Reviews for Rio Grande Vacation Rental - VRBO 150392 - 2 BR Puerto Rico Villa, Luxury Condo/Villa at Wyndham Rio Mar Resort

AMAZING STAY! Incredible views- SERENITY NOW! :)

Guest Sheila N.
Date of stay 04/13/13
Review Submitted 04/21/13

First, I’d like to commend the owners, Rene and Norma, for being such welcoming and helpful hosts. Always accessible & responsive throughout the booking process, and while we were there. They gave us a thorough walk-through of the home and also gave a tour of the resort. We are frequent travelers and have rented many homes before – the care and attention that this couple has for their home and their guests exceeded our highest expectations. I share this because professionalism and service is the most important aspect of any vacation experience. The villa itself is absolutely incredible! It is as beautiful as the pictures suggest, so let me speak beyond the aesthetics. The location of the villa (perched atop a hill) and the layout of the villa allows for beautiful breezes to go through the entire home. The views are magnificent and because of its location, it is peacefully quiet. The home has central air and air conditioners in each bedroom (important for summer visits!) The Resort is beautiful and we have stayed here several times before (even back when it was a Westin), but we had always rented a hotel room- never again! Rene and Norma give competitive rates because they understand the costs affiliated with traveling with a family. We met people at the pool who paid much more for a small hotel room than we did. (If you know how to make your own bed- then it’s the way to go!) We also saved money by cooking instead of being limited to pricey resort food. My family joked that I cooked more on vacation than I do at home! (To which I answered- “if I had this kitchen view I’d cook every day!”) It was fun and easy to drive around the resort with the golf cart but we also rented a car to get around town. (La Parrilla @ Luquillo Beach and Richie’s Café around the corner are highly recommended.) The rain forest is across the street from the resort where you can swim in waterfalls. You can easily drive to Ceiba airport for a puddle jumper flight to Culebra (home of Flamenco Beach, the #2 beach in the world.) Helpful hint: while the villa comes equipped with Wi-Fi, connectivity was sporadic. (I don’t think this is specific to this villa, but more so the overall service vs. the mainland US.) Bring DVDs if your kids need electronic entertainment, and know that the hotel lobby has free wi-fi if you’re in a dire situation for work. But hopefully, you planned a vacation to Puerto Rico to disconnect!! We can’t say enough great things and hope to visit again!

Owner response: If you like care and attention on your vacation travel, then this is the place to come. I highly recommend you read my "reviews". Enjoy riding around in the Golf Cart included and park it right next to the beach. Visit my villa and feel like been at home.

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Nice and Quiet

Guest Mary S.
Date of stay 04/08/13
Review Submitted 04/15/13

The condo is perfect getaway. Very clean and comfortable beds, comfortable tv room after a long day of adventures. Well equipted kitchen with everything you need and a large dining room table plus bar gave everyone plenty of space. Beautiful view from the balcony! Golf cart saves you having to pay for parking down at the hotel and pool. Beach and pool are very nice. Restaurants on site seemed very pricey and some were not even open! We went 3 miles down the street where there are a bunch of places all in a row. Owners were very friendly and helpful. I would rent from them again!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Enjoy the beautiful view from the balcony and enjoy the comfort of my fully equipped villa with 3 TV's. Free parking at the condo. Go to the beach and ride around in my 5 passenger Golf Cart included in the cost of the villa. Please read my reviews.

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Beautiful villa at winderful resort

Guest Mary Kay
Date of stay 03/22/13
Review Submitted 04/07/13

The villa was just as pictured. Beautifully decorated, comfortable with gorgeous views. As mentioned in most other reviews, we must say that Rene and Norma were extraordinary hosts. Incredibly informative and wonderful to work with. The villa had nice touches such as a cooler to take to the beach and boogie boards which our two kids (13 and 16) both loved. Rene provides a notebook with local restaurants and activities, which really helped us find some great places to eat. As a side note, someone else mentioned Pasta y Pueblo as a great place to eat - it was fabulous! We loved the golf cart! Zipping around the resort was a ton of fun. The resort itself had an amazing pool and beach, which we used almost every day. The location of the villa made for a quiet stay, which we truly happy about. (we were there during Spring break - so we were quite relieved not to have to deal with any loud parties!). We visited Old San Juan and El Yunke rainforeat as well as Luquillo beach and the kiosks - all were great. My favorite part of the day was sipping coffee in the rocking chair on the veranda each morning while enjoying the beautiful ocean view. I would highly recommend a stay with Rene and Norma.

