“An amazing and relax time.” We as a family love the time that we had in the villas at Aquatika. The place was beautiful, very clean and manicured. The owner was available to us at anytime. We would definitely do Aquatika again.

“Clean apartment in safe area, lovely hosts, beautiful beach, convenient to all area attractions” I stayed here Thanksgiving week 2014 with my husband and 3 children: 12, 14, and 16. We had the most wonderful experience and would gladly return. I am happy to recommend it to you. Everything you read in the other reviews about the hosts, Kevin and Madelin, is true. They are incredibly friendly, responsive, and responsible people. I had corresponded with Madelin through FlipKey, but it was Kevin who met us at the car rental place and guided us to the apartment, which is situated about 25 minutes east of the airport in a small town called Loiza. As Kevin explained to me that first evening, there are 3 ways to get there, and during the course of our stay we tried all 3. The coastal road (the straightest shot from the airport) is best suited for daytime driving, especially if it is your first time in the area, but it became my favorite way to get to and from San Juan. Anyway, Kevin was great about showing us the apartment that first evening, telling us how everything worked, giving us some helpful tips, then leaving us to explore on our own. We were pleased to see that groceries, including milk, juice, bread, cheese, and ham had been provided for us. It made us feel very welcome! For the remainder of the trip, they remained very easy to communicate with, responding to texts immediately. That meant a lot to me. About the apartment: It is very modern and immaculately clean. Everything we needed that week was there: cooking implements, sheets, towels, beach paraphernalia, detergents. It felt very comfortable and convenient. The place is not big, but felt perfect for our family of 5. There are two balconies and when you keep their sliding doors open, you get a nice cross breeze in the apartment and can enjoy the sounds of the surrounding nature in the evening. We did not need to turn on the air conditioning a single time. The apartment is in a fairly extensive, gated condo complex, which was quite empty of others for the week that we were there. The apartments seem mostly owned by folks who live in the city and who either rent them or use them on the weekends. (Things were a little livelier there on the weekend, we noticed). It felt a little strange to be there (almost) by ourselves, but it was something we quickly got used to and enjoyed. It was quiet! And it felt very safe, which I came to appreciate as well. The guards and other staff of the condo complex were friendly and helpful. There was plenty of parking, too. Now for the best thing: the beach! The apartment complex has its own stretch of beach which was beautiful and very clean. We hung out there for several hours every day. The tide was high most of the times we were there (low tides were 7pm and 5 am or so), and the waves were quite high. Good for romping, but not dangerous. The water was warm and clean. Sand was very soft. And the views were truly lovely. The apartment was a good choice for the beach alone. A note: you need a key to get to the beach, as well as to the pools on the property. You do need to keep an eye on that key! The guards come around and close the gates if they see them standing open. It was explained to us that it wasn't safe to leave the beach gate open for outsiders to wander in. Indeed, one evening we "lost" a pair of shoes on the beach to someone who apparently needed them more than we did. We had come to Puerto Rico with the idea of exploring, and we did! The apartment was perfectly located for this. The rainforest is really close, and so are the ferries to Culebra and Vieques. We went to Viequies for the day one day, taking the car on the ferry. Keep in mind that a spot on the ferries needs to be reserved ahead of time, so call as soon as you know when and where you want to go. We made our reservation the night before, and were told we were lucky because they sell out. San Juan (incl. the charming Old San Juan) is very close as well. One day we made a rather ill-fated trip to the West Coast We did not have a proper map, and kept getting lost. Then the kids got hungry. Then we got lost again. And again. By the time we got to Rincon it was almost evening. Moral of the story: buy a map before you come to PR. There are no maps to be bought anywhere, only simplistic maps that you can get for free, but no real, geographically accurate maps to be found. Or do as modern man does, travel with a GPS. We did not. Back to the apartment: There are some Western style supermarkets if you go east on the coastal road (128), then onto route 3. But there are some small local grocery stores if you go in the opposite direction, toward San Juan, including fruit and vegetable stands on the side of the road. I wish I had discovered those sooner. On the whole: would I do this again? Yes, and I hope I will one day. Would I recommend it to a friend? YES? To an enemy: NO! This is too nice for my enemies. Thank you again, Kevin and Madelin, for lending us your lovely apartment!

