Comments on: Puerto Rico Tourism Company Discriminates Against Island Residents

By: Coqui

Coqui — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:19:25 +0000

Thanks for the comment. I totally agree. Since I wrote this article I have heard a few hotels in San Juan are offering special prices to PR Residents. San Juan Marriott Resort & Casino is one.

You might want to consider calling a few (use the local numbers) and say to them that you have seen the promotion by the PR Tourist Company and what special offers they have for PR residents.

I hope you find something and good luck with the wedding plans

By: Kim

Kim — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:13:22 +0000

p.s. money is money. and they are a business. when things are bad you want money, doesn’t matter if its a local or not.

By: Kim

Kim — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:09:01 +0000

Hi
I totally think it is completely unfair. Can you imagine my position, im getting married in the fall and wanted my honeymoon abroad. due to other choices we had to make, we also had to eliminate that honeymoon. so, we decided to stay on the island on a beautiful hotel where we can normally never ever afford to stay but it is a lot less expensive (and less frightening b/c of airplanes falling from the sky or swine flu on cruises now)to stay here. But now, I can’t take advantage of a great offer b/c I live here? So, if i did stay at that hotel, i will hate to think that the people in the other room paid 217 the night with xtra credits and i had to pay 305 the night with no benefits! Only open to USA residents? Then what the heck am I? I have a USA passport, birth certificate, born on USA soil (Puerto Rico). So now im not a USA resident? When did that happen?

By: Coqui

Coqui — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:01:16 +0000

Thanks Tim.

I’ve heard rumors about the cruise deals, but have not seen any for real – need to look harder. hope you have a great visit

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:35:18 +0000

I understand your comments about this offer. However, there are other offers that are only available to residents of Puerto Rico that are not available to residents of the USA. I enjoy cruising from San Juan and would LOVE to be able to get the rates that are available to island residents. I guess it all works out in the long run. By the way, because of the rates, I’m traveling to Puerto Rico in June and extending my stay in September. You have a beautiful place to live and I will use any excuse I can to come visit. Have you ever tried to get Mofongo in Washington, D.C.?

By: Coqui

Coqui — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:04:37 +0000

Hi MJ

Thanks for the comment. I too was not aware of deals for local residents (at least not as good as this one). I will be checking hotel sites etc. from now on to see if I can grab a bargain here. But I have the feeling they will not be as generous )

By: Coqui

Coqui — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:02:23 +0000

Hi Lorraine

Thanks for the comments.

I realize that this offer is to attract non-residents to the island, but it currently will only attract USA residents and not from other countries (as I mentioned in the post). I am all for this type of activity as a way to attract folks here. But I just feel that the amount of FREE credit that is being offered in this particular offer is a little high – it’s quite possible with this deal, to have a vacation here and hardly spend any of your own money.

May be I need to check hotel sites more often, as I was not aware of these deals for local residents. I just hope that they work out to be such a great deal, as this one is for USA visitors.

By: MJ Stark

MJ Stark — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:42:39 +0000

I’m glad you expressed your feelings about what appeared to be very unfair to locals. It prompted information that should be known about. Maybe having an article in the Sunday paper (if that hasn’t been done) about vacationing at home would be a good idea. Living on Culebra, I know it truly does feel like a holiday when I go to the big island or Vieques for a long weekend, and I hear others from *over there* feel the same way coming here.

By: Lorraine

Lorraine — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:59:20 +0000

This particular Summer Package is directed at the non-resident market and is designed specifically to bring travelers to Puerto Rico.

Most if not all hotels offer packages for the local market, which are in many cases even more attractive for residents than this promotion, with add-ons specifically geared to them (you’ll notice the fine print at the bottom of the adverts that those rates are offered only for PR residents and, in some cases, residents of the Virgin Islands – and not available to other travelers).

I trust this is helpful. Cheers,