the right lane, and people will even stop in the middle of the road for seemingly no reason.
How you can get to Puerto Rico with your car
If you are going to Puerto Rico and you would rather skip the expense of renting a car and the unreliability of public transportation, you can always ship your car to Puerto Rico. Shipping your car to Puerto Rico is easy and convenient. You just need to book your shipment, prepare for your shipment, travel to Puerto Rico yourself and then pick your car up at the port.
Avoid making these mistakes in Puerto Rico
Keep these common mistakes that people make when they first travel to Puerto Rico in mind when you travel or move there yourself:
- Spending too much time and money at the hotel – The amenities at hotels can be extremely expensive, especially in comparison to local places in Puerto Rico. You will always be better off doing things like eating at local businesses rather than the hotel.
- Visiting areas heavily affected by the recent earthquakes – There are some areas which were unfortunately hit hard by the recent earthquakes. For now, you will want to avoid these areas. You can always donate to the recovery efforts if you please.
- Getting pickpocketed – This happens a bit more than normal in densely crowed public areas and on public transit in Puerto Rico. So, if you end up in one of these areas, always be aware.
- Thinking you need to know Spanish in order to travel there – English is the second most widely spoken language in Puerto Rico, so you do not need to know Spanish in order to be able to visit.
- Keeping a tight schedule – Most people in Puerto Rico operate on what is known as “island time” which means deadlines are not strictly adhered to and people take their time getting from one place to the next. So, do not try and zip around the island. Take your time and enjoy the beautiful sights and weather.
Final word
Going to Puerto Rico for the first time might seem overwhelming but it definitely does not need to be. When you realize that you do not even need a passport or to exchange your money, it should seem like a much more possible and easy experience. Just be sure you avoid making some of the more typical mistakes that people tend to make and you will be able to get the most out of your time in Puerto Rico.
