We needed a place to stay for one night before diving at Isla Desecheo. Parador Villa Antonio, for all that it was the most expensive place that my wife and I stayed in Puerto Rico, was just alright. For two people in their mid 20's, it was too touristy and too kid-centric for us.

We got a room with two double beds, A/C, TV, and a private bathroom for $115/night plus tax. This was about $40-50 more a night than any place else that we stayed in PR (in other towns admittedly). It was very clean but felt more touristy and more like an all-inclusive resort than other inns - there was a swimming pool, I think a tennis court, kids play area, and guard at the entrance to the parking lot. They make you wear a bracelet to indicate that you are a guest of their hotels, presumably to make you feel more exclusive for staying there. It was odd to me. Other places we stayed had a kitchenette or at least a mini-fridge in the room, but this place didn't. It is right on the beach, which is beautiful. There is plenty of parking, and it seems quite safe.

I would recommend staying at the Vill Cofresi, right next door, over the Villa Antonio. They seemed to have the same standard of cleanliness, the same amenities, but also have a restaurant, which was quite good, and a fun bar area with great drinks. Both are quite family-friendly, but villa cofresi was more teenage-friendly and more energetic.

Based on the other views we expected basic, but acceptable. We've stayed at paradors before and found them enjoyable, but this was unbearable. The rooms were dirty, noisy, and surrounded by smokers. The basic room consists of a bedroom and a screened in porch with a kitchen. Unfortunately, if you choose air conditioning for the bedroom, it exhausts the hot air into the kitchen/porch through an AC unit covered with dust and mold. On the first floor were a number of retired couples who had clearly moved in for the winter and there were constant cooking smells. The beach is lovely, but on the second morning, a school bus pulled into the driveway and let 30 people off to have a picnic in the pavilion on the beach- complete with loud radios, laughter, more smoking, and filling up all the space to sit. This would have been okay for the public beach down the road, but not at this private property. It was impossible to read a book, much less relax. At night, the security guards walked around (also smoking) and with their walkie talkies blaring. We could only tolerate 2 nights of our planned 4 day stay and left. The rooms not only had a lot of sand on the floor but there was also a layer of grime every where. The management needs to decide whether they are going to be a hotel/resort for tourists from North America or a place for locals to party and retired people to live for the winter.

We stayed here in a 2 bedroom "beachfront cottage" for 4 nights in mid October. The "cottage" is a little misleading as it is not free standing - the building is actually a 4-plex of 2 bedroom units, but it is beach front.

The owners keep the property well maintained. The interior of the rooms could use a little work. The kitchen/living room/dining room is a bit small to prepare large scale meals - and you will need to bring your own pots and pans. However, it is great for breakfast, lunch and snacks.

The bedrooms were also small, but we spent little time there. Each bedroom has a window unit air conditioner, which we used for 2 of the 4 nights. The breeze from the sea was sufficient to keep the room cool for the 2 other nights.

The patio is incredibly large and where we spent most of our time. The breeze from the ocean was cool, and if there had been hooks for a hammock, we might have slept outdoors. Lighting on the patio was bright enough so you could sit outside in the evenings and read.

The beach in front of the parador is great for swimming. The waves sound huge, but are small - they just break close to shore. One of the reasons for not turning on the a/c is to be able to listen to the surf at night. Bring your own beach towel.

The Villa Cofresi is on one side of the Villa Antonio and we enjoyed dinner there. However, there was a large group there and it was incredibly noisey. We were so happy we were not staying there. The Rincon of the Seas is on the other side. It was also nice for dinner.

The entire Rincon area was very quiet - it appeared to us that many of the hotels/guest houses were practically empty. Many of the restaurants were closed, as were the many of the surf shops. Apparently, a number of places close in September and then reopen in late October/early November.

We looked for a handicraft store, but did not find one. The Lazy Parrot has some handicrafts and jewelry and Casa Islena had a very very small amount.

The first day we were there, there was surf in front of Tamboo Tavern, but it was flat the rest of the time.

So, if you like quiet, October is a good time to go and the Villa Antonio is a great place to stay. Based on our tour of town and other places, we would choose to stay at the Villa Antonio on our next visit.

Parador Villa Antonio is the BEST place to stay if you want to relax on the beach for a few days. The hotel is right on the beach and the rooms each have kitchens which is great. I would recommend renting a car so you can take advantage of the local supermarkets. The Parador is definitely not luxury but it has all you could need with AC and television and is really great for the price.