1. La Caleta Rentals
Photo © Zain Deane
Forget $100 a day; you can book yourself a room at La Caleta Rentals for under $50 in non-peak season. La Caleta has over 30 properties, all with a three-night minimum that can be flexible, depending on demand and time of year. So what do you get for that price? Your options range from studios to three-bedroom apartments. All are clean, well-furnished, with kitchens or kitchenettes and separate living rooms in the larger apartments. They also have access to laundry machines if you need them. There are no porters and no elevators; still, it's by far among the best bargains around.
Contact:
reservations@thecaleta.com
787-725-5347
11 Caleta de Las Monjas in Old San Juan
Realtor Office Address: 151 Calle Clara in Old San Juan
2. Casa del Caribe
Photo © Zain Deane
A tropical B&B, Casa del Caribe is somewhat dwarfed by its lofty Condado surroundings: the Marriott Stellaris Hotel & Casino is a few steps away, along with some of the hippest shopping in San Juan. But this tiny little inn has a mom-and-pop charm and clean, comfortable rooms. It's close to the beach, is about as laid back as you can get, and even has free parking (although this can be a tricky negotiation into a narrow wedge along the side of the hotel). The continental breakfast only adds to the value.
Contact:
877-722-7139 or 787-722-7139
57 Caribe Street in Condado, San Juan
3. Hotel El Portal
I think we'd all agree that if you want to spend less on a hotel, you'll have to give up something. Well, at Hotel El Portal, you give up location. Removed from the beach and Old San Juan (it is, however, conviently close to the Baldorioty de Castro expressway that goes to the old city, this is a good example of a cheap but good hotel in San Juan. The rooms are nothing to rave about, but they are decent and very well priced, and the rate includes a complimentary continental breakfast. You also have a pretty good Japanese restaurant in the lobby called East, which is a lunchtime favorite for working Sanjuaneros.
Contact:
787-721-9010
76 Condado Avenue in Condado, San Juan
4. Tres Palmas Inn
During peak season, the rates at The Tres Palmas ( or "Three Palms") almost kicks it off this list. I'm including it anyway because this small inn offers a lot for the money: beachfront location, pool, rooftop terrace with a Jacuzzi, complimentary breakfast, cable TV and a safe in every room (that last one is especially hard to find in a budget hotel). The inn's well-tended grounds and rooms make it stand out as not just an affordable option, but an inviting one as well.
Contact:
787-727-4617 or 866-372-5627
2212 Park Boulevard, San Juan
5. The Coqui Inn
Isla Verde is the ritzy resort strip of San Juan, so it's not the first place you'd look for cheap hotels. However, The Coqui flaunts the Ritz's and the Intercontinentals of the island with its down-home charm, which comes in at under $100 a night even in high season. For that price, guests are treated to a room with a kitchenette, coffee, tea and donuts every morning, free parking, and a walkway to the beach.
Contact:
787-726-4330 or 800-677-8860
36 Calle Uno, Villamar, Isla Verde, Carolina
