Pick Exotic Location, Then Add Guests

Highlights from the March 2005 issue of Budget Travel Dream Destinations Around the WorldGet the details on travel to seven of the world's greatest wonders. Trip Coach: Romantic ItalyA soldier recently returned from overseas combat treats his wife to a romantic Italian getaway. Spain's New Golden AgeSpain is experiencing a cultural renaissance that is transforming the country from industrial wastelands into vibrant, hip neighborhoods. Road Trip: Mendocino CountyJust hours from San Francisco, Mendocino County features dramatic coastline and rolling inland hills. How to Buy a Bikini in RioIt's no secret that life in Rio de Janeiro revolves around the beach. So if you want to blend in, your first step is to dress the part. Mr. & Mrs. GlobetrotterA round-the-world traveler shares her tips for a successful trip. A Cruise You Can UseThe man behind European low-fare airline EasyJet wants to reinvent the cruise business. Road Trip: The Arkansas OzarksSmall-town America is morphing into suburban sprawl, but not in the Arkansas Ozarks. Confessions of a Hotel ExecutiveA hotel insider gives secrets on getting the best service. All-Star Family CampsFamily summer camps are a great and affordable way to experience the great outdoors without the worry that your kids will fall off a cliff or get fatally bored. The Best Ecolodges in the WorldTourism hurts, but you can make it a bit more environmentally-friendly by staying at one of these recommended ecolodges. Take My Word: Peter Carey on Malaysia The author dishes on a special spot. When Chains Can CharmVisiting a foreign chain can give you a real sense of just how unique a place can be. College Town: Columbia, MissouriDowntown Columbia has an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, and music venues that gives the area a remarkably progressive vibe for the middle of the Midwest. Milking Your ManicureFancy spas secretly offer full access to their luxurious facilities--even if you've just come to have your nails done.

A website called TurnHere.com has aggregated an eclectic and growing library of short destination-based films made by real filmmakers, most of them locals who know what they're talking about. You're just as likely to find a piece on Brattleboro, Vt., as you are Seoul, Korea. And viewing is free. We especially like all of the films' professional production values. Most run about 3 to 5 minutes. Two of our favorites are "I Love NYC Pizza," created and hosted by a competitive eater named Crazy Legs Conti, and the fast-paced Reykjavík short, which mixes city shots, sight footage, and quick-cut interviews with locals in an MTV-esque style. Even though some of the films seem as if they were scripted by tourism offices and lack cutting-edge insight (ahem, "SoHo has become the shopping mecca of New York City"), we still think the concept of enlisting indie filmmakers to create shorts about their big city, small town, or favorite BBQ joint is pretty cool. TurnHere.com uses the same streaming in-page viewer as YouTube.com, so you don't need to worry about downloading a video player. Just click and go.   Movie Quest: 10 films that inspire us to travel

The Russian capital now has the dubious honor of being the world's most expensive city, according to a new cost of living survey compiled by U.S.-based Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Moscow's booming real estate market catapulted it to the top of the 144-country list, while Tokyo dropped to third place thanks to the weaker yen. Seoul, South Korea, jumped up three spots to second place, and notoriously expensive Hong Kong came in fourth. New York, ranked tenth, remains the priciest North American city. The survey reflects shifts in exchange rates and prosperity, with European cities falling slightly and developing cities such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro shooting up to #34 and #40 from #119 and #124, respectively. The top 10 list: 1 Moscow 2 Seoul 3 Tokyo 4 Hong Kong 5 London 6 Osaka 7 Geneva 8 Copenhagen 9 Zurich 10 New York and Oslo How to Navigate Expensive Cities:   Moscow Made Easier   What $100 Buys in Seoul   The Hungry Man's Tokyo   Hong Kong Chills Out   London Snap Guide   My New York Is Better Than Yours

1)$5 Ghost House VCD The edgiest Asian cinema is being made in Korea. One of last year's big box-office hits was this comedy/horror film about a proud new homeowner who finds his house is haunted. Bandi & Luni's Bookstore, COEX Mall, Samseongdong, Gangnam-gu, 011-82/2-6002-6002. 2)$33 Vase Celadon pottery flourished 800 years ago, partly because Buddhist monks needed ritual objects. "Female" vases swell near the base, "male" ones at the shoulder. Go Dang Doo Yeon Cho, 168 Insadong, Jongno-gu, 011- 82/2-732-0294. 3)$19 Soccer scarf Korea finished fourth in the 2002 World Cup at home and everyone is now gearing up for 2006 in Germany.The team's official fan club, the Red Devils, shows support by wearing scarves emblazoned with FOREVER COREA. Haggle for your own at Namdaemun Market. 4)$20 T-Shirt Seoul's fashionistas stay on top of fads with visits to Dongdaemun Market, a warren of shops located around the city's ancient East Gate. Monaca, Dongdaemun Market, 011-82/2-3398-7117. 5)$2 Hanji This lovely paper is traditionally handmade from fibers of the paper mulberry tree. Large sheets make perfect gift wrap. Back Jae Paper Shop, Insadong 190-1, Jongnogu, 011-82/ 2-734- 3966. 6)$9 Thimble and bag Embroidered emblems--usually silk thread on silk cloth--used to signal a soldier's rank or the status of a scholar. Kukjae Embroidery sells boxes, tassels, bags, and more. Insadong 198, Jongno-gu, 011-82/2-732-0830. 7)$11 Cosmetics Chic Korean women rarely leave home without the right shade of lip gloss. The plant-based products at The Face Shop, a local chain, provide stiff competition to the similarly named Body Shop. Myeongdong, 011- 82/2-594-7131.