Casa de Tortuga — Hotel in Isla de Vieques

We booked La Tortuga because it had decent reviews and there’s not a lot to choose from in Vieques. We paid $754.00 for two nights. When we drove up we thought we were in the wrong place. The landscaping was overgrown and unkempt at best. When we went in the driveway there was a washing machine on the edge like a decoration instead of an eyesore and filled plastic garbage bags on the side of the driveway for our whole stay. I asked to see the room because I was afraid of what we had booked.

Our room had 3 BR’s and a cute small front patio area and small kitchen. We were relieved because although dated it appeared clean and neat. It had some cute nautical decorations that gave it a ice feel. This place has potential but the owners just aren’t on top of it. Small things count.

The mattresses need replacing, they are hard and uncomfortable. The pillows need replacing, they were flat. The faucet in the kitchen is loose. The kitchen cabinets are ancient. The appliances appear dingy. The pots and pans need to be cleaned if not replaced. The pot holders and even the dish rags were stained and pretty disgusting. The bath towels stiff and dingy. There was a big bag full of plastic bags we thought were garbage in the cabinet that just didn’t belong there. They did have a small ice maker which was helpful. Outside the side door was a white dirty plastic chair, they did not bother to clean for guests.

The pool area looked decent but definitely not fresh and crisp. There are roosters and chickens on the property so some poop pick up is necessary, and they crowed most of the night and in the early morning, which we didn’t mind.

Again this place could be a gem if the owners hired housekeepers and landscapers to keep it looking neat and clean. If they swept and picked up the garbage instead of leaving it in the corner for days. The property did not justify the price per night by any standards. The owner was friendly but completely oblivious to the short comings of her property. The location was convenient with lots of restaurants and swimming nearby. Just a little TLC on items that don’t cost much and some elbow grease would have made a...

Absolutely adored Casa de Tortuga in Vieques. We stayed here one week ago and it was literally everything we could have wanted in a hotel. An affordable rate, perfect location just steps away from the beach, a kind owner “Skip” who gave this place a small air bnb vibe more than a hotel, gorgeous lights at night that make you feel like you’re in Pandora.. I could go on and on. One of our favorite things was the 30+ fruit trees on the property that Skip generously allowed us to pick and eat as much fruit as we wanted, which included mangoes and starfruit. We were able to have a nice fruit breakfast and beach snacks each day with our foraged stash. We packed light for this trip, so having access to beach chairs, an umbrella and even boogie boards to use on the beach were very helpful - there is a variety of beach stuff you can borrow while you stay here, along with a convenient outdoor shower and foot rinse station when you return from the beach. The pool is clean and inviting and there are plenty of outdoor spots to sit and relax. Yes - as many reviews have mentioned, there is a rooster that might wake you up in the morning but you’re going to experience this ANYWHERE you stay on the island… having animals around us including chickens, and wild horses just made the visit more enchanting. The rooms may not be the most up to date but honestly who cares - if you’re here to explore the island you likely want to spend more time OUT of your hotel room than in it! No complaints here.. thanks Skip for a wonderful stay. We will definitely be recommending this place to all of...

Start with the good... We were on Vieques for the Bio tours and the location was within walking distance of the hotel. Also, a couple of great restaurants within walking distance. The bad... (1) Owner Skip was not a pleasant person. We thought our room slept 8 with a pull out sofa. If wasn't a pull out sofa and only slept 6. Our bad. Instead of giving us a simple answer of saying he would have to charge us extra (reasonable in my opinion), which he eventually did, he first treated my wife like she was a scam artist and a complete idiot for trying to get one by him. Absolute jerk. After that, he tried to charge us extra, saying our Expedia didn't include tax. Thankfully my wife had the paper work and he begrudgingly conceded. (2) The room... Water was dripping from the ceiling in the bathroom and when we came back from dinner, my daughter found little ants all over her tooth brush. Also, didn't appear that the front door fit real well, as we could see daylight between the door and frame. (3) The grounds had garbage littered in different locations. I would avoid Skip and this place...