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New Prize: New England If your True Stories submission is the best one we receive before June 30, you'll win a $2,000 gift certificate good at more than 300 inns, resorts, and B&Bs throughout New England, courtesy of the New England Inns & Resorts Association. The gift certificate can be used at any member property, including for services charged to the room (such as meals and spa treatments). The prize is valid from September 1, 2006, to August 31, 2007. Subject to availability; nontransferable; nonnegotiable. No blackout dates apply. For more information on the New England Inns & Resorts Association: 603/964-6689, newenglandinnsandresorts.com. How to enter TrueStories@BudgetTravelOnline.com or mail to True Stories, Budget Travel, 530 Seventh Ave., 2nd Fl., New York, NY 10018. We can't return photos. Read the full guidelines. This month's winner This month's winner is Anne Dreyer, of Long Beach, Calif. Her prize is round-trip airfare for two to Tahiti, courtesy of Air Tahiti Nui. My friend and I were on Isla Bastimentos, Panama, about to relax in an over-water bungalow. After settling in our hammocks, we heard a loud crack--the structure began to cave in, completely collapsing on us. I tried to surface, but kept hitting my head on floating debris. Making matters worse, I became tangled in one of the hammocks. Summoning some unknown strength, I freed myself, swam for the surface, and took the most satisfying breath I've ever taken! We were OK (aside from some bumps and bruises), if disheartened to realize that somewhere on the ocean floor was my bag with our passports, credit cards, and $900 in cash. The next morning, as workers hacked apart the structure, my bag resurfaced. We spent the morning hanging each dollar, along with our dripping passports, on a clothesline. It was a fantastic trip, but with a little more adventure than we had bargained for! The moral of this tale: hold your bananas elsewhere On the way to the caves in Phang Nga, Thailand, I was warned that the monkeys could bite. Taking heed, I purchased a bunch of bananas and went to the entrance. Upon going inside, I was approached by a large adult monkey who wanted a banana. I tried to break one off, but the banana wouldn't budge. The monkey became impatient and excited. The harder I tried, the more perturbed the monkey became--until he finally reached for my crotch and grabbed my manhood! He held on while growling and showing his teeth. My mind went completely blank, paralyzed with fear. A crowd formed to see what the ruckus was about--there I was, dancing around with this monkey attached to me. The monkey and I were one. Finally, it occurred to me to just throw him the whole bunch of bananas. As he ran off, I turned to see that I was the subject of quite a few home videos. Thomas White, Palmer, Alaska "In the world of fashion, you're either in, or you're out...." My first purchase while I was in Bhutan was a beautiful hand-embroidered tablecloth. It was exactly the right size for my dining room table. The day after I bought it, my traveling companions and I were lucky enough to be invited to a wedding. We needed proper attire and asked our guide where to buy a dress. "But you just bought a dress yesterday!" he said, confused. It turned out that my new tablecloth was indeed a Bhutanese dress. They look beautiful on the women of Bhutan, but I'm afraid they didn't do much for us! Roxanne Lippel, Los Angeles, Calif. You mean everyone doesn't travel with a plunger? For many years, I've worn hairpieces and wigs, and I discovered long ago the perfect way to style them--on the wooden handle of a plunger. (You position the plunger head between your feet, which allows you to style the wig easily.) I take a plunger with me when I travel, and while I usually pack it in my checked baggage, one time I stuffed it in my carry-on. At the airport, the security guards made me take it out, suspicious of why I was traveling with such a device. I tried to explain, but they didn't understand--so I was forced to get a wig from my bag and demonstrate to the entire crowd of laughing people why I travel with a plunger. Sharon Trapani, Kansas City, Mo. Another mudbath ruined Walking along a dry creek bed in the Bolivian pampas, my tour group and I noticed a hump in the distance. It was a cow stuck in mud from the neck down. Our guide suggested that we save her. Using vines as rope, we took turns tugging the poor animal's ears and head while scooping the mud out from around her. One vine eventually snapped, catapulting a few of us into the muck. The cow, completely agitated by these crazy people yanking on her, started to protest. We wouldn't hear of it, though, and after another 10 minutes of frantic tugging and scooping, we were finally able to dislodge her. Exhausted, the cow lay there for a couple of minutes, contemplating her next move--then she charged us! (So much for our good deed.) Satisfied, she darted into the brush to nourish her emaciated body. Spencer Wong, Denver, Colo.

