Western Puerto Rico

[Ilovemykidsmore]

My husband and I are traveling to Puerto Rico in February. Right now we have a week stay on the eastern side of the island. We’d like to stay another week on the western side. Any timeshares on the western side?


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[hurnik]

The only one I see in Interval International is:
Acuarius Vacation Club at Boqueron Beach in Cabo Rojo

The only other "closest" one is in San Juan, but that's north, not west.

I don't see any RCI one's in my Hilton account (we are filtered on what we can see via Hilton's Corporate account however)

 

[joestein]

There is the Wyndham Rio Mar, but I would probably consider that more East Side. There was also the Club Melia Coco Beach (which we stayed at), but the status of that seems to be up in the air.

Joe

 

[durrod]

Only timeshare in the west area is the aquarium in Boqueron, Cabo Rojo. And there is little exchange available thru the year on II. And option it’s to get a rental using Airbnb or similar platforms.
I’m originally from Aguadilla, many beaches to explore in the area.

 

[scoutings]

There is the Wyndham Rio Mar, but I would probably consider that more East Side. There was also the Club Melia Coco Beach (which we stayed at), but the status of that seems to be up in the air.

Joe

I know it's been awhile, but how was Coco Beach? The pictures make the place seem uncared for.

 

[joestein]

I know it's been awhile, but how was Coco Beach? The pictures make the place seem uncared for.

I think it became a private timeshare. The Beach itself is just ok, but the resort was fantastic.

 

[scoutings]

I think it became a private timeshare. The Beach itself is just ok, but the resort was fantastic.

@joestein That is really helpful! Thanks. Coco Beach trades on RCI.

 

[joestein]

@joestein That is really helpful! Thanks. Coco Beach trades on RCI.

@joestein That is really helpful! Thanks. Coco Beach trades on RCI.

From I have read, they have not really repaired any damage from the Hurricane that destroyed PR. Before the Hurricane the units needed updating, so, I would be a bit careful.

I think the grounds will be great - you can use the Hyatt hotel pool and beach which is attached. We actually walked into 'club' room a few times and helped ourselves to their free buffet. You will need a car or to use UBER to get around. Dining at the resort is out of control expensive. We would hit up a bakery in the morning and pick up breakfast - but that is a 10/15 min drive each way. We ate most of our meals at the Kiosks at Luquillo - a 20 min drive. Tons of places to eat there. Had one place that had rooftop Jazz each week. We spent the evening eating mexican and drinking on the rooftop overlooking the beach and listening to Jazz.

 

[HitchHiker71]

I think the grounds will be great - you can use the Hyatt hotel pool and beach which is attached. We actually walked into 'club' room a few times and helped ourselves to their free buffet. You will need a car or to use UBER to get around. Dining at the resort is out of control expensive. We would hit up a bakery in the morning and pick up breakfast - but that is a 10/15 min drive each way. We ate most of our meals at the Kiosks at Luquillo - a 20 min drive. Tons of places to eat there. Had one place that had rooftop Jazz each week. We spent the evening eating mexican and drinking on the rooftop overlooking the beach and listening to Jazz.

I'll second Kioskos de Luquillo - great restaurants and great music. Parking can be tight along the highway side, but there's a lot behind the Kiosks for the beach area that most people use for spillover restaurant parking. You can almost always get fresh caught seafood at these restaurants which varies seasonally. We always stay at Rio Mar since we're Wyndham owners - going again for a week in November of this year.

 

[joestein]

I'll second Kioskos de Luquillo - great restaurants and great music. Parking can be tight along the highway side, but there's a lot behind the Kiosks for the beach area that most people use for spillover restaurant parking. You can almost always get fresh caught seafood at these restaurants which varies seasonally. We always stay at Rio Mar since we're Wyndham owners - going again for a week in November of this year.

I always found it hard to fine Rio Mar units and they were usually studios. I thought the point cost was a bit high. I could deal with a 1 bedroom for 4 of us, but not a studio. That was before the Hurricane - it might be easier to come by now.

I will say it is a nice place, though the pools are ok at best. It has a nice beach, better than Coco Beach. I also though the food prices were super expensive. I remember a bakery on the premises that had traditional ham and cheese pressed on that PR bread. I was picking it up at the bakery for $2, but it was $9 at the bakery at the Rio Mar. That was before the Hurricane - probably $15 now.

 

[scoutings]

I always found it hard to fine Rio Mar units and they were usually studios. I thought the point cost was a bit high. I could deal with a 1 bedroom for 4 of us, but not a studio. That was before the Hurricane - it might be easier to come by now.

I will say it is a nice place, though the pools are ok at best. It has a nice beach, better than Coco Beach. I also though the food prices were super expensive. I remember a bakery on the premises that had traditional ham and cheese pressed on that PR bread. I was picking it up at the bakery for $2, but it was $9 at the bakery at the Rio Mar. That was before the Hurricane - probably $15 now.

@joestein "nice beach" isn't the half of it! If you walk east on the beach from the pool area you'll find a large freshwater stream feeding into the ocean. It was so nice to rinse off there before leaving the beach.

We've done the kioskos for more years than I care to count. I prefer to think I'm not that old. All that being said, we find going to eat in Fajardo was much better in terms of price and quality (even if it is further).

...and Frutero Flores (7 min from WRM) may not be much to look at, but their bistec encebollado is some of the best we've had anywhere. Yes, I see you San Juan, Miami and NYC. I said what I said.

 

[HitchHiker71]

I always found it hard to fine Rio Mar units and they were usually studios. I thought the point cost was a bit high. I could deal with a 1 bedroom for 4 of us, but not a studio. That was before the Hurricane - it might be easier to come by now.

