Ocean Park is San Juan's Cinderella. It has two sisters, both larger and flashier who get all the attention, but in its own humble way, it can outshine them both. That's nothing against Isla Verde or Condado, by the way. I just have a soft spot for this quiet gated community that's unpretentious, friendly and relaxed. I love its charming small hotels and inns, its excellent local eateries, and its beautiful beach. I love the fact that it gives you the small-town experience in the big city.

This is not the neighborhood for you if you're looking for the resorts, casinos, and historic buildings (see what I mean about the flashier sisters?). It's not the place you want to be if you're on the hunt for a late-night party. But it is the place for you if you want to get away from it all, have your dinner on the sand just steps from the water, and just chill out in the tropics.

Have an Ocean Park experience to share? Tell me all about it in the forum.

The Puerto Rico Tourism Company has a great promotion running through May 30 (travel period through the end of July). The discount is offered through the following online travel agencies:

• Cheap Caribbean
• Expedia
• Liberty Travel
• Orbitz
• Travel Impressions
• Travelocity

Also check Kayak.com for the best hotel, flight, cruise and package deals to the island. If you needed an incentive to book a summer vacation to Puerto Rico, here it is!

Condado has experienced an interesting rise-and-fall-and-rise-again history. Back in the day (this was in the 1950s and '60s, the Golden Age of tourism in Puerto Rico), it was the place to be. The hip and fashionable from the U.S. flocked to Condado's pristine beaches and swank hotels.

Then, Condado experienced a decline as other neighborhoods expanded and evolved, particularly Isla Verde, its neighbor to the west. But these days, this corner of San Juan is experiencing something of a resurgence. Hotels are being renovated and improved. Restaurants are hopping. Casinos are jingling. And the tourists are coming.

Why should you be interested in Condado? Read my neighborhood guide to find out. And if you know a hotel, restaurant, or attraction in Condado that should be on this list, let me know about it in the forum.

Each of San Juan's neighborhoods has a distinct identity, but perhaps none resonates as strongly with local as does Santurce. This is not because Sanjuaneros don't appreciate the beauty of Old San Juan, the hopping nightlife in Isla Verde, or the excellent shopping in Condado; they do. But none of those neighborhoods gives you the down-home, local flavor of true Puerto Rico that Santurce provides.

This was a fun guide to write, because most people who visit San Juan don't visit or linger in Santurce. After all, there's no beach here, no casino, and no 500-year-old monument. It's not a flashy destination. However, there are excellent Puerto Rican restaurants, museums and other cultural centers, and a smattering of the best local designers on the island. More than that, there's a bohemian neighborhood with pockets of culture and heritage that make Santurce much-loved, for locals and for tourists who know where to go.

May brings a few interesting acts and some fun parties to the island:

• May 8-12 - The Arecibo Patron Saint Festival celebrates Saint Phillip with music, food, and general revelry.
• May 22 - The incredible Pilobulus Dance Company comes to the Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center in Santurce. (Incidentally, this is a maginificent venue in San Juan.)
• May 24 - The first ever Indie Rock Music Festival is being held in Aguadilla (sponsored by Coors Light) and will feature a mix of local and regional bands.
• May 24-28 - The Carolina Patron Saint Festival is one of the larger ones, honoring Saint Fernando. Among the activities will be folk music, salsa bands, arts & crafts, games and food.
• May 24-26 - Summer Festival at Crash Boat Beach - A free beach party with food and music in a near-perfect setting.

San Juan is a city with a lot to offer. So much so, that I decided to break it up into its neighborhoods. The first on my list is Isla Verde, the resort strip where the original Brat Pack used to hang out (at the El San Juan Hotel & Casino), and where some of San Juan's best beaches, casinos, and resort hotels can be found.

If you decide to make Isla Verde your home, your main trade-off will be the shopping and cultural bounty of San Juan's other neighborhoods. Isla Verde is a little lean on these fronts, but that's what taxis from your fine beachfront hotel are for. This neighborhood makes up for this deficiency with some great spas and an interesting, somewhat controversial but time-honored tradition in Puerto Rico: cockfighting.

Have an Isla Verde experience to share? Let us know about it in the forum.

Here's a handy resource for travelers to San Juan: Areas Urban Guides provide downloadable maps, information, and business listings (restaurants, shops, spas, and other businesses that cater to tourists) for Old San Juan and Condado (Isla Verde is still under development).

Of course, this is by no means a complete listing, but it's got some good information that will help you get around the most popular tourist areas of the city. It also, happily, includes some of my favorite destinations in San Juan, like:

• Ajili Mójili for dining Puerto Rican dining.
• Nono Maldonado for high-end fashion.
• Trois Cent Onze, one of the best international restaurants on the island.
• Nuyorican Café, a cool, bohemian salsa joint that makes for a fun romantic evening.

Actually, there are several answers to that query, but I'm pretty happy with the one I've come up with for visitors. Why? Because this tour:

• Provides you with ample time in Old San Juan, the colonial jewel of the Caribbean.
• Introduces the capital city's other neighborhoods to you.
• Takes you out of San Juan and into the verdant interior of the island.
• Gives you options almost every day, so that you can pick and choose the activities you enjoy most.

This seven-day itinerary was planned with the first-time visitor in mind, but I hope there is enough here to give even the veteran traveler to Puerto Rico something new to do. Stay tuned ... I'll be writing a separate seven-day trip focusing on Vieques and Culebra islands.

With Hillary Clinton securing a much-needed win in Pennsylvania, the most hotly contested democratic race in our history moves on to the remaining states ... and one of the last stops on the campaign trail is Puerto Rico. This is unprecedented for Puerto Ricans, and throws new light on the age-old question of statehood vs. independence. It's especially interesting given that Puerto Rico has 55 delegates, and eight superdelegates, but Puerto Ricans living on the island have no vote in the presidential election.

This is a fascinating time for Puerto Rico politically. Playing an increasingly pivotal role in the democratic primary may have far-reaching implications in the long term, as more and more Puerto Ricans consider the benefits of becoming a U.S. state. Thus far, Clinton has a slight lead over Barack Obama in Puerto Rico ... but June 1, the date of the Puerto Rico primary, is still weeks away. And you can bet the island will be buzzing as Puerto Rico's voice finds new strength in U.S. politics.

Some people love to buy a guidebook, pour over as much literature as they can get their hands on, and plan out their entire holiday before they've booked a hotel or flight. Others prefer to wing it, landing up in a new destination with little more than a duffel bag.

Regardless of where you fall in this spectrum, if you're in the initial stages of planning a trip to Puerto Rico, or are thinking about visiting the island, check out my new trip-planner. Written for the newcomer to Puerto Rico, the planner includes:

• Essential information you should know before you head out.
• Overviews of the island's major destinations.
• Five suggested itineraries.
• Tips to help you tailor your vacation, whether you're on a family trip, on a romantic getaway, or on a budget.

Of course, it's impossible to cross all the i's and dot all the t's in a single document, but if you think I missed something important, let me know about it in the forum.