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: Come and enjoy my villa in a nice quiet condo while you enjoy the beautiful view to the beach, golf course and the Wyndham Hotel. Three TV's for your enjoyment, completely equipped. Just bring what you are going to eat and drink. You will feel like home in a vacation atmosphere.

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Beautiful villa!

Guest Tiffany D.
Date of stay 02/09/13
Review Submitted 03/22/13

We were very pleased when we arrived at this villa. It was more beautiful than pictured. Rene and Norma were very gracious hosts, giving us a tour of the resort. The view from the lanai is breathtaking! We felt very much at home and thoroughly enjoyed our visit! Would highly recommend this villa! Can't wait for our next visit Puerto Rico and Rio grande!

Owner response: Enjoy a fantastic vacation in my beautifull villa in Rio Mar Resort. Enjoy the view to the Windham Grand Hotel, the ocean and the beautifull Beach Golf Course from the porch. My wife and I will assure you that you will feel like been in your own home with all the amenitys available including a Golf Cart. Please come visit us.

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Fabulous villa and excellent customer service made this one of our favorite caribbean trips ever!

Guest Mary T
Date of stay 11/18/12
Review Submitted 11/27/12

My husband and I highly recommend this condo for your next family vacation. We travel to the caribbean several times a year (normally to the Riviera Maya) and this was one of our favorite vacations. We loved the views, the layout was perfect, beds were comfortable, kitchen was well equipped, the beach is AMAZING, the hotel pool is beautiful and fun, and the owner Rene went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable. My favorite part was waking up to the amazing views and hanging out with our family on the large balcony that had a table with seating for 4 as well as two rocking chairs and a comfortable bench. Our family of 5 fit comfortably in the space. I also love how the large doors and windows open into the balcony, giving you big views from inside the villa. We have three children ages 6, 5 and 10 months and the full kitchen made it easy for us to do breakfast and lunch in the villa and dinner out. I loved having a working dishwasher for bottles (as well as a high chair and pack and play!! The family room couches were comfortable and the bedrooms were nice and spaceous. Both bedrooms had comfortable beds with soft sheets and blankets and the bathrooms are well stocked with nice towels. Our kids had a blast at the Wyndham pool that has plenty of seating, shade and a fun water slide. I loved the ocean, which had just the right amount of waves for boogie boarding. You don't have to walk far East on the beach to find a spectacular cove that is freshwater fed from the mountains. I highly recommend taking this walk and exploring. As far as the distance from the pool, Rene provides a golf cart so the rides to the beach pool are quick and easy (kids found the cart fun). We talked to the bellmen at the hotel and they had us park the cart just past the hotel entrance, which was very convenient and free. Finally, I thought the decor of the villa was pretty and well thought out. It is clear that alot of care went into decorating the villa. The pictures on this site do not do it justice. I have already recommended the villa to friends and we are very discriminating. A few tips: rent a car so you can eat dinner off the resort (resort food is very bland and overpriced) and go to the rainforest. Our favorite restaurant (visited 3x in 1 week) was a VERY small Italian restaurant called Pasta Y Pueblo in Luquillo, just off the beach.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: To continue giving excellent customer service and responding to some customer's request, I have added a third TV in the villa (Living Room). I love to meet my customer's at the villa when they arrive and show them around the Resort and give them some tips for there comfort. I highly recommend you read my other reviews that will help you make the right decision when you decide to rent.

