reviews for: listing #26537 - Puerto Rico, Caribbean Condo rental

**Ocean Front Apartment on Isla Verde beach**
  • bedrooms  1
  • pool  yes
  • type  Condo
  • baths  1
  • hot tub  no
  • community  Marbella Del Caribe
  • sleeps  4
  • pets allowed  no
  • rates (USD) $95 - $114 /nt
    $695 - $795 /wk
    $2,500 - $3,000 /mth

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Great Stay

jim s. ()
Review submitted: May 2, 2013   Date of arrival: April 9, 2013

The condo was ideal! Located on what I feel is the best part of Isla Verde beach. One of the most relaxing vacations we have ever had. We would spend the day on the beach and then take the short drive into Old San Juan to roam the streets and enjoy dinner and drinks. Lots of restaurants, bars and grocery stores within walking distance of the apartment. The condo was very modern and had everything to make our stay comfortable. We spent a ton of time sitting on the balcony just enjoying the view. The staff were all friendly and helpful.Special thanks to Vidal for all his help. And thanks Rosaria for sharing your beautiful place with us!

Owners response: Jim and Tammy,

I am happy to hear you enjoyed my condo and your stay in Puerto Rico, Isla Verde is one of the best beaches in the San Juan area.

Thank you for your candid review.

Best Regards,
Rosaria

Helpful votes: 0 / 0

 

A week in paradise!

Penelope V. ()
Review submitted: April 23, 2013   Date of arrival: March 25, 2013

This was our first trip to Puerto Rico and our first time staying in a condo instead of a hotel. It was a wonderful experience - and we look forward to returning! The condo is lovely - very tastefully decorated, plenty of room, and extremely comfortable. The ocean breeze and sound of the surf was incredibly relaxing! There is a small but fully furnished kitchen. We did not cook, but we kept cold drinks and yogurt in the refrigerator. There are plenty of places to eat within walking distance - including a grocery store, restaurants, fast food joints, and Walgreens. The grounds are beautiful and the beach is the best! It is very wide with picturesque palm trees and golden sand. It was sooooo nice to not be limited to one hotel room, bumping into each other - this condo and balcony were ideal. Thank you, Rosaria, for sharing your lovely home with us.

Owners response: Penelope,

I am happy to hear you and your family enjoyed my condo and the beautiful area of Isla Verde Beach.
It will be my pleasure to have you as a returning guest.
Thank you for chosing my condo.

Best Regards,
Rosaria

Helpful votes: 1 / 1

 

Beautiful property in hip area of PR

Jennifer H. ()
Review submitted: March 24, 2013   Date of arrival: January 12, 2013

This condo had many pros:
*The condo itself: The pictures of the property are very accurate. We found the condo to be spacious, comfortable bed/pillows, and the kitchen well equipped (we made breakfast). Everything was clean. I LOVED the balcony - that was the highlight.
*Condo building: Great pool (really loved this!), very secure, friendly people.
*Location! Right on the beach. We walked to lunch on the beach. There is also a Walgreens right across from the building which was very convenient. We also went to the grocery store a few blocks away. It was also easy to get on and off the highway from here.
*Parking. Parking is not easy to come by in PR! Luckily this condo had a spot in a covered parking garage. While the bus is available, I recommend renting a car because we were able to travel to El Junque, Luquillo beach/food shacks, Las Cabezas Nature Reserve, and Fajardo for the bioluminescent kayaking and not be tied to a tour group/schedule (all the above activities are HIGHLY recommended!). We also drove into Old San Juan by staying on major roads and parking in a perimeter parking garage - don't try to drive into the many one-way, super narrow roads actually IN OSJ.

I reduce one star for the very few negatives:
*There was a rooftop club next door. We arrived on a Saturday night, tired from our travels, and went to bed. The music next door was THUMPING until ~2 am. Maybe you are looking to join the party in which case this is a great location! But be warned they apparently have this party Thurs-Sat. Luckily for us it was just two nights of our stay, and for the second night we were prepared with earplugs!
*The bathtub was plugged up, even though we were careful not to track sand in it!

