Family Friendly Fun

Guest: Barringtonites (Barrington, IL)
Date of Stay: 12/01/06 Review Submitted: 12/11/07

We stayed here last Christmas. The family that rents the house is incredibly nice and helpful. The house is gorgeous and in December/January the beach is lovely. I especially loved sitting in the hammock watching our family look for starfish and sand dollars. I highly recommend this property.

Owner response:Thank you so much for your lovely review. We do try to make our guests comfortable and I appreciate you taking the time to write a review for our home. We also hope to see you again. We would like to offer a 15% discount on your next visit.

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, girls getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers.

The Perfect Quiet Get Away

Guest: Kev & Jenn (Kennett Square, PA )
Date of Stay: 04/09/11 Review Submitted: 04/21/11

April 2011 We just returned from a week at this wonderful property. It was EXACTLY as advertised, a beautiful, rustic jewel in the small fishing village of Punta Santiago. The wrap around/mostly covered deck is a wonderful place to spend a morning or evening, while the calm, sandy beach is a perfect place to spend the day. If you like being surrounded by nature (birds, frogs and iguanas or even Monkeys if you kayak out to the island), as well as being close to local grocery stores and restaurants, then this is a perfect place for you. The owners were very helpful with everything from directions to recommendations of places to eat or tours to take, etc. We used this property as a launch pad to sail and snorkel out of Fajardo, to hike the paths and swim in the pools below the waterfalls of El Yunque, to head out for night kayaking on the Bio-luminescent bay and generally explore the eastern tip of Puerto Rico. This property is perfect for the type of people who want to be away from touristy hustle and bustle and who want to do their own thing. The owner's allow access to Sea Kayaks and a number of family friendly beach amenities (umbrella, cooler, beach chairs, toys for the kids). The kitchen and charcoal grille on the patio were the perfect tools to feed our group of 7 (we could have easily accommodated another 3-5 people if we wanted to), while the whole house felt open and comfortable with a near constant sea breeze. The AC units chilled the bedrooms nicely for sleeping, though we were instead tempted to open all the windows to the sea breeze.. I would not hesitate to stay here again and our whole family is already asking for another trip back!

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

Wonderful Beach House

Guest: Brant (Brookhaven, PA)
Date of Stay: 03/18/11 Review Submitted: 03/26/11

My family and guests just returned from a stay at this beach house in Puerto Rico. We all had a wonderful time. This house is not in the tourist district. It is far enough away to enjoy the 'real' Puerto Rico but if is close enough to easily visit a Walmart or Dunkin Donuts. We didn't have any language problems with the locals. While they mostly spoke Spanish there always seemed to be somebody around who also spoke some English. The house was just like it was described on the website. It was clean. Water pressure was a little low but it was adequate. With 8 people taking showers it is not unexpected that we would run out of hot water occasionally. Having breakfast on the porch while watching the sun come up was always a highlight of the day. People would be passing by on the beach from time to time throughout the day - walking, running, riding horses, riding bicycles. We also walked the beach almost every day ourselves looking for shells. The people we passed always seemed friendly. We made several trips to various places around the island - Old San Juan, Ponce, El Yunque (Rain Forest). None of the trips were that far away. Two of our party went up the coast to Fajardo and went out on a fishing charter. The temperature was in the low 80's every day and went down to around 70 every night. Some of our party used the air conditioners but some did not. It never felt that uncomfortable, but I imagine that in the summer the air conditioners would be a necessity (but that would also be true where we come from - Philadelphia).. The neighbors were very friendly. The woman across the street gave us fresh mangos off of her tree to eat. Overall, we had a very pleasant experience and would like to go back again sometime. If you want a fancy resort then maybe this isn't the place for you. But if you want to experience the 'real' Puerto Rico in very pleasant surroundings then this would be a great place for you to stay.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers.

Perfect for a relaxing vacation

Guest: Jason (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 01/12/11 Review Submitted: 01/21/11

First off, all of the pictures and descriptions of the house and beach are very accurate. Our group was 4 couples and we were all happy with the house location and use of the beach. The locals in the area were very friendly and there is a small grocery store, local outdoor bars, and a couple restaurants within walking distance. The isn't a touristy location and that was perfect for us. The owners were more than helpful addressing any problems, concerns, or questions we had before, during, and after our stay. They went above and beyond.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

Excellent Vacation

Guest: Mary (Orlando, FL)
Date of Stay: 10/09/10 Review Submitted: 12/04/10

Spectacular. The beach house is great for the whole family is comfortable, cool and everything clean and tidy. I stayed for a week and my family and I spent pleasant experiences. We use the kayaks, we were up to monkey island and funny to see the monkeys in the area, are from the kayak , you can not reach the island, We also went fishing bay, but you can walk. The house is fully equipped, beach chairs and all equipment necessary to use kayaks. Only a few mosquitoes some time but the family has available citronella and off , nothing that can be resolved. Nature, the sound of the sea, watching the ocean, I love it. Just bring your clothes, near supermarket, gas station, police station and sea food restaurants and pizza. Like 7 minutes there is a Mall, Walmart, Chili's, Ponderosa and shops. We visited El Yunque, Fajardo Bio Bay and other amenities that is Puerto Rico. Excellent weather, Wonderful Vacation. The Rojas family is very nice and were available for any questions. Highly Recommended. I really liked.

