Reviews

WRITE YOUR REVIEW

We like to encourage all of our tenants to send us a review, simply because your opinion on our service is what matters.
If you would like to tell us what you really liked about your stay in San Juan and what we could have done better; please send us an email with your personal review to vidaurbana.info@gmail.com

READ REVIEWS

What Frommer's Guidebook thinks about us
Room with a Local's View: Apartment Rentals Despite the explosion of Old City hotel and guesthouse rooms over the past few years, one of the best ways to experience the city remains getting a furnished apartment for a short-term rental. Many are restored, historic quarters with beautiful rooftop terraces or verdant interior courtyards, or both. All have high ceilings, with large windows and the classic double wooden doors, and many open up onto balconies. The interiors often boast original artwork and beautiful furnishings. In short, you'll get a great sense during your vacation of what it feels like to live in this enchanted city, and you'll normally save money (especially if you're a large group). Many of the rentals cater to discriminating travelers, offering first-rate creature comforts like Swedish mattresses and plush bathrobes, as well as upscale kitchens and bathrooms. Prices range from $500 weekly for a basic studio to $2,500 weekly for a three-bedroom, restored colonial beauty with rooftop terrace and ocean views. Short-term rentals are assessed a 7% tax, and many require a minimum 3-day or 4-day stay. Cleaning fees are also assessed, which can range from $50 to $75. The expert in Old City short-term rentals is Vida Urbana, Calle Cruz 255, Old San Juan, PR 00901 (tel. 787/587-3031; www.vidaurbanapr.com), a spinoff of Caleta Realty, a veteran in this field.

53 San Justo A2 and A3 - offered us much more than a "correct" service
We rented several times these appartments, because they are extremely comfortable and cozy, very clean and ideally located to enjoy Old San Juan. Annett and the owners treated us always very well and solved at once minor problems. We felt really at home! Annett from Vida Urbana always offered us much more than a "correct" service. I hope that next time we go to Puerto Rico they are free for us!

277 Calle Luna - apartment to be very spacious, comfortable, and very safe
My family and I recently stayed at 277 Calle Luna for a week. My brother was getting married at the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Old San Juan, and this apartment was one block away from the church. We found the apartment to be very spacious, comfortable, and very safe. It had a washer and dryer which definitely was a plus. The balcony looks out over the San Franscisco Plaza, so we had an unobstructed view of the city. Grocery stores, restaurants, and TONS of site-seeing were all within walking distance of the apartment. Vess was extremely helpful during our stay. I would definitely stay here again!

53 Calle San Justo - was the perfect place to stay
We enjoyed being in the middle of Old San Juan, with the beautiful terrace nearly doubling our space. There were plenty of little cafes nearby to enjoy; a longer walk took us to famous restaurants and night clubs. One favorite sight nearby was the kite flying at the Fort. Our main event was a wedding at Casa Espana, which allowed us a glimpse of the culture, music and nuptial traditions of the Puerto Rican people. Their hospitality is warm and lavish...the dancing divine! We journeyed to El Yunque one day and went snorkeling another. Puerto Rico is delightful, and the apartment on Calle Justo was the perfect place to stay.

53 Calle San Justo Patio - We loved it...
We absolutely loved it! The apt. (the 2 BR—apt. A2) was absolutely beautiful and was a real highlight of the vacation. We found your service great and would happily come stay again and also recommend it to our friends. Thanks for a wonderful stay!

286 Calle Norzagaray - Charming apartment, charming owner.
This is a charming duplex in Old San Juan, and as advertised, within walking distance of tourist attractions and excellent restaurants. We especially enjoyed the balcony off the bedroom and sitting out gazing at the picture-postcard view of the ocean. The air conditioning worked well, although there could have been more water pressure in the shower. The kitchen was very well equipped, although in the end, we just ate breakfast in. I would recommend this apartment for a couple only. There's a third single bed but it was in a foyer between the bedroom and the bathroom so not much privacy. And the stairway between floors is narrow and twisty. The owner lives next door and is a charming lady. We arrived too late to shop for groceries and she brought us milk the first morning so we could have coffee. Very pleasant service from the Vida Urbana folks also. We had nice dinners at The Parrot Club and Bodega Chic. We definitely would stay here again and would recommend to friends.