Bored kids spread misery like it's peanut butter. But why buy a minivan-load of books and puzzles when you can download free games? Scavenger hunts Laurel Smith, a mother of three from Louisiana, posts road-trip bingo, in which kids check off boxes when they spot a plane or barn, and a scavenger hunt of sights--including Wal-Mart (momsminivan.com). Lyrics and trivia Printouts from hotel chain Americas Best Value Inn teach lyrics for classics like "On Top of Spaghetti" and list bizarre laws: "In Pennsylvania, you may not catch a fish using any body part except your mouth" (bestvalueinn.com). Bingo and quizzes Kampgrounds of America has license-plate bingo, coloring-book pages, quizzes on state capitals and nicknames, and campfire-story audio files (koa.com). Word searches Discovery School lets you create customized word searches, as well as mazes, cryptograms, and other games (puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com).

Noise on an airplane can make a sane passenger look longingly at the exit door, with or without a parachute. Anyone with sensitive ears should consider investing in a pair of noise-canceling headphones, which use tiny microphones to convert repetitive sounds and frequencies into white anti-noise--meaning you don't hear chatter or the constant whine of a 747 at 35,000 feet. While headsets in the early '90s did the job for upward of $1,000, top models today are available for under $300. Even the best headphones, however, won't completely block out loud-talkers or toddlers mid-meltdown. But when connected to an iPod, DVD player, or the in-flight movie, these headphones can actually help make flying pleasant. I tested three models on a recent New York--San Francisco flight, and one thing's for certain: I'll never go back to those flimsy freebies. Beyond the headphones' ability to cancel out noise, I was looking (or rather, listening) for good sound quality and comfort. As you might expect, the most expensive model--Bose's QuietComfort 2 ($299)--had the most effective noise reduction. The Bose set is the Cadillac of the category, enveloping the wearer's ears in plush faux leather. But, also like a Caddy, the headphones are big--you look like one of those guys out on the tarmac. And for the price, the sound quality was a bit flat. At the other end of the price spectrum was Sony's MDR-NC6 ($50). The noise reduction just wasn't up to snuff, as the jet whine was still fairly audible. The set also exerted too much pressure, and my ears felt sore after 45 minutes. For my money, the Sennheiser PXC 250 ($170) wins outright. This sleek pair is collapsible and compact, with the best sound of the three--rich and deep, with plenty of bass. Even though the pads don't surround the entire ear, they still keep most noise at bay (if not quite as effectively as the Bose ones). The only downside is the cigar-size battery pack, which sits awkwardly in your lap.

ARIZONA | CALIFORNIA | FLORIDA MISSOURI NORTH CAROLINA OREGON SOUTH CAROLINA TEXAS VIRGINIA WEST VIRGINIA CARIBBEAN ADVENTURE TRAVEL BEAUTY DESTINATION SPAS HOTELS AND RESORTS INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL VACATION PACKAGERS ARIZONA Arizona--The Grand Canyon State. Seize the day. For more on how to truly enjoy a fabulous girls' getaway, request your free Arizona Travel Packet. CALIFORNIA The Oaks at Ojai Spa. Discover why guests return to The Oaks at Ojai again and again. It's a fun and affordable spa vacation. Ask about our special events and packages. FLORIDA Lee County. Discover what's right with the world: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel. Florida's tropical island getaway. Greater Fort Lauderdale. Find a sunny state of mind amid 23 miles of Blue Wave beaches. Visit http://www.sunny.org/ or call 800-22 SUNNY for free Vacation Planner. Pensacola Convention and Visitors Bureau. From inspiring natural beauty to 450 years of history and culture, we welcome you to experience the many flavors of Pensacola. ResortQuest Northwest Florida. Enjoy fabulous beaches, luxurious vacation rentals and all the comforts of home. Call 877-867-6185 or visit ResortQuestNWFL.com MISSOURI Missouri Tourism. FREE Missouri Vacation Planner! It's