During our most recent visit to Puerto Rico to visit my husband’s family on the western coast of the island, we rented an Airbnb apartment at Sabana del Palmar, a small apartment building in Boqueron, the beachfront community that’s known for its laidback vibe and beautiful beach. This is a review of our experience. (You can also watch my video tour of the apartment on my YouTube channel, or scroll to the bottom of this post to see it.)
THE STYLE: This Puerto Rico Airbnb rental is a two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in a building that, I believe, houses a total of four apartments. It’s a relatively modern building, raised on stilts with free covered parking below, on street level. It’s located about 10 minutes by foot from the main stretch of sand, restaurants and nightlife in Boqueron, which is a big selling point — far enough to be removed from the crowds, traffic and noise, but close enough to walk. Entrance to the apartment was by old-fashioned keys, which were left for us in a lock box for which we were provided an access code; the system worked well and we didn’t have to wait to meet anyone.
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DON’T MISS: 3 New Things To Do in Boqueron, Puerto Rico
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The open living room/kitchen area, which was off of the entry balcony, was comfortably decorated with a couch, coffee table, TV and high chairs along the kitchen counter for dining. The kitchen was well equipped with full-size stove, refrigerator, coffee maker, microwave, dishes and cutlery. We also made good use of the laundry room, which even had detergent, so that we could easily do a load of laundry during our stay (that’s always a selling point for any Airbnb rental, but not all homes provide laundry facilities, so be sure to check before you rent).
The two bedrooms were large and comfortable, with a queen-size bed in one room and full-size bed in the other. I liked the bold color choices in the master bedroom. Both bedrooms were very well air conditioned but the living/kitchen area was not, which was fine since we were visiting in December and it wasn’t too hot. One thing I did wish for was more electrical outlets; there weren’t any near the bed, the couch or any other seating areas, so it was impossible to keep cell phones and laptops charged while using them, and I couldn’t charge my phone overnight if I wanted it within reach while I slept.
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PREFER HOTELS? Check out my hotel review of Boho Beach Club Hotel in Boqueron
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One of the things you realize when staying in a fairly rural area is the countryside isn’t always quiet. But rather than annoying noise from traffic or people, the main sounds we heard came from the chirping coqui frogs at night and the roosters in the morning, so I got used to it pretty quickly.
Puerto Rico is not a budget travel destination in general, and that fact is evident in the price of this Airbnb rental, but it’s still cheaper than staying at most hotels in the area — and Boqueron has very few hotel options anyway, so I’d definitely stay at this Airbnb apartment in Puerto Rico again. Vacation apartment rentals are often a more budget-friendly alternative to hotels on the island.
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HOTEL REVIEW: Sandy Beach Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico
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BEST FOR: This Airbnb rental in Puerto Rico is a good option for couples, two couples traveling together or even a family looking for extra space and a full kitchen. It’s a comfortable and spacious option for anyone planning a Puerto Rico beach vacation, actually. A few months earlier, we stayed at the nearby Boho Beach Club, a recently renovated hotel in Boqueron that we also liked a lot (read my hotel review here)— that hotel is a great choice for those who prefer the hotel experience, but the rooms are smaller and more expensive than this Airbnb rental, so it really comes down to personal preferences.