just took a look at Weather Channel forecast for San Juan this weekend, it's indicating rain. We were hoping to take a quick trip to Old San Juan during our 4-5 hour layover. Does anyone know if this probably means they will just have some showers during the day or will they be socked in and we should just bring enough reading material and DVDs to sit around the airport.

If we do just want to sit around, is there a place (restaurant, seating area, etc) in the airport that's best to spend your layover.

Sue, my experience when I was there, when it rains, man, it comes down hard for short periods. Doesn't really rain all day. May rain a few times in one day. I remember asking one of my mom's nurses about the daily thunder storms and torrential showers (lots of flooding in OSJ and surrounding areas as they don't have a good run off system) and she said it was "Lent" weather...my suggestion, take an umbrella and get out of the airport, rain or no rain!

If you are a member of Delta's Crown Room, American Admiral's Club or similar, you could try their lounge. Recall seeing one club that permitted members from several different clubs to enter (don't remember which ones though) on our only time through San Juan to Bonaire, when Air Jamaica rerouted us on American because of an overly delayed flight several years ago. Perhaps someone who regularly travels through SJ might have the answer.

This advice from a contributor to another forum:

"Buy a bottle of rum duty free, go over to terminals B or C and buy cokes from the machines (much cheaper), a pizza from Dominos - terminal A and people watch. Too much hassle to get out of the airport and back in 4 hours."

My own opinion is that Old San Juan deserves at least a day, maybe 2, at least once in your life. Save it for another time. You're on vacation, not every minute has to be quality time, just relax and think how much better off you are than if you were making connections in Montego Bay, where there are mobs of passengers pushed around by gate Nazis, very few chairs in the waiting areas, an unintelligble voice announcement system, malfunctioning visual announcement boards, and spotty air-conditioning in a building with all the charm of a 1940's school corridor. SJU is much better on all scores.

And the rum to buy, I believe, is Ron Barrilito Three Star Rum, whether for drinking in SJU (seems a waste to pour it into Coke; maybe Two Star would be okay) or taking to Bonaire. Yummy.

David

Sue, we usually just bring along some decent food like cheese, crackers, fruit, and cloth napkins, and find an empty gate nearby our departure area. We use our rolling carryons stacked for a crude table. If you have a laptop or dvd player you can find a wall outlet and watch a movie or recorded television with earphones and a splitter.
The AA lounge can be bought into for $50 for one, and 25 more each for at least two more people.

Good idea Seb. The AA lounge at SJ airport is minimal in comparison to other AA lounges. They give you free water, coffee, and maybe chips. The staff is first rate.

If you don't want to to to OJS, go to Isla Verde. 8 bucks for the cab ride and it is 5 minutes from the airport. Have some lunch at the restaurant at the Inter Continental, or any of the other nice hotels on the beach (see the what to do in SJ thread). Personally, I would rather get out of the airport and see some of the city and fresh air. It's easy to get out, have some relaxing fun, and get back to the airport than spending hours at the airport (been there done that)...just my 2 cents worth. And this is coming from someone who spent 6 weeks in SJ hating it, and now I look forward to spending a little time there each trip It does have some nice things to offer on a long layover

Thanks all...

David, I was laughing reading your post, as maybe a nice rum & coke is what my 8yr old son needs to slow him down...

after last yr's 8 hour nightmare in MBJ, I'm looking forward to being able to leave a terminal without going thru customs, etc.