Vacation Planning, 2010

Now that another early and seriously frigid winter is settling in on most of the US, I’m starting to get daily calls and e-mails from folks planning a first trip to Vieques. If you’re one of these people and you’d like to head down in the next few months here’s a few pieces of advice that will make your vacation a bit easier.

The first thing you should do before booking airline tickets or accommodations is call and reserve a rental car on the island. This may sound strange and a bit backwards but trust me on this one. Between Christmas and Easter Week there are rarely enough cars to go around for all the tourists and a decent vehicle, preferably a Jeep, is essential on Vieques. You won’t be able to enjoy our great beaches to the fullest without one.

Reserving a car can be a bit frustrating this time of year since the rental companies are so busy. Don’t even attempt to do this by e-mail. Call them directly and don’t bother leaving a message if you get a machine. Keep calling until you get a live person. If there are no cars available then you might want to alter your travel plans. That’s why I recommend doing this before making any other reservations, such as airlines or hotels, which will be a lot more difficult to change.

If there are no cars available and you can’t move your travel plans you should still move forward with your trip. Deciding on where to stay will now be more important. Esperanza is by far the best choice since so much is within walking distance in this town including several great restaurants and some really nice beaches. Publicos, our local taxis, are available at all hours and many of the drivers live nearby. It’s likely that you’ll find one driver and use him for most of the week. It’s also likely that you’ll meet other travelers who you can bum rides from especially if you hang out at Duffy’s or the Yacht Club during Happy Hour. The Bio Bay trips also depart from Esperanza and the weekends have a street fair atmosphere. It’s definitely a fun town but can be a bit noisy if you’re staying right on the Malecon. Book a place one street back and you won’t have any problems.

As an added convenience, if you’re planning a fishing trip on Vieques both Capts. Franco Gonzalez and J Fergeson depart from the pier at Esperanza. Since I’m going to be staying up here in Florida this coming season those guys will be the only charter fishing boats available. Their schedules are sure to fill up quickly so I’d recommend contacting them soon. Kayak fishing with Vieques Adventures is another option and they’ll also pick you up right there in Esperanza.

Even though I’ll be up here on Pine Island, Florida this coming season, feel free to contact me with any questions you might have about Vieques. With the economy hurting so badly these days, Vieques is still a very affordable place to get away from it all without too much hassle. So if you’re snowed in somewhere in New York right now and could use a little Global Warming, go ahead and make your plans for the island.