Trip Coach: December 19, 2006

I resolve to have a real adventure. I'm dying to go the Galapagos, but am also incredibly tempted by the volcanoes in Ecuador.... I've been to a lot of cities in the past two years, so I'm trying to do something different. Then again, I've been fascinated by Moscow.... I'd also like to start making more of an effort to be green. Budget Travel created a wallet card that tells housekeepers there's no need to change the sheets. I'm going to use it on my next trip! --Erik Torkells, Editor   Dream Trips: Galapagos   Moscow Made Easier   Wallet Card Another stamp in my passport (travel to a country I've never been). --Amy Helin, Art Director   25 Best Places You've Never Heard Of I'd like to make the most of my weekends next year by taking road trips closer to home--the Hudson Valley, the Catskills--and by visiting nearby cities that either I've never been to or haven't been to in a while. Providence, Philadelphia, and Richmond are high on my list. --Laurie Walsh Kuntz, Senior Editor   Road Trips: The Catskills   What $100 Buys in Philadelphia Return to Tuscany for the rolling hills, great food, "local" wine (and the nearby Prada outlet). --Suzanne McElfresh, Managing Editor, Online   Secret Hotels of Tuscany I'd like to take my mom someplace relaxing this year. --Suzy Walrath, Assistant Managing Editor   Four Mother-Daughter Destinations Run the Great Wall of China marathon. --Pam Abbott, Executive Producer   Dream Trips: The Great Wall of China Reconnect with as many of my far-away friends and family as possible -- that could mean heading off to Amsterdam, London, Heidelberg, Prague, Buenos Aires, Madrid, Melbourne, and/or Hanoi! --Naomi Lindt, Assistant Editor   London Snap Guide   Eat Like a Local: Prague   Buenos Aires, Then What? Three Side Trips On my next vacation, I will make sure I plan my schedule so that I can sleep late some of the days. Waking up at 7am for a full day of activities is not what I call a vacation! --Ruthie Kaposi, Associate Producer, Online   North America's Best Budget Spas   Splurges! 101 Ways to Spend $100 To finally cash in on all my carefully saved air miles and go to Europe! --Sarah Irick, Associate Art Director   Frequent Flier Miles: The New Rules Take my sister on our first getaway and introduce her to friends and favorite places in Florence, where I studied for a year. --Kate Appleton, Associate Editor, Online   Girlfriend Getaways Special Issue   Questions to Ask Before Studying Aboard Visit friends and travel in southern Africa. --Laura MacNeil, Associate Editor   Get the Most of Your African Safari My resolution is to finally travel to Chicago because it is one of the few big cities I've never been to! --Lindsey Ramsey, Assistant Editor   Secret Hotels of Chicago Take my husband to Europe. --Rebecca Simpson, Associate Picture Editor   Affordable Europe: Five Strategies To plan an affordable intergenerational family trip to Italy. --David LaHuta, Assistant Editor   Resources for Rentals, Home Swaps, and Lodgings Worldwide   How to Plan a Family Reunion Pick a destination that's equal parts relaxing on the beach and challenging my body and mind. --Lauren S. Feuer, Editorial Production Manager   A Guide to Volunteer Vacations   Five Trips That Can Change Your Life   Secret Hotels of Bali Hit the slopes in Austria! --Lauren Keenan, Associate Picture Editor   Storybook Ski Villages in Austria, Switzerland, and Italy

There's something about hotel rooms that generally makes them feel sexy by definition—maybe because it's a strange new place, or because the bed is usually the focal point of the room. But that doesn't mean they can't get even sexier. The editors of Budget Travel have come up with 10 relatively simple ways to give your hotel room—whether it's at a roadside motel, a fancy island resort, or somewhere in between—a suitably romantic makeover. Watch the slide show to find out the 10 tips: Our correspondent, seduction artist Bud Travel, will show you how it's done. (While all 10 are great ideas, you may want to implement only two or three. Overkill isn't sexy at all.)