Recinto Sur - great service
It was a pleasure working with you. I really appreciate your professionalism and courtesy. If I know any body looking for short-term or long-term residence in PR, I will be sure to let you know. Thanks again!

Villa Pitirre ... full of laughter and love...
"While it was a short weekend it was one full of laughter and love. Thank you for giving us a place to create new memories for our family. With much love, The Le’s"

54 San Francisco ... overall experience was awesome ...
"We stayed in the 2 bedroom place on Calle San Francisco. The overall experience was awesome. We got there on time & Sady(one of the assistants) was waiting for us with the keys. The apt was exactly like mentioned in the pictures. It was right next to the Governor's mansion which made us feel extra special & also very safe. There are very good restaurants & bars within a 2-3min walking distance from the house. The fort is a 5 min walk away. Our son had a blast feeding the piegons, he did freak out seeing so many cats :) Annett was really helpful & would answer all my questions patiently. She even suggested places to go to & such. We met our tour guide(now a good friend) Raul because of Annett's restaurant recommendation(El Punto on Fortaleza). I would really recommend using him to see PR, he is a fun guy to hang out with. To make a long story short..my wife, son & I had a great time in PR. Annett is very helpful & professional. "

#7 Calle Cervantes ...100% where I would like to live full-time...
"The apartment was fantastic. I could not have been more pleased with it! The location was ideal, steps away from the 'surfing beach' and the 24 hour Wallgreens. The layout and furniture were very nice and the extra pillows/sheets were greatly appreciated. It was very quiet and the neighbors kept noise to a minimum. The partially-covered balcony was the best feature! In addition to providing amazing outdoor space, it really made an impact when I would invite my friends and family over to check out the place. This is 100% where I would like to live full-time in San Juan!"

18 Calle Sol, Apt.4
We thoroughly enjoyed the apartrment at 18 Calle Sol #4. It was exactly as advertised and the view was spectacular. There was a problem with the shower the first day and it was handled promptly. Thank you. Mr. & Mrs. H. Frommer

54 Calle San Francisco
My husband and I stated at 54 San Francisco for a few days in January. It's a lovely apartment -- clean and comfortable. We especially loved the little balconies overlooking the street. The location was perfect, as it was extremely close to all of the attractions of Old San Juan (as well as conveniences such as a pharmacy and supermarket), but the street itself is quiet and private. Annett at Vida Urbana was a pleasure to work with -- attentive and professional.

268 Calle Norzagaray
My parents and I stayed here for three nights. I'll start with the only negative. The young people in Old San Juan like to party on weekend nights and we happened to be there during the holidays. As a result, my parents were not able to get much sleep. I slept fine and as a family we did not regret staying there, as the whole city was loud anyway. The apartment is absolutely beautiful! The owner was very helpful and has furnished the place with wonderful antiques. The beds were very comfortable and the apartment was much more spacious than we expected. If anything, I think that the place is a bit underrepresented. The balcony was nice as if you looked left you saw El Morro. If you looked right you saw Fort San Cristobal. Looking straight, you saw the ocean. The property was very clean and we felt very safe staying there. I felt that it was ideal for us three travelers, though I think four might fit as well. I highly recommend this property - though not over a holiday weekend. We hope to return ourselves - the rates were more than reasonable. If you were to stay here, I do have a few recommendations, which were provided us when we arrived via a map and the greeter's advice. The greeter advised us to stay out of "La Perla", a small area below the main road in front. Tourists are not welcome there - take this advice. We found parking immediately in front of the house and just stayed there the whole time because traffic is bad and it is actually quicker and easier to walk everywhere. Our favorite restaurant was La Bombonera. It looks kind of cheap when you walk in but the food is outstanding. We recommend being bold wherever you eat and ordering native foods as they simply taste the best. Paseo de la Princesa was lovely at night and at the plazas we had delicious empanadillas and piraguas (like italian ice). Also, the Bacardi Factory was easily accessible by ferry and bus. El Morro was amazing - if you only have time to tour one of the forts, tour this one. Also, spend time in the small shops - there are some good deals. Make sure you bring a camera to try to capture some of the sights. Also do not be alarmed by any of the free pets - we saw probably a hundred "wild" dogs and cats and they were all friendly. Overall our experience was great at this place. It was way better than any hotel. I give it a 10. I think my parents would give it a 9.5, taking off .5 for noise. Every other aspect helped make it the best vacation I've had so far."

