Puerto Rico interesting alternative lodging
 

My wife and I are travelling to Puerto Rico for 3 nights and are looking for a small, interesting place to stay on the beach or in the mountains and are looking for suggestions. We have visited PR 3 times, will have a rental car and are fairly well versed in navigating roads (ie... we will drive anywhere). Looking for unusual experiences... ie, would like to stay on a farm/inn, plantation, small beach resort...something different than just a traditional resort we read about on a travel site. We had planned to stay at a bigger resort, so our budget is pretty flexible. We stayed at Horned Dorset previously and enjoyed it... Any suggestions?

I really liked Numero Uno on the beach in Ocean Park, San Juan. It is right on the beach and has a faboulous restaurant. I too like small hotels for their personality and itimacy. Another interesting choice is El Convento - it has a beautiful courtyard and is a former courtyard and has an excellent tapas restaurant and you will be able to walk and explore Old San Juan. I could easily spend a couple of days just wandering Old San Juan just to experience the day to day life of the old city. Take some time to explore some of the courtyards, they are facinating.

Hosteria del mar in ocean park right on the beach, nice people, great location.

Other interesting options you may want to check out:

Villa Montana - small, luxury mini-resort in Isabela (the usually uncrowded northwest coast)
Parador Bahia Salinas - near the stunning Cabo Rojo lighthouse with wonderful, off-the-beaten path beaches nearby
(you should find links for both of the above places at gotoportadelsol.com)

Hacienda Juanita (haciendajuanita.com)or Hacienda Gripinas (haciendagripinas.com) - former coffee plantations in the lush central mountains
Casa Grande - rustic, basic inn in Utuado that offers yoga classes

You might also want to check out the places listed under "rain forest lodging" at elyunque.com.

Have fun!

ronjrich,

you also might want to try a real neat place in the mountains above Lago dos Bocas in Utuado called TJRanch. It's a great little place on a coffee farm on 40 acres of land with cabanas, nature paths, pool with jacuzzi, restaurant and lots of other goodies! The owners Tony and Juanita and their children will make your stay a truly memorable experience!

Thank you very much for all of your suggestions. We have decided to just rent our car and drive around. Wherever we end up is where we will stay. Any suggestions for great casual restaurants or food stands around the island? We have a favorite chicken shack that we always go to in Yabacuoa... and would love to hear about any other smoke houses or small restaurants that others can recommend.

I also would recommend Villa Montaña in Isabela. Amazing place, real nice restaurant, Eclipse.

Copamarina in Guanica is a mid size hotel and they are very well known for snorking and scuba diving.

Amazing food shacks: Roasted Pork ("Lechon") in Guavate, Seafood Turnovers ("Arepas Rellenas") in Las Croabas, Fajardo (near el Conquistador Hotel).

I second the Guavate recommendation. Here's an article on the area:
http://www.puertorico-herald.org/iss...T0831-en.shtml

Try Caribe Play Beach resort in Patillas. South east coast.