Private courtyard pool with a waterfall
Lots of outdoor space for lounging and relaxing
A cozy, nautical-inspired bar that caters to guests
Five-minute walk to the beach
Free Wi-Fi
Free breakfast at the property's sister hotel
Access to the whirlpool at the property's sister hotel
Rooms are dated, and some smell musty
Limited parking on-site for a fee or difficult street
parking
Pool is small and not all of the lounge chairs have cushions
The hotel is located at a busy, noisy intersection
Breakfast is served at the property's sister hotel
No restaurant on-site
The grounds are unkempt and in need of landscaping
The neighborhood is undesirable
No gym or spa
Rooms by the lobby are noisy
At Wind Chimes is a former 1920s Spanish Colonial home
turned inn set in a transitional neighborhood, one block from the beach. Quirky
in style and in need of updating, the budget-oriented inn offers 22 rooms, a
small courtyard pool, and a bar fashioned after the hull of a sailboat. While close
to Old San Juan and Condado, its off-the-beaten track location and unkempt 1970s
style will not appeal to everyone. Those seeking a beachfront location and beach-inspired style might
consider the Tres Palmas Inn or Osteria del Mar.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
This quirky Spanish Colonial inn, located just a block from the beach, delivers 1970s style, ample terraced outdoor space, and a small courtyard pool.
At Wind Chimes, named for the mishmash of wind chimes hung
throughout the property, is a quirky inn recreated from a former 1920s Spanish
Colonial style home. It's set in a transitional, mostly residential neighborhood
with tree-lined streets and a sprinkle of abandoned buildings; a block away is a lovely stretch of beach that's bordered by Condado to the west and Ocean
Park to the east. In the mornings, the beach is alive with joggers, dog
walkers, and groups attending yoga class beneath the canopy of trees.
Finding the At Wind Chimes Inn is not an easy task for cab drivers, but
travelers who check in choose the off-the-beaten track property because it is easier on the wallet than most hotels in nearby Condado and Old
San Juan. The 22-room inn is hidden from the buzz of the street by a solid white concrete wall adorned with tiny keyhole windows. Guests must first pass through a set of thick arched wooden
doors and a tiny courtyard before entering another door that opens into a hallway. The small lobby and front desk area is short on lounge space with just a duo of velvet green chairs, walls adorned with colorful palm- and floral-inspired original artwork, and a long
table that doubles as a coffee station in the mornings. The inn houses a few rooms just steps from the lobby. Follow the hallway staircase and its wooden railing with carvings of tropical
fish and sea turtles to the second floor for more private rooms and a shared, cozy library nook. Out the back door from the lobby is an
open terrace surrounded by potted palms and overgrown bougainvillea in need of pruning. A small pool with a
stone waterfall is surrounded by a collection of lounge chairs (with and without cushions), and there's a second-story wood deck in need of a new coat of paint above the pool with more seating and lounging opportunities. From the courtyard, a narrow path follows the hotel's exterior wall past planted palms
and whimsical hand-painted murals of jungle wildlife to the Boat Bar, a long bar finished
in shiny teak that resembles the hull of a sail boat. Additional rooms are located
near the bar and on the second floor where another lounge-like space with daybeds is surrounded by a collection of wind chimes fashioned from
shells, metal, and pottery.Many guests who stay at the property ignore its outdated 1970s decor and use it primarily as a place to crash after a
day exploring the sights of San Juan and its beaches. They frequent the pool in the late afternoons (it closed at 6:00 p.m. during our 2015 stay) and the bar pre- and post-dinner. The hotel's sister property the Acacia Inn, located across the street closer to the beach, offers guests additional amenities such as a huge whirlpool and a petite restaurant run by a French-trained chef.
Location
The inn is located on the corner of two busy streets in the Parque section of the Santurce neighborhood, one block to the beach and a 10-minute drive to the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Despite its off-the-beaten track feel, At Wind Chimes is
convenient to many key areas in San Juan. The hotel is sandwiched between the
upscale Condado to the west and the laid-back Ocean Park to the east. A long
stretch of golden sand beach is just a block from the hotel and the historic
architecture of Old San Juan is just a 20-minute drive. There's not much along
the immediate, mostly residential, block, but a handful of restaurants are
within walking distance.- Five-minute walk to the Parque Beach
Rooms
A variety of rooms located in two buildings featuring terra-cotta floors, high ceilings, and retro decor
At Wind Chime's 22 rooms vary in size from small windowless rooms
by the bar to spacious two-bedroom apartments with separate dining and living
rooms and full kitchens. The rooms have full-, queen-, or
king-size beds with basic linens, denim-blue dust
ruffles, drab bedspreads, and throw pillows that need replacement. Rattan furniture, tropical artwork, and small bathrooms with white
tiles and scalloped pedestal sinks are also standard.Rooms by the bar are small and dark and rooms in the lobby offer
little buffer from the noise of guests coming and going. Rooms on the second
floor of the inn offer the most privacy; some have outdoor terraces and
separate living areas with sofa beds. Entering into the two-bedroom
apartment is like stepping back in time to the 1970s; this space comes complete with bowls of
colorful potpourri, outdated furniture, a dining table set with stained
placemats, and artwork rich in tones of brown.
Features
A courtyard pool, lots of terraced outdoor space, and access to the whirlpool and restaurant at the nearby Acacia Inn
The inn's Spanish Colonial style is reflected in its thick white balustrade railings, multiple terraced areas, and courtyards finished in terra-cotta tiles. Guests will find no shortage of places to relax, either indoors in shared reading nooks or outdoors by the pool, on the second-story deck, or by the bar. Across the street is the Acacia Inn, a slightly more upscale property with a large, rectangular tiled whirlpool and a lovely, petite restaurant with a notable wine list and a menu crafted by a up-and-coming French-trained chef.
