US · beach
San Juan, Puerto Rico
United States
Caribbean beach + colonial Old San Juan, no passport needed (US territory)
Dec-Apr dry season ideal (78-85°F). Summer hot/humid; hurricane peak Aug-Oct.
When to visit
Award flights from the US
Economy
JetBlue TrueBlue
+ $50 taxes
JetBlue JFK-SJU direct
American AAdvantage
+ $60 taxes
AA economy JFK-SJU
Business / First
American AAdvantage
+ $60 taxes
AA business JFK-SJU
Cash equivalent: economy ~$380 · business ~$1,300 roundtrip from NYC
Award hotels
Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico
Hyatt
Cat 5 — beachfront 35 min east, near El Yunque rainforest.
Hyatt House San Juan
Hyatt
Cat 4 — extended-stay style, downtown San Juan.
Caribe Hilton
Hilton Honors
Dynamic 40-80K. Historic with pools right downtown.
The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort
Marriott Bonvoy
Standard category; off-peak 70K. Ultra-luxury east of SJU.
What to see & do
Old San Juan
500-year-old cobblestoned colonial district — fortresses, blue cobblestone streets, pastel buildings.
El Morro Fort (Castillo San Felipe)
16th-century Spanish fort on a 140-ft cliff overlooking the Atlantic. UNESCO site.
El Yunque Rainforest
Only tropical rainforest in US Forest Service. 1-hour east — waterfalls, hiking, towers.
Bioluminescent Bay
Mosquito Bay on Vieques — water glows blue when disturbed. Kayak tours at night.
Condado Beach
Urban beach lined with hotels and restaurants — easy from anywhere in SJU.
Mofongo + Lechón
Mashed plantain dish with roast pork — try at Lechonera El Mojito in Guavate.
Monthly weather
Best cards for this trip
Open Hilton Aspire (150K bonus) + Sapphire Preferred. Caribe Hilton (60K/night) covered by Aspire bonus for ~2.5 nights + free weekend cert.
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