Road 115, Km 12.2, Rincon, Puerto Rico | (618) 248-8274
Family-friendly hotel with mid-range prices
Pretty beach setting for beautiful sunsets
Large swimming pool and terrace with an active swim-up pool bar and evening music
One-bedroom suites have wet bars and lovely views
Restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Garden areas and unique kids' playground
Lobby gift shop for essentials and gifts
Ballroom for private events
Free parking and Wi-Fi in lobby
Rooms have outdated decor and bedding
Furnishings show wear and tear
It's a drive to get anywhere
Wi-Fi isn't free in guest rooms
Mini-fridges are an extra charge
No fitness center on-site
This 112-room hotel is a decent mid-range option for families and wedding groups who want a large pool and beach setting in Rincón, on the west coast of Puerto Rico. While the lobby is pleasant, don't let this deceive you, as the rooms are begging for some work starting with the bedding and curtains. (It's hard to believe that the property opened in 2003). Mini-fridges are an additional fee and the restaurant and bar tend to shut down around 10 pm, meaning those who do not want to drive anywhere are simply stuck, and bored. Ocean views on the top two floors make up for some shortcomings, but romantic couples may want to consider the one-bedroom suites or nothing at all. On the plus side, the freeform outdoor pool with a swim-up bar is wildly popular, the beach boasts a wider stretch of sand than its neighbors, and sunsets are not to be missed.
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Scene
Lots of wedding groups and families, not a lot of late-night activity
The somewhat
sterile looking, u-shaped hotel comes into view after a brief drive through
tropical vegetation. There's a turnaround entrance for dropping off luggage and an adjacent large lot for self-parking. The lobby is probably the best
part of the indoor hotel with warm tones, elegant furnishings, and a slight hint of
Asian inspiration, especially in the hallways by the elevators. It's also the
only place at the property to pick up free Wi-Fi. Expect potential
lines during check-in.To the front of the lobby is a large outdoor terrace with a lily
pond and several patio tables and chairs. The towel hut leads to the pool surrounded by white lounge chairs. The swim-up pool bar and grill is the
center of action throughout the day and evening with lively music. Kids have
their own section of the pool to swim in or families can hit the ocean
together. It’s a beach suitable for strolling, and sunset hour is a magical
time when guests can order a drink at the bar and enjoy the view. There are
often wedding groups on the weekends making use of the event space, and the
pool bar keeps things active until about 10 pm, before the hotel seems to shut
down entirely.
Location
Along the relaxed west coast of the island; car highly recommended
The
property is found in an area of Puerto Rico called Porta del Sol, or "Doorway
to the Sun" -- aka the entire west coast. In the
middle of the coast is a municipality called Rincón, recognizable
on a map because it juts out ever so slightly from the island. There are eight miles
of beaches here, with some areas great for surfing and other parts having calmwater. Excursions are available for deep-sea fishing and whale
watching.Guests can access the hub of the west coast, Aguadilla, which
holds Puerto Rico's second largest airport, Rafáel Hernandez. (The airport has
daily flights from the U.S., mostly from the east coast.) From Hernandez it’s an
easy 40-minute drive to the hotel, or visitors can fly into San Juan's airport
and drive more than two hours west across the island. Either way, visitors are
recommended to rent a car so that they can have access to other attractions in
the area, which tend to be less touristy and more true to local Puerto Rican
culture.
Rooms
Rooms are not the hotel's highlight and are aching for renovations
The property's 112 units
include Deluxe Rooms, Deluxe Ocean View Rooms, Beach Cabanas, and Art Déco Suites.
All rooms have balconies with two chairs, air-conditioning, ceiling fans,
safes, and 29-inch flat-screen TVs. Decor is blue/green with pale-colored walls and tile floors along with outdated linens, drapes, and furnishings. Bathrooms have walk-in
showers, lots of counter space, and sufficient water pressure but few
toiletries. Mini-fridges and cribs are available for a fee. Decor is mostly neutral with tile floors and white or light green walls. Bedding looks fussy and old fashioned and the wood furniture shows obvious wear. Beach Cabanas are on the first floor with direct access to the
pool -- quicker and better for families. The second and third floors feature the
Deluxe units, which are the cheapest since they do not have ocean views or
direct pool access. Deluxe Ocean View units can be found on the fourth and
fifth floors with direct or partial water views. The three Art Déco Suites are one-bedroom spaces with a separate dining/livingarea, pullout sofa, working desk, and two balconies. There’s also a wet-bar area with a sink, microwave, and mini-fridge. Bathrooms are bigger with
double vanity sinks and separate tubs and walk-in showers. The bottom-floor unit has a
private garden area. Wi-Fi is not included in rooms.
Features
A wider stretch of sand and a pool with a popular bar area
The property's specific beach area boasts a wider stretch of sand than other nearby venues. Considering this and the fact that the hotel also has one of the larger outdoorpools in Rincón is enough to make it a destination for many. There are no water-related
sports on the premises, but most guests are happy to simply swim and sunbathe.
Lounge chairs are plentiful around the pool, unfortunately there are few actual chairs at the beach. Most guests have to
take the small towels provided in the towel hut and make due on the sand. Wedding
ceremonies are held on the beach on the weekends, so areas may be closed off,
and receptions take place in the ballroom. An outdoor garden and playground are next to the main building.
Kids need to be careful when playing here though -- the wood structure, while
more attractive than plastic, may give splinters. As for dining, the main
restaurant is the Royal Palm Cafe, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner in
cheerful contemporary decor. A la carte menus are available (there’s always a
buffet for breakfast), as well as special-themed buffets with cooking stations
during the weekends. The pool bar is the most active part of the Rincón, while on the dry end there are tables and chairs
for ordering food from the grill, like pizzas and sandwiches. Wi-Fi is free in the lobby.