I will say it is a nice place, though the pools are ok at best. It has a nice beach, better than Coco Beach. I also though the food prices were super expensive. I remember a bakery on the premises that had traditional ham and cheese pressed on that PR bread. I was picking it up at the bakery for $2, but it was $9 at the bakery at the Rio Mar. That was before the Hurricane - probably $15 now.

We are VIPG so can book eight months out at the MVC resorts so we can typically find one bedroom units easily at Rio Mar. On occasion I can find a three bedroom PR/Presidential unit as well. Our trip in November is in a three bedroom Presidential unit for example. We love Rio Mar and think the three pools between the resort and the beach are great. No arguing it’s expensive to eat at any of the resort restaurants.

Are you referring to the small bakery adjacent to the casino entrance on the third floor? Or the one down on the first floor adjacent to the larger restaurant entrance? I don’t recall the names offhand. I’m not aware of another bakery on the premises unless you’re referring to a location in a section of Margaritaville not owned by Wyndham.

If you’re familiar with the area - there’s a great bakery on the right where you turn onto 968 from Route 3 - the main road - right where the big Margaritaville road sign is located. That bakery and the restaurant attached to it is actually owned by one of the sales reps at MVC. He also owns another restaurant in the area, along with several Airbnb rental properties. Very entrepreneurial guy. We often stop at that bakery and grab the pastries and smoothies as it’s much more reasonable. The adjacent restaurant sells good roasted chicken and ribs that we sometimes grab and take back to the room for eats.


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[scoutings]

We are VIPG so can book eight months out at the MVC resorts so we can typically find one bedroom units easily at Rio Mar. On occasion I can find a three bedroom PR/Presidential unit as well. Our trip in November is in a three bedroom Presidential unit for example. We love Rio Mar and think the three pools between the resort and the beach are great. No arguing it’s expensive to eat at any of the resort restaurants.

Are you referring to the small bakery adjacent to the casino entrance on the third floor? Or the one down on the first floor adjacent to the larger restaurant entrance? I don’t recall the names offhand. I’m not aware of another bakery on the premises unless you’re referring to a location in a section of Margaritaville not owned by Wyndham.

If you’re familiar with the area - there’s a great bakery on the right where you turn onto 968 from Route 3 - the main road - right where the big Margaritaville road sign is located. That bakery and the restaurant attached to it is actually owned by one of the sales reps at MVC. He also owns another restaurant in the area, along with several Airbnb rental properties. Very entrepreneurial guy. We often stop at that bakery and grab the pastries and smoothies as it’s much more reasonable. The adjacent restaurant sells good roasted chicken and ribs that we sometimes grab and take back to the room for eats.


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@HitchHiker71 How does your MVC ownership impact your exchange into Rio Mar? In other words, do you mean you exchange into Wyndham if you own Marriott?

 

[joestein]

We are VIPG so can book eight months out at the MVC resorts so we can typically find one bedroom units easily at Rio Mar. On occasion I can find a three bedroom PR/Presidential unit as well. Our trip in November is in a three bedroom Presidential unit for example. We love Rio Mar and think the three pools between the resort and the beach are great. No arguing it’s expensive to eat at any of the resort restaurants.

Are you referring to the small bakery adjacent to the casino entrance on the third floor? Or the one down on the first floor adjacent to the larger restaurant entrance? I don’t recall the names offhand. I’m not aware of another bakery on the premises unless you’re referring to a location in a section of Margaritaville not owned by Wyndham.

If you’re familiar with the area - there’s a great bakery on the right where you turn onto 968 from Route 3 - the main road - right where the big Margaritaville road sign is located. That bakery and the restaurant attached to it is actually owned by one of the sales reps at MVC. He also owns another restaurant in the area, along with several Airbnb rental properties. Very entrepreneurial guy. We often stop at that bakery and grab the pastries and smoothies as it’s much more reasonable. The adjacent restaurant sells good roasted chicken and ribs that we sometimes grab and take back to the room for eats.


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Wyndham owns Margaritaville, so even though there are "2" sides to the hotel, it is really just one place.

 

[HitchHiker71]

Wyndham owns Margaritaville, so even though there are "2" sides to the hotel, it is really just one place.

Wyndham doesn’t own Margaritaville Rio Mar. Wyndham developed only the MVC and Wyndham Grand Rio Mar hotel that sits on a much larger Margaritaville property - the majority of which consists of privately owned condos and townhome sections surrounding the two golf courses.

The majority of Margaritaville resorts have no Wyndham MVC or Grand hotel - only a small handful of Margaritaville resorts have any Wyndham MVC timeshares/Grand hotels on the resort premises.

 

[HitchHiker71]

@HitchHiker71 How does your MVC ownership impact your exchange into Rio Mar? In other words, do you mean you exchange into Wyndham if you own Marriott?

I don’t own any Wyndham MVC timeshare deeds. Club Wyndham consists primarily of four different ownership types. Club Wyndham Access (a trust ownership type that hold deeds), Club Wyndham Select (deeds), Margaritaville Vacation Club (MVC) (deeds), and Presidential Reserve (PR) (deeds). I am a hybrid owner and own both Access and Select, and am VIP Gold within Club Wyndham.

If you own any one of the ownership types other than MVC - you can book into MVC but there are some restrictions. A non-VIP owner can book up to five months out. The higher your VIP tier, the farther out you can book. VIP Silver can book up to six months. VIP Gold eight months, and VIP Platinum/Founders ten months out. MVC owners can book up to 13 months out. MVC PR owners can book 14 months out.

 

[scoutings]

@HitchHiker71 that is such a helpful post. Thank you.