Vacation Rentals by Owner

Wonderful Family Vacation "5 Stars"

Guest: John, New York
Date of Stay: 03/03/12 Review Submitted: 03/22/12

Our family spent a wonderful week at this villa.  This 2 bedroom and 2 bath villa is on the 4th floor of a 5 story condo complex that is approximately a half mile down the beach from the Wyndam hotel. The villa is within the gated complex of the Wyndam resort.  The location is ideal because the half mile separation from the hotel  means you don’t get the crowds from the Wyndam resort but you are only a 8 min walk from all the restaurants and amenities at the Wyndam resort.  The condo complex has a lap pool, a large infinity pool and a hot tub.  The pools are no more than 50 feet from the ocean.  Several days during our stay we were the only ones at the pool.  It was as if we had the entire place to ourselves.  The villa is very well appointed.  The villa has large plasma televisions with DirecTV in each bedroom and the family/living room.  Granite counters in the kitchen and bathrooms.  Washer/dryer.  Comfortable beds and furniture.  Our elementary age children loved that the villa has boogie boards and beach gear such as shovels and pails.  The villa is located ~30 min drive from the San Juan airport and <10 min from the El Yunque rainforest.  We look forward to returning in the near future.  If you enjoy sunshine, warm weather and no crowds this is the place for you. 

Recommended for:

Paradise!

Guest: Dee&Bill (Kennesaw, GA)
Date of Stay: 11/20/11 Review Submitted: 12/20/11

Our family spent the week of Thanksgiving 2011 in this villa, with a total of 5 in our party. Traveling a long way and anticipating a trip to remember, I must say, we were not disappointed. The villa was perfect! The floor plan is excellent, the villa was spotless and very well maintained. The pictures seemed to good to be true and we were just hoping that they were not 10 years old. They are absolutely accurate! The place is everything it is advertised to be. The owners were extremely helpful with our planning process, offering tips and recommendations for places to see and restaurants to try. The property is located at the edge of the rainforest, right on the beach. It truly was a little piece of paradise! We had access to all the resort amenities and the entire property is gorgeous. I would recommend this villa to anyone wanting to visit Puerto Rico for a relaxing, family vacation. Thank you to MB for all her help and for sharing this beautiful destination!

Owner response:Thank you for your wonderful review! You were both such a pleasure to talk to and work with. I am always happy to help with your Tavel plans in any way I can. I am glad you had such a nice vacation! Thank you for the picture - it is a beautiful photo:-). Happy Holidays! Michelle

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

Guest Family

Guest: Works_To_Much (MA)
Date of Stay: 10/01/11 Review Submitted: 10/13/11

Very RELAXING time. Family had great time in PR; whether we used the materials & brochures [including maps & contact numbers] in the Villa to visit Old San Juan, the Bacardi Plant, the Rain Forest, follow recommendations and eat at local establishments [or preferred supermarkets] or simply sit by the one of the many pools, very low stress week. Villa itself was perfect; very clean and fully stocked with everything we could need. We thoroughly enjoyed ability to keep in touch with home / offices with the wireless internet connection while being able to look out the windows to the beautiful ocean view. Having kitchen on site - as well as numerous TVs to keep everyone's nightly TV fix satisfied - was a godsend. Fitness center at hotel and golf course were similarly first rate. If anything, the description of the resort undersold the amount of amenities. Fortunately, the owners, as well as the staff at the resort, filled in any of the blanks so that we had a thoroughly enjoyable time and were able to experience a great more than we could have anticipated. Only downside is that week went by lightening fast. While pace of life may be more relaxed in PR, the clock did not seem to be similarly inclined. Looking forward to next time!

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.

Quick Fall Getaway

Guest: Morkel (Londonderry, NH)
Date of Stay: 09/24/11 Review Submitted: 10/13/11

What a great getaway for my wife and I. We were stressed and tired and needed to get out of the constant rainy weather. It was beautiful with awesome weather and plenty of sun. There are many sites nearby such as the rainforest (in the running for one of the wonders), beaches just feet away, private pool which was very quiet, hotel pools nearby for those looking for more commotion, and luminescent fish. We didn't see everything we wanted, but with such an ability to relax we figured we would go back to see more of the sites later and just enjoy the great weather. Highly recommded and i could use the internet to get just enough work done to not fall behind.

