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Island marketing's fortress/old san juan tour vs spoons walking food tour!


etravel
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Hello..can't decide between these two tours in the Old San Juan area! There are 7 of us, so if we did the Island Marketing Old San Juan/Fort tour we would do that private since it's not a considerable difference..Then after they would drop us off in Old San Juan to eat and shop before boarding the ship (we are in port from about 7 to 3).....Sounds fun to see some of the forts and history of the area...Or the Spoons Tour also looks really interesting and is a walking and eating tour which could be really cool and then I believe you get some history bits from the guide while you are walking on the tour..Maybe a little more off the beaten path....we are all in our 50's/60's and everyone is healthy and can walk well...None of us have toured San Juan yet so all of it would be new to us.....So decisions, decisions....which to pick??? :confused:

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Seriously, unless you wanted a guide to explain things, you can do the forts on your own. And then walk along the streets heading back tot he ship to shop or grab a bite of have a drink.

 

A good guide is: http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~msscott/Walking%20Tour%20of%20Old%20San%20Juan.pdf

 

And a couple of good source threads from this board of where it eat or drink:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2259122&highlight=local+restaurants

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2369526&highlight=local+restaurants

 

If you're into or want to learn more about local culture and local food, Spoons would be an excursion to take.

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Hello..can't decide between these two tours in the Old San Juan area! There are 7 of us, so if we did the Island Marketing Old San Juan/Fort tour we would do that private since it's not a considerable difference..Then after they would drop us off in Old San Juan to eat and shop before boarding the ship (we are in port from about 7 to 3).....Sounds fun to see some of the forts and history of the area...Or the Spoons Tour also looks really interesting and is a walking and eating tour which could be really cool and then I believe you get some history bits from the guide while you are walking on the tour..Maybe a little more off the beaten path....we are all in our 50's/60's and everyone is healthy and can walk well...None of us have toured San Juan yet so all of it would be new to us.....So decisions, decisions....which to pick??? :confused:

 

I did the tour from island marketing. I had the luxury of staying a few days and was glad i was shown around first. I chose to be toured because i have found that it works best for me. In the past when i have walked around on my own in different locations i have visited, i found i missed many things. It was a great to get toured and then finish walking around on my own. If you do not get a little lost, you do not see it all....lol

I have not done the food tour but only because i preferred to go to restaurants that i finally choose. For coffee and a pan, as they say in Puerto Rico and then finally a local lunch.

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Thank you for that reply pdc2013..that is helpful....yes, i think thing to do might be to do the private Island Marketing tour and then as you said have time after to have lunch at a delicious place in OSJ...and walk around a bit more then back to ship...:) Were there certain restaurants you enjoyed for lunch? Authentic and we could try some of the Puerto Rico specialties? Thanks!

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There are several places mentioned in the links I provided. But a really good place for lunch, IMO would be Raices. It's just 2 blocks up from the piers on Calle Recinto.

 

http://www.restauranteraices.com/English/

 

Of course, ask your guide. Depending upon the time and where you finish your tour, there could be a good place near by.

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Thank you for that reply pdc2013..that is helpful....yes, i think thing to do might be to do the private Island Marketing tour and then as you said have time after to have lunch at a delicious place in OSJ...and walk around a bit more then back to ship...:) Were there certain restaurants you enjoyed for lunch? Authentic and we could try some of the Puerto Rico specialties? Thanks!

 

As per the link that Crewsweeper provided you in her previous response I was taken here for coffee and pan. basically bread with butter

 

La Mallorquina - 207 Calle San Justo.

 

And this one i found on my own great local lunch spot!

 

El Jibarito - 280 Calle Sol.

 

 

Our guide told us about, i think it is called cafe puerto rico right at the plaza Colon but i didn't like it as much.

 

 

Hope this helps, I just got back from my trip so i am jealous...... have a safe trip.

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Imo, the fort tours offered by the park rangers are very interesting and you may be able to take one depending on when you're in port. I have done I think 2 of Ft Cristobol (sp?) and tried to do one at El Morro but there was a huge delay and I didn't want to wait. Check the National Park San Juan website for tour dates and times.

 

I have done the "other" food tour and though I have been to San Juan many times, I learned about unique spotsl that I found very interesting. I probably checked Spoon Fed, but can't remember why I decided against their tour.

 

I always prefer escorted tours because I like learning about destinations and like asking questions and getting immediate answers. Just walking around looking at historic buildings just doesn't satisfy me.

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thanks Ms411, yes I think a tour does sound nice as my Father In Law really interested in history too...so sounds like the way to go, and I will ck out those National Park web-sites too...good suggestion...then after our tour I know we will have some time to eat, browse, and shop in OSJ after our tour...

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