Seeking sun and savings

Visitors would be challenged to overspend on Culebra, where the best meals are likely to be a $5 swordfish kebab from a street vendor or the serve-yourself fresh mahi with a cold Medalla (the local brew, bring your own) at Barbara Rosa’s. While shelter ranges from under $50 a night to over $3,000 a week for a palatial villa, Palmetto Guesthouse has what most sun-seekers want. A double room with charm, shared kitchen facilities, Internet access, and free airport or ferry pickup starts at $103.55 a night, including tax. Palmetto owners Terrie and Mark Hayward, formerly from Braintree, are generous with their local knowledge, which includes Terrie’s bike and running trails as she trains for April’s Boston Marathon.

Rincón

This town on Puerto Rico’s west coast drew surfers in the 1960s to its cool vibe and consistent swells. Now, a mix of surfer dudes, expats, and Puerto Rican families makes it and its north-facing neighbors welcoming places for learners and pros. Boards rent for as little as $15 a day, and surfing schools abound. The Boarding House overlooking Antonio’s Beach offers an eight-day, all-inclusive package for two including lessons with owner Carlos Martinez, a Rincón native, starting at $1,259.30 (rooms without lessons start at $75 a night). Just want to work on your tan? Rincón’s calm beaches are on the south side.