Jeez, I wonder if people in New Orleans ask the tourists to keep away during Mardi Gras. "Las Justas" are pretty much as dangerous as Mardi Gras, but that's not what this thread is about.

I'd like to know what the difference is between the SJ nightlife vs. the Ponce nightlife. Granted, the "bar density" is higher in SJ, but let's run through a quick checklist:

1. Bars where young and hip people gather at night to consume alcohol and dance. CHECK.

2. A colonial style city with beautiful architecture and street cafes where you can sit and lounge while watching people stroll by. CHECK.

3. Half an hour's drive from white sand beaches. CHECK

4. No traffic jams. CHECK.

5. Restaurants with an interior patio where you can dine while gazing at the uncommonly un-cloudy sky. CHECK.

6. A boardwalk where locals gather AT NIGHT to eat, drink and dance with live music. CHECK.

I dunno, but Ponce sure looks like it has a nightlife, although you seem to think otherwise. Apparently, many tourists who have visited Ponce seem to agree with me. In fact, you'll even find a tourist trap shop to buy souvenirs RIGHT SMACK in front of the town square (plaza). Maybe I'm biased, that happens when you live IN PONCE.

Oh, and in case you even THINK of stereotyping me as a pretentious "ponceño", I'm from Cabo Rojo AND CHOSE TO LIVE IN PONCE. And yes, there's a nightlife there, too.

bump

Thank you everyone, for your feedback.

The more I read, the more I am reconsidering going on this trip. I'm not sure if I want to spend my vacation time in a place where I have to drive to do most of the things we want to do. I'm not quite sure why my friends want to go to Ponce instead of SJ but it sounds like SJ makes more sense, only based on the types of activities we're looking for.

Ponce is a beautiful City..very colonial... the Plaza (city center) is beautiful! It's only 1 1/2 or so from San Juan..even if you don't have a lot of time to be tehre it's well worth the visit at least for the day. Why just stay in San Juan? Puerto Rico is so small so might as well get to know as much as you can right? The people of the south (Ponce for ex) are even more laid back more real and less snobby ..which you might find in san juan being that it's the capital. San Juan is very Miami in a way i guess. I actually have more fun when i hang out in Ponce cuz people there just let loose and don't have to prove themselves to anyone. San Juan's nightlife is very loungy and you sit and talk and drink. IN ponce they have that too plus a lot of places with live musica and you just dance the night away ; ) At the end of the day..it's really what you're into. Both San Juan and Ponce are great...hang out in both places and figure out what you like best..it's all based on personal preference and opinion. Have fun!