Overall, I would recommend this property! The price was VERY reasonable and we saved a lot versus staying in a hotel. We also appreciated having the kitchen to save money on eating out, and the pool was awesome. I could sit on that balcony all day long! We would definitely stay here again if we return.

*Note: If parking upon arrival (this was confusing): You will need to park your car on the street or in a pay lot and walk up to check in first. The person at the security desk (take the stairs in the middle of the wall) will give you the swipe card for the secure parking - then go to the swipe gate on the left (facing the condo) and find the assigned spot. You cannot park in the building at all without the swipe card.

Owners response: Prior to arrival all guests are instructed with keys pick up and parking arrangements. Not at all complicated, no check in required, no need to look for parking just simply double park the car for just 1 minute to walk up to the front desk to pick up the keys and garage opener. No card swiping, or checking in required or looking for parking my condo comes with an assinged parking space.
My instructions are very simple just ask for keys and garage opener at the front desk. With the instructions I also provide my phone number and incorage all my guests to call me if any problems or if there is anything I can do to make they stay more pleasant, if I was informed of a slow draining tub I would have sent someone to unclog it, its just that simple!

Lastly there are may advantages for staying in Isla Verde beach, like having the convenience of walking to the supermarket, stores, restaurants, and Hotels were you will find casinos, restaurants, rooftop bars and nightclubs. With this you will also have the soud of the near by hotel roof top restaurant/club music during the weekend. A very simple solution is to just close the windows and turn the A/C and you will sleep like a baby!!!!

Helpful votes: 1 / 1

 
Guest Comment entered by owner

We Hit The Jackpot !!!!

Review submitted: March 24, 2013   Date of arrival: March 20, 2013

We had an excellent time in Puerto Rico! For the first time renting a condo we both felt like we hit the jackpot with your million dollar view from the balcony, we spent much time out there and loved it as we loved the entire stay and condo. We hope to visit this Island again and we will definetely choose your condo. Than you much Rosaria,
Peggy

Helpful votes: 0 / 0

 

week of R&R

beach lover (wilson, Ar.)
Review submitted: December 14, 2012   Date of arrival: October 26, 2012

My daughter and I spent 6 wonderful days here for my big ?0 birthday. The condo was perfect, plenty of room, beautiful view, all of the aminites we needed, and a continous breeze that kept the unit cool at all times. The beach was beautiful and within a few steps! The property was very secure and the staff were all friendly and offered a wealth of local information. It was about a 15 minute drive from the airport or into old San Juan, but there were stores, restaurants, and a casino within walking distance of the unit. And did I mention the beach was perfect! The loicals drive a bit aggressively and blow their horns at everyone, even the police, which are on every corner, but that made us feel more safe as we walked around. Rosaria was a pleasure to rent from and If I ever have a chance to return we will definately stay here again.

Recommended for: age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sight seeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

Owners response: Vickie,
thank you for your candid review has been a pleasure having you and your family as guests in my home, I am happy to hear you enjoyed my condo and your vacation in Puerto Rico, it would be my pleasure to have you as a returning guest in the near future.
Best Regards,
Rosaria

Helpful votes: 1 / 1

 

Beautiful View

smintx (Killeen, TX)
Review submitted: November 7, 2012   Date of arrival: September 12, 2012

The apartment was as it is pictured in the photos. The view is beautiful and the beach and pool are easily accessible. If you are planning on going to Old San Juan consider renting a car, it was less expensive for us to rent a car for an entire week than to pay for 2 round trip taxi rides.

Owners response: Renting a car is not necessary on Isla Verde Beach area since everything is within walking distance however if you are planning on traveling on other parts of the Island you may rent a car for the day from the car rental just accross the condo complex. Another option of sight seeing on a budget is taking the bus just outside the condo complex for just .75 cents.

