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Good Rate :: Forget the Passport and Chill at Villa Montana

Where: 4466 KM 1.9 Interior, Barrio Bajuras, Isabela, pr, Puerto Rico, 00662

[Ed. Note: Welcome to our Good Rate/Bad Rate feature where we look at hotel prices in the same city and decide which is better worth your hard-earned benjamins. The screenshot here was taken on January 23, 2007 and rates are subject to change.]

Today is the day when Americans can't re-enter the U.S. without a passport, so Puerto Rico has been spending a lot of money and manpower to get the word out that they are a Caribbean alternative for procrastinators. Since it's a U.S. territory, no passport required.

Whether it's this new demand or just rate inflation, the hotel prices there are no bargain, and on par with or above most resort areas in the U.S. itself. (See today's Bad Rate for a sampling.) One exception is the secluded and laid-back Villa Montana, near the town of Aguadilla, in the northwest Porta del Sol area of the main island. This low-rise resort on a 3-mile stretch of empty beach stands in stark contrast to the sea of standard concrete high-rises so prevalent on the island. It presents a more traditional Caribbean face, with 35 acres of tropical vegetation and verandahs meant for swinging in a hammock.

It's also half the price of the standard international chains, despite a little fame brought by a 2006 photo spread in Elle. High season rates are running $220 to $340 for a one-bedroom unit--the latter a suite. Spend in the range of today's Bad Rate and you get a 2-bedroom suite with two baths, a full kitchen, a laundry room, TV with DVD player, and a CD stereo. This is also one of the most eco-friendly resorts in Puerto Rico, working hard to follow sustainable tourism practices and maintaining an organic kitchen--complete with their own garden.

For those looking for a place just like they'd find in their home city, Villa Montana probably won't be the best choice. For a true Caribbean getaway where you can forget about home for a while, however, this is a Good Rate.