Vacation Rentals by Owner

Our great vacation from Germany!

Guest: Angel (Germany)
Date of Stay: 05/04/12 Review Submitted: 05/06/12

The Condo was just perfect with all the amenities anyone could ever want. Centrally located on the beach and just minutes away from Moncerate private beach, it was the perfect home away from home.. Clean, safe, quiete and sarene. My wife and I are looking to go back next year if time permirs.

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

Terrific condo

Guest: todd v.
Date of Stay: 03/15/12 Review Submitted: 04/08/12

Very nice condo. Private, quiet complex.The rooftop patio was very nice to relax on and watch the ocean or look towards the rainforest. Wide variety of beach activities right outside the gate. The kids loved using the boogie boards in the waves. Luquillo is a very nice starting point for lots of site seeing and activities. Drove up to the rain forest, about 10 minutes away. We went to the bio bay,a must, only 20 minutes away. We couldn't have asked for anything more. Ilia was very helpful if we needed anything and is a great host. Thanks Ilia!

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Secluded but Close to it All

Guest: Shannon (Vancouver, BC)
Date of Stay: 03/05/12 Review Submitted: 03/16/12

Beautiful Condo....everything you need....very private....miles of really beautiful beach to walk....the kioskos are over-rated. Head towards the el Conquistador hotel area for much nicer restaurants with beautiful views. A lovely place to call home while travelling!

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

Fabulous Luquillo Stay

Guest: Paula M.
Date of Stay: 01/24/12 Review Submitted: 03/03/12

We found this lovely condo on the HomeAway site and everything written about it measured up perfectly We were delighted with the condo and found the entire apartment complex to be very classy and peaceful. It was virtually empty during the week, but we were still able to meet several owners or renters during our month-long vacation, Everyone was very friendly and helpful, which added to our pleasant stay. The condo itself was very clean, attractively decorated, and we had plenty of room. It would lend itself beautifully for 2 or 3 more guests. We were alone this year, but hope to have our daughters and grandson visit next year. The location is perfect! It is close to a variety of beaches (all within walking distance) and only a mile from either town or the kiosks, where we enjoyed several dinners - great food! This is a very safe area and both of us enjoyed running or walking alone without any concern. We loved this area, Ilia's apartment, and the town of Luquillo to the extent that we are already looking forward to returning next year. It was a pleasure communicating with our landlord, Ilia She was always very responsive to any question we had and everything was handled in a very professional and efficient manner. Thank you for a lovely experience!

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Christmas Week in Luquillo

Guest: Anne M.
Date of Stay: 12/25/11 Review Submitted: 01/03/12

We had a wonderful experience, both in and out of the condo. It was comfortably furnished and five of us fit, even though it was only set up for four. It was sunny and bright, clean and easy to keep that way. The kitchen was modern and all the appliances worked. The master bedroom was spacious and had a large private bath. The second bedroom had two single beds and a smaller bathroom right next door. The balcony became our favorite place to hang out; but the big screen TV had its lure for us. It was fun to watch the local news in Spanish. To get to the beach, it was down two flights of stairs and follow the short, shady walkway, across the lawn, through the gate and right onto to the sand and a few steps beyond that is the ocean. You can swim right there or walk toward Luquillo beach, where the strand is wider and there are enough waves for boogie boards. Unless you intend to spend your time walking back and forth to the beach, you will want to have a car. El Yunque National Park is close by, as well as Fajardo, for the ferry terminal to Culebra or Viyequez. It is easy to get to from Munoz airport and to go for day trips into Old San Juan. There is a shopping center nearby for groceries and incidentals as well as several good restaurants, accessible best by car. The kiosks selling varieties of local fare was fun to try. The weather was great--even though it rained briefly during the night or the late afternoon. We are looking forward to a return visit. Thank you for your hospitality.

