My Honest Reviews of 5 Unique Airbnbs in Puerto Rico

Back in April, I spent a whole week exploring the gorgeous island of Puerto Rico from coast to coast. Rather than spending all my time in San Juan, I made a point to do a full circuit of the island and its interior, so I could truly experience what it had to offer beyond the tourist zone. And while it certainly kept me busy, I have to say it was 100% worth it. It also meant that I got to try out multiple hotels and Airbnbs, as I switched up my stay every night along the road trip.

From first-hand experience, I know that there are hundreds of different stays to choose from in Puerto Rico, from hotels and resorts to Airbnbs. And it can be so hard to decide which one is the right fit–especially when you have no clue what the area is like. So in this post, I want to share my honest, first-hand reviews of 5 Airbnbs that I stayed at in Puerto Rico. These ranged from cute suites to rooms in boutique hotels, but all are available on Airbnb.

Now, I know there is also a ton of controversy over choosing locally owned stays because there’s a big problem with mainlanders taking business away from locals. Wherever we visit, I try to support local businesses when I can. So as much as possible, I specifically chose Airbnbs that were locally owned. Unfortunately, I couldn’t always tell for sure, but I made every effort to do my research and booked the ones that looked like they fit that description.

One other quick note: I actually stayed at two locally owned hotels that I booked outside of Airbnb. I will be reviewing those in separate posts because they have so much to offer and deserve their own spotlight. So be sure to stay tuned for those posts, because I think you’ll really enjoy them!

My Rating System for Airbnbs

Each of these Airbnbs had very different vibes and amenities, which made it kind of hard to compare them. But to make things easy, I devised a rating system to give them an overall score on comfort, amenities, location, convenience, and value.

Airbnbs rating system with comfort, amenities, location, convenience, value

Individual Reviews of These Puerto Rico Airbnbs

A Cool Tripper’s Inn Room #1, Hosted by Eduardo

A Cool Trippers Inn Room #1, San Juan, Puerto Rico Airbnbs

My very first night, I stayed in A Cool Trippers Inn Room #1, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This adorable suite-style room caught my eye immediately on Airbnb because of its colorful tiles, the entryway hammock, and the convenient neighborhood. It’s located in a beautiful historic building on a gated property. They even turned the yard into a community space, complete with seating areas and a community kitchen.

Pros: I absolutely loved the vibe of this historic building, complete with original losa criolla floors. The location was less than 15 minutes from Old San Juan and about four blocks from Ocean Park Beach. The hammock in the front entryway and the community kitchen were incredible touches, along with an overall fun design in the suite. They also included a few basic bathroom amenities, including shampoo, conditioner, soap, and extra toilet paper, and the listing mentions you can use their beach equipment (chairs, umbrellas, coolers, etc.), although I didn’t get the chance. Last but not least, I liked the secure, private property and touchless check-in process.
Cons: I noticed that the floors had some dirt build-up in the corners and could use a good mopping (everything else was very clean). When the group staying above us arrived (rather drunk) around midnight, I could hear just about every word through the floor and pipes until they settled down. The bed was also rather hard for my preferences (I know everyone is different on this). My final complaint is that the on-street parking was a bit limited, and getting in and out of the neighborhood could be tricky due to all the cars parked on either side of the streets.
Ratings:

Would I stay here again? Yes. For just over $100 a night, it had everything I needed (including parking), gave me easy access to Old San Juan, and was super welcoming to come back to at the end of the day.

Cozy Studio, Hosted by Emmanuel

Cozy Studio Airbnb in Fajardo, Puerto Rico

On my second day, I headed to Fajardo for El Yunque National Forest and the Laguna Grande Bioluminescent Bay. I chose this cozy studio primarily because it was close to my activities, but also because I thought the design was cute and I liked that it had a full kitchen. Located in a traditional Puerto Rican neighborhood, it ditches the tourist vibes for a more authentic stay that’s less fuss and more convenience.

Pros: The touchless check-in made it super-easy to get in and out of the studio, and there was plenty of parking around the house. Plus, it was just a few minutes away from the best of Fajardo! The overall design was very chic, and there were lots of little touches to make the space feel elevated, like the velvet ottoman, carefully folded blanket, and wall decor. The bathroom was very modern and stocked with big bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, plus little lotions and artistically folded towels. The kitchen was also ready for full meals with plenty of utensils, pots, a full stove and fridge, etc.
Cons: On first glance, the neighborhood did look a little bit sketchy, but we never felt unsafe in the unit. It’s just an older neighborhood, and the roads could use some work (including a big dip right near the house). The room doesn’t have A/C, so you have to plug in a unit when you arrive, which worked very well but takes a minute to get going. I also noticed a few cosmetic issues around the suite, like a broken bathroom shelf, small cracks in the walls, etc. Final con is that the bed was only a double, so it was a bit tight for two.
Ratings:

Would I stay here again? If I were heading to Fajardo, yes—although I wouldn’t go out of my way to stay here again. I didn’t get to spend too much time here because of my busy schedule, but the suite was comfortable, clean, and convenient! And for just over $130 with tax, it felt like a great deal.

Jobos Suite, Hosted by Nelson Alejandro

Jobos Suite in Hatillo, Puerto Rico Airbnbs

This was one room I really wish I could have spent another night in! The Jobos Suite is actually part of the boutique Hatillo Beach House hotel, and the property is fantastic! It caught my eye on Airbnb due to its beautiful decor and wall mural, but it was actually so much nicer than I realized once I arrived. The room was spacious, clean, and modern, and had lots of nice extra touches. It’s just minutes from the beach and has its own pool, includes fresh breakfast from the small cafe next door, and has plenty of off-street parking.

