“We love this Airbnb! The location is perfect with only a 5 minute walk to the beach and they already have boogie boards, beach chair, and buckets for building sand castles, so no need to bring your own. There is also plenty of available, free parking on the street! The space itself is very spacious, we had plenty of room for all of us. The place also has a washer/dryer and plenty of linens, so it made our stay that much easier. The host and staff were very communicative with us and easy to get a hold of whenever needed. We highly recommend staying here!”

Beautiful Villa Verde Villa

Our stay at the villa just what the doctor ordered. Our group of 6 (3 adults and 3 teenage kids) all slept comfortable in the spacious house. The air conditioning was a nice treat, as well as the Jacuzzi. We very much appreciated the "starter" food amenities. With our late arrival, it was nice to have some food readily available. The property was very well maintained and clean. We really enjoyed being in a gate residential community, that was quiet and well kept. We appreciated very much the beach supplies that were in the shed outside. We enjoyed the local cats dropping by for a visit, as well as all the little reptiles that shared the space. Beach was easily accessible, clean and close. The owners provided excellent care throughout our stay in villa. Thank you for sharing this wonderful place with us, and we look forward to staying again!

Simply lovely

Great vacation home. Very clean and it had everything we needed to make our stay enjoyable. The location was also perfect! Close to airport and all the hotspots in San Juan. We very much enjoyed our stay and will definitely rent again! Our Response: Thank you kindly for your lovely review on our Villa Verde house. We are glad to read you enjoyed the location and close proximity to the beach and airport as well as the amenities provided. We also know one of the little ones was quite fond of the cats in the area! We will be looking forward to having you and your family anytime and thank you for taking such good care of our property.

Past This One By

We were in shock as to the location of this property. One has to travel through graffiti saturated streets and low income housing to reach this property. The street to the address were full of potholes and dirty. Once there, we were met by John and his wife who stated the electricity had gone out that morning. My guests did not want to get out of the car! We decided to go grab some lunch and upon our return found the electricity had come back. The kitchen is in dire need of updates and small. The photos showed a beach a block away when in reality it was much longer (5 blocks). Unfortunately, we felt more comfortable spending our week away from the house and regret reserving this home. Truly one to stay away from!!

Great vacation rental

Great location! The unit has everything you need. It is spacious, clean and comfortable. So much better and more convenient than hotel. Nice professional management and organization. We would recommend this to friends.

This unit is in need of being updated.

We stayed in this house for the month of February. Unfortunately, there were several things that were problematic: (1) the furniture was shabby and uncomfortable; (2) we had to purchase new beach chairs and towels because the ones that came with the house were worn out, and there were no towels; (3) we had to purchase speakers for the TV, because the volume barely worked; and (4) the house was not thoroughly cleaned prior to our arrival. The benefits were that it was close to Barbosa Park and Beach. While this house may be adequate for a couple of nights, I would not recommend it for a long-term rental.

Comfortable, Quiet Place

There were 5 ladies in our party. We were greeted by Tania who gave us a tour of the house. Puerto Rican coffee and a small bottle of rum was left on the counter to welcome us as well as some beverages that were left in the fridge. The first thing we noticed was that the house was very clean and there was plenty of space for us. Each room was equipped with its own AC unit. For the most part, the kitchen was well equipped. We loved eating out on the patio. It was a gated community so we felt very safe. The location of the house was great as it was only a short walk to the beach and the park. We even walked to church which was only a few blocks away. Grocery store and other shopping areas were also close by. We rented a car so we were able to venture out to other sides of the island such as Rincon, Fajardo and Ponce. We would recommend staying at Villa Verde to our friends and family.

Perfect!!! Beautiful, comfortable, great rental.

Our family stayed at Villa Verde for Thanksgiving week. I can't say enough about our experience. From even before we touched down, Annette was in touch to make sure we were taken care of. We used her advice for a car service from the airport (Carlos) and ended up using him all week. He came for us at the drop of a hat and was always full of helpful information. Annette met us at the house when we arrived, gave us a tour, gave suggestions and even had food and drinks in the fridge for us. In addition, she gave us a ride home from lunch just because she was in the area. Throughout our stay, if we needed a dinner recommendation she was very quick to reply. We couldn't have asked for a better or more helpful person. We even cooked our Thanksgiving dinner here. Thank you so much to John and Annette for such a wonderful experience.

Great location and wonderful visit!

We were very pleased with this home . It was just as described and in fact felt larger. We were a family of 6 - grandparents, parents and two children age 4 and 6. The home is well appointed and very clean. We felt very safe in this neighbourhood and other areas we visited. Good customer service. Welcome treats upon arrival. Walking to beach was a bonus. Easy to walk to several restaurants although a vehicle (we rented) makes one's stay more enjoyable. Easy to drive in and around area and we explored rainforest and old San Juan by car. Coastal drives were wonderful and we ate local foods daily. We would recommend this property without hesitation.

