Thinking of a holiday in Puerto Rico? You're not alone. Puerto Rico is one of the most diverse and popular islands in the Caribbean and for very good reason. Puerto Rico offers white sand beaches, turquoise water, large cities, luxury resorts and small neighborhood boutique hotels. Puerto Rico has most anything a traveler could desire.

Puerto Rico is called The Island of Enchantment. Here are a few reason why:

• Rainforest - El Yunque
  
• Neighboring islands of Vieques and Culebra
  
• Old San Juan
• San Cristobal Canyon
• Humacao Nature Reserve
  
• Botanical Gardens
• Cabo Rojo Wildlife Refuge and Salt Flats
• Fajardo Bioluminescent Lagoon
• Pinones and Toro Negro State Forests
• Cave Systems

• Puerto Rico is 100 miles long and 35 miles wide.
• The temperature averages a year round summer like 82-F.
• Both English and Spanish are official languages.
• Puerto Rico's population is about 4,000,000.
• Almost 1,000,000 people live in the capital city of San Juan.
• Puerto Rico is home to many old Coffee Haciendas.

Most people who arrive in Puerto Rico will land at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) which is located near the city of San Juan. There are other airports in Puerto Rico as well so if you are not planning to stay near San Juan, look into those options. Rafael Hernandez Airport in Aguadilla (BQN) is the airport to fly into for locations on the west side of the Island. Please note the main airport in San Juan is the busy hub for air travel to the other Caribbean islands. Many commercial airlines, as well as charters, serve these islands and subsequently, the airport is usually very crowded so plan accordingly.

San Juan is also a bustling cruise ship port servicing over 16 different cruise lines. The busy cruise ship terminal serves over 1,000,000 people each year.

Transportation is no problem in Puerto Rico. Taxis and buses are plentiful and all the major car rental companies are located in, or close by, the main airports, as well as other convenient locations around the island.

Puerto Rico offers a huge variety of accommodation for its visitors. The options include:

• Resorts
• All Inclusives
  
• Boutique Hotels
• Guest Houses
• Private Home Rentals
• Condominium Rentals
• Timeshares
• Camping

Like any other major tourist destination, the further you get from the beach or the action, the less expensive the accommodations will be. Many people experience a bit of sticker shock when checking the prices for places to stay in Puerto Rico. This is why it's important to carefully consider the type of vacation you're looking for. Perhaps you want room service on your own private balcony overlooking the Pacific every morning and a visit to the spa in the afternoon. This is no problem as Puerto Rico has many 4 and 5 star resorts to choose from.

If you like to party, there are many hotels where the casinos and bars are going full speed long into the night. Be sure to look into all inclusives because they can save you a bit of money. Even hotels that are not considered "all inclusive" will sometimes offer a variety of optional meal plans.

Maybe you've got a list of places to visit in Puerto Rico and plan on using your room only to sleep in and store your belongings. If so, you might need nothing more than basic accommodations. This is definitely a way to save some money for other activities around Puerto Rico.

If you are looking at renting a private house or condo, check sites like VRBO for rentals directly from the owners. If you're interested in resorts or hotels try booking a package deal. You will find most hotel names you are familiar with in Puerto Rico (Marriott, DoubleTree, Hampton Inn) but there are many, many lesser known names that are well worth looking into.

There is no lack of things to do in Puerto Rico! Here are just a few ideas.

• Sightseeing
• Kayaking
• Cave Exploration
• Deep Sea Fishing
• Hiking
• Swim, Snorkel, Scuba
• Golf
• Canopy & Zip Line Tours
• Windsurfing/Kitesurfing

As you can see, between the sightseeing and the plethora of activities available in Puerto Rico, you might just need a vacation when you get back home! At any rate, you are sure to have a wonderful holiday in Puerto Rico!

Happy Travels!