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Our two month escape from winter in NH

Guest Eugene W Hall
Date of stay 01/31/12
Review Submitted 04/12/12

We just returned home from this beautiful villa after a two month stay. We quickly forgot what the weather was in Feb. and March in NH when we arrived at this great resort. Rene met us and showed us around. Rene was very good about answering all my e-mails before our rental. We loved sitting on the balcony and enjoying the view. We loved having the golf cart for cruising around the resort. The resort is very convenient to grocery shopping and many tourist attractions. We were disappointed in the condition of the villa beach. There were many broken chairs and the beach was not raked very often. We did enjoy the hotel beach and pools. We also missed having a TV in the living room and it would be great to get that hot tub fixed. We would definitely recommend this villa to our friends for a very relaxing and enjoyable vacation. Our grandchildren visited for a week and they had a great time. It is very kid friendly. Thanks Rene and Norma. Pat and Gene Hall Sunapee, NH

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: It was delightful having my last guests for two months in my villa. Whether it is a short or long rental stay, I will always treat my guests to the best of my ability. Shortly, I will be adding a third TV (in living room) in my villa for the comfort of my guest.

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Clearly a cut above the rest!

Guest Clyde D.
Date of stay 03/13/11
Review Submitted 03/20/11

Family of five spent Spring Break at this villa for 7days. The owners of this villa redefine the meaning of rental property owners nothing short of exceptional, responsive and going the extra mile to ensure their clients enjoy their stay at this villa. We left the owners hanging on our arrival time yet they showed considerable flexibility in not only waiting for us but taking the time to orient us to the resort, amenities and also take us outside of the property to point out a bakery, post office etc. Upon arrival we were greeted with a bottle of wine in the villa ,very nice touch. The property is well kept, was clean upon arrival and well stocked. Condiments, spices, toilet paper, toiletries were made available along with plenty of linens and towels. Plenty of cookware, utensils. Each bedroom had a television and DVD player, the beds are of high quality with good mattresses, very important to us! The owner provided us with a book outlining many activities, instructions and in the back of the book was reviews from previous guests, mostly all very positive with opportunities for improvement. Most owners would cringe at airing customer concerns and issues, not these owners, no skeltons in the closet here! About the property, beautiful private beach for the villa guests and owners, great pool better than the Wyndham property beach and pool which was crowded. The villa pool and hottub in the villa complex were probably the only negatives here, the hottub was cold mainly because they don't have a heater on it according to the maintenance man. Hello? The pool, no comment...Might be a good idea to have a hottub at the private pool at the beach complex. The use of the barbeque also was great. We availed of the use of the golf cart to shuttle ourselves to the beach every day, initially concerned about hw far the villa was from the beack but the 10 mnute ride was fun. The oceanview from the villa was breathtaking as was the cool, refreshing breezes from the villa during the evening and night which is at a higher elevation. No air conditioning required. Proximity of villa to El Yunque, Horseback Riding, Luquillo, Grocery stores, Redbox Videos, 5-10 minutes. Bottomline, a great rental and fun time for family. Thanks Rene and Norma! Wonderful stay, we'll be thinking hard about a return visit.

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Owner response: As a villa owner, my priority is that our customer's enjoy their vacation stay. My wife and I will always go the extra mile in making our customer's comfortable and making their vacation enjoyable. Constructive suggestions and issues to better my rental property, will be taken seriously and taken care of.

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Rio Mar Golf Villa Review

Guest nyctourist1
Date of stay 03/29/10
Review Submitted 04/07/10

Our vacation at Rio Mar was everything we hoped for and more! Rene's villa was absolutely perfect in every way. The description, reviews and pictures matched and surpassed our expectations. Rene was wonderful and easy to work with - he was helpful and waiting for us when we arrived. The villa had everything we needed (and even more than we needed, such as an abundance of both beach and bath towels!) and was gorgeous! Prior to our arrival we were slightly concerned that the location was too far away from the beach; although it is a 7 minute golf cart ride away, we never felt as if the beach was too far. This was the perfect vacation for a family with a small child (ours is 3 years old) - and it is MUCH better than cramming into a hotel room!!!!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: It is always a pleasure to me, to make my customer's happy and to ensure them an enjoyable stay in my villa and in Puerto Rico. The comments and recomendations from my customer's will only make me work harder to assure other renters a perfect stay in my villa.