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

Don't stay here!

Guest: Erica (Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 02/18/10 Review Submitted: 10/08/10

We went in Feb. 2010. The pics on here sure look nice, but these where obviously taken when they first got it. It is very run down. Water in one of the bathroom showers didn't work. The kitchen is disgusting. Has rust on things. Bedroom walls look gross. Air conditioning only in bedrooms and they ask you not to use them alot. The neighbor had a dog that barked ALL night long. When you first get there the area is very scary looking. We drove around and looked at the resorts we should have stayed in. I can't believe people have left good reviews. We did try to make the most of it. The weather was great and we did enjoy the ocean. We did go to the local restaurants and that was good. Spend your money on the resorts there are some nice ones.

Owner response:Dear Sara, We want all our guests to have a wonderful vacation when they stay at our house. Four beach weddings and receptions have been held at our house (2 in 2009, 1 in 2010) and three of our guests are now repeat guests. We regret that there was a mismatch with your expectations and are surprised about your reaction from staying there for only 2 nights! The ocean winds, and sea salt make upkeep a challenge. We repaint the house in and out on an annual basis. Our most recent re-paint was on November 2010. 100% of the equipment and all the water pipes and bathroom showers work well. Our house is an excellent value for a group of 8 people and an opportunity for a truly memorable, unforgettable vacation living ON THE BEACH and being able to take your own kayaks out everyday to explore the shallow beach or go in towards the mangroves and lagoons. The privacy allows your party to do what you want, a full kitchen to cook your own food (or your catch). Resorts offer a manicured environment with small apartments, expensive amenities, and attractive night life options like casinos but little opportunity to connect with the nature around it and feel like you “own” your own piece of paradise. They all look the same. This is a choice that we try to make clear for every potential renter. The house is in a middle class neighborhood with upper class retirees on the beach. The police station is less than 1 km away. They patrol the streets, the beach and the water. It is absolutely safe. I lived there for a full 4 month summer with my 14,11, 5 and 5 year olds. Yes, it is different from Suburbia, USA - but isn't that the point of visiting a tropical island that is part of the United States? We will be glad to share the most recent pictures with all interested and discuss any concerns in detail, including specific guarantees that the house is exactly as we describe. This is the way we'ved done it for more than 20 very satisfied rental groups and many 4 and 5 star reviews.

Recommended for:

Not a dream vacation!

Guest: FalconFamily (Falcon, CO)
Date of Stay: 07/16/10 Review Submitted: 08/31/10

Our experience was anything but wonderful. My husband, myself, our four children and my parents stayed here. The rental was very rough. We had a hard time actually getting into the rental. The kitchen door we never had a key to. Three days into our stay they sent the maid over to open it. Air conditioning worked in the bedrooms but it was extremely hot in the open kitchen, dining room, and living room areas. In the master bedroom bathroom, paint was peeling off the ceiling. Drawer in kitchen was broken. Plates were chipped. Water would quit working around 5 every day to about 6ish. Nothing would come out of the faucet period! The tv stopped working on the 5th day. I informed the owner of the problem and she said they would replace the tv, but first she sent over the maid. It was never fixed or replaced during our remaining three days there. There were only two child life vests and one adult which made it impossible for two adults to use the kayaks at the same time as it is mandatory life vests be worn. The beach was dirty, littered with random trash. I was actually stung by a jellyfish on the second to last day - we didn't go back into the ocean. In this entire area, they do not speak English. Don't expect to go to Wal-mart, Burger King, or Popeye's Chicken and expect them to speak English. No one does. It was extremely difficult to communicate with anyone! Due to the date we went (hurricane season in August??), it rained and rained and rained every day. Not a light rain but a torrential downpour. It would flood the garage slab and saturate the yard to the point of a swimming pool. We were thankful to have the washer and dryer, as nothing dries out there. The iguanas on the steps and in the trees were amazing to watch. We visited the casino at Palma de Mar and also did horseback riding there. Now that is an amazing resort! I wish someone had made accurate comments about this place prior to us renting it. I would have paid more money for something that would have made wonderful memories rather than horror stories!

