We had a wonderful stay, but it was more because of the people we traveled with and not so much…read morethis place. The good- being so close the water, breakfast served daily, beds and pillows were pretty comfortable, AC and fans kept the rooms cool, private and away from crowds. The downside - it does NOT look like what is advertizied. The cushions on all the seats and lounge chairs are old and stained and were soaking wet so could barely use them, the pool was dirty and had to request it to be cleaned, the trash was overflowing when we arrived, the ice maker was not working, the in room massage was expensive for what we got, there is no safe passage to the beach, the outdoor furniture is not well maintained, no umbrellas, furniture old and outdated. I would not return unless they did a massive update.

Beautiful location, beautifully decorated. Professional courteous staff. Clean nicely groomed…read moregrounds. A wonderful unforgettable experience. Thank you!

My bf is a regular annual guest at Villa Tropical and made a reservation here for a week for us…read morebefore Christmas this year. Although he'd reserved a studio, when we arrived, we found we had been upgraded to a one-bedroom unit, as the studio's door was being repaired. Late check in was very easy. The property's deck is large and has a gorgeous view of the beach directly below. You really cannot beat the location of Villa Tropical on Shacks. We enjoyed drinking our coffee on the deck whilst watching the sun rise in the mornings before grabbing our gear and walking down the short flight of steps to the sand. The gift shop within the office is a major time saver, too, when you need a drink or snack but don't want to drive. The Econo supermarket is only about an 8-minute drive away, though, when you do want to do a grocery run. It was awesome having a fully stocked kitchen and being able to cook and eat in most meals. We loved grilling on the deck at sunset! The Ola Lola restaurant is a cute spot a short walk away for food or drinks when one would rather skip cooking, too, and in each room, there is a very thorough guide compiled by the management with information on where to find all kinds of things in the area, from film development to entertainment. It was extremely convenient to be able to do laundry on the premises also. The staff are super helpful and maintain VT very well. Our unit (1B) was clean and comfortable, and by the end of our stay, we had fallen into a nice, homey routine. I was sad to leave and understand why Shacks is a place so many return to every year. The beach is clean, the big waves break far from the shore, there are interesting reefs for snorkeling, many days have adequate wind for kitesurfing, and there is a friendly surfer community among those who stay in the area both longer term and seasonally.

This is the best vacation spot ever! Super great accommodations and very helpful and friendly…read morestaff. The views are incredible and the resort is in a great location to get to jobos beach.

We went to Royal Isabela last night to enjoy the sunset, have a cocktail and then dinner at La…read moreCasa. The experience was a mixed bag. Good cocktails and then an hour wait for our appetizer. Then we proceeded to our table for dinner. We waited 20 minutes for water, then had to remind the waiter for our wine we had ordered (a 30 minute wait) and then to top that off, our main course arrived an hour later. There was absolutely nothing special about this experience. No one on the staff tried to make up for any of this. We will not likely return. What a disappointment.

6/10 stars …read more Positives : Let's start with our room- we had the presidential suite: number 20. It's the largest and has a walk out balcony that ends cliff side and has lounge chairs with a view of the beach below. The walk in showers are fantastic. The oversized private hot tub is great . The grounds are nothing short of phenomenal. By far the nicest in all of Isabella. Sunsets galore and ocean views that go on for miles. In summary : If you want to come here and not interact with anyone, order room service and hang out at your 1000 sq ft suite, take dips in your private hot tub and then wash off with open doors to the nature under a rain head shower .....then this place is phenomenal. I would come again, but only under these circumstances. Let's first note that I read all the reviews on the property before I booked here. I chalked the negative ones up to just "temperamental guests"..... Unfortunately, I was proven wrong. During our stay I tried to continue to tell myself that this is island life", "things here are on island time" ...."they probably have a hard time with retaining of employees" (among other excuses). ---- But then I came to realize, I'm still paying 1000$ usd a night to stay here plus meals...That being the case - it's not acceptable at any level. I'm tired of making excuses for bad service in the service industry and continually lowering my expectations so as not to ever get upset. Negatives: 1.) Child friendly!?!: (why ? .... this is a golf resort and has no childcare or child amenity's). We couldn't seem to get away from crying babies at dinner every night. This isn't acceptable when we paid over 100$-250$ for two people at each sitting to eat. Yet Management just accepts this !?!? Night 1: we had to watch a father change a dirty diaper on the golf course in front of our ocean view at dinner! Yumm! Night 2: we had to move tables to escape the same crying infant. Take your crying baby back to the room! Annoying ! Night 3: we had to ask for another table to make sure not to sit next to the same baby at diner (again crying). And yet again... the father proceeded to change the diaper again on a communal sofa right behind us at the restaurant ( Situations like this are not stellar experiences while eating lobster and steaks by the ocean.) 2.) Dining: Each meal takes at least 2 hours from start to finish even if you order your entire meal the minute you sit down. That being said, the food is amazing. Each dish was expertly prepared. Some of the waitstaff was great (Jessica) but most were not. Some even had AirPods in their ear while serving us. Their pizza oven was broken for our entire stay due to a bad part. (Disappointed to say the least since as their website boasts about their amazing pizzas). Sometimes we went to the golf shop restaurant... (to escape the 1.5 hour or more sit down experience at the main dining restaurant) and then more problems... ultimately, we were forced to order what we got the last time we came to eat at the pro shop (since none of the employees could find the menu ....---Not acceptable for paying 1000$ per night !--- 3.) Our arrival : we were told our driver would take us to our room and show us the property and explain how everything worked. ---- He said nothing! And didn't show us the property. We were left to decipher how the resort worked, ---just a bad start. Not acceptable for 1000$ per night! 4). Cleaning : if you call the maids, they will take all day to come. They will enter and replace towels but not clean or make the bed. Then, You will have to call at least twice more for them to actually show up and change the sheets and clean. I've had better housekeeping at a Holiday Inn. 5). Room service: The one time we ordered they brought the wrong food. 6). Management: Basically, You will be told different things by different people. Nothing is consistent.- why did you not sit down with us and go over everything? Especially since you asked if we were first time guests? Let me teach you how to manage the new guests : mention how to book massages, where the fitness room was, how there was an Easter brunch on Sunday, how there was live music for our entertainment on Weekends ....and so on and so on... :( but we got none of this. --not acceptable for 1000$ per night- 7.) Upon leaving: the manager had to ask us our casa number to check us out. (crazy since she was the same person who checked us in) -really made you feel not special. Also, she was basically just a human credit card machine reader. She didn't ask us anything about our stay or how we liked it.... It just makes you feel great....like you want to come again. (especially considering you just spent what most Americans spend on a car to stay there for 7 days)! Can you Please fix this resort!!! It is amazingly beautiful and it's a shame to leave your guests so underwhelmed by the way it's run.

