We just got back from a week in Puerto Rico and we had a lovely time unplugging from work and enjoying some downtime. Overall, this was an interesting trip. There were some really good parts, but let’s start with the bad (and the ugly).
The Bad (and the Ugly)
Remember that amazing Airbnb on the beach that we rented for the week? Here is a picture to refresh your memory:
See that beautiful beach? We were really looking forward to exploring the beach and spending a lot of our time out there. Sadly, when we arrived, this is what we saw:
We could see from the first few minutes that our dreams of beachcombing and gazing across a sandy beach to the ocean view was not meant to be.
Unfortunately, that was not the only issue with this rental. We had spotty wifi and intermittent power issues and hot water issues. The host was responsive for the first day, but after a while, our squeaky wheel seemed to fall on deaf ears.
And now, the Good
Fortunately, Airbnb support is amazing! We called them on Monday to discuss our options and a very helpful representative told me they would refund us our unused nights and also credit us an extra day to make up for our unresponsive host.
We got off the phone with Airbnb support around 4:00 pm and found another Airbnb one town over. The hosts were quick to respond and messaged us with all of the codes we needed to access the main gate and the front door. By 5:30 we were unpacking our luggage in the new rental.
The new rental was not as flashy as the one we had left and probably wouldn’t compete as well in pictures. But we tried flashy, and it didn’t turn out well. This new rental was an apartment in a beachside condo with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a fully stocked kitchen, washer and dryer, super-fast Wi-Fi, a swimming pool, and a 3-minute walk to a beautiful, practically private beach. We were in heaven!
The town we ended up in is called Rincon. It is a surfing destination on the west side of the island. It has a very small-town vibe and there are quite a few transplanted Americans who have made Puerto Rico their home. Rincon has a great downtown area full of shops, restaurants, and even a great used bookstore! They host the Rincon Art Walk every Thursday night where local artists set up booths selling jewelry, ornaments, and paintings that reflect the beauty and culture of Puerto Rico.
As much as we loved our new Airbnb, we loved the town of Rincon even more. The people, the food, the beaches, and the overall vibe were just what we needed. If you are looking for a relaxing destination that has loads to offer, but still feels like a small town, you should look at Rincon, Puerto Rico.
We’ll leave you with some pictures of our trip. They can sell Rincon way better than we can!
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