Comfortable and convenient

We had a great stay with 3 comfortable bedrooms and 3 baths. The kitchen had good storage and working utensils. Plenty of towels, beach gear, and outdoor spaces. The house is very secure with access via the outside door or the garage gate. There were some DVD movies that the kids enjoyed and a nice selection of books as well. Each bedroom has it's own air conditioning unit which gives you nice temp control in each room. The kitchen was stocked with plenty of bowls, dishes, and glasses and the full size refrigerator held plenty of food and drink for the week. The beach is about a 10 min walk, adjacent to a park with a nice kid''s playground. Although we were concerned about the 2 hurricanes that passed our way during in the week. we never lost power and the house water reserve was comforting. - thanks John for a great home - all the best - Joe

Perfect for a girls trip

This place was perfect for 5 thirty-something women! We were met by a member of John's staff who greeted us and made sure we were settling in okay, she even helped us make reservations at an upscale restaurant (we had an awesome table!) and gave us a tour of the house. When we needed help with transportation, they were there and arranged all our cars to/from the airport. Super communicative - when you're in a foreign country (okay, territory) that goes a long way! There are 3 bathrooms, no one ever had to wait on anyone. And the rooms are spacious. This isn't the Ritz-Carlton, sure, but it's all serviceable and in a good area for walking to the beach. We really enjoyed the people and the quiet street. Walk to ocean park beach is about 10 minutes, beds were comfortable, everything worked fine. The only issue is that parking for a rental car, if you don't want to park it on the street, is very tight...but you can do it! Posted on HomeAway, June 2016

Great place, great location and great time.

We reserved this rental with some friends (total of 5 people) including 2 couples for a weekend for a friend's wedding. It was a great place and we really enjoyed it. The location was great, and the area while active wasn't overly busy, allowing us to relax. The house itself was very spacious, had a beautiful garden, came stocked with several nice little surprises including some great local coffee, and was a nice little getaway for us all. The beach was a quick walk away (no more than 5 minutes), and it was right in between the major sites of PR. It really was a great value and we hope to come back sometime soon to spend a little more time in Puerto Rico and the Ocean Park area.

Gorgeous, tranquil and pristine hideaway!

Our group of 6 friends stayed at this beautiful property over a weekend in the beginning of May, and could not have asked for a better experience. The house is gorgeous - not one but TWO outdoor chill spaces, super clean, washer/dryer, beautiful comfy bedrooms and three full baths, in a super quiet and safe neighborhood just a 5 minutes walking from a gorgeous, uncrowded beach, tons of parking... I have to also mention that the Marco Polo team was super helpful to us. From answering any questions we had about the property to seamless contract signing, payment and deposit reimbursement, I wouldn't hesitate to work with them again. They met us at the house to give the keys, show us around the house and share advice for local food options and activity suggestions, and they were always just a phone call away if we had any issues at all. Enjoy a wonderful stay here, you're making a really great choice!

Avoid the Resorts and Stay in this Lovely Home

We were four ladies visiting Puerto Rico for the first time. We didn't want to stay in any of the big resorts so we searched for private homes to rent and found this lovely home in a quiet safe neighborhood in Orchard Beach. The photos and reviews by previous guests convinced us to book the property. We stayed at Villa Verde for four nights before heading to Luquillo for the remainder of our trip. We chose this home for its outdoor patios and yard, where we spent most of our time. Both were lovely, quiet, and relaxing. We started in one patio for morning coffee and breakfast and moved to the other for drinks and afternoon sun. The property has three bedrooms and three full bathrooms. For four women, this was ideal - no one had to share a bed (one bedroom had two twins) and only two of us had to share a bath. Each room had enough pillows, blankets, and towels to go around. Oddly, the only thing we found lacking was clothes hangers - there were hardly any. The living room and dining room were very comfortable. The kitchen was well equipped for basic cooking needs. We made our breakfasts and lunches there and dined out for dinner. The home was very secure, gated, and felt very safe. Annette, the property manager, met us upon our arrival and provided a wonderful 'welcome kit'. She was quick to answer inquiries and fix a minor problem with one of the air conditioning units. We did not have a car during our stay here, so we took the local bus, which was a 2 block walk, into Old San Juan. It was safe, convenient, and only 75 cents. Taxis were very expensive so we avoided them when possible. The public beach was only a 5 minute walk. We found the surf to be pretty rough, not ideal for swimming but the surfing looked great. Around the corner are two great places: Kasalta bakery and Bagua restaurant. We did the typical tourist things in San Juan - the forts and Old San Juan, Bacardi (don't waste your time as it was terrible), the cock fights (legal here), the Mercado/Placita on Friday night, the outdoor Heineken concert (last Sunday of the month), and drinks here and there in Condado. We did splurge with dinner at Marmalade, San Juan's best restaurant - amazing! We found the property to be as described and as the pictures depicted, although the kitchen was definitely lived in, which we didn't mind. We loved the stay here as it was exactly what we wanted - to live as the locals.

Second time staying, loved it even more

My family of 5 had a wonderful stay at this clean, beautiful, and charming vacation home. We love having our own bedrooms, bathrooms, outdoor sitting and playing areas. There are so many ways to relax and find some space to yourself in between our adventures around the island. The convenience and close location to Ocean Park beach is a big positive as well. We enjoy the beach, waves, being around so many locals. So many families, activities, but yet it is not crowded. There is a nice activity center/field by the beach and it was cool to see so many people exercising, playing with their kids. The lush gardens, privacy, and all the accommodations you expect from being at home make this a wonderful vacation home. We LOVED it and hope to return again. The manager provided quick and great customer service. We didn't have any problems. I definitely recommend this place to my friends. There is so much to see and do in Puerto Rico and I love how things are so close to each other. You can enjoy history, architecture, amazing food and coffee in Old San Juan. Then we loved the peace and scenery of the rainforest hiking, swimming in waterfalls. The beaches and kayaking in Fajardo to see the biobay. Can you tell I love it there? Can't wait to go back.

A lovely place for a group of 7-8 people

It is just like the website has mentioned, such as 5 mins to beach, all the amenities are included, 3 rooms / 3 bathrooms, and it is very clean. We were very enjoying staying in this property. The back yard BBQ area was our favorite because it allowed us to have three seafood and steak dinners and lunches only for $48 dollars per person (bought fresh food from Costco.) Also, the cooking materials like skewer, grill seasoning, and anything you could image are there! However, the front door parking space is limited for a mini van car, I think it could be available for two compact cars, but for a mini van, you will need very a professional driver like ours. Anyway, we love this place and definitely will recommend to our friends!!!

Wonderful Vacation Home

We were welcomed by Taina and John when we arrived at the house. John was attentive to ours needs. The home was very spacious for us and our 3 young adult sons. It was clean and all the amenities we needed. The house was only a few blocks from the beach. We felt safe walking and spending time there. Old San Juan is about 15 minutes away. Our favorite nightly spot was Kasalta, a bakery 5 minutes away. Thanks, John

Beautiful, Clean, and Safe Property

This property was perfect for our stay in San Juan. There were six people in our group, and John kindly set up an extra bed to ensure we had enough room, truly exceeding our expectations. Stocking the fridge with essentials after our red-eye flight was much appreciated as well. The house was beautiful, especially the two patios which were pleasant any time of day. The house was spacious enough that we never felt crowded even with a larger group. We felt very safe in the neighborhood and it was comforting knowing that John lived right next door. With that being said, we only ran into him twice, so he was not overbearing in the slightest. The only issue we had was weak plumbing and only one person could be in a shower at a time, but that was common throughout Puerto Rico. At Villa Verde we truly got the best of both worlds because we had the peace of being away from the tourist area yet were able to get to the nightlife with a 15 minute walk or short cab ride. Villa Verde exceeded our expectations, and if we ever return to San Juan this will be our top choice for rental. Thank you John!

Thank you John

This is a different kind of review as I never actually stayed in this home. I have rented a different property from John previously and was very pleased. I reserved this property, last minute, in a rush and didn't relay that in addition to the four business men, there would be a few wives along. On arrival it became apparent that YIKES the master bedroom connected to one of the other bedrooms (not a problem for families). After communications ensued, we felt bad and John did too. In the interest in maintaining a level of comfort suitable for business, we did not stay. John allowed us a complete refund. A true gentleman of the highest caliber. Heads up here...Be aware of this layout so to avoid causing more hardship for you as the renter and John for losing rent. We will be returning soon and we will rent from John if he is feeling brave :-) Peg O.

Loved it!

Beautiful house in a cute neighborhood by the beach, we loved our time here. We each wanted to have our own bedrooms and this house worked out well. Nice, clean, well cared for rooms. The outdoor patios are great for eating breakfast, dinner, drinking pina coladas after a fun day. We felt safe and well cared for. The owner John made sure we were well cared for. He even helped us with taxi service from airport and when we ran into delays with car rental made great suggestions. We would definitely do it again. Loved our time in Puerto Rico- Old San Juan, Isla Verde, Ocean Park beaches, El Yunque Rainforest, Luquillo beaches, etc. We wanted to feel like we were in Puerto Rico enjoy the people and city so we wanted to avoid the real touristy beach resorts and high rises. We still enjoyed some luxuries like a massage at a fancy hotel but we felt like we had a real feel of San Juan staying in a rental home. Wouldn't change a thing.

Lovely place to stay.

What a lovely place to stay. A beautiful home in a very nice setting. Minutes from a nice beach. We felt right at home. The Owner did several very nice little things to make staying there a real pleasure. He was available for advice and any problem that happened to come up. I would definitely stay there again and would highly recommend it.

Villa Verde in San Juan - home away from home.

The Villa Verde property in Ocean Park was exactly what we were looking for. A centrally located home away from home. The property is clean, well maintained and is much larger than the pictures depict. At one point there were 5 of us and we didn't "run into" each other what with the patio, the beautiful garden, bedrooms, living room and two full baths. It was more spacious than we had anticipated. John, the owner, was always available with helpful information on what to do or see and was just a phone call away if we had any questions on how to operate something in the house. The beach really is just a few minutes walk from the house and John has stocked the house with all the beach equipment necessary from chairs to cooler. Whether you choose to just visit the local sights, "hang" on the beach, or do as we did, travel the island far and wide coming back to kick back, relax & sleep, then do it all over again the in the AM, and don't want to stay in a hotel, then the Villa Verde property may fit your bill.

Central location, short walk to beach

We stayed for a long weekend. John (the owner) was very helpful through the process. This is a home in a residential neighborhood. Was quite. Its not in the bustle of the city and as we found it s $15 cab ride to the late night areas/clubs. Ocean Park Beach is very close and its a very nice and quite beach. The unit is older but it met all of our needs. The ACs worked well and kept us cool. The patio area is nice and it has plenty of storage. Only complaint would be the water pressure but that's pretty minor. The kitchen came stocked with a lot of stuff from cooking equipment to ice chest, and condiments; someone even left some beer. There is a strip of restaurants nearby. If you rented a car you would have a garage to park it in (and I would suggest it as cabs were expensive). The listing was accurate though and I would definitely stay there again.

Perfect Vacation Rental

This place was great. Lots of outdoor dining options with two patios and a charcoal grill. The rooms were comfortable and spacious. The house had everything we needed (including air conditioning) and more. It was just a short walk to the beach and a short (15 minute) drive to Old San Juan. We had a great time and would definitely come back! The owner lives right next door and was very responsive and helpful with anything we needed. He put us in contact with a driving service with whom we had a great a experience. My only complaint is the water pressure, but it became clear from the remainder of our stay that in Puerto Rico you're lucky to have running water at all. We spent the second half of our vacation in Rincon and on our last day the city shut off the water due to a burst pipe. The folks we were renting from there said it happens all the time and had a stock pile of gallons of water for us to use. That all said, the water pressure was manageable and if that's the only complaint - I think you're doing pretty good :)

Just that

Mother,sisters with husbands and a brother. True to the description. John was also a true professional with advice,recommendations,provider of transportation contact, repairs and also great conversation of all topics he is a wealth of information.We were provided with all the comforts of a home away from home. We were amazed with tranquility and beauty of the property. The 3 min walk to the beach and the beach were all spectacular. We were provided with a very knowlegeable tour guide ( Mario) thru the El Yunque Rainforest . The walk to grocery store is 1/8 of mile. We asked manger of store if we could use the cart to bring groceries back to the villa and return the cart. He and all we encountered were very helpful and friendly. We would recommend this villa to anyone. We had excellent food at "Jose Enrique " and "Boronia" . This villa offers the chance to discover the hidden treasures that are not part of San Juan tourism.

Fantastic hideaway for the sporty family

San Juan's Ocean Park is a beautiful clean beach right in the city. This lovely house is two blocks away. We parked ourselves there for a week with our two sons, 7 and 9, and had a fantastic time. Since the boys are soccer nuts, we took full advantage of the seaside Parque Barbosa, where they were able to join in on evening training with the local team (and even played in a league game!). One of the best steak houses in PR, Che's, is a five minute walk from the house. The beach restaurants Pamela's and Hosteria del Mar are also good. The house easily accommodated our party of 5. I would definitely recommend it for return visitors to the island.

Wonderful sister/nieces weekend at Villa Verde

This was the first trip for all of us to Puerto Rico. It was a great destiination and one that I believe many of us will try to visit again... more than enough to do beyond the beach time, plenty of history and architectural interest as well as the outdoor acitiviteis offered in the Rain Forest and snorkeling, etc. John was an absolutely fabulous host. He greeted us upon arrival full of information about the area. He responded immediately to any request from us, even going to the trouble of picking us up a new blender so we could make frozen drinks and smoothies! He supplied contacts for taxi drivers that were friendly and knowledgable - and willing to take calls at all hours! Villa Verde sits in a smal neighborhood that is only a few minutes walk to what I would say was the quietest and widest portion of Ocean Park Beach. There is a large park just across the street from the beach where local residents were jogging at the track, practicing soccer, playing tennis, on the jungle gym, etc. The park also has public restrooms which is great since there were none on the beach itself. Easy access to the beach was great. Our teenage daughters felt comfortable going to the park/track to run a few miles and/or heading to the beach together. The beach area is much more active as you head east toward LaCondada. We could watch the kite surfing that went on there and there were a lot more vacationers playing volleyball, etc on the beach as you headed to the east. The villa itself was well equipped. We were a group of 7 women staying at Villa Verde - sisters and our adult daughters. It was comfortable, though I would say might feel a bit tight for 7 adults who aren't quite as close as mothers/daughters.. We taxied to Old San Juan area and to local restaurants, though there are some that are within easy walking distance. We rented a car for 3 days to visit the Rain Forest and northwestern coastal areas. It was easy to drive and leaving from the Villa Verde area was a piece of cake. We also took in the open market at Rio Perdas (?speling) . The drive there was a bit more challenging, but nothing more than a large city would offer. The mix of renting a car and taxi worked well for us. I would have like to have explored more of the NW coastal beaches. Villa Verde is a good place to stay if you are comfortable getting out on your own and staying away from the perceived safety net that a typical resort offers.

Fantastic location, perfect base for a vacation

We are a family of 4, daughter 16 and son 19. We spent 8 days at Villa Verde for Thanksgiving week of 2012. We chose the house so we would have all the comforts of home, but well located just a few moments walk from the beach, and in easy reach of old San Juan (15 minutes by car). We were met inside baggage claim by Omar the driver, how wonderful to be picked up right at the carousel and brought directly to the house. John provides a welcome package with eggs, juice, milk, coffee, cold meat - even a small bottle of Bacardi so you can have a "cuba libre" as soon as you walk in! The information and photos in the listing are accurate. It really is 3 min. to the wonderful Ocean Park beach, which in fact is the best beach in the San Juan area. House is fully equipped with cable TV and wifi. Kitchen, laundry, iron/board, beach chairs and umbrella, everything provided. The 3 bedrooms are all separate from the living area which was important to us. There are also several restaurants and bars in walking distance: Che's (Argentinian), The Garden (seafood/vegetarian, boutique atmosphere) and Pamela's (literally on the beach - eat inside or on the sand - or just hang out on the beach in the daytime with your mojito). There is a full supermarket 5 min by car or 25 min. walk. If you spend over $50 they will drive you home for free! So we were happy without a car for several days. We did rent a car for a few days also: we spent a day sailing (with Eastwind) from Puerto del Rey near Fajardo. Great snorkeling for us and the kids (we are divers and saw many things such as coral and fish life that we are accustomed to see only by diving). We spent a day in the rainforest (with Ecoquest). Climbing up the mountain (you need to be fit and active, it is not a walk in the park), up rocks and up a waterfall, rapell down another 85 feet waterfall, then ziplines back down, lunch provided by local mountain family. Much better than a zipline-only place, truly an adventure. We visited old San Juan and enjoyed cocktails in El Convento, dinner in Tantra, as well as just wandering the streets. John was always available for advice and to solve any little issues like a lightbulb, etc. There are plentiful travel brochures in the house and together with internet access (bring your smartphone, ipad or laptop) we were easily able to research any of the hundreds of things to do. We loved the location and PR in general, and this house was just what we needed. Thanks John!

Comfy, Great Location, Nothing else needed!

Our time at Villa Verde was everything we wanted! Very secure with gated parking and a nice neighborhood. The house was complete with everything we needed for our stay and very clean. The location was perfect for getting around...easy access to the highway and local roads. The beach two blocks away is wonderful! John was very easy going and accomodating and a great source of information on the island.

Enjoyable stay

The unit is midway from San Juan and airport. Easy to get to each. Every thing was fine. Owner was very helpful And lives next door. Unit has gates and locks but that is how all houses are. We felt safe in residential area. Grocery and beach very close. Will go back

Lovely Place

We arrived a little late due to aircraft delays,but we found that everything was ready for our stay. The Taxi was waiting and when we arrived at Villa Verde there was a welcome pack. The Villa is a lovely place to stay with security given a high priority,air conditioning throughout made sleeping at night easy. I would strongly recommend Villa Verde to anyone as it is comfortable and convenient to all routs. P.Kelly

Great weekend stay

Stayed at Villa Verde for 3 days/2 nights and it was great! We had 5 people total and there were plenty of beds for everyone. The property was equipped with everything you including a few beers to get the weekend started right. The owned John met us up at and gave us a detailed rundown on Puerto Rico on where to go, what to see, and places to eat. Will definitely visit again!

Agréable séjour à Porto Rico

Nous avons séjourné 2 semaines à Villa Verde et sommes ravis de notre expérience Nous sommes une famille de 5 personnes avec des grands enfants et la villa était parfaite pour nous : des chambres spacieuses , un living room agréable , une cuisine fonctionnelle bien équipée avec de nombreux rangements et nous avons tout particulièrement apprécié le patio , intime et reposant. La maison est située dans un quartier résidentiel , calme et fleuri, à proximité d'une très belle plage de sable fin.On peut s'y rendre à pied en 10 minutes à peine.Le vieux San Juan se situe à 15 minutes en voiture par une voie rapide. John et son épouse, les propriétaires, sont très accueillants et nous ont donné toutes les informations nécessaires à la découverte des charmes de Porto Rico.

Malcolm H.