The holiday season in Rome is unlike any other time in the Eternal City--and not just because of the Vatican's Christmas celebrations. Roman weather in late December is so mild and sunny that it is common for people to enjoy lunch outdoors at piazza cafés. And the Romans--most of whom are not around during the height of the summer tourist season--reclaim their city in the winter, giving visitors a glimpse of everyday life. Rome takes on a festive feel and an air of debauchery recalling Saturnalia, the ancient pagan holiday still celebrated in some circles on December 17. Like some modern rituals, Saturnalia was marked by gift-giving and a relaxation of the rules. Even some of Rome's present holiday customs--from the Christmas fair at Piazza Navona to the practice of burning the old calendar to mark the New Year--bear the hallmarks of Rome's enduring pagan past. Five Can't-Miss Holiday Sights Piazza Navona Christmas MarketIn any other city, it would be sacrilegious to host such a kitschy fair in such an important square, but it wouldn't be Christmas in Rome without this annual event, which centers around la Befana, the Christmas witch who, until recently, was more popular than Santa Claus. The square, dominated by three famous fountains, is lined with stands selling everything from hot doughnuts (ciambelle) and cotton candy to Nativity scene figurines and Christmas tree decorations. But you're not here to buy stocking stuffers or tree trimmings. The real joy of this Christmas spectacle is scoping out the fascinating street performers and the impeccably dressed Romans out for a stroll (passeggiata). Piazza Navona, through January 6, 2008, 011-39/06-8205-9127, romaturismo.it, free. Zampognari and pifferai (Bagpipers and flutists)From early December through the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6, traditional bagpipers (zampognari) and flutists (pifferai) descend on Rome from the regions of Abruzzo and Calabria to play traditional Christmas music for the masses. You'll find the musicians, recognizable by their leather-laced shoes and sheepskin attire, wandering around Rome's historical center, especially near Piazza Navona, the Spanish Steps, and at the gates of St. Peter's Square. Don't confuse these genuine traditionalists, who play for free, with the countless buskers and impostor minstrels who also wander the city center playing for spare change--including the Blue Santas, whose jazz renditions of Christmas greats are actually worthy of a few euro cents. Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spagna, Piazza San Pietro, free. Natale all'Auditorium (Christmas at the Auditorium)Rome's newest entertainment venue, the Parco della Musica, designed by Renzo Piano, is getting in the holiday spirit with lots of fake snow and a festive lineup including dance recitals, chamber music concerts, and child-friendly puppet shows (tickets range from €2 to €20 ($3 to $38) depending on show). Add to that a 2,000-square foot ice-skating rink (€8 ($12) including skate rental, through Feb. 3, 2008) and a hands-on "Enchanted Forest" play area for the young nonskaters. Food and drink available, but the venue is closed Dec. 24 and 25. Auditorium Parco della Musica, Viale Pietro de Coubertin, through January 5, 2008, 011-39/06-8024-1281, full program at auditorium.com. 100 PresepiThe 100 Presepi exhibition (presepi means Nativity scene) has been a mainstay on any Roman Christmas itinerary for the past 31 years. Now the count is up to 160. A month before the exhibition opens, craftsmen painstakingly set up the expansive Nativity displays, which feature everything from running water and twinkling fires to hand-carved figurines and flying angels. The most famous of the traditional Neapolitan Nativity scenes--some dating to the 17th century--are on display, and this year the organizers have also invited modern artisans who use nontraditional materials such as plastics and other synthetics to go far beyond the usual renditions of Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. Sale del Bramante, Via Gabriele D'Annunzio (Piazza del Popolo), 011-39/06-8535-7191, presepi.it, through January 6, 2008, 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. daily, €4.50 ($6.50) Mon.-Fri., €5 ($7.20) Sat.-Sun. Vatican Service at St. Peter's SquareWhile it's impossible to get a front-row seat unless you're a cardinal or high ranking official within the Holy See, attending either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day mass in this bastion of Catholicism is inarguably a powerful experience. It's not too late to reserve free tickets over the phone. They can be picked up at the bronze doors in St. Peter's Square on the 23rd, but don't delay if you hope to attend. 