Is it safe for a single woman to walk around San Juan PR by herself?
March 20, 2015 1:13 AM Subscribe
Ive travelled to most places by myself, but some places I know too little about to know if this is safe. How is San Juan, Puerto Rico?
There is an event that starts at 5pm that I want to attend. According to google it takes place about at a distance that is a 10 minute walk away from the Old San Juan Sheraton hotel (where I would be staying). Since I'd only be in town for a day or two wouldn't rent a car. Ideally I would just walk those 10 minutes to the event and then walk back to the hotel when it's finished. I don't know anything about Puerto Rico or this part of Puerto Rico. How safe would this be?
There is an event that starts at 5pm that I want to attend. According to google it takes place about at a distance that is a 10 minute walk away from the Old San Juan Sheraton hotel (where I would be staying). Since I'd only be in town for a day or two wouldn't rent a car. Ideally I would just walk those 10 minutes to the event and then walk back to the hotel when it's finished. I don't know anything about Puerto Rico or this part of Puerto Rico. How safe would this be?
In which direction? Toward El Moro or away? Is the venue also in OSJ?
If it is, and you're heading toward El Moro, I'd do it no problem.
If it's toward, say, Ocean Park or Santurce, nah. Really sketchy. (But I'm guessing not, because that's a real hike.)
But why bother if you're nervous? Just call a cab early, and they'll come get you. There are plenty on Google.
Memail me if you want me to look at your exact route. :)
posted by functionequalsform at 6:09 AM on March 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
If it is, and you're heading toward El Moro, I'd do it no problem.
If it's toward, say, Ocean Park or Santurce, nah. Really sketchy. (But I'm guessing not, because that's a real hike.)
But why bother if you're nervous? Just call a cab early, and they'll come get you. There are plenty on Google.
Memail me if you want me to look at your exact route. :)
posted by functionequalsform at 6:09 AM on March 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
(Also, I neglected to mention that I'm a tall blonde lady.)
posted by functionequalsform at 6:17 AM on March 20, 2015
posted by functionequalsform at 6:17 AM on March 20, 2015
Most of what you can get to in 10 minutes on foot is pretty OK, but more so toward El Moro. Far enough the other direction sketched me out as a tall, massive guy.
posted by wotsac at 6:40 AM on March 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by wotsac at 6:40 AM on March 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
I've never been east of the Plaza Colon on foot (we usually stay in Condado and take a cab into the old city) but points west of there have always seemed perfectly safe to me. Including at night.
And actually last time we were there we found ourselves in the middle of a huge protest rally (the Governor is proposing to replace the 7 percent sales tax w a 16 percent VAT. People are not happy.) and it was pretty much a parade and a party. Not the kind of thing where people yell and throw rocks and the vibe is all scary, but the sort of thing where little kids have been given air horns and express permission to make as much noise as they like, and are not going to let such a rare opportunity go to waste.
BTW, if you're looking for a place to eat, check out a little Spanish Tapas place called Rosa de Triana, right across the courtyard from the El Convento hotel. Highly recommended.
posted by Naberius at 7:48 AM on March 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
And actually last time we were there we found ourselves in the middle of a huge protest rally (the Governor is proposing to replace the 7 percent sales tax w a 16 percent VAT. People are not happy.) and it was pretty much a parade and a party. Not the kind of thing where people yell and throw rocks and the vibe is all scary, but the sort of thing where little kids have been given air horns and express permission to make as much noise as they like, and are not going to let such a rare opportunity go to waste.
BTW, if you're looking for a place to eat, check out a little Spanish Tapas place called Rosa de Triana, right across the courtyard from the El Convento hotel. Highly recommended.
posted by Naberius at 7:48 AM on March 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: The direction would be to the east towards a restaurant called "Casa de Espana". Does this help?
posted by manderin at 4:10 PM on March 20, 2015
posted by manderin at 4:10 PM on March 20, 2015
Best answer: Ooh, lucky you! That's a gorgeous building! Not open to the public, so I assume you're going to some special event.
I wouldn't be particularly concerned about that area. If I were, it wouldn't be about general sketchiness as much as traffic. That's one of a row of very impressive buildings set smack between the two main arteries in and out of the old city. Lot of traffic, moving pretty quickly sometimes.
If I recall correctly, there are sidewalks, though. Just be careful crossing the roads, especially after dark, and you'll likely be fine. If you're concerned, it's very easy to catch a taxi.
If you get there, you're very close to the fort, the Castillo de San Cristobal, which is very cool.
(Also, according to Agents of Shield, there's an alien city beneath the fort. So you'll definitely want to check that out...)
I kid, but check out that episode - fast forward to about 18:30 and they're in San Juan. That square with the tall white pedestal with a statue on it is the Plaza Colon (or Columbus, that's who the statue is) which you'll pretty much have to walk right by to get where you're going. And the fort is like a block uphill/ So you're going to be right there.
posted by Naberius at 4:54 PM on March 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
I wouldn't be particularly concerned about that area. If I were, it wouldn't be about general sketchiness as much as traffic. That's one of a row of very impressive buildings set smack between the two main arteries in and out of the old city. Lot of traffic, moving pretty quickly sometimes.
If I recall correctly, there are sidewalks, though. Just be careful crossing the roads, especially after dark, and you'll likely be fine. If you're concerned, it's very easy to catch a taxi.
If you get there, you're very close to the fort, the Castillo de San Cristobal, which is very cool.
(Also, according to Agents of Shield, there's an alien city beneath the fort. So you'll definitely want to check that out...)
I kid, but check out that episode - fast forward to about 18:30 and they're in San Juan. That square with the tall white pedestal with a statue on it is the Plaza Colon (or Columbus, that's who the statue is) which you'll pretty much have to walk right by to get where you're going. And the fort is like a block uphill/ So you're going to be right there.
posted by Naberius at 4:54 PM on March 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
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