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

Great Condo on the Beach

Guest: Dave (Inver Grove Hgts, MN)
Date of Stay: 08/06/11 Review Submitted: 08/22/11

This property is terrific. The condo is spacious, super clean, well decorated and nicely furnished (3 large screen TV's) and the views from the two 4th floor balconies are terrific. You look out over the pool to the ocean. This condo is in a one of several of 5 story buildings adjacent to the main hotel complex. It has its own pools, plus we had access to the hotel pools as well. And of course the beach is literally right there. The condo comes with it's own parking spot,which is quite handy. While the Rio Mar is a fantastic resort and one could spend most of their time on the beach there, we rented a car and visited the El Yunque Rainforest, just across the main highway and we did numerous other activiites that were about 10 miles away in Fajardo (bio luminescent kayaking tour, ferry to Culebra, catamaran sailboat tour, and Seven Seas beach.) So the location was great for these activiites as well. The owner Michelle, was very easy to work with and helpful.

Owner response:Thank you David, for your kind review! It is always a great idea to rent a car as many activities are much less expensive, even free - rainforest, if you can drive yourself. Great feedback for renters.;-) Cheers! Michelle

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

Wonderful first time visit to puerto rico

Guest: Marie (seaford, n.y.)
Date of Stay: 07/18/11 Review Submitted: 07/26/11

We just returned from a fantastic vacation at this villa. The location and cleanliness of the unit were just like the pictures described. The view from the balconies were even better than the pictures. Michelle was very helpful and always was willing to answer any questions I had. She sent excellent directions and recommendations for restaurants, tours and shopping. The unit was ideal for my husband and I and our two sons(22 and 20yrs). The beach and pools were very clean. This unit was ideally located next to the Rio Mar Hotel(5 min. walk), if you wanted to use their facilities casino, restaurants, gym,pools, shops etc. but if you wanted less crowds you could just relax in the villa's pools. The infinity pool was never crowded and was very relaxing. We rented a car from Hertz(Michelle's recommendation) and visited the rainforest, kayacked on the bioluminescent bay with Eco Tours, visited old san juan, and my two son's rented jet skis at the Rio Mar hotel. We ate at Don Pepes(right down the road), and at the hotel, ate at Shima's, Marabelle, Palios and Sea Breezes. We had a great time relaxing at the beach, pool or on our balcony. I was very happy with the unit, with the facilities and the location. I would definitely stay here again. Michelle was very helpful and her recommendations were great. I would definitely recommend this unit to a friend and this unit is perfect for a family looking for a tropical beach vacation.

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

Perfect Getaway

Guest: CrayCray07 (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 02/05/11 Review Submitted: 02/25/11

We returned from a week long visit at the Rio Mar Villas a few weeks ago and I cannot wait to go back! From Chicago, February is brutal and the perfect time to get away. Thankfully, the Rio Mar Villa was exactly what we needed. Situated just to the side of the main resort, the villas offer luxury accommodations, tremendous privacy, quiet and relaxation. Personally, I get anxiety and angry when I pay good money to then have to "mark my chair" at at resort. Not the case here. We were never bothered by loud music, Spring Breakers, or having to state claim along the pool or beach. When you are looking for a true paradise, this is it. The beach and resort was beautiful- the view outside the villa's balconies was spectacular every single day. It was breathtakingly beautiful- the pictures only do it 1/2 justice!! Everyday we would start at the beach and then migrate to the pool after lunch. The convenience of just going back up to the Villa (literally a 2 minute trip) to get breakfast, lunch, snacks, bathroom- so nice! My days consisted of a short morning job, a coffee cup on the balcony overlooking the beach, reading my Kindle at the pool or beach, eating a small lunch, reading/laying out more....and then finally going inside to dress for dinner! Something I recommend too is visiting the resort stores and restaurants. We ate at the Asian & Italian places and both were exceptional. Of course, resort prices, but a really nice change from the local Puerto Rican food (which is good but cannot eat it every day!). We also made trips to the Rain Forest (just 10 minutes away), Old San Jose (about a 30 min drive), and the Bacardi Factory (45 min drive). Just enough distance away to not need to sit in a car but close enough to do some fun PR things! Also, if you are into the more structured/lively parts of resort-life, there is ALL of that just a hop away at the main resort. So, teenagers and kids would enjoy! In all- this was an amazing space to spend a week decompressing and just enjoying your surroundings. I would go back in a heartbeat!

Owner response:Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughfulness! It was a pleasure having you and your family stay at our villa. Warm Regards, Michelle & Jack.