011-39/06-6988-3273, vatican.va Midnight Masses Along with St. Peter's, major basilicas throughout the city host midnight mass. On Christmas Eve, Rome dies down to an eerie silence from around 7 p.m. to just before midnight, when it comes to life with church bells and the opening of many coffee bars and street merchants to accommodate parishioners. One of the more beautiful midnight masses is at the Pantheon. You don't need tickets, but you should be there by 10 p.m. to get a seat and hear the Gregorian chants. Santa Sabina on the Aventine hill is also popular with Romans for its stunning service in one of the city's oldest churches. The church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli, which straddles the Campidoglio on Piazza Venezia, is also a worthy choice. The 124 steps up to the church are lit with candles, and the traditional zampognari and pifferai give a concert at the basilica doors. This church features a wooden carving of the baby Jesus believed to be made of the wood of an olive tree from the Garden of Gethsemene. Local Romans bring their children here on Christmas Eve for a ritual blessing in front of the carving. Dining on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and San Stefano Many Romans will be dining on traditional fish feasts with their families on Christmas Eve, but there are still plenty of options for the kitchenless. Instead of offering an à la carte menu, most restaurants put together special fixed menus for Christmas Eve, likely seafood-based and starting around €40 ($58) a head. Ask to see the menu di vigilia di Natale and book in advance, since seating is generally limited. Christmas Day is a different story. Rome is notoriously buckled up on Christmas Day, with the exception of the Jewish ghetto, where restaurants will be happy to serve you traditional Jewish-Roman cuisine. The Feast of San Stefano on December 26, a public holiday, is back to business for most restaurants, which treat the day like a typical Sunday--meaning lunch is the big meal of the day and should be enjoyed over several hours and courses. Notte di Capodanno or New Year's Eve New Year's Eve in Rome is nothing if not a barrage on the senses. Traditionally, Roman restaurants from the tiniest trattoria to the most elegant ristorante offer fabulously extravagant fixed menus that range from €50 ($72) to well over €250 ($361) a head. Meals start around 8:30 P.M. and finish around 11:30 p.m., just in time for everyone to head to the nearest piazza for the citywide countdown. At midnight the city lights up, with private fireworks displays from balconies and terraces rivaling the official shows put on by both the Vatican and the city government. In the piazzas, Romans burn their old calendars and chug spumante (sparkling wine) from the bottle. All of the major squares will be festive, but Romans will revel on either the Piazza San Giovanni or the Piazza del Popolo, one of which will host an all-night rock concert beginning after the countdown (the location will be announced a day or two ahead). The more subdued should head to Piazza del Quirinale, where the president of the republic hosts a classical music concert outside the official residence. New Year's Day is a popular day for dining out and walking through the city's picturesque squares. Most stores and all museums will be closed, but many of the churches are venues for chamber recitals, and you often don't need a ticket. Getting Around Many places that might normally be open on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve may be closed this year because the holidays fall on Sunday, traditionally a non- or limited-commerce day in Rome. Likewise, traditional restaurants will tend to be open for lunch and not dinner on Sunday, as is the usual practice, except those offering special Christmas or New Year's Eve meals. In general, the stores in the historical center around Piazza di Spagna will be open, those in outlying districts like Prati, Parioli, Trastevere, and Testaccio will not, or will be limited to a few hours in the early afternoon. Museums in Rome are generally closed on Mondays; check out romaturismo.it for a complete list of museum hours and closure dates. December 26 is a mixed bag, when the Vatican museums are closed but most of the city museums are open. Rome's transportation system (atac.roma.it) is extending its hours through January 7, adding more buses and diverting some of its metro lines to better accommodate holiday shoppers and revelers. Still, Christmas Day and New Year's Day will be slow days for buses, so stick to the underground metro, or better yet, go on foot if you can. The three-day Roma Pass (romapass.it, sold at all participating museums, Termini station, and major subway stops, €20 ($29), is a great way to travel before the holiday weekend. The pass offers unlimited public transportation on buses and the metro, free admission to two museums or archaeological sites, and reduced admission to others. (Vatican museums are not included.) If your visit falls on the holiday weekends when museums will be closed, consider ATAC's three-day €11 ($16) or seven-day €16 ($23) unlimited transportation pass, compared to a regular fare of €1 ($1.44) for up to 75 minutes on a bus or a one-way metro ticket. Taxis, which are privately owned, are also scarce during the holidays, with the exception of New Year's Eve when drivers will be working normally. Some drivers will try to charge "creatively," so if you hail a taxi on the street, insist that the cabdriver use the meter, or tassametro. Fares are expensive (€8-€15 ($11.50-$22)) for a ride within the city center, and there's a higher rate 10 p.m.-7 a.m. and on Sun. and holidays; add about €1.04 ($1.50) extra for each large bag. If you've called ahead for a taxi, there will be an additional charge on the meter for pickup. Check the placard on the driver's seat for relevant holiday rates, and ask the driver for a receipt when you exit the taxi.