1357 Calle Wilson
This was our 3rd time obtaining a rental for our visit to the Isle of Enchantment. This apartment rated at our top, because of the dedicated parking space and a washer/dryer! A few hints on the parking space, rent a smaller car as it is sometimes difficult backing out of the parking spot. But it is so much better than finding parking on the street. The beach is 3 blocks and definitely walking distance (come out of the apartment go to the right to the first street and then walk to the beach). My son and his finance' walked to the Condado almost every night to walk on the beach, shop, and eat at a restaurant. So we did not use our car except to go to distant locations. Old San Juan was only a 5 to 10 minute drive unless the traffic was heavy. Many people "cruise" from the Condado through Old San Juan on the weekends. The apartment was in a great location and the neighbors were friendly. The apartment is on the 5th floor, which is great for the cool breeze and there is an elevator. The stairs were great, as I love the Puerto Rican food and candies! The appliances worked well and the agency meet us when they said they would and were responsive during our stay. We had no issues and would definitely stay at the Wilson apartment or another location from the same agency.

53 Calle San Justo Patio Apartment A2
We just wanted to share our wonderful experience at this gorgeous apartment in Old San Juan. The location couldn’t be better as it is close to shop and restaurants and steps from the view of the fort and the ocean. The décor was historic and charming, yet renovated for us to feel quite comfortable. Also, the owners have stocked the kitchen very nicely as we like to try making a few of the local specialties on our own! The patio with all the plants allowed us to enjoy the outdoor breezes with privacy. All in all, we felt that we had a really Carribbean experience as opposed to a sterile hotel. Thank you very much.

53 Calle San Justo Apartment A3
We recently spent a wonderful week in Old San Juan. We stayed in a one bedroom apartment, 53 Justo, that we found through VidaUrbana. Annette, the owner of VidaUrbana was very helpful and efficient. The apartment is in one of the lovely buildings in Old San Juan and the best part of the entire place is the large patio with plants, wicker furniture and a lovely shaded area which almost always had a nice breeze and a view of the sea. The apartment had wifi that worked well and a kitchen that is pretty well equipped. There are ceiling fans and an airconditioner in the bedroom. The entire place has recently been remodeled and we liked it so much we hated to leave. It is in the midst of things but very quiet and a short walk to many restaurants and the waterfront. We loved not having to drive and to be able to walk anywhere we wished. I would definitely stay again and have recommended it to a couple of friends since we left. I had occasion to talk with the owner, Michael, by phone and he was very helpful and attended to a small problem immediately. Great apartment, great location. I think Puerto Rico is the best and we have traveled nearly around the world now. JoAnne and Del Merrill, Oregon

405 Calle Sol
I can't say enough good things about our recent stay in Old San Juan. Renting the house, meeting our neighbors (who invited us to hear their Salsa band -- a great night!), eating in the local restaurants that you had recommended, and walking the beautiful city made for a memorable trip. We could have stayed for a month. My wife and I had visited San Juan 20 years ago on a cruise and always wanted to come back -- it won't be another 20 years before we return. We absolutely fell in love with the city and the warmth of the people that we met. And thank you again for your service. You and Wanda were always available to help and the house was a great experience.

1102 Calle Magdalena
Dear Vida Urbana staff: We are a family of 5 which had the good fortune to find a lovely apartment in San Juan/Avenida Magdalena with Vida Urbana for a week in July of this year. We were pleased with the location, accomodations, cleanliness, and the support of Ms.Katya, who was very pleasant and helpful, including her tolerance of our imperfect Spanish. We had a lovely week long holiday and would happily recommend Vida Urbana to anyone seeking to enjoy a stay in PR. Thank you, Lauri & Ray Nandyal and girls

308 Calle Sol
I recently (Jan 14-21) stayed with my fiancé at the Calle del Sol #308 property. I just wanted to let you know that we had a wonderful time and the accommodations were excellent. Wanda was great providing us with a tour of the property and providing us with information about the area. In addition to that we enjoyed las Fiestas de La Calle San Sebastian. We hope to visit in the future and would like to keep in contact.