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Guest NJ973
Date of stay 02/27/10
Review Submitted 02/27/10

We have rented various vacation condos and houses over the years, but have never met hosts as gracious and welcoming as Rene and Norma. They alone are reason enough to rent this beautiful condo. Rene was very on top of things prior to our arrival, cataloging what the Wyndham property had to offer, suggesting side trips-- even emailing us to ask about the nasty weather in the northeast just prior to our trip. When we landed, he directed us to a supermarket on the way from the airport, since he knew most places would be closed later on a Sunday night. The Torres' gave us a tour of the apartment and then took us around the extensive Wyndham property in the golf cart. They even had a bottle of wine waiting for our arrival. The condo itself is very comfortable and well-laid out: the kitchen is brand-new and well-stocked. The terrace, with views down to the sea, is beautiful and was our favorite place to sit. Even though it was in the mid-80s every day, we never used the AC - the hilltop location and ceiling fans left the apartment very comfortable, even at night (and we are not shy about using the AC at home.) The golf cart made it easy to get around the property and was fun to drive up and down to and from the beach. The trip took around 5-10 minutes, depending on route and if there was any other traffic on the road. There is a small pool across the parking lot from the condo that was nice for early mornings and evenings, but the real attraction is the pool and beach at the Wyndham. We were there President's Day week, so the hotel was fairly crowded with families from the Northeast (many schools there have the week off) and our kids were able to find friends to play with. The pool has a water slide and the hotel has activities - despite the crowds at the hotel, it never felt too crowded. Ditto the beach- if you wandered a few yards in either direction from the front of the pool, it was delightfully empty. The hotel has excellent golf & tennis facilities & several good restaurants, but renting a car will allow you to explore (much cheaper) options nearby. The Wyndham is also about a 10 minute drive from the El Yunque rain forest, a must-see on any Puerto Rico trip.

Owner response: I will always take care of my guests to the utmost of my ability. Enjoying their stay in Rio Mar Resort and in Puerto Rico makes me very happy.

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AWESOME!!!

Guest PR Lovers
Date of stay 07/01/09
Review Submitted 08/19/09

My husband, 9 yr old son, 22 year daughter and I stayed here for the month of July and had a wonderful time. Rene was thorough, efficient, organized and very kind. He met us at the rental and went through every single aspect of the villa which was accurate to the last detail. We felt at home by the time he left. The villa is located in the northeast section of the island about a 25 minute drive to the airport in Isla Verde. You are 5 minutes from one of Puerto Rico's world renowned beaches, Luquillo; shopping at a nearby designer factory outlet and great local dining. El Yunque was a very short drive away, as well as the bioluminescent bay which gave us the opportunity to appreciate the wonders of mother nature at her best. The property was extremely well-kept, clean and had every amenity we could think of provided. Rene is a very nice person who cares about his villa and making his guest(s) have a stress-free and relaxing time and you feel this from the first time you speak with him. The only thing we had to do was a little bit of grocery shopping and that was it. Having the golf cart available made getting to the hotel and resident's pool a breeze. We've already recommended staying here to a few of our friends and look forward to staying here again on our next visit. We loved sitting on the balcony and being serenaded by the sounds of the coqui and equally enjoyed the view. We had the best of both worlds at our fingertips. The privacy and freedom of staying at a private residence AND the luxuries and activities of a 5 star hotel were the perfect combination for a restful, fun and exciting vacation. We can't wait to go back!

Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, sightseeing.

Owner response: I have always and will continue to provide my customer's my utmost effort to make them feel comfortable and restful in a place where they can feel at home and at the same time enjoy a wonderful place to stay and enjoy a beautiful scenery and vacation.

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Dream Vacation

Guest cpawidow
Date of stay 04/18/09
Review Submitted 05/05/09

We've just returned from celebrating our 25th anniversary at this lovely villa. The villa was just as described. When we were in the villa we spent most of our time on the beautiful veranda that overlooked the whole resort. We ate breakfast, read books, watched a sunrise and even got to see fireworks over the hotel one night. Initially it was a little farther away from the ocean then I was hoping but with the access to the community shuttle and the option of renting Rene's golf cart I didn't even think twice about it. We were able to enjoy a pool right across the parking lot, the villa owners community pool and beach and the hotel's pools and beaches. We loved the options and used each of them. We discovered the road through the resort circled around and up and down and ended up being a great cardio work out with a beautiful view(so we could eat more) By being in the Rio Mar Resort we were able to use the concierge services at the hotel but at the same time have a quiet place to ourselves. We took the Old San Juan historical tour with the hotel group and on our own we went to hike the Rainforest. There were so many more things to do and see but we were torn between just relaxing or seeing all we could see. Renee also has recommendations for restaurants, grocery store and shopping. We felt very safe at the villa as there were security checkpoints to get in to the resort. I would highly recommend this villa. It was truly our dream vacation. Thanks Renee!!!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: It will always be my intent to make my future renters enjoy their vacation in Rio Mar Resort and make my renters feel like if they were at home.

