Flipkey Vieques Vacation Rentals Review

by Lanee Lee

Ever stayed in a vacation rental versus a hotel? If you have, you’ll understand our enthusiasm for them. It’s like having a home away from home with all the comforts you don’t get in a hotel. On a recent trip to Vieques, the tiny island eight miles from the main island of Puerto Rico, I stayed in Casa Ladera, just one of the 120+ FlipKey Vieques vacation rentals.

Things we love about vacation rentals include a fully equipped kitchen to save serious moola on meals and drinks, a more intimate (or rowdy) experience with friends/family and privacy.

FlipKey, a vacation rental website owned by TripAdvisor, carefully curates the properties featured. No matter where in the world you’re headed, most likely, FlipKey has a stellar apartment, condo or house to rent as they feature more than 170,000 rental properties in over 7,000 regions.

After staying or touring 10 Flipkey Vieques vacation rentals, here are my picks:

Casa Ladera

Casa Ladera, which is a sort of a mini-village, with four separate budget-friendly units (10 bedrooms total, sleeps up to 20+ people) to rent on the same property. It’s not on the beach, but it’s a short walk to the beach and offers ocean views. Owned by a family in Boston, the units are well-cared for by the friendly onsite manager Renee. She really caters to your every whim from best beach recommends to a drive-by bar tour in Isabella II (one of the only two towns on Vieques). Casa Ladera offers a pool, free WI-FI, laundry machines, jeep rentals and very stocked kitchens (dishes, spices, utensils, cookware, etc). I recommend renting the Casita at Casa Ladera ($150-225 per night). It’s separate from the main house, sleeps up to 4 people and is the most charming in its decor.

Meet the Island’s Celebrities

Between lazing around at the beaches with pristine turquoise-colored water, taking a sunset cruise with Powercat, and paddleboarding with SurfSUP, I also got to meet a very special couple, or should I say a ‘tri-uple’. They call themselves the Bravos Boyz in honor of the neighborhood in Isabella II they have gentrified almost single-handedly. If Vieques had celebrities, they would be it. The Bravos Boyz, Kevin Cunha, Alberto Munoz and Thom Denton (in photo above), are the go-to style gurus on Vieques. If you want proof, check out their dinner table decor in gallery below. They specialize in selling homes, giving them extreme makeovers and renting them out as fabulous vacation properties, mainly in the trendy Bravos de Boston neighborhood.

The following FlipKey Vieques vacations rentals are either owned or operated by the Bravos Boyz.

Palm Cottages

The former church is spirit-and-soul meets a House Beautiful magazine spread. Owned by the Bravos Boys, the Palm Cottages are impeccably maintained – truly the essence of an island chic stay. There are two separate cottages equipped with full kitchens and two bedrooms each ($240-325 per night, per cottage, 5 night minimum). The public spaces include a breezy meditation/reading room, patio and pool.

Garden House

Renovated and designed by the Bravos Boyz, the Garden House is an open, modern floor plan with whimsical international flair. Bird cage light fixtures illuminate the kitchen (in photo above), a fuchsia pink chandelier glows in the guest bedroom and breezy island art offers splashes of playful color throughout. It features 4 bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and a stunning Mediterranean-style pool. It’s a great rental for a group of friends, a bachelorette party getaway or a family vacation. Another plus in case you need anything, the Bravos Boyz’ office is across the street (see below). $293-400, 5 nights minimum.

North Shore Pointe

This property had me at the infinity pool that overlooks the ocean, but then I sauntered downstairs to the private deck on the beach and found an old-fashioned tree swing over the ocean! This is perfect for a large group, as it has 5 bedrooms and can accommodate up to 10 people ($666-833 per night, 5 night minimum). If you did nothing at all but soaked up the views, laid by the pool or beach and cooked fabulous meals paired with great wines, North Shore Pointe is a vacation unto itself.

Seaside

This two-bedroom Flipkey Vieques vacation rental offers a private stairway leading to the beach with a fabulous outdoor table overlooking the Vieques Harbor and a soaking pool. Seaside‘s patio is truly one of the best places to watch the sunset on the island. $225 – $350 per night, 5 night minimum.