time you treated yourself to a Missouri getaway. Order your free planner today and discover all that Missouri has to offer. NORTH CAROLINA Biltmore Estate. Discover the wonders of Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, featuring America's largest home, historic gardens, winery, and our four-star inn. North Carolina Dept Of Commerce. For natural beauty, abundant outdoor activities, historic sites and cultural events, North Carolina is the choice. Free travel package on where to go, where to stay and what to do. OREGON Oregon Coast Visitors Association. Oregon's 363 miles of spectacular beaches are open year-round for your recreational enjoyment! Fantastic scenery, trails, lighthouses, parks, shopping, galleries, museums, mouthwatering food & excellent entertainment. SOUTH CAROLINA North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce. Destination North Myrtle Beach, SC. Home of great resorts, entertainment, fine dining, and fabulous shopping. TEXAS San Antonio. From the Alamo and historic River Walk to theme parks like SeaWorld San Antonio and Six Flags Fiesta, there's a sensationally good time awaiting everyone in San Antonio. The Great State of Texas/Texas Tourism. Discover a vacation you never knew existed. Discover mountains, prairies, open skies and endless coastlines. Discover it all in your FREE Texas State Travel Guide. VIRGINIA Virginia Tourism Corporation. 90 wineries. Beautiful beaches. Breathtaking mountains. Amazing music. Escape to the good life with Virginia. WEST VIRGINIA West Virginia Division of Tourism. Wild adventures, wonderful relaxation and incredible value await. Plan your next getaway in the mountains of West Virginia, Wild and Wonderful! Call 800-CALLWVA or visit http://www.wvtourism.com/ for your FREE Travel guide. CARIBBEAN Bolongolo Bay. A one-of-a-kind All Inclusive experience! 65 rooms on a palm-lined beach, two popular restaurants/bars, watersports & day sail to St. John. Elite Island Resorts. From romantic retreats to family vacations, Elite Island Resorts represents a collection of resorts on the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. Safety Harbor Resort and Spa. An historic mineral springs spa, Safety Harbor Resort and Spa features 189 guest rooms, a 50,000 sq. ft. spa and fitness center and wellness programs. ADVENTURE TRAVEL Explorations in Travel Inc. Outdoor and cultural adventures for women over 40. Unique domestic and international destinations. BEAUTY Dove Energy Glow. Who would have thought getting a tan could be good for your skin. Now you can gradually build a beautiful summer glow with the subtle self-tanners in new Dove Energy Glow Body Lotion. DESTINATION SPAS Deerfield Spa. Imagine you and your friend(s) w/o life's daily distractions; fit, pampered and in synch. Deerfield Spa. Beautiful country setting. Tennessee Fitness Spa Tennessee Fitness Spa offers as week-long retreat of fitness and weight loss in a beautiful, peaceful, natural setting. HOTELS AND RESORTS Half Moon. Experience Half Moon's beautiful 400-acre estate with 1.7 miles of white sand beach, spa, golf, water sports, dolphin lagoon and more. Howard Johnson's. Get the Guaranteed Best Available Rate or It's Free when you book your reservation directly with Howard Johnson's INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL Intrepid Travel. Grab your girlfriends and go! Relax, unwind, get active ( or not) and have fun. Real Life Experiences on 7 continents. United Travel. United Travel Group specializes in creating customized journeys to places like Africa, Australia, India, Costa Rica and beyond. VACATION PACKAGERS Air Pacific. Experience the unspoiled, natural beauty of Fiji. Azure waters, incredible sunsets & the world's warmest, friendliest people. Fiji has it all. Adventure, romance & more... come see for yourself. Let Air Pacific, Fiji's International Airline, take you there The Girlfriend Getaway Travel Club. Grab your girlfriends, sisters, moms, etc. and join our members-only vacation club for women for a unique and fun-filled vacation experience! Trafalgar Tours. Dream. Pack. And leave the rest to us. Experience over 200 worldwide vacations. Send for a FREE 2006 Vacation Collection.