La Playita

La Playita has been around since the 1960s, and the property has a pleasantly old-fashioned feel with two floors of guest rooms laid-out around a lush courtyard. Part of the Green Hotel Association, La Playita uses solar hot-water heaters, energy-efficient air conditioners, and its restaurant recycles its cooking oil. Guests enter along a flower-lined walkway, and check-in inside a tiny building on the left.

The hotel is perched virtually right on the coast, which adds an element of peaceful seclusion, yet one of Puerto Rico’s biggest tourist districts is just a short walk away. The hotel appeals to guests who want easy access to Isla Verde’s stunning beaches without paying for the neighborhood’s luxe beachfront hotels. Like the facilities themselves, the overall atmosphere here is easy-going and unfussy. The oceanfront restaurant is a relaxing place to grab coffee in the morning or wind down in the evening while enjoying the views. Guests tend to be couples, but friends traveling together and families also stay here.

Located at the end of a quiet, dead-end road, the area directly around La Playita isn’t immediately appealing; however, the hotel is only a six-minute walk away from Avenida Isla Verde, Isla Verde’s vibrant main thoroughfare. Although it lacks the character of neighboring Condado, Isla Verde is a busy tourist-oriented district, filled with bars, casinos, restaurants, and swish hotels.

The hotel is set on a cape called Punta el Medio, which splits Isla Verde Beach into two areas. And both beaches can be reached in less than a one-minute walk from the hotel. Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is about two-and-a-half miles away. Old San Juan can be reached in 25 minutes by car. Expect to pay extra to park at the hotel. 

Guest rooms at La Playita are simple but inviting, with crisp white bed linens and dark wood furniture. Softly colored textiles such as tan rugs and pale-green curtains are livened up by burgundy bedskirts or pink throw pillows. All rooms include mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, and ample storage space in large armoires. Functional work desks are topped with potted plants, and subtle beachy artwork decorates the walls. Some rooms feature partially obstructed views of the ocean, while others overlook the hotel’s leafy grounds.

Bathrooms are no-frills but large. These offer showers (some have shower/tub combos) stocked with off-brand shampoos, conditioners, and soap dispensers. Packaged bars of hand soap are set on square or round sinks. Past guests have complained about a lack of hot water. 

The hotel’s features are limited -- beach access and low rates are the real draws here. But there's an open-air restaurant and bar that features understated decor, allowing the focus to be on spectacular ocean views. Seating spills out onto a breezy wooden deck, where its sometimes possible to spot manatees in the water. A free continental breakfast consists of simple fare like cold cereal, fruit, and bagels, and the restaurant is also open for lunch, dinner, and tropical drinks served in coconuts. Live music performances are often hosted on weekends, and there's a daily happy hour.

The hotel’s modest grounds are landscaped with beautiful gardens of flowers, plants, and trees of all shapes and sizes, along with tribal statues. Although the hotel isn’t set directly on a beach, its positioned between two branches of Isla Verde Beach, both of which are popular spots for water sports and swimming. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout, and on-site parking is offered for a surcharge.