DC L.
Yelp
I am really torn about this place: there were some great features, and some stuff that could be better. Overall, I would recommend to other travelers looking for budget-friendly hotel options. The place runs like an animal sanctuary, and if you are not an animal lover, then I would not recommend as much; however, they do an excellent job of keeping the place super clean.
Pros: Reasonable price. Jay and Lisa are very sweet, and if you have any questions, need recommendations, or help, they are accessible and wonderful. The place has great outdoor space, lots of tables and chairs over the property to enjoy the back yard. Every morning we enjoyed breakfast on the patio, and in the evening, we made a drink and sat outside; this is what vacations are made of! he kitchen space meant we could make drinks in the evening, and prep snacks as needed. There is a lot of fridge space. This would also be an incredible place to rent out for family reunions, or larger groups. The continental breakfast in the morning was a surprise, and let us start our day earlier (since most restaurants don't open until 9am during the week, if at all). There was a good selection of magazines and books for extra reading material when I finished my beach read early. There is a small pool, but with so many great beaches, we never used it. The open-air shower was awesome. They have a section of beach chairs, and some other beach equipment, which was great; we used all sorts of stuff, and it meant we didn't need daily rentals, and we could pack a little bit lighter. The hotel is right around the corner from the Malecon, where there are many restaurant options. It was safe, all entrances were locked at all times. I never worried about my stuff.
Cons: The coffee was rough; almost undrinkable. It was part of the free breakfast, so I won't belabor the point, but there is much better Puerto Rican coffee out there. The room we had was pretty loud. Even with the windows shut we heard every noise (and I sleep with ear plugs). The street noise (stereo blasting periodically) and roosters are just part of being near the Malecon, but the dog barking was very disruptive. There was a foster dog during our stay (super, super sweet), but when Jay and Lisa would leave at night, the dog would bark, and bark often (i.e. every time the gate opened). This happened all night as guests came back from late dinners, or drinks out; it woke us up 3-4 times per night, every night of our stay, which meant for a very broken sleep. Since it is a foster dog, this may not impact other travelers, especially once the dog is fostered out. There are a LOT of cats (like 10+); I am a huge animal lover, but this would probably be something to consider if you are not. There are pockets on the property with tons of mosquitos; this is an island problem, so bring bug spray! Bed linens were sparse (a sheet and waffle-throw on the bed); I slept with a sweatshirt and towels to keep warm most nights. We plan to come back to Vieques, but I would check other places first before booking this again.