ViaHero · November 8, 2018
If you’re in the process of planning an awesome Caribbean escape, you might be wondering: “do I need a passport to go to Puerto Rico?” Check out the answer to that and a bunch more Puerto Rico-related travel questions below. And if you still have questions after reading, feel free to shoot us a message!
Want to explore Puerto Rico differently? Have a local
The simple answer: Nope!
How awesome is that? If you’re an American, you don’t need a passport to go to Puerto Rico. Since Puerto Rico is a US territory, all you need to travel there is the same identification you need to fly anywhere else in the country. Just one of the many reasons traveling to Puerto Rico is super easy.
You don’t even have to change your money
Again, Puerto Rico is a US territory—they use dollars there! That means you can forget paying those ridiculous currency exchange fees at the airport. Bonus: you don’t have to pay foreign transaction fees to use credit or debit cards either.
Your cell phone will work there too
Don’t worry about buying a new SIM card or anything like that. In fact, when you travel to Puerto Rico you don’t even have to use an international plan—US cell phone plans work exactly the same in Puerto Rico as they do on the mainland, and most major carriers (including Verizon and AT&T) don’t charge roaming for voice and text service.
English is widely spoken
While Spanish is the dominant language of Puerto Rico, both Spanish and English are official languages of the island, so most people speak at least a bit of English. That means getting around is easy, and most authorities (police and government personnel) speak English quite well. If you’re wondering if Puerto Rico is a safe place for Americans to travel, wonder no more. And if you run into any issues, you can always chat with your local Puerto Rican trip planner for advice!
You don’t need any special vaccinations
Another perk of vacationing in Puerto Rico: you probably have all your necessary vaccines already. Aside from your routine vaccinations, the CDC recommends getting your Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccines only if you’re planning on traveling far, far off the beaten track (and if don’t already have them, that is).
You can take nearly any airline there
Have a favorite airline? An airline rewards card? Not to worry—all the major US airlines fly to Puerto Rico. There are dozens of flights per day from mainland US and beyond. The best part? Lots of them are super inexpensive, depending on where you’re flying from.
Any questions about traveling to Puerto Rico? Feel free to message us directly or talk to a local travel expert. And before you plan your trip, make sure to check out: