Denizens by Tripgogo

The balcony views from the room are hard to beat, and the location in Old San Juan is amazing. It’s a laid-back, safe place, with a street code for the stairway and a key for the main door. The staff are friendly, helpful, and know the area well. Just be aware that you get what you pay for: it’s a hostel, so there’s no air conditioning, the doors use pad locks, and there were plenty of mosquitos, at least in July. For an authentic, adventurous stay, I’d recommend it.

Everything you could want is nearby: a market around the corner, beaches to the left and right about a 5 min walk away, restaurants in every direction, and $1 shots up the block. The balcony is a great place for any meal, or to hang out with a few drinks as the sun goes down. It’s a small, sexy, quaint spot right in the heart of Old San Juan, where you can live more like a local. If you want tourist prices and no fun, look elsewhere. If you want to turn up and live like locals, STAY HERE!!!!!! I landed at 9:30 am, before the 2 PM check-in time, and called to ask if I could leave my bags while exploring. My room was already ready, with no extra fee. Charlie greeted me warmly and was pleasant, knowledgeable, and helpful with my questions. Later, I lost my phone at Crash Boat and didn’t know where to go for another. I asked the owner, who was heading to the Mall and invited me along. Bonus!

Eddy made us feel like family, treating us with care and generosity and sharing his tips on where to go and eat each day. I felt safe throughout the seven full days I was there and wouldn’t stay anywhere else. The place has a real community feel, a great view, and a central spot in Old San Juan, all for the most affordable rate there.

This is a hostel, not a hotel, but it worked out perfectly for us. We got to San Juan at 3 am and found that our hotel couldn’t check us in early, while resting at the airport wasn’t an option. We miraculously found Denizens Hotel online, and someone answered when we called at 3:30 am to say rooms were available. He kept in touch while we took an Uber there. The room was comfortable and we slept amazingly, then freshened up in the shared bathroom. The place is super clean, and the owner has made great use of the space, including a separate kitchen for cooking and eating. Simply the best place.