We are traveling to Old SJ next month. We talked to a friend who goes every year and he says that we should be careful because of the crime. He said not to be out at night after pm. He also said be careful if you rent a car because of carjackers. Just wanted to get an opinion about this. We've lived here almost 6 years now. We go into Old San Juan all the time. Never had a problem. Never been concerned. Like traveling in any other city anywhere else in the world Your friend does not know Old San Juan very well.
Most all crime is drug related. If you stay around the torist areas, you won't see that nor the crime. Wonder where your friend hangs out! You'll be fine in Old San Juan , this is a hot spot for fun, and people come here and are out until the wee hours in the morning, you'll have problems if you go where there are drug related areas.
So enjoy.. Just be street-wise. Life in Old San Juan begins after 11 PM, so you'll be missing the best part of your trip if you stay at your hotel!
Since carjacking began to be punished as a federal crime, carjacking is not a major problem. Where are "drug areas" that we should avoid in San Juan? Pinones and Santurce okay? Just like Chicago. Can you tell? You'll be fine. And Santurce , if you stay around areas like La Plazita, Museo de Arte, and all these highly visited well kept areas, you will have no problem during the night. Further down Ponce de Leon Avenue Petty crime in Old San Juan especially towards tourists is practically non-existent.
It's sort of ironic since it's said that the drug bosses from La Perla are the ones that help prevent it due to the fact that the area gets heated if a tourist gets robbed or something like that.
