We spent our final night in Puerto Rico in Old San Juan and booked through Old San Juan Rentals. The apartment was full of charm—located on Calle Fortaleza just behind the governor’s mansion, with a strong police presence and gated access that made us feel very safe. The balconies overlooked the street below, where we enjoyed live music and even watched the ceremonial guard changes. There’s no question: the location is everything.
🌆 Location Notes:
We followed the rental company’s suggestion and parked at the Puntilla lot, which was just a short, scenic walk to the apartment. Parking was only $3/day, but a heads-up: you can’t get into the lot until 3:00 PM. A line of cars was already forming when we arrived right at 3, which is also when they give out check-in instructions.
🏡 Apartment Pros:
• Beautiful Old San Juan architecture with tons of character
• Walkable to everything—restaurants, forts, shops, and Anita’s Gelato (a must-visit!)
• Balconies galore with great people-watching
• AC units in the bedroom (a bit loud, but functional enough for one night)
⚠️ Things to Know (Not Dealbreakers, But Good to Be Aware):
• The kitchen is very basic. No colander, baking sheet, or dish towels. The oven exists, but we couldn’t find anything to cook with.
• No sheets on one of the beds when we arrived (we made it work).
• The water never got warm—not even lukewarm. Likely due to the older infrastructure, but definitely something to factor in.
• Lighting was dim throughout,