Searching through pages and pages of websites for a nice, inexpensive place to stay was getting very draining until one place caught my eye. The Portonovo apartments in Puerto Rico.
Four friends and I stayed at these apartments for a week in May this year and had a fantastic time.
We got one bedroom apartments with two people sharing one and three in another. Two bedroom apartments are also available. The hotel offers a courtesy room for your bags, a currency exchange and a telephone.
In the apartments were a twin room and a sofa bed in the lounge area. The bedroom was a good size with a large wardrobe, dressing table with mirror (which we were all fighting over), and bedside cabinets with lamps. There was a large window which was good for lighting and ventilation and a safety deposit box in the wardrobe. The bathrooms are a decent size and clean as is the kitchen/dining area. The kitchen is well equipped and the maids came almost every day supplying fresh towels and bedding.
Each apartment has a balcony or terrace, which has a table and chairs for you to sit at. We spent a few evenings sat with a glass of sangria on the balcony and it was fantastic. The apartments have the most perfect location, the views from he apartments are beautiful. The apartments overlook a marina, we sat sometimes just watching the boats coming in and out.
Some of the apartments are privately owned and we met a couple of people who lived there who said they love it and never get bored of waking up to the most fantastic views!
The beach was a short two minute walk away which is fantastic, it also offers a variety of water sports. As Puerto Rico is built around a valley a lot of the accommodation is not suitable for those with walking difficulties as the access to the town in down in some cases, hundreds of steps. Not with these apartments though. There are stairs and lifts to get around the apartments in. The heated pool is medium sized and there are plenty of sun loungers and parasols scattered around it. The pool was always very clean and the gardens around it were pretty and well kept.
On the ground floor of the apartments by the pool was a bar / pizzeria which doubled up as an Indian restaurant at night, the food was fantastic and reasonably priced. Also a few metres down the path was a nice little cocktail bar called Wigwam and a small supermarket. Over the road from these was a little arcade with a choice of restaurants a couple of quiet pubs and an Irish bar with a great singer in it.
If you want something a bit more lively a ten minute walk on two minute taxi (very well priced) takes you into the centre with all the lively bars, clubs and a larger selection of restaurants. It is a nice walk up there having a look at other peoples apartments, there's a really cool crazy golf course on the way and a few shops. By the time you've visited all the bars and clubs a taxi is probably the best idea for returning - unless you stay on coke all night!
In my opinion I think this makes the ideal location, not only are you within walking distance to most attractions, you are not too close to be bothered by noise from the bars and clubs.
Thomson offer holidays to these apartments and offer a few excursions. There's not much other than the pool for children actually at the apartments, although being so close to the beach and town there is plenty for them to do within walking distance.
The apartments aren't five star luxury, they are basic. They are cheap, clean and perfectly located. The staff are friendly and helpful and for what we wanted we couldn't have asked for any more.........except to have stayed another week, or two, or three.
I would recommend these apartments to anyone, I've added a few pictures of the apartments to have a nosey at. Hope this has helped anyone considering somewhere to stay in Puerto Rico. Thanks for reading. x
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