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

Perfect Getaway

Guest: CrayCray07 (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 02/05/11 Review Submitted: 02/25/11

We returned from a week long visit at the Rio Mar Villas a few weeks ago and I cannot wait to go back! From Chicago, February is brutal and the perfect time to get away. Thankfully, the Rio Mar Villa was exactly what we needed. Situated just to the side of the main resort, the villas offer luxury accommodations, tremendous privacy, quiet and relaxation. Personally, I get anxiety and angry when I pay good money to then have to "mark my chair" at at resort. Not the case here. We were never bothered by loud music, Spring Breakers, or having to state claim along the pool or beach. When you are looking for a true paradise, this is it. The beach and resort was beautiful- the view outside the villa's balconies was spectacular every single day. It was breathtakingly beautiful- the pictures only do it 1/2 justice!! Everyday we would start at the beach and then migrate to the pool after lunch. The convenience of just going back up to the Villa (literally a 2 minute trip) to get breakfast, lunch, snacks, bathroom- so nice! My days consisted of a short morning job, a coffee cup on the balcony overlooking the beach, reading my Kindle at the pool or beach, eating a small lunch, reading/laying out more....and then finally going inside to dress for dinner! Something I recommend too is visiting the resort stores and restaurants. We ate at the Asian & Italian places and both were exceptional. Of course, resort prices, but a really nice change from the local Puerto Rican food (which is good but cannot eat it every day!). We also made trips to the Rain Forest (just 10 minutes away), Old San Jose (about a 30 min drive), and the Bacardi Factory (45 min drive). Just enough distance away to not need to sit in a car but close enough to do some fun PR things! Also, if you are into the more structured/lively parts of resort-life, there is ALL of that just a hop away at the main resort. So, teenagers and kids would enjoy! In all- this was an amazing space to spend a week decompressing and just enjoying your surroundings. I would go back in a heartbeat!

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

We loved it at Villa at Rio Mar Beach Resort

Guest: Cathy (Peoria, IL)
Date of Stay: 01/03/11 Review Submitted: 02/11/11

We had a perfect stay at the villa. The villa is perfectly appointed and so well located to the beach and pool. We felt like we had the resort to ourselves as the villas are perfectly situated to take advantage of the beach, pool, hotel, casinos and dining. We were traveling with out adult sons so having the space of the villa was so nice for us. We shopped at both Ralphs and Amigos and found both to be well stocked with the items we needed. We dined at Ritchies and loved the view and the cocktails. The food is just ok but well worth taking advantage of the view. We also ordered pizza from Michaels and they delivered to the villa. We did underestimate the language barrier with the drivers, etc. as we do not speak Spanish. Actually, we assumed English would be spoken much more than it was in many places. We also traveled to San Juan for a couple of special dinners and had dinner at one of the hotel restaurants a couple of times. Our family is ready to visit again as soon as we can. Thanks for the great experience.

Owner response:Thank you for your kind words. It was a pleasure renting to you!

Recommended for:

honeymoon

Guest: Pat & Cara (Massachusetts)
Date of Stay: 07/19/10 Review Submitted: 08/03/10

We stayed here for our honeymoon and we had a great time. The resort is beautiful and the view is amazing! The suite is very spacious and the balconies overlook the pool and the ocean. The property was extremely well-maintained. The location is about a 20 minute drive from the rainforest which has great trails for hiking/walking, not to mention spectacular views. We also checked out the bio luminescent lagoon which is about a 30 min. drive from the resort. We visited the historical sites in Old San Juan which was about a 45 -60 min. drive. As for restaurants, we loved La Estacion, in Fajardo, about a 20 min drive. We loved staying here and would highly recommend it to couples and families!

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

My 40th Birthday Vacation Was Awesome

Guest: Paulette (Georgia )
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 08/03/10

We stayed in this unit from 7/17/2010-7/124/2010. It was terrific. The pictures really do not do the ocean view's justice. It is more beautiful while you are in person. This is a perfect unit for a vacationing family because it had all of the kitchen amenities you will need to prepare meals. And, you will want to prepare your own meals as we found the food on the island very pricey. On our first night we were treated to a fireworks display courtesy of the Westin resort. We sat on the patio and watched the fireworks while drinking wine. Very romantic. Because we were so close and because we had rented a car (I highly recommend obtaining a rental car) we were able to visit El Junque rainforest twice. We hiked to the waterfall one day and visited the tourist center on another. The rain forest is beautiful so do not miss it if you go. The pools were easily accessible and rarely utilized by the other guests so we had them to ourselves which was really nice. My only complaint about this trip was that it was way too short so I guess we will have to come back.

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

highly recommend!

Guest: twins4aaaa (Chicago, Illinois)
Date of Stay: 07/10/10 Review Submitted: 07/23/10

the pictures do NOT do justice at all, it was way more than what we expected. The place is gorgeous,, spectacular, breathtaking views of the ocean, pools, resort, and sands. We spent many mornings and nights on the balconies, the sleeping arrangements were perfect, great space for any family to rest and relax in. The amenities were 1st class. We did not want to leave. We felt as if we were in a fairytale,, the choice of 3 pools, the ocean or the other pools at the hotel side, these are not options that come with all vacation stays. I am very used to staying in 2 bedroom resorts on a yearly or twice a year basis,, but for now this has been the BEST. Would I stay there again?? YES!!! My whole family and a few friends have already seen it and were amazed as well. Being from the area we were able to enjoy it more,,, its right next to the rain forest, horse back and atv riding, familiar foods and drinks. we did a lot and still were able to relax and enjoy it daily. i would highly recommend this property to anyone pay a bit extra to stay ocean front as you will not be dissappointed. it even came with sand toys the kids can play with WOW!!! this can easliy become a year round trip for anyone after just 1 stay.

