Tuong Vi P.
Yelp
I found this B&B after scouring the web and reading the stellar reviews on travel review site. From the very get-go, I knew that I would have a great experience staying at Casa Castellana. I booked my room through the website and tried to pay for my deposit through the link that was automatically emailed to me. (NOTE: this is a bit of a pain point, but I am not deducting anything for it; the link is finicky and you are probably better off following the PayPal instructions for the 50% deposit).
My little sister found a coupon code (low season discount) and Natalia, the owner, was so kind to honor it AFTER I had already booked. I went through a bit of a hassle because the link in the email didn't work but my room was mine through the whole ordeal.
When I landed in San Juan, her daughter, Nina, called me to ask if I had made it okay and what time she could expect bf and me. I told her that we were going to get our rental car and head over. Well, we got a bit confused (i.e., lost) on the way and got to see some non-touristy neighborhoods (which is well and fine with me, as I love to see how people actually live somewhere and dislike just confining myself to the "safe" areas for visitors).
The skies foreboded of precipitation, but as we pulled up, Nina was close by and opened the gate for our car. We got the Toledo room, which is the only room in the house that has its own private GATED parking space. Score! Nina gave us a tour of the lovely Spanish colonial home and we got settled in our room (we had just a little bit of time before we had to leave for a concert). The room was not huge, but very cozy with its own (high-tech) A/C unit. There was a flat-screen TV and a lovely tiled bathroom off the side with just a shower (which is a non-issue for me, since I don't even remember the last time I've taken a bath).
We had a closet, some chests of drawers to put away our stuff (which we didn't do, since we just always leave everything squished in our suitcase).
The next morning (and the morning after), we ate breakfast there, which was promptly served at 9 (or a few minutes after, hey, we are in a Caribbean island after all). There was a buffet of fresh tropical fruits, with bread, cheese, some cold cuts to start off with. That first morning, bf and I thought that that was it, so we loaded up with everything on the buffet. Then the plate of scrambled eggs with ham and toasted, buttered bread came out. While we did not completely gorge ourselves with the delicious fare, we were stuffed until dinner. There was also fresh orange juice and local coffee served alongside the meal and while we waited in the mornings for the food to be set up and plated, we nibbled on homemade chocolate chip bread. Delicious and wholesome food, on the whole (I know, chocolate chips may not be the healthiest, for you calorie-counters out there).
I would not hesitate to stay here the next time I visit San Juan (one of my absolute favorite cities, mind you) and I really recommend that you do the same.
Just as a note, you can walk to Ashford Avenue (or Avenida Ashford) for some shopping and dining options. But you will need a car to get from this Condado neighborhood to Old San Juan (or you can walk the 5 kilometers that bf and I crazily strolled--me in sandals and cursing myself).
Have fun and explore this beautiful city!