Helpful votes: 4 / 4

 
Guest Comment entered by owner

Exactly what we were looking for!!!!

Review submitted: September 18, 2012   Date of arrival: June 27, 2012

The stay in the apartment was great, exactly what we were looking for as we
were going to be around Isla Verde and Viejo San Juan much of the time.
Just ventured out of the metropolitan area once. I knew we were going to
be in an excellent area. The view from the apartment is incredible and the
days were great!!

Thank you!!

Helpful votes: 3 / 3

 

A Great Find!!!

Daniel S. ()
Review submitted: September 3, 2012   Date of arrival: June 9, 2012

This condo is a wonderful find! It was a 10 minute cab ride from S.J.U airport where I landed. Upon arriving I was greeted by the very friendly and helpful staff at the front desk with the keys.The condo decor was very nice, bright and cheerful, everything looked new and was very clean. The view from the balcony was breathtaking, with a panoramic views of the sun setting across the ocean. Everything is within walking distant from many fine eating establishments, casinos, night clubs, and sports bars.Did I mention the bus stop to Old San Juan was right out front? We had a wonderful stay and will definitely recommend this condo to friends and family and look forward to return again very soon.
Happy Vacationer!
Daniel S.

Owners response: Daniel, thank you for your candid review of my beach front condo.
I am happy you and your family enjoyed your vacation in Isla Verde Beach and really happy you found my condo and the decour to your taste. You and your family are welcome any time you are in need of a getaway.
Best Regards,
Rosaria

Helpful votes: 5 / 5

 

Perfect Condo!!!

Melissa A. ()
Review submitted: August 22, 2012   Date of arrival: August 16, 2012

This is the perfect condo if you do not plan on renting a car and if you are seeking a fabulous view. The condo was clean and exactly as pictured and described. The beach or pool are just steps away. It is a secure, safe, and friendly building that is close to everything. Old San Juan was a 20 minute bus ride away, and the stop is just outside of the front door. We highly recommend this rental!!!

Owners response: Happy to hear you love my condo and location! Thank you for your honest review.
Best Regards, Rosaria

Helpful votes: 4 / 4

 

Sour Taste In Our Mouths

Glenn R. ()
Review submitted: August 21, 2012   Date of arrival: April 14, 2012

In fairness, my wife, daughter and I did have an enjoyable time in Puerto Rico. The condo's view of the ocean was definitely one of the best parts of the trip. However, this is not a hotel or resort, so one shouldn't set their expectations too high. The condo is very small, with the kitchen being the major drawback. Unless you enjoy cooking in a really small space, you had better plan on eating out a lot. Fortunately, the condo is in a good location for restaurants. Access to the beach is less than 100 yards from the building.

The building and surrounding property definitely seemed old and a bit rundown in areas, giving off an atmosphere of antiquity, as if its heyday was part of some bygone-era many Caribbean moons ago. That being said, the property and the pool, for the most part, were fairly well maintained. Many of the condos in the area seem to be occupied by year-round denizens of the area, and for the most part were very warm and friendly to vacationers.

Regrettably, during our stay, there was major construction being done around the front desk/lobby for the entire week. There were incessant pounding, discordant sounds coming from the heavy machinery that would make our teeth chatter as we walked by the gutted area. Needless to say we found this a bit disturbing during a vacation getaway. In addition, the hallway leading back to the room was a bit lackluster as well. The walls and floors were white and sterile, completely devoid of any decor, except for the entranceways that were adorned with white, cast-iron bars for security (no, you're not in Kansas anymore). There was also a constant, howling sound of wind that moaned and bellowed throughout the hallway.

With regard to customer service, we completely agree with another reviewer that if a potential renter is going to put down their hard earned money, then they should get a complete picture. And we feel a sense of unfairness regarding the damage deposit. We treated the owner's property with complete respect, and did not receive our damage deposit back concerning an issue of having a last minute 4th guest that arrived and stayed with us for a few days. Instead of reasoning and compromising with us, the owner kept our entire deposit.