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Family Vacation - June, 2011

Guest: Maria G. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Date of Stay: 06/23/11 Review Submitted: 07/12/11

Our family of 4 (sons ages 24 & 20) enjoyed our 10 day stay as guests of Ilia. Transactions were smooth, quick & absolutely honest. When Ilia inquired a problem that originated from my paypal account, she was kind enough to call me to inquire about the issue so that she could return my deposit timely. The condo complex is very quiet and safe (the Luquillo area is generally safe regardless). We arrived on the eve of San Juan Night which turns into a weekend celebration. Despite the many people gathered on the beach to camp, enjoy spirits and family, the noise created from such was not audible from the condo. The beach is literally steps away. The condo was very comfortable for our family, the kitchen had all you would need, but our favorite spot to hang out was on the roof terrace where you will find a gas grill, lawn chairs and an umbrella. The ac units in the bedrooms worked very well. The temperatures were well into the 90's yet we only had to keep the units on low. We ventured to the public beach in Luquillo due to its lagoon like setting which was great for wading or floating in its calm waters. The public beach also has umbrellas and chairs to rent which makes it easier than to carry them along. My sons enjoyed walking down the beach to the kioscos for a bite to eat and cuba libres. We have made Luquillo an annual visit destination for the last few years and have always enjoyed our stay. We would certainly return to rent this condo again. Thank you Ilia!!

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

Great Puerto Rico experience

Guest: 1stTimeCarribean (United States)
Date of Stay: 04/12/11 Review Submitted: 05/19/11

We have spent amazing week in April, staying in Illia's condo. Condo is spacious and well maintained. Ocean is just behind the gates. To be able to swim you need to walk ~3 min to the right towards Playa Azul towers. The beach and the condominium were deserted (just one other guests in the complex besides us) up till pre-Easter week, after that the area was quite busy, beach was crowded after noon, but still quiet in the morning. Overall, very pleasant experience, looking forward to go there again. I recommend this place if you prefer to stay in Luquillo area away from San Juan/Isla Verde busy life.

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

Fantastic getaway

Guest: MN (Minneapolis)
Date of Stay: 02/28/11 Review Submitted: 04/02/11

Beautiful rental property. Breathtaking views of the ocean and rainforest. We really enjoyed the many accomodations this property has. The roof top terrace was a perfect place to relax in the evenings. Llia was great to work with. We are looking forward to visiting again.

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

Breathtaking

Guest: Un Jibarito (Williamstown, NJ)
Date of Stay: 08/24/10 Review Submitted: 09/25/10

We stayed at this property in late August 2010. The place is out of this world. Far enough from distractions, close enough to everything a vacationer wants: from restaurants to souvenir shops. Oh, the beach? It's only about 100 feet away, with its own private entrance. This apartment is excellent: space, view, accommodations, beautiful. I even got to use the storm window shutter because of hurricane Earl. Luckily, it was more bark than bite. We also met Ilia, a wonderful lady who is very amicable. It had been a long time since I had visited home. This place made me fit right in. Thank you. Saludos de un jibarito de Lares.

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

Breathtaking

Guest: Un Jibarito (Williamstown, NJ)
Date of Stay: 08/24/10 Review Submitted: 09/25/10

We stayed at this property in late August 2010. The place is out of this world. Far enough from distractions, close enough to everything a vacationer wants: from restaurants to souvenir shops. Oh, the beach? It's only about 100 feet away, with its own private entrance. This apartment is excellent: space, view, accommodations, beautiful. I even got to use the storm window shutter because of hurricane Earl. Luckily, it was more bark than bite. We also met Ilia, a wonderful lady who is very amicable. It had been a long time since I had visited home. This place made me fit right in. Thank you. Saludos de un jibarito de Lares.

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

Breathtaking

Guest: Un Jibarito (Williamstown, NJ)
Date of Stay: 08/24/10 Review Submitted: 09/25/10

We stayed at this property in late August 2010. The place is out of this world. Far enough from distractions, close enough to everything a vacationer wants: from restaurants to souvenir shops. Oh, the beach? It's only about 100 feet away, with its own private entrance. This apartment is excellent: space, view, accommodations, beautiful. I even got to use the storm window shutter because of hurricane Earl. Luckily, it was more bark than bite. We also met Ilia, a wonderful lady who is very amicable. It had been a long time since I had visited home. This place made me fit right in. Thank you. Saludos de un jibarito de Lares.

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

Perfect Beach Getaway!