“Excellent Group Getaway Spot” We stayed here recently during a company retreat to Puerto Rico and used this house as our main gathering spot. Diana was extremely accommodating and helpful/ always available to answer questions. The home was beautiful and spacious with many different areas for group gatherings. The house is fully stocked with games and towels and anything you could think of. Diana recommended us a chef who cooked for us the entire weekend we were there. All in all, it was a phenomenal experience. I would absolutely recommend!

“Awesome condo for a week's rental!” We rented the condo for a week and had an amazing time! Tony (owner) was extremely helpful with the reservations, and was extremely responsive to any requests/concerns we had while we were there -- he did a great job making sure our stay was to our liking. The condo felt like home from our very first night! Everything was in great condition, and the apartment was well-stocked with towels, linens, games, sports equipment, and even some spices to cook with. The kitchen was extremely modern and both the washer/dryer worked well. The balcony provided us with an amazing view of the bay (we were able to watch the sunrise right from the balcony!) and we used the hammock and rocking chairs extensively! We very much enjoyed renting the condo, as opposed to staying in a hotel, because it allowed us the flexibility to cook some of our own meals. Each of the bedrooms has an aC unit, which was a nice touch after spending a long day exploring the island. The Penamar Ocean Club is located in a convenient location and has a beautiful campus - landscaping is very nicely done. We used the infinity pool, the smaller pool with the waterslide, and the tennis court all the time! Fajardo is a nice town and is located 45 min east of San Juan, 25 min away from El Yunque, 20 min from Luquillo Beach (maybe the nicest beach we visited during our entire trip), and 5 min from the Ferry port to Vieques. Just a heads up, please look up and book any activities you may wish to do (especially kayaking in Biobay) on your vacation several weeks in advance because everything will be booked!! We wished we had known this before our trip.

“Great Downtime in San Juan” Unit was perfect for a getaway week in San Juan. We were on the beach every day which provided warm water, sun, and shade. Condo was perfect size for us, and on 15th floor very safe, quiet, and private. Had everything we needed, washer-dryer, etc. Building employees very courteous and helpful. Variety of restaurants and supermarket within walking distance. We did not have to rent a car. We ate breakfast and lunch in condo, then ate dinner out every day. Pool deck is beautiful and health club a big plus. Overall great place to relax, chill out, and enjoy the ambiance.

“Great location, great hosts!” Gianluca greeted us in the rain, late at night and showed us around the apartment. Him and Solmari were both very friendly and their kids and dog are all very friendly as well. We had no problems at all with our stay, the place is perfect for what we were looking for. The yard is great to hang out in and read or chat, the plants and trees alone can occupy quite a bit of time just to observe if you like that sort of thing. It's a really great place to sit back and relax. Our apartment was fantastic, everything you need to cook meals was there. Our bed was comfy and there was lots of storage for all of our stuff as we were staying for two weeks. Everything was clean and we got fresh linens every week. There wasn't a full sized couch, just a chair that's shown in the picture but we weren't planning on spending too much time at home anyways. The guest book and suggestion booklet were great for recommendations. The location was amazing. There's a supermarket around the corner, the beach is a couple blocks walk, and you have a choice of a few bus routes as well. When we wanted to go to Condado or Old San Juan we hopped on T5,53 ($0.75) or the random free green bus. You might have to wait for a while but bussing is cheap! Quite a few great places for eats. Acapulco was amazing, the best tacos we've ever had. Kasalta was good for breakfast or cheap lunch, lots of pastries. Inca Chicken is a great deal for dinner. La B de Burro is also a good option for lunch or dinner. Many great places and all within a 15 minute walk. I can't really think of anything that we didn't like. There was some loud music pumping at night from a ways away but it always calmed down before 11. We were always super tired so it didn't really bother us anyways. All in all, it was a great stay. The location, hosts and apartments can't be beat. Thanks so much to Solmari and Gianluca for sharing their home with us!