Owner response:Dear Lisa, We are very sorry that your stay was less than you expected. We take great pride in our high renter satisfaction and respond the same day when an issue comes up. There was a record amount of rain in the island during your stay. The torrential rains kept up for two weeks before and during your stay. They caused electrical problems throughout the island which damaged the TV beyond repair, saturated the grounds in the back yard and all over the island. This affected the water supply for the entire east portion of the island, and overflowed rivers which caused some rubbish to wash up on the beach. Our home has never lost power or water on its own. The only time we lose power or water is if the entire town is out. We tried to fix the TV for two days and then brought you a replacement by the third, which was the night before your departure. We were in the property within and hour of your complaint to resolve the issue. We always have plenty of life vests to use for the kayaks. We store them with the other beach equipment we keep available for our guests. The incessant rain was the major cause of your inconveniences. However, we take responsibility for several of your other concerns and we have addressed them. The house now has a new 40 inch LCD TV with digital cable/ wifi, we purchased two new life vests to replace the old ones, and we’ve reduced the number of keys to access the house to simplify the move-in experience. And we always clean up the beach once these larger storms passes. Our property manager is only a few minutes away and is empowered to solve problems, make replacements, etc… A stay in our house is an opportunity to live directly on the beach and connect with the nature all around you (ocean, snorkeling, kayaking, El Yunque, even the iguanas!) and the local friendly population. Our property offers privacy, space, and an unforgettable beach, rainforest-mountain views for a group to enjoy each other’s company. A manicured resort with golf carts, a 5 minute walk from the actual beach, casinos, and surrounded only by English speakers is an entirely different experience. To all interested, we can provide many many pictures, please read about all the other families that have had great experiences.

Recommended for:

Family Vacation in February

Guest: Family Seeking Sunshine (Illinois)
Date of Stay: 02/06/10 Review Submitted: 03/02/10

We had a great time during a week long stay at the Humacao beach house. We miss the beautiful weather and water already! There is not much in the area for restaurants or shopping but it's a great location for relaxation, family beach time and exploring the island. The children (7 and 3) loved playing in the surf, finding starfish and watching iguanas from the porch. Activity suggestions include visiting el Yunque National Park and deep sea fishing from Playa del Mar. The property owners were great to work with and extremely helpful. We had a couple of sick family members and they really went and beyond to provide assistance. A great place for small groups and families that want to be on the beach!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children.

I wish we were still there!

Guest: cathy o. (Columbus, TX, USA)
Date of Stay: 08/07/09 Review Submitted: 08/22/09

Our family of 5 had a wonderful vacation in Puerto Rico & was very happy with our "home away from home". We planned a last minute vacation & the Rojas family was extremely easy to work with in arranging logistics for getting keys, etc. They continued to be responsive during our stay & quickly returned our security deposit when they received the keys back. The house has the most incredible porch & view. It has gates, so would be safe if you are traveling with children. You can hear the waves & enjoy your almost private beach. We were there in early August & literally usually had the beach to ourselves as far as you could see in either direction. I noticed some of the negative comments about the condition of the house. It is a beach house (read it doesn't have top of the line finishes & woodwork) But it is a clean, well-built solid structure & very comfortable. We used citronella candles at dusk which kept the mosquitoes at bay without a problem. The bedroom ACs work great. We didn't miss a stove (there is a outdoor grill & full-size cook top & microwave). We had plenty of awesome beach towels & bath towels as well as beach chairs, boogie boards, tons of toys for the kiddos. We did laundry there on-site. One item we really enjoyed was the Kayaks. My husband & son-in-law were adventurous & took the Kayaks to Monkey Island. Very cool to have your own Kayaks! We took a snorkel trip (worth the money!) out of Fajardo, as well as visited Seven Seas beach & Laquillo. Both were beautiful. We spent a day visiting Old San Juan & especially loved the forts. I am disappointed we didn't do make the bio bay trip at night or the Rain Forest (we actually started out for the Rain Forest, but my 11 year old got car sick on the curvy roads). Our daughter & son-in-law visited the nearby resort for gambling. We enjoyed dinners out in the small village & the Rojas family had left us an information book with restaurants & places to go. The pizza place (you can walk to it) had great pizza & the sea food in the village was awesome. We enjoyed trying foods that we don't normally eat & found it delicious. The house is located in a small village that is filled with locals. We loved the non-tourist mentality & everyone was friendly. The precious neighbor bought us fresh mangos & limes. We used the Mangos with the Rojas recipe for Daiquiris (yummy) & had fresh limes for our cervezas. Like I said, I wish we were still there!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Great beach house... breathtaking view!

Guest: NAMM (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Date of Stay: 06/13/09 Review Submitted: 07/10/09

The property is well maintained and secured. The backyard, front of the property and upstairs veranda are also secured and/or fenced which is an advantage if you are traveling with small children. The owner was prompt to respond to any inquiries and even sent the property manager to check on us during our stay. The house easily accommodated our party of 6 adults and two kids leaving plenty of room to roam. The air conditioned rooms were a plus as well as the market, bakery and other eateries within walking distance. Check out "Pescao and Salsa" a seafood restaurant within walking distance. Great food and service. The house is equipped with kayaks, boogie board, plenty of beach towels and chairs and having a washer and dryer was an added bonus since we stayed 11 days. The area is residential not touristy; however, the locals embraced us as if they had always known us. Must see attractions such as the Bioluminescent Bay are within close driving distance as are other beautiful beaches. Seven Seas (my favorite) and Palmas Del Mar are worth visiting. Too much to see, not enough time...Whether a family vacation or simply R & R, I'd consider this property.

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