Although we enjoyed much of the trip, our experience with the property left much to be desired. We would not recommend this property to friends or family.

Owners response: Confused, bitter or just dishonest guests? Fortunately pictures don't lie!!
The above guests booked my condo by falsifying their reservation for 3 when turned out they have family living in Puerto Rico that stayed with them for most of their stay, to add to this they took anything that was not nailed down including small kitchen appliances.

He mentioned something about not expecting a Hotel or Resort? Where did he get the idea he was booking in a hotel? My condo is listed as a 1 bedroom condo not a resort or a hotel.
Lastly he mentioned the building being run down and having white walls, floors and something about looking white and sterile? The entire complex was renovated last year, you look at the pictures yourself and see if anything in my condo looks white and sterile or in the lobby floors and walls covered completely with gray and brown marble with brown sofas in the lounge area lit by a very large crystal chandelier, several sets of 6 foot large art of sea animals are considered white and sterile? Fortunately pictures dont lie only dishonest guests!

Sincerely, Honest business owner!!

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Best Wishes,

Reviews Team
HomeAway


Property/Unit
#329640 - "**Beach Front Apartment on Isla Verde Beach** in Puerto Rico"

Date of Arrival
April 14, 2012

Review Rating

2 out of 5

Helpful votes: 0 / 1

 

Absolutely the Best!

Wayne J. (Becker, Minnesota)
Review submitted: March 2, 2012   Date of arrival: February 18, 2012

Our family has stayed in beachfront condos in Maui, Cancun, Cozumel, San Juan Condado Beach, and this is our third stay in San Juan Isla Verde Beach. This condo is far and away the best! The view is fabulous, the pool is divine, and the price is a steal! There is only one potential problem -- Rosaria is probably booked solid during high season, so make your reservation early.

Owners response: Wayne,

I am happy you enjoyed your vacation and my condo I really appreciate your candid review. You and your family will always be a welcomed guest in my home.

Best Regards,
Rosaria

Helpful votes: 6 / 7

 

Simply Fabulous

Ang (NY)
Review submitted: February 27, 2012   Date of arrival: January 25, 2012

I have stayed in many other places in PR, but this is by far the best. It was very clean, and the ocean view from the balcony cannot be beat. This place was equipped with everything--including a full kitchen, two tvs, cable, free internet, and so much more! I would definitely recommend this place, and will stay here next time I am in San Juan.

Owners response: Happy you enjoyed my condo and your stay in Isla Verde Beach, PR.

Thank you for your candid review!

Best Regards,
Rosaria

Helpful votes: 9 / 10

 
Guest Comment entered by owner

The Best !!!

Review submitted: February 22, 2012   Date of arrival: December 21, 2011

Rosaria, I am writing to express to you the thanks you deserve for the entire process and the quality of the accommodations that we have recently experienced at your condo in San Juan. The facility was very clean, in good working order, comfortable and all that with a great view. The location in Isla Verde Beach has to be the 'best' because it is private yet close to everything that one could need. The rental process was simple and without hassle. All of the abbove plus good weather and great beaches make for a wonderful place to have a memorial vacation. Thanks again.

Lee

Helpful votes: 7 / 7

 
Guest Comment entered by owner

Perfect Condo!

Review submitted: November 23, 2011   Date of arrival: October 28, 2011

We truly enjoyed our visit to Puerto Rico and our stay at this condo. We found the unit to be clean, well appointed, and the perfect size for us. Waking up to the sound of the waves hitting the beach was amazing, and being in downtown Isla Verde made it very easy to get to all of the attractions on our itinerary. The residents of the building were quite friendly, and the staff was as accommodating as can be. The parking spot was also helpful, since it made parking into one less thing we had to think about and spend our time on. We came home and encouraged all of our friends to consider Puerto Rico as a vacation destination, and recommended they stay in this unit when they do visit. Hasta pronto!