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

Everything we were looking for at a beachfront resort for our family

Guest: 5fromColorado (Colorado)
Date of Stay: 06/15/10 Review Submitted: 07/02/10

Thanks for a wonderful stay at your Resort Villa. We were looking for a spacious, clean, luxurious, beachfront condo for our family of 5 and that is exactly what we got. It was very important to us to be able to walk out of our unit and go straight to the beach and this place was perfect for that. This unit is every bit as nice as the photos show. Also, you could not ask for a better location, you have easy access to Old San Juan, the Rain Forest and all the activities you could ask for are close by. We even did some scuba diving out of Fajardo and it was only about a 20 minute drive away. The unit is kept very clean and the kitchen was comfortable to prepare meals in. We stopped at Costco on our way to the Rio Mar and stocked up on food and drinks so we were definitely not wanting for anything after we arrived. We did eat at the hotel for dinner a couple nights and found their restaurants very pleasant and the food great for the whole family. The owners were helpful and always quick to respond to emails. You will not be disappointed if you plan your stay here!!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car.

Relaxing Family Trip

Guest: lisa and pat (Northeast Wisconsin, USA)
Date of Stay: 06/05/10 Review Submitted: 06/16/10

We just got back from a week here with our boys ages 13, 7, and 4. Loved the quiet villa pools and beach. Owners are responsive and helpful. We went to El Yunque (beautiful) and took the East Wind catamaran sailing/snorkeling trip. I'd highly recommend both. Our favorite local restaurants were Isamar Bakery (best pancakes I've ever had!), Lolita's (mexican), and La Parilla (Puerto Rican - at kiosks in Luquillo). I'd also recommend the Mandara Spa at the resort - I had a GREAT hot stone massage. The villa is spacious and well equipped - the balcony and view are wonderful. We got a kick out of the wandering iguanas around the resort. Renting a car wouldn't be necessary, but I'd recommend it. The resort is pricey...as is the transportation to/from the airport. We liked having the ability to explore on our own and not be limited to the resort tours/restaurants. Overall, it was a very good trip to celebrate my son's 8th grade graduation and my 42nd birthday. We love to try different places, but if our travel plans call for a return visit to Puerto Rico, we would definitely consider this unit again.

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

Paradise

Guest: firewall (Boston)
Date of Stay: 05/04/10 Review Submitted: 05/26/10

I need to make sure everyone knows that this place is the absolute key location for a vacation in paradise. I was with my wife but kids, families, friends I do not think it would matter great location, lots to do, great beach, great pools and the condo is just fabulous. Clean well cared for and close to everything don't think about doing this any longer - just do it.

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

Beautiful Beach, Pool and Villa

Guest: Ann, CT (New Canaan, CT)
Date of Stay: 03/25/10 Review Submitted: 04/25/10

This is a lovely villa in a beautiful resort. The sandy beach is huge and uncrowded! And one thing I especially liked is that you can walk right into the water without any rocks or debris and it is shallow a long way out! Great for playing in the waves. The condo itself was very nice, well furnished and well maintained with a beautiful view. The resort overall was very impressive --and the restaurants we tried were excellent. The owners were delightful to work with and we definitely would go back. Highly recommended!

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

We loved this place!

Guest: ShellyP (Indiana)
Date of Stay: 03/21/10 Review Submitted: 04/20/10

Six of us (2 families of 3) stayed at this beautiful villa for spring break and absolutely loved it! Our 2 high school daughters had a wonderful time as well. We couldn't have asked for more! The 2 pools just outside our villa as well as the beautiful beach made this such a relaxing trip. We hiked El Yunque rain forest, kyaked at night at the Bioluminescent Bay, played tennis everyday on the property, and explored many local restaurants. We loved Isamar's Bakery and El Jefe Burger Shack! The owners of the villa were very helpful with giving us local information! We would highly recommend this place to anyone!

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

Enjoyable Family Time

Guest: Brian (Taunton, Ma)
Date of Stay: 08/23/09 Review Submitted: 08/19/10

My family and I spent 1 week at the Wyndham. The beach ad 2 pools ere right outside of our door. It took seconds to go between both. We were located directly down beach from the Hotel which afforded u the oppotunity to avoids crowds. The unit itself was very clean. Well kept. It was easy to enjoy our time here as we no resort issues. It as a terrific vacation spot and we would definately stay there again.

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