Bahia Beach GC is one reason to reconsider Puerto Rico golf vacations.
Want to know the best island for Caribbean golf vacations? There are, of course, many factors to consider, but if convenience is of utmost importance to you, Puerto Rico golf vacations are the, ahem, easy winner.
Puerto Rico golf vacations offer the balmy weather, abundant golf courses, and very nice beaches like some other Caribbean options, but as the editors of Golf Odyssey point out in the February 2009 issue, one of its major advantages is sheer convenience — especially for U.S. travelers — a pretty important factor for time-starved people who need to unwind, but don’t want an added hassle of doing it.
In the process of conducting one of their trademark, anonymous inspections, the editors were reminded how easy it is to get to and navigate on a Puerto Rico golf vacation. If you’re an American traveler, you don’t need a passport, you don’t need to deal with clearing Customs, and since English is widely spoken, you don’t have to worry about your foreign-language skills.
Puerto Rico is also only two-and-a-half hours by air from Miami and non-stop flights are available from most major hubs. The island’s roads are good (Highway 66, a lightly trafficked new toll road reduces drive times for those going to and from the airport and San Juan), you can pump your own gas at service stations, and the dollar is the currency.
There was a time not so long ago when Puerto Rico was one of the leading spots for Caribbean golf vacations (one advantage it always had, and still has, is the comfortable, intriguing, and fun city of Old San Juan.). In recent years, however, it had moved down on our list, thanks to a lack of investment in Puerto Rico and ambitious investment elsewhere, most notably Casa de Campo and Punta Cana, making Dominican Republic golf vacations the focus for those seeking a selection of top-notch courses (and accommodations) on Caribbean golf vacations.
But, as the editor’s of Golf Odyssey recently found out, it may be premature to count Puerto Rico out. With some high-profile, newly opened and newly-remodeled golf courses and resorts (including one hosting a March PGA Tour event and still others in various stages of development), a Puerto Rico golf vacation may once again offer more than sheer convenience.
So, if you’ve ever caught yourself wondering, “What ever happened to Puerto Rico golf vacations?” and you want to find out about its new courses and get recommendations on where to stay and dine, you’ll want to read the current issue of Golf Odyssey, which you can get instantly just for taking a free trial, here.
Did you know? Golf Vacation Insider and Golf Odyssey are the world’s only golf publications that do not accept any advertising from golf courses, resorts, or restaurants and regularly travel anonymously in order to provide you with expert, unbiased, and trusted advice.
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