Coral Princess Hotel

This pale yellow three-story house sits on a busy one-way street and can be recognized from a small turquoise standalone sign. It can be hard to believe that there are 28 rooms inside, but the place is much bigger than it first appears.

The lobby area has marble tile floors, two contemporary red chairs, and a large piece of abstract art above the front desk. Guests will find the same marble tiling (terra-cotta on the outside), contemporary furnishings, and original pieces of art throughout; art is a passion of the owner. A friendly team welcomes guests with genuine hospitality and it is not uncommon to know the staff by name after a day or two. If guests arrive early, staff members will store luggage in the office and offer an espresso drink from the kitchen.

The first-floor garden is surrounded by potted plants, palms, and wild orchids, and an airy indoor/outdoor circular hallway loops around it, as well as around the elevator, breakfast room, and seating areas. Though the congested street can exude loud traffic noise, the garden provides some peace and quiet, and there are several tables to enjoy the free continental breakfast in the morning (or beer or wine from the mini-fridges in the evening). Even though the hotel is small, there are ample common areas, so it's rare to share space with other guests. The air-conditioned Library Room has a chess board, books, and outlets for plugging in the laptop. The pool area is small -- chairs are first-come, first-serve -- but those looking to sunbathe will find more loungers on the rooftop deck. Guests are able to use this area along with the penthouse lounge (featuring a pool table) until around 7 p.m., after which only the three Penthouse Rooms are able to use the space. Staying in one of these can feel like renting a private home.

Coral Princess sits on a major thoroughfare in the Condado district of San Juan -- Puerto Rico's capital and largest city. It's about a five-minute walk from the sand, and close to plenty of restaurants and bars. Condado is a safe and modern section of town that lies just east of Old San Juan along a long stretch of clean city beach. Getting here from the airport requires a 15-minute taxi ride, depending on traffic (notorious in San Juan), and many guests choose to rent a car for excursions. The hotel has a handful of free parking spots in front of the entrance, though these get snagged pretty quickly either by guests or staff. Everyone else will have to park in a lot down the street that offers a discounted rate to hotel guests.

Condado is not only a tourist and beach haven -- many of the city's major hotels are located here -- but it is also a major residential area for young urban professionals. There are plenty of familiar chain names nearby, but it is not hard to find authentic San Juan hot spots for restaurants and nightlife (where the locals go). La Concha Resort (a big name in the area), a few blocks away, has great restaurants, trendy bars and a casino open to the public. Guests can also take a 15-minute taxi to Old San Juan to visit the historic village and fort.

This corner elevator building feels like one big house with 28 rooms on three floors. There are 25 Standard, Executive and Deluxe rooms (varying in size) on the first two levels, and three Penthouse Rooms on the top floor. Though each room is decorated slightly differently, all have marble tile floors, original artwork, and contemporary black wood furnishings. Beds have down comforters in a red and green tropical print, as well as pillow-top mattresses and Egyptian cotton sheets. Amenities include flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning units, and stocked mini-fridges (that are actually wine chillers) with bottled water, soda, beer, and a bottle each of white and red wine. A few shelves remain empty so the guests can stock their own items. Rooms have a table and two chairs, and all (except the Standard Rooms -- the smallest rooms in the house) have a desk. The closets have shelves for organizing, and bathrooms have jetted tubs and Tarocco amenities. Windows open in the bedrooms and have black-out shades.

The three Penthouse Rooms are on the top floor, and can be booked individually or by a single group. After 7 p.m., penthouse guests will get exclusive access to the hotel's rooftop deck with whirlpool tub, as well as the lounge with a pool table and large kitchen.

Coral Princess, has a comfortable homey vibe with nice amenities, and feels more akin to a bed-and-breakfast than a boutique hotel. Free breakfast is self-serve in the kitchen every morning and includes basic standards to start the day, such as cereals, pound cake, frozen waffles, toast, ham, cheese, fruits, and a few sweets. There is a coffee machine serving espresso drinks, and this along with hot chocolate and juice is available 24 hours a day.

Since mostly couples that stay here (each room has only one bed), and can be found enjoying the hotel's peaceful common areas in between San Juan sightseeing. For those who need to work, the air-conditioned library has a table, sofa, and outlets.

There is a small rectangular pool on the first floor (though mosts guests choose to hit the nearby beach). There are only a few lounge chairs here, so it is best used for a quick dip. The rooftop deck has a hot tub and more lounge chairs for sunbathing. The penthouse lounge has a spacious living area and pool table. All of these areas are open to guests until around 7, and to Penthouse Rooms at all times.

The hotel offers luggage storage and a coin-operated washer and dryer. There are a few free parking spots in front, otherwise the hotel will provide directions to the nearby lot for discounted daily rates.

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout.