A Review of My Stay at Outsite San Juan
When I started traveling solo, I used to stay in cheap hostels to save money and meet people. But these days, I’m looking for accommodation that allows me to meet people easily but also gives me the privacy and amenities of an upscale Airbnb. That’s precisely what Outsite, a coliving community with properties around the world, provides. In this post, I’m going to review my three-day stay at Outsite San Juan in the heart of Old San Juan.
My stay at Outsite San Juan was sponsored and this post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
What is Outsite?
Outsite is a company that provides coliving spaces for digital nomads and location independent people. The company currently has 16 locations in the U.S and around the world, from San Francisco to Lisbon to Bali. It offers memberships ideal people who work from anywhere. As a member, you pay a yearly membership fee of $149 and get discounted rates if you choose to stay at any of the properties.
The properties tend to be upscale and located in nice or trendy neighborhoods. Each property has a house manager, who reaches out to you before you arrive to invite you to the location’s Whatsapp group and So far, I’ve stayed Outsite Lisbon, Outsite New York, and most recently, Outsite San Juan. I’m a member of of the Outsite community and feel so glad that I discovered Outsite. When you arrive in a new place, you already have a group of frequent travelers and digital nomads to hang out with. Also, the Outsite house manager plans different activities, like dinners for those at the house.
If you’re not a member of Outsite, you can still book a stay at any of its properties at the regular price. Now, I’m going to talk specifically about my stay at Outsite San Juan.
The Location
Outsite’s San Juan property is a villa located on Calle San Sebastian, right in the heart of Old San Juan. That’s one of my favorite things at the property. It’s within walking distance from tons of popular bars and restaurants as well as historical landmarks and tourist attractions. The house is about two blocks from the oceanfront and a 10-minute walk from the iconic Castillo San Cristobal, the largest Spanish fort in the New World.
When you step outside the door, you can meander through the colorful streets of Old San Juan. Every corner is a photo waiting to happen, and I loved roaming the streets and snapping away. The locals are very friendly and would be more than happy to take you some photos.
The Ambiance
I walked into the villa to find a small garden with sunlight beaming down from the open roof. Then, I opened the next door and walked into a quiet, tastefully decorated common area with paintings of the Carribean. Next, I walked further into the villa, strolling past a family-style dining room. I thought the decor was so lovely.
The dining area leads into the outside lounging area, which was my favorite part of the villa. There was a giant mango tree right in the middle of the spacious backyard. In front of it was the kitchen area, where you can find cooking utensils, plates, cups, and storage space for your groceries. Because Outsite is a coliving space, every location comes with a fully equipped kitchen. You can cook and store your food in the refrigerator.
On the other side of the tree, there was a group of seats for those who want to work outside. I didn’t utilize this space because it was way too hot to work outside. But it’s a great space to sit and hang out in the evenings.
Finally, I went upstairs to find my room and just stood for a moment to admire the view of the mango tree and the backyard from the veranda. It was breathtaking and made me feel right at home. The villa has a relaxing and laid back vibe that just screams ‘tropical vacation!’
The Rooms
I stayed in a room with a queen bed and a private bathroom. My first impression was that the room was on the small side, but I slumped on the bed, looked around, and realized that the space was just fine for one person. There was a TV mounted on the wall across for me so I put on Netflix to catch up on some shows. Before I began watching Euphoria, I popped into the bathroom and was quite impressed by how spotless it was. If you know me, you know that I’m a stickler for clean bathrooms. One of the reasons why I don’t stay in hostels anymore is because of the quality of the bathrooms! The bathroom here was pristine so that was a huge bonus.
The Cost
The cost of staying at Outsite San Juan depends on the type of room you select. There are four room options, and the cost ranges from $54/night to $108/night for members and $60/night to $120/night for non-members. I think these prices are reasonable considering the convenient location of the property and the amenities. They are comparable to the prices you would pay for a room on Airbnb, except you get access to the whole villa.
The Overall Experience
To rate my overall experience at Outsite San Juan, I can compare it to the other Outsite locations where I’ve stayed. The biggest downside I experienced was that there weren’t as many people in the villa compared to when I stayed in the Lisbon and New York locations. There was one couple that I never saw and then a man who had been staying at the location for two months.
I wish I could have met more people at the villa as I did at other Outsite locations. But overall, I thought the property was a comfortable, relaxing place to stay in Puerto Rico. I loved the location right in the heart of Old San Juan. There’s a ton to do in the area. Based on my experience, I would stay at Outsite San Juan again.
Click here to learn more about Outsite
Have you ever stayed in a coliving space? How was your experience?
One more thing: if you liked this post, please share it!
Somto Ugwueze
Hi! I'm Somto. Two years ago, I stopped making excuses, ditched my indecisive friends, and started booking flights. Today, I'm a full-time solo traveler on a mission to inspire young women to seek new adventures.
![Let’s talk about money in Croatia 🇭🇷 (and the Balkans)
📌[Save and Share]
⚠️ Quick tip: Don’t exchange money or take out money from any place that has a big, yellow sign
On my most recent trip to Croatia with @girlslovetravel, I learned that from the locals and other seasoned travelers.
I wanted to pass along the message to help you guys avoid falling for this trap, because I saw so many people getting ripped off.
If you’re traveling through Europe, especially in the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe, you’re going to see these super-convenient money exchanges and ATMS.
With their big, yellow signs, these are hard to miss.
And they’re so seductive because they’re always conveniently located.
