Puerto Rico

It's relatively inexpensive, with direct flights from Boston, they use the dollar, pretty much all speak English, and you don't need a passport.

There are options for all sorts of budgets. All the beaches are public, some are more accessible than others. You're totally allowed to go to the Marriott's stretch of sand, just don't sit in their chairs without paying.

We mostly stayed around Old San Juan, where we had a house, but really liked the Hilton Caribe, right on the junction between OSJ and "New" San Juan.

OSJ is quaint and highly walkable, with several great restaurants, two forts, an art museum, lots of activity. Just avoid OSJ when there's a cruise ship in port, it gets crowded!

Small islands: Culebra and Vieques are both gorgeous, tiny, and not at all crowded... but it's hard to get there. You can take a ~$5 ferry from Fajardo, but you need to get there early in the morning and still might not get a spot, plus you then risk getting stuck on the island if you don't get a spot on the ferry back. Alternatives: you can charter a plane, or a boat, neither of which are too expensive.

If you go to Vieques you could stay at the Hix Island House Hotel. (You really must make reservations in advance.) I'm not even an outdoorsy person and I loved the indoor-outdoor living. It's sooooo relaxing. There are only private 'taxis', no central dispatch, so get the driver's cell number when you ride your first cab from the ferry port or airport. We *have* walked across Vieques, I don't recommend it. There are two towns, food at both, nightlife in Esperanza, but don't expect to find much at random times of the day-- stuff's open during meal times and when ferries are in port. There's also a W hotel at Vieques.

Several amazing, very different beaches, and not all of them are even full of land/sea mines anymore! (I'm not kidding. There are some beaches that are strictly off-limits. Others are gorgeous and totally open.) You should try them all and find your favorite. The beaches end up being semi-private or totally private just because of the high beach:person count. There are some great snorkeling/scuba spots.

Wild horses on Vieques. They're kinda mangy. Interfere with ill-advised walks across the island.

Culebra is great for camping, biking, and hiking. Or just being lazy on a gorgeous beach-- Flamenco Beach, one of my favorites ever.

There are two bioluminescent bays on PR, one at Fajardo and one in Vieques. The one at Fajardo is better protected, so it should be brilliant. Go on a nighttime kayak tour through the mangroves. They let you swim in the water in Vieques, which kills the bioluminscent organisms.

Local delicacies include mofongo and fried queso del pais in spicy mayoketchup. (Mayoketchup is The local condiment.)

Be prepared for island mentality. People aren't rushed. There are grocery stores that occasionally run out of staples. Oh well. It's relaxing if you just give in to it. (I say this as someone who's quite uptight.)

The beach at Luquillo isn't spectacular or anything (maybe we didn't find the spectacular part?), especially compared with the small islands, but you'll be impressed by the row of endless kiosks of fried foods, and there are apparently good resorts there. Not really worth the drive out of OSJ just in and of itself, but is on the way to Fajardo and near El Yunque, the rain forest. Good for hiking or light walking. There are freezing cold waterfalls.Traffic can be miserable between OSJ and Condado. Sometimes it's clear. We've walked it, it's a long walk along a nice boardwalk 90% of the way. There are shady parts, don't go into the lower parking lot off the boardwalk.

And while I'm at it, don't go to La Perla, outside the walls in OSJ. You have no business there and it's not safe.

Don't fall for scams from con artists with sob stories.

If you like coconut water, men will shimmy up coconut trees with a machete in their mouths just to cut down a young coconut for you for $1-2.