Helpful votes: 10 / 10

 

Not as good as other reviews read.

Ambuj K. ()
Review submitted: November 4, 2011   Date of arrival: September 3, 2011

We were there in PR in early September. I would caution that you should set your expectations right while renting this place. The building itself is quite old, the common areas and the pool borders border 'rundown'. The view was good, the apartment inside was quite decent as linens looked relatively new and were of good quality.

The owner tries to get every penny squeezed out of you. Few things that were less than desirable were:

a) AC must be very old as it was quite noisy.
b) Small things like No toilet paper, no handwash, one trash bag; thankfully Walgreens is right there so we did; just one okay
c) They would charge you $300 for security and you would need to wait close to 2 months to get the refund. Since I had signed up for this it was okay. However, the huge surprise was the electricity bill; apparently I consumed ~$100 bucks electricity for a week, in spite that most of the day time we were out with AC off. I called her to find out how she calculates it, there was an inherent flaw in the calculation which she refused to understand. I do not like cutting pennies but when I get a sense of unfairness it bothers me and I am choosing to share my experience.

Anyways, I made my decision reading the reviews and I felt little cheated so I thought that if others are also making decision based on the reviews they should have a complete picture.

Best!

Couple from chicago

Owners response: Incorrect and unfair review!!!
It is unfortunate that this renter used the review section of HomeAway as a tool of retaliation. This was weeks after they used my condo and all was great till they had to pay the electricity used as agreed prior to renting.
It’s unfortunate that one renter would leave the air conditioning on for the entire time of their stay day and night and refuse to pay the electric bill as agreed prior to renting. Once the amount was deducted from the security deposit the renter decided to write a bad review in retaliation.

Helpful votes: 10 / 14

 
Guest Comment entered by owner

The Condo and the view from the Condo was Great!!!

Review submitted: September 22, 2011   Date of arrival: September 10, 2011

We had a great time in Puerto Rico. The condo and the view from the condo was great.
Thank you for the wonderful place and location.

Helpful votes: 6 / 7

 

Excellent vacation rental!

happy camper (England)
Review submitted: March 31, 2011   Date of arrival: March 15, 2011

this is a lovely apartment with breathtaking views. the best part is the balcony that we sat on every day and watched the ocean and all the people partaking in watersports. I never tired of the view. the apartment was very clean and the reception staff downstairs very helpful. everything you need is provided (kitchen items, towels, etc). the bed is a very comfortable one and sleeping to the noise of the waves relaxing. the only thing I would say is that there is some outside noise at night from late partygoers but we got used to it over time. the position of the apartment was perfect. close to walgreens, food shopping, restuarants, and practically ontop of the beach! we used the bus to go into beautiful old san juan and the bus stop was just steps away. I use a wheelchair when I am out and found the apartment building and streets near by wheelchair friendly. I would definately use this apartment again and would recommend it to friends and family.

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, people with disabilities, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sight seeing, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

Owners response: Has been a pleasure having you as my guest, I'm happy you have enjoyed my condo and the breathtaking views.. I never get tired of that amazing view, and the relaxing sound and breeze of the ocean!!

Helpful votes: 10 / 11

 

Excellent Choice For a Vacation in Puerto Rico

Sarah (Chicago, IL)
Review submitted: March 23, 2011   Date of arrival: March 1, 2011

This is the perfect condo if you do not plan on renting a car and you are seeking a fabulous view. The condo was clean and exactly as pictured and described. The beach or pool are just steps away. Secure, safe, and friendly building that is close to everything. Old San Juan was a 20 minute bus ride away, and the stop is just outside of the front door. We highly recommend this rental and hope to escape the Chicago winters again here! Thank You for sharing your condo with us.

Recommended for: tourists without a car

Owners response: Sarah,
I'm happy you enjoyed my condo and the beautiful island of Puerto Rico.
It would be my pleasure to have you as a guest anytime you are in need of escaping your every day routine!!
All the best,
Rosaria

Helpful votes: 12 / 12

 
Guest Comment entered by owner

Absolutely Wonderful!!!!!

