Casa Playa (Ex Tropicasa)

Formerly known as Tropicasa — the name still shows up on Tripadvisor and Agoda — this beachfront guesthouse in San Juan is now called Casa Playa. Run by a friendly Australian couple, Eugene and Elvie, it holds a strong 4.7/5 from guest reviews, with praise for its spacious rooms, comfortable beds, modern kitchenettes and direct beach access in a quieter stretch of San Juan with fewer tourists than the main strip.

A few honest caveats: there's no on-site restaurant, though the owners can prepare meals on request; WiFi can be patchy, especially upstairs; and like much of the island, brownouts happen from time to time. Seaweed also washes up on the beach seasonally. None of this stops it from being one of the better-value stays in San Juan — just come prepared rather than expecting a full-service resort.