HiBird - Apartment and Suites Hotel — Hotel in San Juan

I’m not usually one to write negative reviews, but this place was a complete letdown. I’d give it zero stars if I could. When we booked, the reviews were good, so we had high hopes, but everything changed once we got there. Let’s start with the good, the hotel is in a great location, and it’s easy to walk around. There are lots of restaurants and bars nearby, some are decent, some are tourist traps. The ocean is a few blocks away, but you can’t swim in the water because of the waves and rip currents (there are signs). The closest beach where you can swim is a 10-minute drive or a 35-minute walk. There’s construction all around the hotel, with high-rise buildings, jackhammers, and cranes. If you’re planning to sleep past 8 am, bring earplugs. If you want to relax by the pool, pack good noise-canceling headphones. The hotel is an old building that was renovated, but it feels a bit cramped. The windows are small, the ceilings are low, and the hallways are tight. Our room wasn’t exactly what the website showed. The first thing that surprised us was that there was no closet, no hangers, no dressers, or drawers. So, if you have a nice shirt or dress that needs to be hung, forget about staying here because your suitcase will be your closet. We asked the staff if there were rooms with closets, and of course, the answer was no. Another fun fact is that for some reason, the shower door opens to the inside. If you have anything that’s not a 33-inch waste or under, be careful because you might get trapped in the shower. If you like your room to be cleaned and your bed made every day, that’s not happening unless you ask, and even if you do ask, they’ll just change the towels and make the bed. There’s an espresso machine in the room, but we only got two pods in five days. Our room had AC and hot water, but another guest told us that she was in her third room because the first one didn’t have hot water, and the second one didn’t lock. The cherry on top was the checkout, which was at 10 am, not 11 like most hotels. The previous night, we asked if we could leave the room at 11, so we’d have an extra hour. Of course, the answer was no, the excuse was that there were other guests checking in in that room. But checking in isn’t until 3 pm, so I guess it takes 5 hours to clean a 225 sq space. We were running a few minutes late and, right after taking the shower, still undressed, at 10:10 am, two employees were hammering the door asking how much longer we needed. Anyway, if any of the above isn’t a pet peeve for you, please enjoy your stay, but I wouldn’t stay here again nor would I recommend this...

I’m not usually one to write negative reviews, but this place was a complete letdown. I’d give it zero stars if I could. When we booked, the reviews were good, so we had high hopes, but everything changed once we got there. Let’s start with the good, the hotel is in a great location, and it’s easy to walk around. There are lots of restaurants and bars nearby, some are decent, some are tourist traps. The ocean is a few blocks away, but you can’t swim in the water because of the waves and rip currents (there are signs). The closest beach where you can swim is a 10-minute drive or a 35-minute walk. There’s construction all around the hotel, with high-rise buildings, jackhammers, and cranes. If you’re planning to sleep past 8 am, bring earplugs. If you want to relax by the pool, pack good noise-canceling headphones. The hotel is an old building that was renovated, but it feels a bit cramped. The windows are small, the ceilings are low, and the hallways are tight. Our room wasn’t exactly what the website showed. The first thing that surprised us was that there was no closet, no hangers, no dressers, or drawers. So, if you have a nice shirt or dress that needs to be hung, forget about staying here because your suitcase will be your closet. We asked the staff if there were rooms with closets, and of course, the answer was no. Another fun fact is that for some reason, the shower door opens to the inside. If you have anything that’s not a 33-inch waste or under, be careful because you might get trapped in the shower. If you like your room to be cleaned and your bed made every day, that’s not happening unless you ask, and even if you do ask, they’ll just change the towels and make the bed. There’s an espresso machine in the room, but we only got two pods in five days. Our room had AC and hot water, but another guest told us that she was in her third room because the first one didn’t have hot water, and the second one didn’t lock. The cherry on top was the checkout, which was at 10 am, not 11 like most hotels. The previous night, we asked if we could leave the room at 11, so we’d have an extra hour. Of course, the answer was no, the excuse was that there were other guests checking in in that room. But checking in isn’t until 3 pm, so I guess it takes 5 hours to clean a 225 sq space. We were running a few minutes late and, right after taking the shower, still undressed, at 10:10 am, two employees were hammering the door asking how much longer we needed. Anyway, if any of the above isn’t a pet peeve for you, please enjoy your stay, but I wouldn’t stay here again nor would I recommend this...

PROS:

Beautiful property with a pleasant scent throughout and plenty of cushioned seating in the common areas.

Small amenities bar in the lobby offers champagne, water, juices, snacks, frozen meals, travel-size meds, shaving kits, etc.

Centrally located near shops and restaurants.

Exceptionally friendly staff who remember guests by name.

My room had a private hot tub, terrace, and was right next to the pool—perfect location.

Loved the combo steamer/iron (under the sink)—best I’ve ever used and now I’m buying one.

The body wash smells like citrus and autumn—amazing.

Towels and washcloths are thick, plush, and nicely textured.

Two pools, one for each building, with plenty of seating and at least one outdoor shower.

Modest but functional gym (also great for filling water bottles).

Didn’t hear noise from neighboring rooms—just the occasional furniture movement above.

Was able to check in early since my room was ready.

Lobby and pool music is modern, mellow deep house—a whole vibe.

CONS:

Rooms aren’t soundproof as advertised. My room’s exterior wall shared a poolside speaker, and music bled in all night.

Rooms are small and cramped—fine solo, but tight for two.

Bathroom has almost no counter space; I brought patio furniture inside for my things.

Terrible bathroom lighting for makeup.

Bedroom rug is a trip hazard—I stumbled on it daily. Needs to be secured or removed.

If booking via a third party, expect to pay an additional 18% at check-in.

Poor signage—laundry and ice are in one room, but only “Ice Machine” is labeled. Clearer signage needed.

No microwave in the room or common areas—huge miss for an “apartment-style” property. You can’t reheat leftovers, which is frustrating given the food options nearby.

Refrigerator wasn’t cold enough even at half setting—my leftovers spoiled. Not acceptable when food is this expensive.

Outdoor patio cushions were stained and had green growth—definitely need cleaning.

No phones in the rooms, so you must track down staff in person for any request.

Pool hours aren’t enforced; guests were loud late at night.

Staff use guest laundry machines, making them unavailable at times. They should monitor usage or separate facilities.

Shower water pressure is decent, but the showerhead looked old and calcified, likely reducing pressure. No handheld option—prepare to do the “rotisserie chicken” move.

Construction two buildings down (as of 10/15/25) creates loud morning noise—yelling workers, heavy machinery, the works.

Checkout time is a harsh 10:00...