This is the first in a short series of posts about Puerto Rico. In fact, I’ve even made a header image for it:

Wow! How great is that? You know you’re in for something special when there is a separate image just for that series.

The family (all three of us) were in Puerto Rico last week for Spring Break, and almost-annual tradition that takes us someplace warm when Michigan is having one of its bad weather months. This was our first trip to Puerto Rico and it was an enjoyable time. I’ll expound on all kinds of things in the coming few posts, but I first wanted to talk about driving in Puerto Rico.

The bad news: There are lots of bad drivers in Puerto Rico, like there are everywhere.

Arriving in the San Juan airport (SJU), I was very happy to find that you can walk to the car rental companies – they’re just across the street from the arrivals area. That made my heart feel super happy. Wait, that was Ni Hao Kai Lan – I should be using Dora the Explorer quotes. I’ll see what I can do later.

I’m going to give it to you straight: San Juan is a terrible city to drive in. Of all the cities, international and on the continental United States, San Juan was the worst. Andrea the navigator did a great job of getting us to Walmart for some supplies and onto to Dorado where our hotel waited, but the streets are twisting and street names may or may not be the same as they are on Google. And, in my case, it was dark and rainy.

Roads conditions on Puerto Rico vary wildly. Most are OK to poor, a few are excellent (especially around Dorado which is filled with luxury condos and hotels). Potholes are frequent and can be suspension-damaging, so always be on the lookout. Flooding during heavy rains is common so be extra cautious if you have to drive in a downpour. If you have plans to explore and such a storm comes, my advice is to change your plans and stay close to your hotel.

The streets twist and turn in the smaller towns. On many roads, street lines are only shadows of their former selves or missing completely.

For the last part of this post, I will focus specifically on San Juan.

I had wanted to spend a few hours in Old San Juan, but had heard driving through those old streets was terrible. I didn’t drive through the old town, and I would suggest you not either. Park at one of the lots or ramps on the outskirts and walk the rest of the way. It’s quite compact and along many intersections, there are no stop signs. Don’t try it.

I had found a place called “La Puntilla Parking” just south of Old San Juan. This would have been a great spot to park if I had gotten there an hour before I did (11:00). If you or your family are not early risers and you have to arrive in the late morning, skip this lot. A line at least ten cars deep had formed to get into the lot as soon as a car left. And even though it appeared there were many open spaces in the lot, those are held by pass holders and you may not be able to park in the lot.

If you do choose to park there, the entrance is on Calle Arturo Schomburg. Good luck.

What worked for us was one of the parking ramps on Calle Recinto Sur. The star is the approximate location of the entrance. Again, if you are arriving late in the morning, you will probably be in a long line of cars and you will be going up up up to the top. Ass hats that take up multiple spots are common.

The best advice for driving around Puerto Rico is to be patient, have an excellent navigator helping you because driving and trying to find the right road or freeway exit is not easy, and be vigilant for the enormous potholes waiting to eat your car.