We stayed at Villa Verde for a week and it was a great base of operations for our exploration of Puerto Rico. We have 3 kids (17, 16 & 5) so a comfortable rental was important to us. This house more than met that criterion. From wireless internet access to a well equipped kitchen (stocked with some starter food when you arrive), we had just about everything we needed. The neighborhood is a nice view of life in PR and we always felt safe moving from one trip to the next. The city location has pluses (easy access to old San Juan) and minuses (traffic and proximity to some tougher neighborhoods) but it is really well situated for day trips with easy acces to the highways. We had great dives in Guanica on the south coast, a beautiful hike up El Yunque, a leisurely stay at a spectacular beach in Loquillo, and an educational night tour of the BioBay at Las Cabezas de San Juan. Ocean Park is literally right around the corner and has a great beach. Try the Avena at Kasalta's on McCleary street (a 5 min walk) and the Mofongo at Raices in old San Juan. John is an incredible host willing to give as much help or direction as you may need. You can't put a price on that kind of hospitality - we would definitely visit again!

Grand- daughter's Wedding

We enjoyed our stay in Puerto Rico at Villa Verde. We found the property to be exactly as described. It was reasonably close to everything we wanted to do. The owner is a caring host and easy to talk to. We found everything in the house to be well thought out and clean. Needed supplies were right at hand including even emergency food. the owner speaks American English, listens well, and is easy to talk to. If we go back to Puerto Rico, we will call Villa Verde first.

charming house

This vacation house is both attractive, comfortable and clean—exactly as advertised. It is arranged with three bedrooms at one end (including two bathrooms) and living room, kitchen and patio at the other. Happily, there is also a protected courtyard for parking a car. There were five of us disposed in the three bedrooms and experienced no problems with crowding. Two of us were able to move quite freely about the kitchen, which is well equipped should you decide to eat in. We found a host of appliances, like mixers and blenders, things you wouldn’t expect to find in a vacation home but were very welcome since one member of our party took pleasure in gourmet cooking. The property is situated in the heart of the city. It is ideally located for exploring the attractions of San Juan, which has some fine art museums. The house is within comfortable walking distance of a supermarket, Walgreens, etc. Thankfully, it is also two or three blocks from the beach. The old city is approximately twenty minutes away by car. Plan on spending a day there--more if you crave good restaurants. (Do try Marmalade’s.) The owner of this property, John Lohner, was a real blessing. He has lived in Puerto Rico all his life, so he is not only knowledgeable but extremely helpful and desirous that renters have a positive experience. Most days we were in touch, benefiting from his encyclopedic knowledge of the area and its activities. He even hunted down a beach umbrella for us and graciously mailed a bathing suit which one of our party left behind. It would be difficult to imagine a friendlier host. An issue that most concerned us involved transportation. Should we rent a car or rely on cabs? John advised us on the alternatives. (When we decided on a car, he even drove me to the car rental center.) We used the car for trips to the Rain Forest, to the Bioluminescent tour (a must see) and to some of the outlying beaches. Best to take a cab, though, to the old city unless you relish driving in heavy traffic. As for groceries, one can take a cab to the Super Max, where the company will drive you back by van with a purchase of $50. To sum up, I’m quite certain that anyone renting this spacious property will be pleased. --Stan Sulkes Our Response: Thank you for the great comments, and I am glad that you enjoyed your stay in Villa Verde, and in Puerto Rico in general. In my opinion we do not just supply four walls, a roof over your head and a place to get some sleep, but rather a complete vacation experience. Aside from enjoying the great beaches and near-perfect climate, there is so much to do and see on this island that it is sometimes difficult to know where to start when people ask me what there is to do. There is plenty for all tastes and ages. And at the end of the day it is important to have a comfortable home to come back to, and that is what Villa Verde strives to be. It should have as near as possible everything that you might want, so all you need to pack is your bathing suit, shorts and a t-shirt. And for the, ladies maybe a dress if you plan to go out for a night on the town. Come back and visit us again.

My stay at Villa Verde

My experience was quite different than I had expected. When I read all the wonderful reviews posted prior to my arrival, my expectations were high. But as I drove into the actual neighborhood, I was quite shocked at the condition of the homes in this so called gated community. If you want to stay in a safe clean environment this isn't it. Every window, door, or entrance is behind bars. The furniture is out dated and not very comfortable. The mattresses on the beds are FIRM. The house was clean, but in person it doesn't look as pretty as it did in the pictures. The entire neighborhood is pretty scary looking, although we honestly didn't have any issuses with any one. The people were friendly enough. I just feel for the price I paid, my accomodations weren't up to par. The lesson I learned here is to make sure I Google earth the surrounding areas before I book a place and to make sure I know the person recommending the house. Villa Verde is in a rough looking neighborhood and if you don't speak Spanish you might not feel real safe. Our Response: I am truly sorry that your visit did not meet your expectations. I only wish that you had mentioned something while you were here, since I would have done whatever possible to resolve any issues that you might have had. As in all Latin countries from Italy to South America, things in PR are not as orderly as in northern Europe or parts of the mainland USA. For instance, traffic is different and social issues tend to be more out in the open and are not dealt with as efficiently. Things are different, but different does not mean unsafe. The streets in the area of the property, except the main access street, are closed off, and the property is securitized, and that is precisely why it is safe. Walls and gates, that is how it is done in Latin countries, and you will find that this is true throughout Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans are by nature very friendly and outgoing. And although many speak English poorly, they will always make the effort, because we want our visitors to like us and enjoy their stay. We Puerto Ricans are very hospitable and we are proud of our island's diversity and natural beauty. We have had many first-time visitors to the island, such as yourself, stay with us, and most do not have the advantage of speaking Spanish. Many came with infants and children. And they invariably enjoyed their stay and had a good time. Nevertheless, your expectations were different from what you actually experienced, and I can only hope that someday you re-visit the island and see it in a different light.