“The Full Package - Beach, Rainforest, Nightlife, and huge House” Huge space - larger and nicer than I thought it would be. Full kitchen opening into large dining room, separated by a half-wall from the main living room. Perfect for a large group / family that wants to spend time together. 3 air conditioned bedrooms and 2 bathrooms made privacy and sleeping more than comfortable. Outdoor kitchen with bar window opening into the outdoor patio (with nice furniture) is perfect for entertaining! House is on the beach. A "resort-style beach" (very fine sand, waves crashing on the shore) is a short walk (1/2 mile?) along the shore. The beach in front of the house has slightly rougher sand with a vast wading shelf and tide pools full of underwater plants and sea life. As an avid snorkeler and biologist, this was the highlight. Tropical fish, crabs, and shell-hunting galore with crystal-clear water. Just a 45-minute drive from downtown San Juan and adjacent to the El Yunke National Forest area, it is ideal for laying out on the beach or hiking and high adventure challenges during the day and going out at night. Get local flavor at the Loquillo Beach Kioskos (#25 is the best). Friendly locals in the nearby town with "touristy" shops, local food places, bars, and post office. Neighbors are friendly but keep to themselves. Owners/manager very responsive to what few problems we had. We had trouble with the gate and a repairman was there to fix it within hours. After the initial orientation, we thought of questions during the week (Can we hang a hammock? How do we get the ice-maker to work? Etc.) and got immediate responses in all cases.

“Nice and tranquil” The apartment was clean, comfortable. The close beach is right behind the condo which was something I loved. The supermarkets are close by, and if you wanted fast foods they were just across the street. Also if you needed the bus was right in front or if you needed a cab always one around. The hotels all walking distant to go dance or eat. I felt safe. 24 hour security great. All in all I would recommend to stay here. I will be coming again.

“Pleasant Christmas Getaway” This was our first experience staying in Puerto Rico for pleasure (I had been there prior times for business). They Wyndham resort (located about 30 minutes east of the airport) is a nice property -- not quite luxurious but it's clean and safe. The gated entry to Rio Mar gives it a feeling of security. The hotel is in need of upgrades (rumor has it that they are about to pour $500M into the resort) but it's in good condition. The restaurants are nice but expensive. We stopped at a Costco near the airport before heading to Rio Mar and then supplemented with groceries at a nearby supermarket (which is owned by Wal*Mart). There are a few off-site restaurants that are worth visiting. The hotel also has a casino that kept our college-age kids entertained. The villa was very nice. I think we were the first tenants. This meant we needed to wash and wipe everything down a bit but we typically do that with our vacation ownership units anyway. The beds were clean and comfortable. The owner, Diana, couldn't have been more accommodating. There were several items that were missing from the unit and they were delivered within 24 hours. We occupied the unit with two families (4 adults, 5 teenage children). It was cozy but not outrageous. The beach outside the villas is nice but could have been cleaner. The hotel obviously has full-time maintenance but it's unclear who is responsible for the beach near the villas. There are lounge chairs by the pools (which are well kept but not meticulous) but only a few for the beach. There was some grounds staff for the villas but you had to search for them. All in all, we had a pleasant experience. The owner Diana was incredibly kind and responsive. I think if the Wyndham goes through with their planned renovation, it will make this spot even more attractive. We did not play golf but the courses looked good (and not very crowded). Assuming there was a 10 point scale, I would give this an 8.5.

“Beautiful Home, Beautiful owners. Would stay again in a heart b” Myself, my husband and another couple stayed in this home for 3 days. We were pleasantly surprised that the home looked as beautiful as the pictures we were shown. The home comfortably fit two couples. Each couple had their own bedroom with an air conditioner. The owners do a wonderful job of keeping the home in perfect order and ready for visitors. The owners are so nice and accommodating. They made us feel at home, showed us where to go. They even had a book printed out showing attractions with pamphlets of services and points of interest. I could not have ask for a better home to stay in. If you want to get away from the usual hotel/motel. I highly recommend renting this home. It was walking distance from the beach and lots of food choices. It is a short cab ride or bus ride from Old San Juan, the airport and the cruise ship terminal. The only thing I would change was the beds. They were a bit uncomfortable but we still got a good night's sleep.