| Renting a car is a high-priority item | | | | Spanish, but you should be able to |
| for anyone planning to travel to Puerto | | | | figure out most of them since the |
| Rico as a tourist. Touring by car is by | | | | symbols and shapes used are identical or |
| far the best way for you to see the | | | | similar to those found in the U.S. In |
| sights of this popular tourist | | | | addition, there are toll roads, |
| attraction. Otherwise, you risk missing | | | | numbering three in all. They are marked |
| the prime spots that seem to be | | | | by brown signs and are actually meant |
| accessible only by automobile. Not | | | | for tourists. The rental car company |
| surprisingly, car rental is big business | | | | whose services you are hiring can advise |
| in Puerto Rico. Local car rental | | | | you if the route you plan to take will |
| companies such as Dorado Car Rental in | | | | include a toll road. Their automobiles |
| Dorado and Pier Car Rental in San Juan | | | | generally don't have a toll pass, so |
| operate side by side with multinational | | | | have some cash ready. Be prepared to |
| counterparts Avis and Hertz, both | | | | shell out from 70 cents to $1.50 in toll |
| located in San Juan. Reservations for | | | | fees. Driving in your rented car can |
| these firms' rental cars fill out | | | | become costly if you are accosted for |
| quickly at the height of the tourist | | | | over-speeding. You are fined a minimum |
| season, so it only makes sense to | | | | of $50, more if the car rental company |
| canvass and book ahead of time. Their | | | | you have contracted happens to be one |
| prices are generally competitive, with | | | | that charges their own fees for traffic |
| only a few dollars' difference between | | | | violations, on top of the fine. You can |
| car rental providers in some vehicle | | | | easily spot police cars by the lighted |
| categories. You can choose to vacation | | | | blue bars sitting on their tops. Renting |
| during the quieter, off-peak months, | | | | a car to drive during your vacation in |
| when rental charges are cheaper and when | | | | Puerto Rico is the way to go. Equipping |
| last-minute or on-the-spot reservations | | | | yourself with the right information will |
| are possible. There are a few things to | | | | allow you to find your way around and |
| keep in mind when driving around Puerto | | | | enjoy your stay there at the same time. |
| Rico, whose main roads consist of | | | | Have a happy trip, and remember to drive |
| expressways, highways and freeways. Be | | | | carefully! |
| aware that the road signs are in | | | | |