Hix Island House — Hotel in Isla de Vieques

Our family of four (two parents and two girls 14 and 15) had the best holiday we've ever had thanks to Hix Island House and the wonderful island of Vieques! The architecture at HIH is stunning - both visually and experientially. The buildings are much more like habitable sculpture - very very different than your typical hotel experience - and I can't say enough about the value of having such an intimate relationship to the landscape and it's soft warm winter climate. We stayed in off-grid Solaris which we really appreciated in terms of reducing the environmental impact of our holiday (by the way the system was flawless - no concessions need be made by the inhabitants). The management, Alan and Carmen, were super helpful in getting us organized both at the hotel but also in regard to excursions we booked, picking up our rental car, etc. The help-yourself bowl of fruit in the reception was very welcome after the long trip to the island and was always available during the day if we were passing by. The room staff were wonderful too - we actually rarely saw them - but everything would be neat and tidy every day when we returned from our outings. The daily supply of eggs, really delicious bread, coffee, juices, milk, jams, maple syrup, honey, butter, etc. and the well supplied kitchen were a bonus - the girls loved having a pile of French toast every morning and having our own full kitchen made cooking other meals very easy (especially beneficial for our vegan family member). The pool at Hix Island House was a huge hit - the water is incredibly lacking of any of the usual swimming pool chemicals ... you feel like you are swimming in nice warm fresh lake water. Most of the time we had the pool to ourselves or at the most there were two other people there, who were nice to meet and learn about their experiences with the hotel and island, which in all cases were as positive as our own. While this is a quiet place (actually I think the whole island is - that opinion reinforced by the mainland Puerto Ricans we met who all referred to Vieques as a being a much more quiet place than their home turf) the pool is available 24/7 which offered us a couple of very memorable family experiences; floating on our backs looking up at the spectacular stars that are so much more vivid there than even at our rural home near Georgian Bay in Ontario, and thanks to the inspiration of our youngest daughter having a 6:30 sunrise swim as the sky lit up over the Caribbean to the east. HIH has great grounds to explore (especially if you like architecture and plants)- our one regret is that we didn't find time to play ping pong on the cool-looking outdoor concrete tables. But we did attend several of the morning yoga classes which were a very nice way to start a day (thank you Anna!) and I loved that these were in a funky open pavilion with those wonderful soft Caribbean breezes blowing through. Beyond HIH, the beaches were fantastic (it is true that often you are the only people in sight, or sharing half a mile of sand and surf with only six or eight others), and the trail ride with the Esperanza Riding Company and the night-time kayak in the Biobay with Ecotique were super memorable. Thank you John and Neeva Gayle Hix and all your team there at Hix Island House for creating such a memorable place and for making our holiday...

The concept of this place is great. I was looking forward to staying at a place completely powered by solar. The pictures on their website look fantastic. We reserved two rooms for our group. The compound was easy to find and had horses walking all around which was really nice. I was disappointed by the views as I was expecting those on the website. One of our openings had a view of the ocean in the far distance but none of the others. The rooms were large but the place had a run down vibe to it. One of the showers had several large spiderwebs residing there. Housekeeping should have knocked those down before our visit so you don't spend your shower wondering if the spiders whose webbings you destroyed would come out. The rooms were dark as the lights were small. They were also extremely hot as there was no breeze at all and the fans were very small (see pictures). The sleeping area had a fan but in one of the rooms, the fan only worked on low- so you could watch the blades turn while you prayed for relief. Also the fan size was for a much smaller room. The netting on the beds was nice but one of them was not made for the king bed it was being used for so it left gaps. It did keep the bugs out but not the lizard or spider. The place provided eggs, frozen bread, milk, orange juice and Special K. Would have liked some fresh fruit and/or other options.Pool water was turning green and the pool walls were green so did not use pool. Overall I liked the place despite it needing work as the spot is beautiful and it's like glam camping. It was disappointing because the rooms are overpriced for what you get and those deficiencies could be fixed if they so cared. Safety note- 3rd floor rooms are not really third floor because the house is built on a hill so if you worry about safety, this is not the place to stay. You need to leave the openings open to be able to let some air in but the 3rd floor is as easy to walk into as the first floor patios and you can hear horses shuffling and snorting outside which when half asleep can sound like danger. Last item- we dealt with Carmen during our stay. She was very helpful and friendly. She told us we could contact her for anything and she responded quickly when we did contact her....

Hix Island House is an absolute gem for those seeking a peaceful, eco-friendly escape. The off-the-grid experience added a special touch to our stay, allowing us to fully connect with nature without sacrificing comfort. The minimalist interior design was beautifully done, creating a serene and uncluttered environment. One of the highlights was the spectacular outdoor shower—a unique way to enjoy the surrounding natural beauty. We also loved the open floor plans and balconies that seamlessly connected the indoors with the lush outdoors.

Having a fully stocked kitchen with coffee and breakfast items was a thoughtful addition, making mornings easy and enjoyable. The area itself is incredibly tranquil, providing the perfect setting for a rejuvenating retreat. I’m already looking forward to returning and will be recommending Hix Island House to friends and family.

A few observations: Accessibility could be a concern, as I didn’t see ramps, which might make it challenging for those with mobility limitations. Additionally, the wooden doors tend to expand in rainy weather, making them somewhat difficult and noisy to open. It's also a bit warm as they only have a ceiling fan and 2 mini fans. For added safety, a few more lights near the parking lot would be beneficial for evening arrivals.

Overall, this is a perfect place for those who appreciate sustainability, minimalist design, and a true immersion into nature. I can’t wait for...