But don’t do it.
These places are known to have the worst exchange rates and sometimes hidden fees.
You’ll end up getting significantly less money than other comparable money exchanges.
The ATMS could charge you all sorts of ridiculous fees, which happened to one of my travel friends.
If you walk away from the touristy city centers, you can find places with better exchange rates.
Do your research.
Compare places, especially if you want to exchange a chunk of money.
Don’t go to the first place you see because it’s convenient.
Any other tips for exchanging money in Europe? Drop them below👇🏾](https://scontent-dfw5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/363495583_681336997355409_8269653626385180880_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c4dd86&_nc_ohc=_vy0qj-WxFoAX-mjbwg&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfAPqz89qBOUgOh00AfVwwwiMtUalPvCK3LjBZqNY1ZuAQ&oe=657A6126)
![Let’s talk about money in Croatia 🇭🇷 (and the Balkans)
📌[Save and Share]
⚠️ Quick tip: Don’t exchange money or take out money from any place that has a big, yellow sign
On my most recent trip to Croatia with @girlslovetravel, I learned that from the locals and other seasoned travelers.
I wanted to pass along the message to help you guys avoid falling for this trap, because I saw so many people getting ripped off.
If you’re traveling through Europe, especially in the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe, you’re going to see these super-convenient money exchanges and ATMS.
With their big, yellow signs, these are hard to miss.
And they’re so seductive because they’re always conveniently located.
But don’t do it.
These places are known to have the worst exchange rates and sometimes hidden fees.
You’ll end up getting significantly less money than other comparable money exchanges.
The ATMS could charge you all sorts of ridiculous fees, which happened to one of my travel friends.
If you walk away from the touristy city centers, you can find places with better exchange rates.
Do your research.
Compare places, especially if you want to exchange a chunk of money.
Don’t go to the first place you see because it’s convenient.
Any other tips for exchanging money in Europe? Drop them below👇🏾](https://scontent-dfw5-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/363496891_3960588657501192_2279069811238681499_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c4dd86&_nc_ohc=LtJTETr6UhgAX99KV_j&_nc_oc=AQmAmH8fEtUCrcX0JC3ab3nmi5MRB4e2Ji-S98sk2ENU8ZKpshumpTsxh4N_r9N8gx8&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfBLHqP4rlViQp28OGkZfCUrWhgAEJg_pGXIiiilHsTNeQ&oe=657922C5)
![Let’s talk about money in Croatia 🇭🇷 (and the Balkans)
📌[Save and Share]
⚠️ Quick tip: Don’t exchange money or take out money from any place that has a big, yellow sign
On my most recent trip to Croatia with @girlslovetravel, I learned that from the locals and other seasoned travelers.
I wanted to pass along the message to help you guys avoid falling for this trap, because I saw so many people getting ripped off.
If you’re traveling through Europe, especially in the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe, you’re going to see these super-convenient money exchanges and ATMS.
With their big, yellow signs, these are hard to miss.
And they’re so seductive because they’re always conveniently located.
But don’t do it.
These places are known to have the worst exchange rates and sometimes hidden fees.
You’ll end up getting significantly less money than other comparable money exchanges.
The ATMS could charge you all sorts of ridiculous fees, which happened to one of my travel friends.
If you walk away from the touristy city centers, you can find places with better exchange rates.
Do your research.
Compare places, especially if you want to exchange a chunk of money.
Don’t go to the first place you see because it’s convenient.
Any other tips for exchanging money in Europe? Drop them below👇🏾](https://scontent-dfw5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/364071653_816389820137326_3597345990832080157_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c4dd86&_nc_ohc=MYF5J3kz_SAAX8LrCKa&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfAyBMpI95aIAIlzLZ-1w4-QTfs64lpl2_uEMGTDvZljQA&oe=6578CBC2)
![Let’s talk about money in Croatia 🇭🇷 (and the Balkans)
📌[Save and Share]
⚠️ Quick tip: Don’t exchange money or take out money from any place that has a big, yellow sign
On my most recent trip to Croatia with @girlslovetravel, I learned that from the locals and other seasoned travelers.
I wanted to pass along the message to help you guys avoid falling for this trap, because I saw so many people getting ripped off.
If you’re traveling through Europe, especially in the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe, you’re going to see these super-convenient money exchanges and ATMS.
With their big, yellow signs, these are hard to miss.
And they’re so seductive because they’re always conveniently located.
But don’t do it.
These places are known to have the worst exchange rates and sometimes hidden fees.
You’ll end up getting significantly less money than other comparable money exchanges.
The ATMS could charge you all sorts of ridiculous fees, which happened to one of my travel friends.
If you walk away from the touristy city centers, you can find places with better exchange rates.
Do your research.
Compare places, especially if you want to exchange a chunk of money.
Don’t go to the first place you see because it’s convenient.
Any other tips for exchanging money in Europe? Drop them below👇🏾](https://www.somtoseeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/363495583_681336997355409_8269653626385180880_n-256x320.jpg)
Thanks. We haven’t stayed in a co-living space yet but might have to check this out!
Awesome! You should definitely give it a try.
Is there a desk in the rooms for you to work? I can work in the common areas sometimes, but I would want to take some extended or sensitive video calls in my room at a desk or table.
Hi Ryan, there wasn’t a desk in my room. I just worked on my bed. There is a working area outside with a table and chairs. The property wasn’t that busy when I was there so I could have worked in the dining area without any interruption. I’m sure you could do the same.