Guest: ScottC (Mesa, Arizona USA)
Date of Stay: 07/31/10 Review Submitted: 08/13/10

Just got back from PR and a week @ this property. First of all, the pictures don't do this condo and the beach justice. The views from the patio - toward El Yunque and the Terrace (270 degrees) are spectacular. There are so many extras included with this rental that makes the price an amazing value (especially when compared to staying at a resort/hotel) including; Patio (cushioned furniture, table and 2 chairs and a hammock), Pivate Rooftop Terrace (chairs, table, gas grill and large umbrella w/stand), for the Beach (boogie boards and large ice chest w/wheels), Kitchen (everything you need including coffemaker, microwave and a George Foreman type grill) and for downtime (which we didn't have much of - satellite TV (2), wireless internet and toys, games and activity books if you have little ones). Stores, restaurants and eanthing you need is within walking distance or a short <5min drive, yet you're at the end of the beach road in a secluded, private oasis. And although the beach is right out the gate (30 seconds), we prefered the 5 minute walk (turn right out of the gate) to Playa Azul. It's beautiful crystal clear water and sandy bottom was amazing. In the morning you can collect coconuts in the courtyard and hack at the top with a sharp knife until you get to the hard shell underneath. Poke a hole in the top and stick in a straw (We found a box in the kitchen) - the perfect refreshment! Be sure to visit El Yunque and try to budget for a trip to the Bioluminescent Bay on Vieques with East Island Excursions. It's pricey (unlimited drinks and dinner are included - the Monfongo was amazing) but the experience will be the highlight of your vacation! Our transaction, exchange of keys/automatic gate opener and return of deposit (we cleaned before we left) went smoothly. We'll definitely stay here again on our next trip back to PR.

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

we loved it!

Guest: Dave (California)
Date of Stay: 05/30/10 Review Submitted: 06/30/10

Thank you Ilia for the use of your wonderful condo! My wife & I stayed a week May/June 2010 and had a great time. Nice view of the ocean from the balcony. The tiled private rooftop offers even better views of the ocean, dense foliage adjacent to the condo complex, the rainforest, & night sky. The condo was very clean, comfortable, well furnished & stocked with plenty of dishes. There are also toys for kids & grown-ups. We used only the master bedroom, the bed was very comfortable & the A/C worked great. The air conditioners are present only in the bedrooms. The living room gets a near constant ocean breeze from the front sliding glass window out through the kitchen window so you really don't need an A/C there anyway. (Note that this unit is on the 3rd floor – 28 steps, no elevator – so not suitable for the physically disabled. We were the only ones in the 15condo complex for 5 of the 7 days – most of the owners use them just for vacation & don’t rent them out, so it is very quiet & peaceful. This is a newer complex & since it is at the end of the road, no traffic to listen to – just the sounds of nature - absolutely blissful - & right on the beach! We found Luquillo to be the perfect location for a Eastern Puerto Rico vacation - close to San Juan & the casinos & resort areas (about 35-40mins), close to Fajardo (20mins) for ferry to Culebra & Vieques islands - Flamenco Beach on Culebra is a must! Snorkeling boats out of Fajardo - the Fun Cat catamaran was a blast! The El Yunque rainforest is a must – the road to the rainforest is only a few miles from the condo. Just as you start on your way toward the rainforest, on PR955 is a Gift/Tourist Info shop on the left-hand side, The Caribbean Trading Company. The two lovely sisters Risell & Karla are very helpful (ask them for tips on what to do & the QP Que Pasa magazine – don’t forget to buy something). El Yunque has impressive waterfalls with viewing areas right next to the road. For the more adventurous, there is a fantastic waterfall & swimming area about a mile hike (on paved path, but still not for the weak of heart – it’s up & down). We recommend kiosk Ely’s #10 - good fresh food at great prices. Also Antojitos Puertorriquenos – near Wyndham Rio Mar resort. So if you like a quiet place to vacation, while still being just short drives to local attractions, Luquillo is perfect, and Ilia’s condo probably one of the best deals for what you get. Dave & Kay – California

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

Great Ocean-side Retreat

Guest: Marcopostal (Grand Marais, MN USA)
Date of Stay: 02/14/10 Review Submitted: 02/25/10

