My wife and I have been Caribbean visitors for a number of years, but this will be the first time in Puerto Rico (other than the airport). I am a retired senior recovering from some health issues, so I feel I must be near a good hospital, etc, just in case. I assume this need will limit this trip to the San Juan area, and we are looking for a week on a great beach nearby. Any suggestions for February 2014 (a little late I know).

Dale it has been many years since I have lived in PR, but you may want to investigate hospital options in Mayaguez. There was a hospital that had a very good reputation back in the day. (Bella Vista was the name of the facility) I say that because I am fan of the beaches on the west coast of PR. I have no background in medicine so I am just throwing this out to you as info.

There is a website called US Hospital Finder ( http://www.ushospitalfinder.com/hospitals-in/Puerto-Rico ) that will show you what hospitals are available in throughout the US and Puerto Rico. It also gives at a high level what they specialize in, which may drive your choice of locations. The site also provides all sorts of statistics so you could compare your current hospital to the one you may have to rely on.

I would say that your starting point is to insure that the hospital is JCAHO accredited that will give you a baseline and from there start researching which facility best meets your needs. Best of luck to you.

Thanks for the two suggestions...I'll look into them. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Try the Condado area. Good hospitals in PR do not exist. The state of healthcare here is awful. However, the VA hospital is great & very newly renovated. Not trying to be an alarmist, but realistic.

Since amurphy brought it up.... Do you speak Spanish? That is essential in Puerto Rican hospitals.

I do not speak Spanish at all. I do not want to stop enjoying life because of a condition that just might flare up while visiting the Caribbean once again. We could consider Hawaii I suppose, but those isles never had a big appeal for us.

Go to St. Thomas instead, all American USVI....and a hospital nearby that has a good rating!