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Perfect Tropical Get Away!

Guest Alisa D.
Date of stay 02/27/09
Review Submitted 03/11/09

What a fantastic place to stay in Puerto Rico!!!! We stayed here for my mother's 60th Birthday and it was true paradise. The homeowner was wonderful to work with and met us at the condo and went over everything we needed in the resort and in the area. His home was gorgeous and had everything we needed for our stay. The views were perfect and the golf cart handy for going back and forth from the villa to the resort (about a 5 min. ride). The resort pool and beach were fantastic and the service great! This was the perfect place to stay and was close to the rain forest, snorket/sailing trips, and day trips to Old San Juan. I would highly recommend this wonderful home to anyone who wants a comfortable, safe, and relaxing place to stay.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: It has always been and will continue to be my best intention to make my renters feel comfortable in my Villa and that they fully enjoy their vacation stay in Rio Mar and Puerto Rico.

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Perfect vacation getaway!!

Guest AMATX
Date of stay 12/28/08
Review Submitted 01/09/09

One word could describe it: PERFECT!. The place was really nice, spotless and totally equiped. No need to stop at the store for supplies except for food/snacks. The owners made us feel at home and fully bilingual. We felt like we were staying at a friends house instead of a rental. The beach, pool facilities (both at the Villa and Hotel) were excellent. Having the golf cart available was a plus. A very short, fun ride to the beach. The view from the balcony was great, especially in the morning while you sit back and relax to have coffee before you take your children to the beach. I would go back tomorrow if I could!!! It is also just minutes away from the Rain Forest- a must see place in Puerto Rico.

Recommended for: Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: All past renters have all commented positive comments about their stay in Rio Mar and my Villa. It is my sole intention to make my customer's feel like been home and enjoy their vacation.

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The Best!

Guest MrsN
Date of stay 11/20/08
Review Submitted 12/02/08

It is hard to come by locations and people who are great and this place has both! The owner of the Villa was very courteous and friendly and went out of his way to make our stay an excellent one. The villa was clean and exactly what it is pictured to be.

Recommended for: Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest Anonymous
Date of stay 06/01/08
Review Submitted 06/22/08

This was a great 2BR apt at the Wyndham Rio Mar. The apt. was well-appointed and tastefully decorated. My family of 4 had plenty of space and my 2 young children had lots of room to roam around. The view of the water is beautiful and the beach resort is only an 8 minute golf cart ride away. My kids loved the bunk beds and the golf cart, not to mention the great facilities at the Hotel and Pool (waterslide). We would recommend this property highly.

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Vacation Rentals by Owner

Luxury Condo/Villa at Wyndham Rio Mar Resort [#150392] | View Property

Traveler Reviews (15)

AMAZING STAY! Incredible views- SERENITY NOW! :)

AMAZING STAY! Incredible views- SERENITY NOW! :)

Nice and Quiet

Nice and Quiet

Beautiful villa at winderful resort

Beautiful villa at winderful resort

Beautiful villa!

Beautiful villa!

Fabulous villa and excellent customer service made this one of our favorite caribbean trips ever!

Fabulous villa and excellent customer service made this one of our favorite caribbean trips ever!

Our two month escape from winter in NH

Our two month escape from winter in NH

Clearly a cut above the rest!

Clearly a cut above the rest!

Rio Mar Golf Villa Review

Rio Mar Golf Villa Review

AWESOME!!!

AWESOME!!!

Dream Vacation

Dream Vacation

Perfect Tropical Get Away!

Perfect Tropical Get Away!

Perfect vacation getaway!!

Perfect vacation getaway!!

The Best!

The Best!

Guestbook Comment

Guestbook Comment