Pros: I visually loved everything about the room, from the beautiful mural and fancy pillows to the luxe vanity setup with pink velvet chairs and the large, modern bathroom. The bed was a full but felt bigger, and was so comfortable. Plus, there were just so many thoughtful extras, like a fridge, smart TV, hanging space and shelves, an LED mirror in the bathroom, a safe, and wall-mounted hair and body wash products in the shower. I also liked that I got to set my own door code (no key required), the ample parking, and the delicious free breakfast that I got to order the night before.
Cons: My only cons were that the shower didn’t get very hot (that seems to be rather common in Puerto Rico, though), the room didn’t have many accessible power outlets, and the noise from the road was rather loud. If you stay here, I would recommend bringing a sound machine to drown out some of that traffic.
Ratings:

Would I stay here again? Oh, yes—100%! I was actually sad to leave and wished I could extend my stay! Everything was so on-point, and it only cost $113 for the night.

King Bed & Mountain View Balcony II, Hosted by Miguel

If you’re looking for a stay with amazing views, this is the place to be! Located high in the mountains of Barranquitas, the highlight of this large room at Hacienda Margarita is the sweeping panoramic views from its balcony. I booked it for the views, but I also liked that it had a king-sized bed and was pretty close to Toro Verde Adventure Park, the beaches, and some great hiking.

Pros: I cannot explain how gorgeous the mountain views were here. I honestly wasn’t ready for it when I walked out onto the balcony, but they are absolutely stunning, and I kept going back outside to take them in! With the high elevation, you get such an amazing perspective at all times of day. The king-sized bed was incredibly comfy and clean, the room was very spacious, and I could tell it had recently been renovated with a lot of modern lighting, wood-paneled details, etc. It also had some nice amenities like a mini-fridge and microwave, hanging space in the entryway, and an LED mirror in the bathroom. There were also tons of parking spaces and a gorgeous pool area with lots of seating and a bar.
Cons: Compared to the rest of the Airbnbs on this list, the hotel was a bit off the beaten path and a little difficult to get to. There were some hairpin turns that were pretty difficult at night. The bathroom also didn’t have any amenities (including hand soap), so I had to use hand sanitizer the whole time. My biggest complaint, though, was the shower design. It looks so nice, but there’s no distinct floor between the shower and the rest of the bathroom, so it flooded the whole thing. It didn’t have a shower mat, either, so I had to use one of the towels to mop up all the water.
Ratings:

Panoramic view of lush green mountains from Hacienda Margarita balcony in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico under a bright blue sky with clouds. Text overlay shows 5-star comfort, 3-star amenities, 4-star location, 3-star convenience, and 4-star vibe and value.

Would I stay here again? I had to think about this one, but for $72, those gorgeous views, and the amazing king bed, yes. However, if you plan to stay here, definitely bring your own soap and shower supplies, and ask for an extra towel for the floor.

Casa Georgetti by VP Unit 3, Hosted by Jose

This cozy basement suite in San Juan initially caught my attention with its bright color scheme and fun decor. While small, it has multiple small seating areas and a tiny kitchen that’s fully stocked with everything you’d need to make a meal. Plus, it’s conveniently located just a few minutes from Old San Juan and has plenty of street parking.

Pros: I liked the bright yellow decor throughout that made the suite feel inviting despite the limited windows. The bed was also very clean and comfortable, the shower had great pressure and hot and cold water, and they included large bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. I also appreciated the little kitchen, which came stocked with coffee supplies in addition to pots, pans, etc. They even included some games and books for entertainment, in addition to the large TV. And unlike most spots in San Juan, we didn’t have any trouble finding street parking right outside.
Cons: This unit is located in a San Juan neighborhood, and while it didn’t seem rough, I don’t think I’d feel comfortable walking around here alone. I also didn’t love that the unit was located all the way in the back and down some stairs–particularly when coming home at night. When it was raining, the painted steps were slippery. There was also some debris in the walkway that could have been dangerous. The touchless check-in was nice, but we had a hard time getting the lockbox open, and we had to open two doors each time (an iron security door and the actual door), so it got a little complicated. The shower was also due for a good cleaning and had some stains.
Ratings:

Interior of Casa Georgetti Airbnb in San Juan, Puerto Rico, featuring a small wooden dining table with two chairs, bright yellow sofa, and botanical wall art. Text overlay shows 3-star comfort, 5-star amenities, 3-star location, 4-star convenience, and 4-star vibe and value.

Would I stay here again? No. This is probably the only listing on here that I couldn’t find a stand-out reason to go back to. It was cozy, but at $115 for the night, it was at the higher end of our stays, yet it didn’t deliver as much, and I really didn’t like getting in and out of the unit.

See More of These Airbnbs on YouTube!

Closing Thoughts on These Puerto Rican Airbnbs

While none of these Airbnbs were perfect, I can honestly say I enjoyed my stays at all of them. My favorite by far was the Jobos Suite in Hatillo, but they all had something great to offer, whether it was amenities, comfort, or views. And most of them were under $115 per night as well (with Airbnb’s service and cleaning fees), making them all super-affordable–especially if we’d stayed for more than one night.

Hopefully, these reviews were helpful as you plan your own Puerto Rico adventure! If you have any additional questions about these Airbnbs, just comment below, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Need more tips on visiting Puerto Rico? You’re in luck! I have plenty of guides and itineraries to make planning your trip a breeze! So be sure to check out the rest of my series and subscribe to the blog to get all the upcoming posts as well!