I thought this place was interesting and what a wholesome OSJ experience! The accommodations were not awesome, but Pablo and Jorge were so helpful (and so much fun) that I couldn’t think of saying our stay was neutral/average. We arrived at 5am, so the room we booked was not ready, and we had paid for one of the nicest upper floor rooms. They offered to switch us later in the day, but we decided to just stay in the original room. The bed was comfortable. NO hot water at all, but wasn’t an issue, it is hot there. Otherwise, the rooms were clean and airy (kind of felt like you were sleeping outside actually). The bars Pablo runs are all a blast (Don Pablo, La Candela, Rhomba) and they are all within walking distance of the house, so is everything else. Not just anyone could stay here, there are no luxuries. We will stay there when we return though. At the end of our trip we stayed in an apartment on the other side of OSJ where the cruise ships dock. The apartment was much nicer, however, it didn’t feel the same, we couldn’t get to things as easily and were scared to walk from San Sebastian to the apartment at night (not that it is a scary place, we are just two cautious girls). Know where you are staying – not a hotel, but a guest house in the middle of OSJ – but save some money, meet some great people and stay here.

My boyfriend and I planned a trip to Puerto Rico during Thanksgiving 2007. Before I researched everywhere for a good hostel due to our budget but everything looked pretty bad, expensive and with terrible reviews. It took me a while to find the perfect place to stay. Until I came across “Casa candela”. Off course I looked it up for reviews and surprisingly all of them were pretty good. It was perfect for what a was looking for a bohemian and cool place were we can relax, feel safe and right in heart of Old San Juan, i contacted Pablo the owner and was expecting to give him my credit card info to hold a room, but all he said was “don’t worry I have it ready for you” and it was just like that simple. We arrived on a Wednesday around 8PM and stayed 2 nights in the 50 dollar rooms which were very clean and nice. On Friday morning we left to Isla Culebra to camp in flamenco beach also very recommended and got back on Sunday to stay one more night in the 90 dollar rooms with balcony which has a great view.
I recommend this place for friends, young couples that are relaxed and want to explore Puerto Rico....

If you are a salsa lover RUMBA the downstairs club/bar it’s the best place....

Thank You Pablo
Christian y Lorena

I stayed at Casa Candela over Spring Break. Pablo was very accomodating for holding the reservation without my credit card info and was incredibly friendly and helpful throughout our stay. Staying in Old San Juan was a real treat and I plan to visit Casa Candela again. I only suggest that fellow visitors bring a pair of shower shoes and a portable DVD player for down time. Also, stop by Han Cream (yes that is the correct spelling) for great Chinese food and La Bombonera for excellent Puerto Rican fare. I had a great time in Puerto Rico and will visit again and again.

why this property is so great and why it wouldn't work for everyone.

first a little about us: myself-25 male, 2 others-24 female.
enjoy going out for drinks, trying local restaurants, and bars or clubs in the evening. we're used to staying at hostels or hotels, being budget conscious, but well researched.

immediately prior to our trip, i spent 3 nights looking for the perfect budget hotel. I went on the trip with myself, girlfriend and another friend. After much debate over where and how much we should spend on a hotel, I finally made the decision and contacted Pablo, the owner, to book the room at 10pm the night prior to departure.
we booked through email, and he said we would have nothing to worry about when we got there. We were not nervous because of all the other reviews we read about this place, assured us that there would be nothing to worry about booking by email. We called when we arrived and he had teresa meet us out front.

we opted to rent a car, which had its pros and cons of it's own. limited parking anywhere in san juan and difficulty driving through narrow roads. We booked through Dollar rental car, but looking back on it we should have rented from Charlie rentals. They are open 24 hours a day with cheap rates.

Back to Casa Candela. Finding the place was difficult but amazingly enough we found it rather quickly. (side note: Dollar rental car maps are horrible, find a GOOD map immediately after arrival) Even though it is a little difficult to find, once you've been there once you'll know for the rest of the trip. Ask taxi to take you to BARU restaurant/bar/lounge in Old San Juan, and Casa Candela is right next door.

The room:
Large room with private shower and balcony, with queen size bed and a/c. Well priced, call them for pricing or email them for pricing. Teresa, is the manager on duty if Pablo is unavailable. She greeted us and answer any questions on what to do and where to stay away from. Pablo greeted us later in the evening after we returned from dinner. The room was cheap, BEST location for people like us, and safest areas we've found after countless hours of research.
(side note #2: anywhere you stay in Puerto Rico, be sure to purchase a mosquito repellant incents from Pueblo market or Walgreens.)
downsides: low water pressure from around 8pm-3am, due to the cruises ships refilling their tanks at the harbor. Three flights of stairs, not suitable for elder travelers. parking is difficult, but there is a nearby parking garage in case you can't find streetside parking,don't expect it to be a holiday inn express, beach access. If you're looking to walk out of your hotel and get to the beach, this is not your place.

upsides: location, location, location. walking distance to everywhere you need to go in old san juan. restaurants and bars right outside the front doorstep. short walk to el morro fortress.
ambiance. the look and feel of living in the middle of old san juan was worth every penny. cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, boutique stores, and chic restaurants.
spacious room, great views, nice artwork. Some rooms are considerably smaller than the one we were staying in, but the upgrade is worth it. Roof top access to see the views and or have a few drinks. No tv or phone, which is an upside, makes you get out and about among all san juan has to offer. Price was unbeatable.

recommended restaurants:
Baru, is a tapas bar with a great ambiance. Pricey, but a good place to splurge on.
La Bombanero, cheap food, great cafe con leche and pastries. Good for breakfast and lunch. 80 year old restaurant, with an 80 year old espresso machine.

recommended places to go:
culebra- is a ferry ride from Fahardo. with some of the most untainted beaches in Puerto Rico. We didn't make it there, but we wish we could've. our biggest regret.

bacardi factory - free drinks, cheap rum for purchase afterwards. 5 liters max per person to bring back to the states. free tour.

seafarers inn - best internet cafe, nice restrooms, awesome views of old san juan. designed for ship crew members to go and relax after they port for the evening.

el yunque - 45 mins - 1 hr 15 mins by rental car. two nice waterfalls to view. la coco and mina waterfall. nice hiking.

luquillo - nice beaches not too crowded!

shopping - many boutique shops, if you're looking for a mall type. go to plaza de americas (i can't really remember the name).

I hope this review is helpful for everyone.

Overall Casa Candela was exactly what we were looking for.