Asian luxury chain Aman Resorts is one of the best five star set-ups in the world, renowned for its spectacular, unintrusive service, lavish suites with private pools, once-in-a-lifetime locations — and prices.

But right now, two of the chainlet’s hotels are offering the Aman experience at Marriott prices: Amangalla and Amanwella, both in Sri Lanka. Until December 14, historic city hotel Amangalla’s rack rates start at $275/night, while oceanfront resort Amanwella is $325 (the hike is just $25/night after that). Given that Aman’s rates are usually twice that – a room at the iconic first spot, Thailand’s Amanpuri, is $700 and up, while Wyoming’s Amangani is from $565 – it’s an astonishing deal.

There’s no catch, either. These are five star hideouts. Amangalla, housed in a 17th Century fort in the delightful town of Galle, oozes Agatha Christie-era glamour: the gigantic rooms are filled with period and reproduction furniture, while the huge pool’s the perfect place for a G&T (or three). Amanwella sits on its own beach a couple of hours east along the coast, with honeymoon-ready dip pools and its own coconut plantation.

So why the deal? The reason’s simple: Sri Lanka has been riven by a civil war that’s driven tourists away by its gory, distressing headlines. To bring them back, Aman slashed its rates. But the war-torn chunk of the island, site of the Tamil tussle, is in the far north; these resorts are its southern tip, almost 300 miles away. There’s no danger or difficulty in this part of the country, and never has been.

But now that the war is over, this isn’t an offer likely to last – in a recent interview, canny Aman honcho Adrian Zecha admitted that all his hotels currently operate at a profit, except the two Sri Lankan properties. So until rates return to normal, Aman’s Sri Lanka spots are wily choices for winter sun: the cheapest flight from NYC in December, on Jet Airways via Chennai, is just $1,100 round trip.

Admittedly, it may seem ambulance-chasing to hit a strife-torn area for a vacation. But it’s our confidence (and money) that countries like Sri Lanka most need – the southern coast especially, since this is where the tsunami wreaked devastating havoc five years ago.

As with Iceland during the financial implosion this time last year, a visit to Sri Lanka is a boon to tourists and the local economy: we get an unbelievable bargain, while they can use our cash to start afresh.