Villa Verde Stay

My husband & I took our 3 grown kids to Puerto Rico to visit where their paternal grandmother was born and raised. Other than my husband, it was our first trip to Puerto Rico. The villa more than met our expectations. It was large, spacious and everything it was advertised to be. It was well maintained, close to the beach and centrally located for restaurants, stores, and Old San Juan. John met us when we arrived and offered all kinds of helpful information about San Juan, local beaches, etc. He was not at all intrusive but easily available to answer questions for us. We especially loved the beaches, Old San Juan and visiting the town of Manati where my husband's mother was raised. I would highly recommend this property. The only surprise for us was how expensive groceries were.

Convenient for Old San Juan Wedding

Villa Verde was awesome! We stayed at Villa Verde for a wedding at El Convento in Old San Juan. The location was super convenient: 10 minute drive to Old San Juan, 5 minute drive to Condado, 2 block walk to beach, close to restaurants and supermarkets. John (owner) was great, you can tell he really cares about his property and customers. He started us off with a fridge of essentials, plenty of towels and linens, beach equipment and all the necessary stuff. The kitchen was fully equipped and stocked with spices, which helped keep our incidental costs at a minimum. We were a group of 6 (3 couples), so the 3 private bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms worked out perfectly. The rear and side patios were especially useful for outdoor bbq gatherings and morning breakfast. We hope to return to Villa Verde soon and highly recommend John's property for group or family visits. Our favorites for the area: Kasalta Restaurant, Pinky's Sandwiches, Ocean Park Beach, Ropa Vieja Restaurant and La Concha Hotel Bar in Condado.

Well-equipped villa w/ helpful & responsive owner

John was great at answering any of our questions and helping to resolve concerns even before we arrived. He shared his perspective on tours, restaurants, and room logistics, and even committed to install black-out curtains for us since my husband wakes up when a room is too bright. The house was very well-equipped with everything from spices and cookware to bug spray and sunblock to towels and beach chairs to laundry detergent and cleaning supplies. We didn't have to worry about anything but clothes and personal effects. We had breakfast on the patio every morning and enjoyed watching lizards scamper through the beautifully manicured lawn. With three generations staying together, the layout of the house allowed each family to have a private room when needed, but also had plenty of spaces where we could spend quality time together enjoying the great weather, John's DVD collection, or taking advantage of the free wi-fi. The villa was well-maintained and very comfortable. In terms of the location, it was great to be so close to a beach, park, and restaurants. And, though we visited Old San Juan a few times during our stay, it was nice to be east of it so we didn't have to deal with the traffic there when we took day trips, as most of the places we visited were on the east side of the island. We also found an amazing lagoon just a few miles east in Pinones Beach where even the 2-year old could safely frolic in the water. Most appreciated, though, was John's helpfulness and responsiveness to any question we had or issue with the house. He checked in a few times during our stay, and patiently provided restaurant recommendations and directions to local spots. He also went out of his way to help us navigate Puerto Rican customs and behaviors. We are grateful to John for all he did to make our stay easy and memorable.

The perfect place to feel like home

This Villa is perfect! The house is so much better in real, the pictures do not show all the subtleties. My husband and I have been there with our 6 months baby and 2 friends with their 10 months baby. It's spacious, clean, and everything you need is in the house. The owner is very nice and we felt so confident when we arrived there. He helped us so much, for the address, the taxi and even, we had some food and beverages when we get there at night. The beach near the house (3 minutes walk) is wonderful. We had the best time ever since we were able to have dinner, once the kids were sleeping in their own room, in the beautiful garden, or have breakfast outside on the patio. Visiting Puerto Rico was so fun and so easy as well. Seriously, we will come back for sure John, we enjoyed our vacations at your Villa Verde and thank you for your kindness ! i will recommend your house right away to all my friends and family.

Best choice ever!

Dear John! It was our first time in San Juan and we had the perfect vacation! San Juan is really eclectic, so everybody was able to fullfill their interest and take advantage of every hightlights that Puerto Rico could offer. Camuy caves and El yunque rain forest are a must-to-do. But the element that made our holiday unique is the help that John, the owner of the villa, offered us. He helped us to find the best deals (car rental, excursion) and he was always available for us. His advise and help made our stay really special. THANKS JOHN, again and again. And what to say about the villa!!! It's amasing! We were 5 girls on a getaway and we were more than confortable. The terrasse is amasing, so is the 3-mins-walkable-beach!!!! I advice this rental and destination to anyone looking for a unique and surprising holiday! Recommended for: People with Disabilities, Families with Young Children, Sightseeing, Girls Getaway, Adventure Seekers, Age 55+, Romantic Getaway, Families with Teenagers. Our Response: You certainly knew how to make the best of our central location, you girls were always on the go! Thank you for your fine comments.

