Fast Facts

American Express -- Call the company's local toll-free customer service line: tel. 800/327-1267.

Banks -- Local banks have branches with ATMs in San Juan that function on U.S. networks. Branches are open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4pm. Bank branches in malls are open Saturday 8:30am to 6pm and Sunday 9am to 3pm.

Bus Information -- For information about bus routes in San Juan, call tel. 787/767-7979.

Camera & Film -- Foto One (tel. 787/722-1949), located at Calle Fortaleza 259 in Old San Juan, offers a wide variety of photographic supplies. The shop is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 6pm.

Car Rentals -- If you want to reserve after you've arrived in Puerto Rico, try Avis, Budget, or Hertz.

Consulates -- Many countries maintain honorary consulates here, mostly to try to drum up mutually beneficial trade on the island, but they can be of assistance to travelers. Britain has a consulate at Av. Chardón 350 (tel. 787/758-9828) at Hato Rey, open Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm and 2 to 5pm. The consulate for Canada is at Av. Ponce de León 268 (tel. 787/759-6629), also at Hato Rey and open only by appointment.

Currency Exchange -- The unit of currency is the U.S. dollar. Most banks provide currency exchange, and you can also exchange money at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.

Drugstores -- One of the most centrally located pharmacies is Puerto Rican Drug Co., Calle San Francisco 157 (tel. 787/725-2202), in Old San Juan. It's open Monday to Friday from 7:30am to 9:30pm, Saturday 8am to 9:30pm, and Sunday 8:30am to 7:30pm. Walgreens, Av. Ashford 1130, Condado (tel. 787/725-1510), is open 24 hours. There are also other Walgreens throughout the city, one in practically every neighborhood. There are other locations in Old San Juan, Miramar, Isla Verde, and on Calle Loiza near Ocean Park.

Emergencies -- In an emergency, dial tel. 911. Or call the local police (tel. 787/343-2020), fire department (tel. 787/343-2020), ambulance (tel. 787/766-2222), or medical assistance (tel. 787/754-2550).

Eyeglasses -- Services are available at Pearle Vision Express, Plaza Las Americas Shopping Mall (tel. 787/753-1033). Hours are Monday to Saturday from 9am to 9pm and Sunday from 11am to 5pm. Tropical Vision, La Fortaleza St. 308, (tel. 787/723-5488) is located in Old San Juan.

Hospitals -- Ashford Presbyterian Community Hospital, Av. Ashford 1451 (tel. 787/721-2160), maintains a 24-hour emergency room.

Internet Access -- Try CyberNet Café, Av. Ashford 1128 (tel. 787/724-4033) on the Condado; it charges $5 for 35 minutes or $7 for 50 minutes. Open Monday to Saturday 9am to 11pm, Sunday 10am to 11pm. There is another branch in Isla Verde. If you have a laptop or other wireless device, there are Internet hotspots throughout the city at food courts in malls, Starbucks, Burger King and McDonalds, and historic plazas in Old San Juan.

Police -- Call tel. 787/726-7020 for the local police.

Post Office -- In San Juan, the General Post Office is at Av. F.D. Roosevelt 585 (tel. 787/622-1758). If you don't know your address in San Juan, you can ask that your mail be sent here "c/o General Delivery." This main branch is open Monday to Friday from 5:30am to 6pm, Saturday from 6am to 2pm. A letter from Puerto Rico to the U.S. mainland will arrive in about 4 days.

Restrooms -- Restrooms are not public facilities accessible from the street. It's necessary to enter a hotel lobby, cafe, or restaurant to gain access to a toilet. Fortunately, large-scale hotels are familiar with this situation, and someone looking for a restroom usually isn't challenged during his or her pursuit.

Safety -- At night, exercise extreme caution when walking along the back streets of San Juan, and don't venture onto the unguarded public stretches of the Condado and Isla Verde beaches at night. All these areas are favorite targets for muggings.

Salons -- Most of San Juan's large resort hotels, including the Condado Plaza, the Marriott, and the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel, maintain hair salons. Los Muchachos in Old San Juan has an army of stylists cutting and sprucing walk-in traffic as well as appointments.

Telephone & Fax -- There are many public telephone centers for international callers around the cruise-ship docks (catering mostly to crew). Most have fax and Internet service as well. Long distance calling cards are widely available in drugstores and variety shops.