Need cash when I land, best place in Puerto Rico? Airport or places in the city?
I once exchanged €200 at San Juan Airport and the rate was horrible. The next time, I just used a Banco Popular ATM and withdrew USD directly - much cheaper. On that trip, I barely used cash since hotels, restaurants, and even souvenir shops in Old San Juan accepted my Visa. I only needed cash for taxis and a beach shack selling piña coladas. If you’re coming from the U.S., bring some small bills and skip the airport counters completely.
Puerto Rico uses USD, so you don’t need to exchange if you’re arriving from the U.S. Mainland. Airport counters are mainly for tourists carrying euros or other currencies. If you need cash, ATMs from Banco Popular, FirstBank, and Oriental Bank are common at the airport and in cities. Withdraw $50-100 for daily use, since small shops, taxis, and beach kiosks may prefer cash. Larger purchases can be handled with cards. Use airport ATMs instead of counters for the best deal.
When I landed in San Juan, I saw the airport counters but ignored them since everything runs on USD. I used a Banco Popular ATM inside arrivals and it worked smoothly with my card. In Condado and Old San Juan, I noticed ATMs at FirstBank and Oriental Bank that were reliable too. Most restaurants, hotels, and even small bars accepted cards, so I only needed $100 in cash for tips, taxis, and beach vendors. For U.S. travellers, ATMs are the easiest.
San Juan Airport has exchange counters, but Puerto Rico uses the U.S. dollar, so they’re really only for people bringing euros or other currencies. If you’re coming from the U.S., you don’t need to exchange anything. ATMs from Banco Popular, FirstBank, and Oriental Bank are everywhere and safe. I usually withdraw $40-60 when I land to cover taxis and snacks, then pay everything else with card. Don’t bother with exchange desks unless you’re arriving from Europe or Asia carrying non-USD.