Home Away from Home

My family and close friends stayed at Villa Verde. This was the first time our friends visited Puerto Rico, and they were very impressed. The location was ideal. Excellent hospitality! John covered every detail to ensure my guest enjoyed their time there. The house was clean and completely set up with lounge chairs, books, music, games everything down to breakfast supplies. No need to rush early in the morning to buy food. John made sure to have this ready for us. Great central location, beautiful beach. This is what we call "home away from home". We visit Puerto Rico often and have stayed at many locations, but this one will be worth coming back to. I would highly recommend Villa Verde for a couple or a family. Next time i'll be there with them... :-) Thank you John for making the stay a great one! The Gonzalez FamilyRecommended for: Families with Young Children, Tourists without a Car, Romantic Getaway, Families with Teenagers. Our Response: I always stock the refrigerator with some basics - bread, cheese, eggs, milk, juice, soft drinks, a few beers, etc. Most of our guests arrive by airplane, so bringing groceries is not an option. And nothing is sadder than to arrive to a house with a bare refrigerator, especially late and tired after a long flight. Who needs to go looking for a supermarket at 10PM? I make sure you are covered for a light dinner and the first day's breakfast. You can settle in, relax, have a drink, and worry about shopping.....tomorrow. Hope to see you back soon.

Ideal in every way.

One could not ask for a more gracious and accommodating host. John was very generous with his time in helping us in many ways. He even called several car rental companies and after finding us a great deal he then drove us to pick up the car. He was genuinely concerned that he did everything he could to make our 2 week stay as enjoyable as possible. John has done a great job of predetermining your needs from all obvious items to many subtle and pleasant surprises. Literally everything we needed from hair dryers and band-aids to beach chairs and coolers he already had on hand. The Villa was home like and very comfortable. We found it to be clean and nicely decorated. The kitchen was fully equipped and had many staples on hand including spices. I had to continue to oversee my business from the villa and the wireless internet and printer made it possible to do so. The location was ideal. Several dozen nice restaurants were very close as were some well stocked grocery stores. A beautiful beach was within walking distance and we enjoyed it several times during our stay. There were even a couple of very nice restaurants right on the beach were you could eat or have a drink and watch the sun set over the ocean. A great host, a great villa, a great location. What more could you ask for? Recommended for: People with Disabilities, Families with Young Children, Sightseeing, Girls Getaway, Tourists without a Car, Age 55+, Romantic Getaway, Families with Teenagers. Our Response: I usually welcome our visitors to their home-away-from-home. In your case it was more like office-away from-home. I know that in today's fast-paced world many people need to be able to work - whether a little or a lot - while on vacation, so I keep a work area ready, with a printer/scanner/fax, stocked with ink and paper,and with 2 broadband services, one wired and one wireless. Many have found this useful even if they do not work, to print out maps of places that they want to visit, for instance. We hope to see you back.

Wonderful

I recently stayed at the Villa Verde and it was wonderful. John could not have been more helpful in getting me in and settled. The house was clean, spacious and beautiful. I spent evenings in the tropical backyard reading a book or relaxing in the courtyard. The beach truly is a 3 minute walk and the water is amazing. I would highly recommend Villa Verde for a couple or a family. I really felt at home while I was there. Thanks John! Recommended for: Families with Young Children, Girls Getaway, Age 55+, Romantic Getaway, Families with Teenagers. Our Response: All I can say is, you looked a lot more relaxed when you left than when you arrived! Thanks for the thumbs-up, I'm glad you enjoyed your stay. John

Perfect getaway

We really enjoyed our stay here. John worked with us on very short notice to rent this property. We're so glad we found it. It was beautiful, well-kept, and I'd recommend this to anyone. We'll be back again! Recommended for: Sightseeing, Girls Getaway, Age 55+.

perfect PR getaway

John, we wanted to thank you again for all the great sightseeing tips, really fabulous. We had an amazing time- loved the food, the people and the location and comfort of the house was just wonderful. We especially enjoyed going to the beautiful beach EVERY day! Can't wait to be back next year...The Nickels Recommended for: Families with Young Children, Sightseeing, Girls Getaway, Adventure Seekers, Age 55+, Romantic Getaway, Families with Teenagers. Our Response: I'm glad that you enjoyed the house so much. As you said, the location, so close to the beach and yet also in the middle of the city and so close to all the sightseeing places that you might want to see, really make for a great vacation. And the people, the food - food is the door to the soul of a people. Enjoying breakfasts, lunches and dinner on the patio, clear skies overhead, really allows you to appreciate our perfect weather. We look forward to seeing you back soon. Thank you for taking the time to comment on your stay. John