XQ Vistamar

We’ve been to Puerto Rico nearly 30 times over the years, and this 14-night stay was our best yet. The whole place feels relaxed, and the staff are happy to help with anything. It’s all flat around here, with the harbour just minutes away and plenty of bars and restaurants close by, which makes a big difference given the hills elsewhere in Puerto Rico. Our two-bedroom apartment was spacious, with air conditioning and a ceiling fan in every room. There’s a TV in each room, a first for us on the island. English-language channels are limited to news, though, and the smart TV features like Netflix are locked, so bring a Fire Stick if you want more. That was our only real downside. The apartment has a balcony looking over both the pool and the sea, lovely for sitting and listening to the water in the evening. The shower pressure was honestly among the top three I’ve experienced anywhere. You might need a life vest 😂😂. The pool is small but nicely arranged, and getting a sunbed wasn’t a problem. We could still find beds at 2 pm, with no sunbed wars. Pool towels cost €4 a week. The bar has a good range of drinks and cocktails, plus food we enjoyed on several occasions. The beach is just across the road, about 10 metres away, and beach beds are €3.50, so there’s an easy alternative to the pool. One disappointment is that TUI only makes the place available from October to April for the Scandinavian market. We also visit in winter and spring, so we’ll have to look elsewhere on some future trips. Still, we’d happily come back and recommend it.