250 Calle Sol
I received your email about our recent stay at 250 Calle de Sol. Thanks - we had a great time, and it was exactly what we were looking for. It was great to be in a location where we could walk Old San Juan easily and enjoy the restaurants and bars. Our highlights were probably El Jibarito, and seeing a great band perform at the Nuyorican Cafe on Friday night. Oh, and we also loved La Bombonera for breakfast!

51 Calle Cruz and 405 Calle Sol
Our stay was wonderful. We all loved both of the locations we rented. It made our trip. Thank you very much again.

405 Calle Sol
Please let the owners know how much we enjoyed staying in their home. It is really a charming and beautifully decorated house. The location could not have been more convenient – close to anything we could possibly want to see or do. Lamps would have been a plus since we are readers, but it was fine. I personally was glad there was no television service, but in the end we did relent and rented videos. All in all, it was a wonderful place to spend a few blissful days in Old San Juan.

308 Calle Sol
This casa is simply amazing - experience the real PR from here. I feel sorry for anyone even considering staying at some stale, middle-of-nowhere Condado Beach resort. Those hotels are disgusting. Casa del Sol is located in the absolute heart of Viejo SJ. One block from the Atlantic and a few blocks from the harbor. Everything you need or want is in Old Town SJ. The forts and beach are a short walk. Restaurants, shops, clubs, parks, plaza's, etc. also a very short and enjoyable walk. There is a free trolly that takes you around SJ but I never used it. Nothing is more than a few minutes away. You can literally walk around the entire town in less than an hour. Very safe area, always felt secure. Open the door/windows to let in some fresh air. The place itself is enormous (by my Manhattan standards). The flat-panel tv came in handy during a refreshing afternoon downpour. In short, I highly recommend this place for anyone. Me and my two friends all commented how awesome this place is throughout our stay. Even has washer/drier.

Guanica House
If you want to stay in one of Puerto Rico's most beautiful beaches and in a lovely, clean, and spacious two-story concrete Villa overlooking the Caribbean Sea, this is the place. The property has a lovely landscaped fenced yard with beautiful views of this white sand beach and its turquoise color sea, even more beautiful than you see in the photos. The property is spotless with a full kitchen, spacious rooms, and all required amenities including A/C in the rooms. The master bedroom with sea views is truly awesome. The service provided is top rate. Property is located in an access controlled area and is a short distance from a fishing community with good restaurants and is a 20 minute car ride from La Parguera Phosphorescent Bay and Fishing Village and many other local attractions and beaches. I would definitely recommend this vacation home to family and friends.

52 Calle San Justo PH
Thank you again for all of your assistance with renting the PH apartment at 52 San Justo. I very much enjoyed my stay from January 21st to March 21st, 2009. The apartment was great!! The location was perfect and I felt very safe and comfortable. The outside terrace was perfect! The lounge chairs, the dining table and the bar were great. The apartment was very well furnished and I felt very comfortable. The washer and dryer worked very well and they came in very handy. Overall, I thought that the apartment was great, well furnished, and very comfortable. I would highly recommend this apartment to anyone considering old San Juan as a destination.

250 Calle Sol
This apartment was even a bit more than we expected, everything was like it was on the photos, but in real life it was bigger. We didn´t use the dining room at all, because we wanted to stay at the balcony. They gave us a map of San Juan when we arrived, that was very nice. The noise someone mentioned in this site, didn´t bother us at all. The apartment was clean and there was a lot of space for ice and drinks in the fridge. The closest empty beach (not that clean though) was about 15 minutes walking distance. Pretty convenient, isn´t it? Me and my 4 friends stayed there for a week, and had a great time! I would suggest this place to my other friends.

1505 Calle Loiza
5 of us stayed there 12/31/09-1/4/10 and we enjoyed our time in PR very much as we did at the Loiza property. It was very spacious and clean. It had a washer and dryer which I didn't think I would use but it came in really handy as we went to the beach. The neighbors were very nice and helpful. The only thing that I would have a complaint about is the water pressure extremely low. It probably took 20-30 min to take a normal shower, otherwise I would definitely stay there again. The location is awesome as we are not right on the tourist hotel strip or in the middle of all the rukus got to enjoy the local areas of PR. Very conveniently located across the street from a grocery store so we cooked often to save cash. Also around the corner from the Double Tree hotel where we got all our tourist info and caught the cabs. Down the other side of the street restaurants and shopping and not over priced. Loved Bebos Cafe! Thanks again Sandy!