Staying at Bravo Beach Hotel in Vieques, Puerto Rico

I was way too early to check in at the Bravo Beach Hotel in Vieques, Puerto Rico but Carl put my bag in the office and gave me some tips on where to find an ATM and some coffee. Tip: there are many ATM options now unlike a few years ago. My room was ready by 11am and I was able to check in a full 4hrs early. Love when this happens.

In an unusual twist to the hotel check-in, I had a guided tour of the property before being shown my room. It was nice and I liked it more than just reading a printed sheet with the same info. Staff at the Bravo Beach Hotel were friendly and helpful but not in your face. There was always someone around if I had questions and they even called to book a tour and car rental for me. Nice people.

My room was more than spacious enough and included both a ceiling fan and AC. The bed was soft in a cushy pillowy way but firm enough under that top layer so that it wasn’t the least bit saggy. I had the best afternoon nap there after my early morning flight from San Juan. There were two luggage racks and more than enough hangers to hold my clothes, which this girl loved. I appreciated the mini fridge as well for keeping my water, beer and aloe vera gel cool. Sunburns suck.

Loved having this view right outside my patio doors.

My favourite thing about the room was that it was on the main level next to the ocean view pool. I had my own poolside table and chairs where I spent my mornings and evenings. The best thing about this particular pool was that it’s smack next to a little strip of beach so you could swim in the pool and still see waves rolling onto shore. The beach itself wasn’t swimmable but having the pool right there made up for it. There was a second, smaller pool in the courtyard, which is where you’d want to hang out to lounge in the sun or if you’re there with kids.

There was an honour bar in a closet in the courtyard and surprisingly, the prices were quite reasonable. Every morning, you could enjoy a free continental breakfast by the ocean pool. I loved the fact that hard-boiled eggs and peanut butter for toast were options. Always good to start the day with some protein.

Vieques has a lot of fabulous beaches and so Bravo Beach Hotel keeps a small collection of beach chairs, coolers, and snorkelling equipment that you can borrow for free. Bonus! They also have beach umbrellas you can rent for $5/day or $20 for your entire stay.

Their security system reminded me of apartment buildings in South Korea. There were no room keys and instead you use a 4-digit pass code at the gate (locked after 7pm) and your room. This is great because it means one less thing you could lose at the beach. This system didn’t work so well on wildlife, though. One night I had a big ass crab join me on the patio by the pool. Did you know that trying to herd a crab toward an open gate is even harder than trying to herd cats?

Hello Mr. Crab

To keep that vacation feel, there are no land lines in the rooms but they do have satellite tv, which I never turned on. Wifi is free but may be spotty in some areas because of the concrete construction of the buildings. I found it was fine in my room but would drop occasionally when I was outside on the patio. No biggie.

While Bravo Beach Hotel is a little outside the centre of Isabel II (Isabel Segunda), it’s right on the water and only a short walk to the ferry, restaurants, etc. The town is pretty small. If you’re visiting Vieques I would definitely recommend it as your home base while you explore the many spectacular beaches the island has to offer.

Note: I received a media rate for my stay at the Bravo Beach Hotel. They didn’t ask that I write a favourable review or attempt to herd a crab towards freedom.

Fact Sheet

• Where: 1 North Shore Road, Vieques, PR
• Cost: Rooms & suites can range from $97-$225
• Number of Rooms: 18
• Amenities: free wifi, free breakfast, 2 pools, beach gear
• Rating: TripAdvisor 4.5*

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