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“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!
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rentals in Loiza
About Loiza
Once a Taíno Indian village, the area was named after Loíza, the female cacique (chief) who ruled over it.
Today Loíza is known for its African-influenced music, dance, art and food. For vacation accommodation in Loíza, visit FlipKey where you will find options to suit all budgets.
About Loiza, Puerto Rico
Located on Puerto Rico’s northeast coast, Loíza is a small town spread over five wards with a population of 30,000.
Following the arrival of Spanish conquistadors in 1508, led by Ponce de Leon, the indigenous Taino Indians were decimated either by disease and hard labor. This forced the Spanish to import slaves from Africa to work in the sugarcane fields.
Two hundred years later, the area had become a safe haven for escaped slaves, and in 1709 had a population large enough to be considered a town.
Today, Loíza is known throughout Puerto Rico for its high proportion of artists and dancers. The town is also the center of traditional Puerto Rican music called “La Bomba” that has dancers moving to the sound of drums.
Locals celebrate the Festival of St James by wearing brightly colored masks—called Máscaras de Vejigante—made from coconuts. See if you can catch this amazing spectacle during your stay!
What to do in Loiza, Puerto Rico
Only a 30-minute taxi ride from Puerto Rico’s capital San Juan, Loíza is a great getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. It's also a great spot to find authentic handcrafted souvenirs.
Nearby you can visit the Maria de la Cruz Cave, where archaeologists discovered pre-Columbian artifacts belonging to the Taino people. If you're interested in history, you'll see all of the findings from the cave on display in the museum of the University of Puerto Rico in San Juan.
For water sports and lazy days at the beach, head east out of town and make use of the resort facilities at either the Bahia Beach, Coco Beach or Gran Melia resorts.
In San Juan, visit the Museo de las Américas, Fuerte San Cristóbal and the star of the Old Town, El Morro, said to be oldest Spanish fort in the New World.
Top travel tips for Loiza
The best time to visit Loíza is during the dry months from mid-December through mid-April.
Despite being a U.S. territory, and using the American dollar as its currency, not everyone speaks English. Learning a few greetings and phrases will go a long way in helping you have a great time in Puerto Rico.
The island has a reputation of being dangerous for tourists, but it’s no worse than any American city. You won’t find public transportation very reliable, so we recommend either renting a car or using taxis.
For a touch of African inspired food and culture, Loíza is an interesting destination that's close to all the action of the El San Juan casino and the beauty and charm or the Old Town. For all your accommodation needs, visit FlipKey where you are sure to find the ideal rental property for your vacation.
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