* Overall *
I read most of the reviews here before I booked, and the others do a fair job of describing the hotel. The rooms are fairly spartan, but there's nothing closer to the gorgeous ocean. Hammocks, beach chairs and the proximity of the water make the bare-bones accommodations worth it.


* The Rooms *
It's not the 4 Seasons. But you're not paying for the 4 Seasons. In-land, I'd be hard pressed to spend more than $50 a night for the rooms. That said, I really didn't need anything more from the place than what we had. Our room had a little kitchenette area with fridge where we kept beverages and snacks. We had a table with two chairs, a king bed, hangers and shelves. (There was also a TV with American news channels.) Housekeepers swept the floor and made the beds and the linens couldn't have been cleaner. They do a great job of grooming the grounds and the rooms (although the bathroom could have been cleaner - but nothing awful).

The windows are metal slats that crank open and closed. They don't offer much privacy or sound proofing, but they let in a delicious ocean breeze. If you don't want them open, you can close them and set into place large plastic coverings (and use the air conditioner instead). Yes, things are a tiny bit damp, but that's beach living. If you found the climate muggy, you could crank the windows shut and replace the plastic coverings and turn on the air conditioner. No more dampness.

Some people wrote that there were bug problems. We had none, and we even had fresh fruit on the counter.

It might be nice if they spruced up a bit. If they added things like jute or bamboo mats on the floor instead of bare linoleum tiles, for example, it might brighten things. Or replacing the weird metal slat windows with real windows and blowsy curtains, that would add quite a lot to the decor. But really, it's fine as is. The paint is fresh and the place feels clean.

We got a great rate through hotels.com, but I think rates are generally higher. I probably wouldn't have wanted to spend $135 a night, even considering the location.


* The Services *
They're lacking a bit in customer service. Everyone was lovely. They're all very nice. But they don't have recommendations for local food or activities. We discovered Aqua Mar through another patron of the hotel (a MUST visit if you're in the area - our best meal in PR). They also weren't able to recommend activities aside from going to Fajardo (a city over an hour away).

We tried to book a massage, but they wouldn't just set a time. It was "some time later today". It never panned out. Booking a time and just showing up would have been nice. We met the masseur, and his energy and attitude were pretty antithetical to the massage experience, anyway. This frustration was a bit of a down point. It's just one of those things that should be easy on vacation...

They were incredibly gracious, though, in accommodating my partner who had an emergency business meeting. They allowed him to plug his laptop into their internet in the main office and use it (and a phone line) for over an hour while he had his web conference. [Hotels.com says the hotel has internet access in some rooms, but they don't actually have access in any rooms.]


* The Food *
Breakfast was fine. It did the trick. Other than breakfast, though...yuk...I'd recommend going out. The other meals at the hotel restaurant aren't so good.

Visit Aqua Mar off 901. The chef is NewYorican (New York/Puerto Rican) and his partner is Croatian. The food is the best we had in PR. They were delightful and offered to make us whatever we wanted, if we didn't see it on the menu. They have a selection of rare meats (ostrich and Kobe beef) and over 200 wines on their list. They're a little off the main road, so you'll have to look for them.


* Other Stuff *
Swimming is hard in the ocean right by the hotel. There's a basin area whose currents are too tough for swimming, but local surfers and boarders go there to do their thing. It's fun to watch them. With water shoes you'd be able to swim right outside the hotel just fine. Otherwise it's too rocky to go barefoot.

The pool is clean, but boring. That area of the hotel felt a little like a miniature golf course.