We rented this apartment for the middle week of February 2010 and enjoyed our stay very much. The owners are very friendly and easy to work with and Ilia's mother met us at the rental car pickup in San Juan with keys and directions. The weather was beautiful with hot temperatures but a nice breeze blowing through the balcony doors to keep things cool. Good quality ceiling fans keep in indoors temps about 82 degrees during the day and the bedrooms have high quality hotel-style air conditioning unit to get a good night sleep. You can also open the blinds and get nice breezes from the ocean. The rooftop patio is wonderful and we did not see one bug day or night. You can watch the sun rise over the ocean and set over the rain forest from the roof...very cool!! The beach is right out the gate and very private with good swimming on either side and a tidal flat area right out front surrounded by a coral reef...great to explore at low tide. This location is very safe and secure with locked iron gates and a 24 hour a day security guard posted in a security hut right by the gate. The police patrol the beach road heavily so there are no noisy parties or punks hanging around getting drunk or unruly. The rain forest is very close and a must see. It is generally about 10 degrees cooler in the forest and many hiking trails are available all at a very easy level and many are actually paved. There is a nice grocery store (Amigo) only blocks away where you can stock up on standard grocery items and Raul sets up a mofongo stand on the street in front of Amigo on Tue, Thu and Sat where he sells the best conch, octopus and shrimp mofongo on the island (we thought the conch was the best). Fajardo is just a stones throw away and offers just about any shopping you need. Take the highway from Fajardo down to Maunabo (about 2 hours one way) for some incredible scenery. Old San Juan is a must and you can park right by the cruise ship docks in a huge municipal lot all day for just a couple of dollars. Don't bother with the trolley, just walk the 5-6 short city blocks to El Morro. Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve is a game refuge north of Fajardo but you must make reservations early as the limited spots fill up fast. It is well worth the price and the boardwalk hike is outstanding. If you are looking for a loud party hangout this place is not for you! If however you are looking for a modern, quiet, low stress getaway look no further."

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

excellent secluded getaway

Guest: Howard P. (cleveland, ohio USA)
Date of Stay: 11/04/09 Review Submitted: 11/18/09

my wife and i spent 5 wonderful days in this clean condo. the master bed was incredibly comfortable. steps to a beautiful beach which we had to ourselves. beach chairs/umbrella in the unit. great location for the rainforest, nature preserve and marina in fajardo. we travel and rent condos quite a bit and the accomodations were excellent and the owners are super nice and helpful.

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

a perfect Luquillo location

Guest: pamdl (hadley ma)
Date of Stay: 03/02/09 Review Submitted: 04/05/09

If you like to walk along the beach, or want a comfortable base from which to explore this part of the island, then this apartment is well worth considering. The location, at the end of a road that runs along the beach, is peaceful and safe. One can walk along the water in either direction and enjoy the coastline, which is amazingly varied: shallow coral reefs, crescents of palm-fringed sand, surfable waves, and stretches that seem untouched by any human. The apartment is comfortable, with most everything we needed. We enjoyed the spacious balcony for morning coffee and afternoon rains, and the roof terrace was a nice place to watch the stars at night. Transactions were straight-forward, and everyone was pleasant and helpful. Luquillo is small, but there is a decent supermarket and a Walgreens on the main road for provisions, and plenty of mall-type stores several miles down the road towards Fajardo, should one need them. The kioskos just past the public beach are worth checking out, and--for more of a "fine dining" experience among the kiosks-- La Parilla (kiosk 2) is a delicious choice. I would definitely stay here again.

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

Good rental with great location

Guest: John of Maine (Maine, US)
Date of Stay: 02/16/09 Review Submitted: 03/03/09

We rented this apartment during February of 2009 for eight days and will rent again when we return to PR. The financial dealings were done using PayPal and our deposit was returned promptly. I had been wary because of one of the previous reviews so I used my credit card through PayPal for some additional recourse if needed, but my fears were unfounded. The apartment is well suited to a family. Four people can comfortably sleep in the beds in the two bedrooms and an additional person, like our 10 year old, can sleep on the sofa or the inflatable mattress. The master bed is a king and very comfortable and our teenagers had no complaints about the two twin beds in the second bedroom. There are air conditioners in the two bedrooms and ceiling fans throughout the apartment. We didn't have much need for the air conditioners as there is good cross-ventilation and we were comfortable without. The beach next to the apartment building is sheltered by coral. It is a good spot for sitting and sunning but for swimming you should walk either to the left or the right. To the right is Playa Azul with good waves at times and a short ten minute beach walk to the left is the excellent Balneario in Luquillo. If you want to snorkel, the coral has some interesting creatures, but it is very shallow. The best way to see a lot of different fish easily is to swim near the moorings of the fishing boats just to the right of the beach. We had previously stayed at the Fajardo Inn but decided to get something roomier for the family for this trip. This was a good decision that gave everyone more space of their own.

