Family travelers looking for a warm weather vacation spot with a touch of the exotic without having to travel internationally should consider Puerto Rico. Here’s why:
You Don’t Need a Passport
Although it’s not the cheapest place to travel, for Americans, Puerto Rico is a real bargain in the Caribbean. Because it’s part of the United States, U.S. citizens can go there without passports, a considerable savings for traveling families.
It’s Easy to Get There
Not only can you fly there without passports, but you also don’t need to pay for international flights and can fly directly from cities all over the country. As anyone who has traveled with young children knows, direct flights are a parent’s best friend. You’ll find direct flights from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Miami, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and other cities.
The Beaches are Beautiful
Without leaving the capital city of San Juan, your family can find golden sand beaches. Head for the lively Condado neighborhood for the beach and its hip vibe. The mile-long crescent beach and calm turquoise sea at Luquillo Beach, 30 miles east of San Juan, is great for swimming, and surfing teens will love the beaches around Rincon.
The Local Culture is Contageous
You’ll soon tap your foot to the rhythms of the culture and be dazzled by colorful festivals. The best known are Fiesta de Reyes Isabelinos in Isabela and Fiesta de Reyes Juanadina in Juana Díaz. On Jan. 20, Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián is in Old San Juan, and all over the island Puerto Rico celebrates Three Kings Day, or Epiphany, on Jan. 6.
The Street Food is Good (and the Coffee is Great)
Forget expensive restaurant lunches and treat your family to the local grab-and-go favorites sold by street vendors and open-air counters. Empanadas are hand pies filled with beef, seafood or cheese, deep fried until crisp. If you’d rather avoid fried foods, look for pichos, skewers of chicken or pork grilled over charcoal.
Puerto Rico is known for its coffee, grown on local fincas and roasted in small batches. Try several brands to find your favorite. You can even visit a coffee plantation to see how it’s grown and roasted.
Read This Next
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedHotels
Sep 3, 20263 Caribbean, Latin American Marriott Hotels for Multigen Trips
Multigenerational travel continues to grow in popularity, with family travelers moving away from traditional getaways for meaningful trips with family members of all ages. The Caribbean and Latin America are growing destinations of interest for this type of travel, and three Marriott properties offer opportunities for multigen families to create lifelong memories.
Sponsored Content
Best of Both Worlds
Enjoy the best of both worlds when you fly with TAP Air Portugal thanks to the Portugal Stopover program. With the program, TAP passengers, whether traveling for business, leisure or both, can stop in Portugal for up to 10 days at no additional airfare on the way to their final destination. What does this mean for travelers wishing to explore by both land and sea? It means after flying to Portugal with TAP and experiencing the country in an entirely new way, travelers can then embark on scenic river and ocean cruises from Portugal’s port cities, or fly with TAP to another European destination.
Travel Tips
Sep 1, 2026TikTok Revolutionizes Travel Planning and Inspiration
With an estimated 1.9 billion users worldwide, TikTok influences nearly every part of our lives, from food to fashion. The app so profoundly changed the way we travel, it now describes itself as a “modern-day travel agency, itinerary planner, and travel blog rolled into one.” Using TikTok to plan travel is so popular, the app recently launched TikTok Go to make booking even easier.
Hotels
Sep 1, 2026Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa to Welcome Return of Elf on the Shelf This Holiday Season
The magic of Christmas quickly approaches as summer comes to a close, and families can experience the holiday season in a unique way this year.
Sponsored Content
GET TO KNOW TAP FORBIZ
Unlock flexible, refined business travel with TAP Air Portugal’s program, TAP FORBIZ. Developed for small, medium and large Companies, with options for corporate events, TAP FORBIZ offers exclusive advantages adapted to each type of business.
Hotels
Sep 1, 2026This London Hotel Launches Little Londoners Family Package
Balance a city break in London with kid-friendly experiences at Sea Containers London, an upscale, riverside hotel. The property recently debuted the Little Londoners package, a thoughtfully designed offering that makes exploring London easier (and more fun) for both kids and parents.
ShareThis