the hotel is very small for the price we paid. we stayed in the most expensive room on the 10th…read morefloor just to find out you can hear everything happening on the rooftop because your room is right beneath the bar. chairs screech for hours until 12 midnight. the safe in our room was damaged and we were charged for it as if we did it even with us letting them know the first day the safe didn't work. they kept our deposit and didn't refund us for the noise inconvenience after agreeing to refund our resort fee. I don't recommend stay here because you pay way to much for the low quality given. the best part was the tub in the room other than that definitely not worth it.

We had a great stay and would 100% stay here again. It's a quiet/peaceful/safe area with lots of…read morebeaches and food options nearby, very clean, well-equipped and inviting both in our rental itself and the common areas. We had one issue initially getting the water to get hot in the shower but it was addressed promptly by the manager, who is very friendly and responsive to any concerns. I hope to return someday for another beautiful vacation!!

No need to bring a beach chair, beach towels or beach bag-all were provided!…read moreThere was a drying rack for our wet bathing suits and towels and a laundry service that returned our cleaned items before the end of the same day. The staff were friendly and helpful. We enjoyed chatting with Ismael about our common locations in New Jersey. Our beach view was amazing. The beach was very clean and uncrowded. We are already planning our next visit!

Last time I was in Rincon I could not get a sunset dinner reservation at Villa Cofresi. So this…read moreyear I planned in advance and called several weeks before the trip. We reserved a table at the balcony right at sunset at 6pm. We arrived and promptly got thru the security and were taken to our table and it was the most gorgeous view ever. We ordered the signature drink, The Pirata, and it was delish, very strong , and came in a coconut. We then wanted to order dinner. But no server or employee of any kind came to our table for over an hour after we got our drinks. We waited and waited and when we decided to give up and go elsewhere then finally a server came. So we decided to order since it was about 7:15 and we figured it would take too long to go somewhere else and order. My bf ordered the lobster mofongo in some kind of soup and I got red snapper in a plantain crust. Then again we waited and waited. I was so hungry I started trying to pick the coconut pieces out of my Pirata drink. Finally at 8:11 our food was served, And we were starved. I was prepared to hate the food haha but it was actually so delicious. So I guess come here if you are not starved and have tons of time. And you will get a delicious meal w the most beautiful sunset view.

First of all, this is the only hotel for miles. If you're here and looking, don't waste your time…read more The proprietor is incredibly friendly. He doesn't really speak English, but he's so nice he doesn't mind trying. He at least speaks enough for you to get a room even if you don't really speak Spanish. It doesn't accept credit cards, bring cash. There's an ATM back out by the intersection to highway 129 by the bakery. The rooms and the bathroom are clean. There's a fridge,a coffee maker & sink in the kitchen area. The bathroom is shared with this side of the house, but no one else was there while we were there. The WiFi is good. The hammock is my favorite. It's the closest thing to the Rio Camuy Caves by far. It's not a fancy resort by any means, but it's clean and safe and the rooms were reasonably priced.

Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve feels like stepping into a real-life nature sanctuary with…read moreluxury layered on top. My one-week stay here has been genuinely magical. The first night I heard what I assumed was a curated "rainforest soundtrack" through speakers. It's not. Those are actual local frogs, and that small detail somehow sets the tone for the whole experience: it feels real, private, and almost unreal at the same time. The room is massive and thoughtfully designed. The outdoor shower is a standout, and the big tub makes it feel like you have your own spa built in. I didn't have a private pool since I'm on the second floor, but the view is so beautiful I stopped caring pretty quickly. What impressed me most was how effortless everything felt. Having an Embajador team plus a driver/golf cart makes the resort feel easy to navigate, and they're quick to respond when you need anything. The pool is stunning and spacious, and the overall vibe is quiet, calm, and never chaotic. The only thing I wouldn't hype is room service. It was underwhelming for the price, especially the lobster. If you're deciding where to eat, go to Positivo near the concierge instead, it was noticeably better. Even when the weather turned intense, it didn't take away from the stay. If anything, it made the resort feel even more cozy and cinematic. Add in the humidity controls in the room (so underrated), and it's one of those places you leave already planning how to come back.

This place is absolutely wonderful. The restaurant is beautiful, creating the perfect atmosphere…read morefor a memorable meal. The food was outstanding--every dish was delicious and beautifully prepared. We enjoyed every part of the experience and would eat here again any chance we get. Highly recommended!

We got married at Casa Islena in March of 2026 and could not recommend it more. When I say this…read moreplace is absolutely perfect I mean there is not a single thing that I would change about my wedding day. The hotel itself is incredible - location wise it's beach front with a pool and beautifully laid out. It accommodated my entire family to the max for an extended weekend through our wedding stay, including my uncle who is hard of mobility. He was able to stay in a room beside the pool which he loved ease of access to everything without having to go up any steps from the ground level. The staff is the most accommodating, especially the event planner, Graciela. She truly lives up to her name as she handles herself and her interactions with her clients with such grace, she is a ray of light in human form. Chris is also a wonderful host and you can truly tell he puts his heart and soul into making everyone's experience at Casa Islena a memorable one. And as for the food - phenomenal. The head chef Wesley clearly is passionate about his job and puts a very unique yet tasteful flair in every plate. Prior to having our wedding here, we already would dream about their poke bowls, empanadillas, and churrasco but post-wedding all of our guests were raving about the food being the best food they'd ever experienced at a wedding. There are truly not enough words I can say to express how perfect Casa Islena is in EVERY aspect. Pre- wedding as a guest of the restaurant/ poolside brunches and previous hotel stays I already would have rated it a 10/10. But post- wedding there is no number I can place on any scale to express how incredible it is. You'll just have to go there, and see for yourself. Thank you to all at Casa Islena for not making just my wedding day, but the entire week, the absolute best week of my lifetime. I am forever grateful.

Great beach brunch. Food was yummy, atmosphere was fabulous. How can you go wrong with brunch on…read morethe beach. Service was nice. This is a nice gem.

Such a serene and beautiful place to stay. Came here to spend my birthday in solitude after a…read morecrazy, intense year and this place delivered. Each of the hosts were kind and attentive. The rooms are surrounded by lush greenery and have their own balcony with hammock! During the afternoon rain showers, I peacefully relaxed on the hammock listening to the rainfall. The rain lasted only minutes and I was able to quickly go back to enjoying the saltwater pool. I booked a 60 minute massage which was fantastic and so peaceful. At night, all you can hear are the sounds from the coquis and other various wildlife. I will say, keep in mind there will be a lot of bugs, which I am NOT a fan of, but after a day or so you no longer notice. There are no AC's in the room but the nights are cool enough that you do not need it. I stayed early December so I'm not sure if summer would be different. During the day it was about 85 degrees and at night, it would drop down to about 60-65. The food served is fully vegan. I, personally, am not vegan but every dish I had was exquisite. I was lucky enough to experience multiple chefs during my stay, all of which used simple and fresh ingredients to create complex flavors in each of their dishes. I have never eaten tofu, but I had a tofu scramble that was 10x more delicious than your average egg scramble! I have nut and sesame allergies and a lot of vegan dishes contain both of these ingredients but the chefs were extremely considerate and made sure to not use these in any of their meals. I had a car service pick me up to and from the airport but I would recommend renting a car as leaving the resort isn't really ideal without one. The ride from San Juan airport was easy (1.42min), except when entering the mountain area (20 minutes from the resort). Just need to be cautious of the bends and turns on the one lane road. Would definitely rent a car next time. I wish I took advantage of the mediation and yoga offered. I don't practice yoga but it would've been nice to learn, especially in this environment with certified instructors. I took advantage of the comfortable bed in my room :)

This place is magical. The mountains embrace you with love, peace and quietness. The staff is…read morefriendly and attentive. Chef Santiago is the best preparing vegan food.