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

Please read...do not rent

Guest: RNinNY (Buffalo, New York)
Date of Stay: 03/21/08 Review Submitted: 10/24/08

Beware....Very disappointing experience. Stayed here last spring with my best friend for four nights, for what was supposed to be a relaxing 30th birthday get-away. In order to rent the property you had to put down a rather hefty deposit. I was wary, but the landlord provided a written agreement and it all seemed to be on the up and up. In addition to this deposit, there was a cleaning fee. It seemed a little steep but I noticed from other properties in the area that a cleaning fee was common practice. We arrived on our first day to find the landlord's very pleasant mother just finishing up cleaning the apartment with what appeared to be a broken foot(it was in a cast). Despite the cleaning fee (and mostly because we felt sorry for the nice woman and her injured foot), we cleaned the apartment before we left. Dishes washed, beds made, dirty linens put in the wash(would have washed and dried but there was no detergent), garbages emptied and taken out,etc. The apartment was left as we found it.... nothing broken, dirtied, or misplaced when we left so I expected a full and prompt refund. It was expected that my deposit would have been reimbursed within one month as laid out in the rental agreement or if any charges were to be deducted I was to be provided with a written statement as to what and why. After multiple calls and emails, to this date I have never received a reply, statement as to why these funds were never reimbursed, nor one cent of my deposit. I would highly discourage you from renting this property, unless you like to part with your hard earned money for no good reason. I am left feeling disappointed and a little naive...I won't be making this mistake again. Stay in beautiful Luquillo, but not at this property.

Owner response:I was somewhat shocked to read this review as it is the first time we get negative feedback about our little place of paradise. I hope this does not detter anybody else to enjoy a great vacation spot as we always have received and personally experienced a great stay. My mother in law is the one that personally takes care of the appartment, this has never and will never be an issue for her and or anybody . This guest stayed indeed in our apartment and never informed us about not being happy about the accomodations. I guess I assumed all was well , as all the other feedback has always been terrific. Obviuosly we try to portray the apartment as it is so that there is as little of a surprise as possible for those that rent it. The deposit is a standard practice with most renters and is something any renter is fully aware of in advance. Unfortunately there is abuse and we need to somehow protect our assett. We have and will always return what is due. Fair is fair ! I have contacted the customer to resolve the dispute and see how we can assist.

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Highly recommended!

Guest: Escape from Wisconsin's Winter Wonderland (central Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 03/01/08 Review Submitted: 03/30/08

This apartment is beautiful, well-equipped, and quiet. It was exactly as advertised and more. Our family of four (two teenagers) stayed very comfortably here. It is situated on a peninsula, so the view from the rooftop terrace has ocean in three directions and El Yunque and the rainforest in the fourth. It is conveniently located close enough to San Juan for a day trip, but far enough away to be out of the big city hustle. It was wonderful to roam the beach right outside the gate (calm and protected by reef, so it is good for snorkeling), swim at the balneario (and sample the foods at the kioskos, especially coco dulce...), boogie-board at La Pared, sample the goods at the bakery in Luquillo, hike in the rainforest, and take a kayak trip to the bioluminescent lagoon near Fajardo. After driving around the eastern end of Puerto Rico, we found that we had the best beaches right outside our door in Luquillo. The owners were a dream to work with. They communicated well and provided accurate directions. Best of all, after a terribly delayed flight--an inconvenience to us all--they found a way to get the keys to us in the middle of the night. Thanks to Flor and Ilia for being such wonderful landlords!

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

Great experience!

Guest: Heather (Ithaca, NY)
Date of Stay: 02/20/08 Review Submitted: 11/06/08

My boyfriend and I stayed in this condo for a week in February, and we had a fantastic time. The apartment is beautifully and comfortable furnished, and very private. We sat on the balcony each morning and watched the sun come up, with the ocean on the left and El Yunque rainforest on the right. Luquillo is a great location in Puerto Rico. It is much more peaceful than San Juan, and has great access to the rainforest, beach, phosphorescent bays, and other attractions. We drove into San Juan twice to visit the city and experience Old San Juan, and it was a quick and easy trip. All of my transactions were smooth and professional, and we enjoyed meeting the mother of the owner. Not to mention the private rooftop which was perfect for sunbathing! It was also a great price, especially for the location. I highly recommend this condo.

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

Luquillo Stay

Guest: Flor V. (-)
Date of Stay: 07/01/06 Review Submitted: 06/02/07

We stayed with our family in the apt. in Luquillo and it was a great spot to relax, enjoy the family and explore the rest of the area. Thank you Flor for the use of your apt. It was superb !

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