Does Puerto Rico Do it better?

While researching vacations (yes I know it's February but the travel bug is starting to bite).  I came across a very affordable trip through American Airlines to Puerto Rico.  I never really considered PR for a trip, because when I think beaches I think Jamaica, Hawaii, and Mexico.  But I think PR is a clear winner right now, they have round-trip tickets at around $400 from Phoenix to San Juan (per person).  This is around the same price as Phoenix to Hawaii, but the hotels are much much cheaper.

The culture looks amazing and I would not mind trying the food there. 

Has anyone been to Puerto Rico? Would you recommend it? Any particular hotels, restaurants, sights to see?

We're going to the beach...

First, I would like to say that I have written this blog a few times and blogger would not post it, so after a few days of allowing myself to calm down from my blogger meltdown, I decided to rewrite the post...yet again.


Anyway, I told Matt the other day that we were in fact, going to the beach.  I'm not sure when but I really feel the need to stare out at the ocean and just listen to the waves.  I felt spoiled in Cyprus because I was a 15 minute walk from the beach.  One a windy day you could hear the waves all night in my room.  It was very peaceful.

So I'm trying to decide were to go, we have settled for 3 states/countries:

Hawaii

California

Mexico

 I am not sure of specific beaches, so I am looking for recommendiations...


What is your all-time favorite beach? Which beach would you recommend in the three locations?