Review submitted: January 2, 2011   Date of arrival: December 13, 2010

The apartment was absolutely wonderful!! We had a great (and relaxing) time in PR... and we absolutely loved the condo. Thank you for letting us rent it!

-Kristen

Helpful votes: 12 / 12

 

Awesome!

Maria (Johnson City, TN)
Review submitted: November 22, 2010   Date of arrival: September 15, 2010

I would recommend this condo to anyone that is looking for a Beach front condo, 24 hours security, parking, and of course the beach.
I stayed in this property the week of September 15 thru September 21. I could not have picked a better place. The condo is walking distance to Walgreens, Hotels, restaurants, etc. If you are looking to chill and enjoy the ocean view this is the condo for you! I felt like I was home away from home!

Recommended for: adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sight seeing, tourists without a car

Owners response: I am happy to share my home and provide a great condo at a fraction of the pricey nearby Hotels!!

Helpful votes: 16 / 16

 
Guest Comment entered by owner

The Million Dollar View!!!!

Review submitted: October 12, 2010   Date of arrival: September 15, 2010

I truly enjoyed the condo! The million-dollar view from your condo was what the doctor ordered.

I could not have asked for a better week and property. I will definitely recommend your property to family and friends.

Helpful votes: 16 / 16

 
Guest Comment entered by owner

Fantastic ocean view!!!

Review submitted: October 1, 2010   Date of arrival: July 21, 2010

My stay in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico was Beautiful. The condo we stood in had a fantastic ocean view, a front view of the pool and Picnic area. The apartment had a comfortable bedroom, polished bathroom, nice living room and a balcony facing the beach. It was convenient to all shops, restaurants, bars, lounges etc. Also not far from was Old San Juan, where they have old shops, historic sites along scenic roads w. more restaurants and things to do. I had a Wonderful Time in Puerto Rico and would definitely recommend this condo to anyone looking to relax and have fun.

Thanks Again for all your Help Rosaria!

Helpful votes: 13 / 13

 

Paradise Enchanted

PRforever (New York)
Review submitted: September 30, 2010   Date of arrival: September 23, 2010

Next time instead of a hotel, check out this place. It is a charming and comfortable apartment with all amenities and with a view that will take your breath away. It is centrally located close to all shopping, restaurants and a few minutes away from the airport and Old San Juan. I had a wonderful time and look forward to come back again soon.

Recommended for: age 55+, people with disabilities, tourists without a car, romantic getaway

Owners response: I am happy to share my home and to provide a great condo to anyone looking for great accomodations and to enjoy the beautifull Island Of Puerto Rico at a fraction of the price of nearby Hotels.
Puerto Rico's warm climate is the perfect getaway where you can lay back and enjoy the warm Carribean sun all year round!!!

Helpful votes: 11 / 11

 
Guest Comment entered by owner

The Condo Was Awesome!!!!

Review submitted: September 6, 2010   Date of arrival: August 30, 2010

We are back from Puerto Rico. The condo was awesome. We loved the beach. We only had bad weather on Monday (the day we got down there). We both fell in love with the island. There is so much to do and see, we wish we could have stayed longer.
Thank you so much for letting us rent the condo, we had an amazing honeymoon. Maybe is the next couple of years we will try to get back down to PR and we will have to look you up.

Helpful votes: 12 / 13

 
Guest Comment entered by owner

The Condo was awesome!!!

Review submitted: September 6, 2010   Date of arrival: August 30, 2010

We are back from Puerto Rico. The condo was awesome. We loved the beach. We only had bad weather on Monday (the day we got down there). We both fell in love with the island. There is so much to do and see, we wish we could have stayed longer.Thank you so much for letting us rent the condo, we had an amazing honeymoon. Maybe is the next couple of years we will try to get back down to PR and we will have to look you up.

Zach

Helpful votes: 12 / 13

 

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