Maybe you've seen pictures of southern Thailand's sugar-sand beaches with grass-roof huts snuggled into the shade of coconut palms. Or you've heard of the ridiculously cheap prices: beachside bungalows for $10 a night, spicy meals for $3. Or you've dreamed of discovering some hidden lagoon that lies beyond the reach of guidebooks, just as the characters did in Alex Garland's cult novel The Beach (which, like the Leo DiCaprio film based on the book, was set here). The problem is that if you've seen, heard, or read about a place, chances are others have too. And, as Garland's characters learn, anywhere hailed as a paradise on earth has to fall short of expectations. The tourism industry has taken its toll on some of Thailand's islands: claptrap towns, ubiquitous 7-Elevens, longtail-boat touts haranguing passersby, and bungalow operations and hotels elbowing for room on crowded beachfronts. Phuket is the most obvious example--once the darling of Hippie Trail backpackers in the '70s, the famous beach resort has been ruined, in some travelers' eyes, with big tourist crowds and cement poured over far too much of the island. But charm, serenity, and beauty still cling to several of southern Thailand's other isles, or ko, and we've rounded up the best of the bunch. The Gateway Ko Samui Don't let the single runway and the open-sided thatched-roof terminal at Ko Samui's airport fool you. Samui is the largest island on the Gulf of Thailand side of the Malay Peninsula. It's so big that it doesn't really feel like an island. Instead, Samui often serves as a springboard to the solitude found only on smaller isles. Still, there are loads of fabulous beaches, with dozens of hotels lining the shoreline. You probably don't want to spend a full week on Samui, but it's worth taking a day or two there to get over jet lag before heading onward. One reason to hang around is the $45 all-day boat tour through Ang Thong Marine Park, a collection of 41 largely uninhabited islands between Samui and the mainland. While on the tour, you can kayak to shore, hike to a waterfall, and snorkel in sheltered coves. Several companies offer slightly different versions of this popular tour, but they all include a short clamber up to the top of Ko Mae Ko to see the pristine, fully enclosed lagoon hidden at its center, a spot that helped inspire the plot of The Beach (if you're unfamiliar with the book and film, don't worry--you'll hear about them plenty while you're here). Sea Safari Thailand is one of the least expensive operations and throws in a hokey 20-minute elephant ride at the end of the tour. Chaweng Beach has both the best strip of sand on Samui--a wide swath of soft, pale yellow that extends for nearly four miles--and the most choices for lodging and dining. Somewhere between the pricey resorts on the north end of Chaweng and the $3 backpacker hovels at the beach's center lies The Island resort. Its layout is pretty typical for Samui: tidy cottages on either side of a shady cement walkway that's a short stroll from the shops and travel agents on the dusty main road. Call ahead to snag thatched cabin 801, where you can step off your front porch right onto the sand. The food at The Island is scrumptious, and in the evening tables are moved out onto the sand so guests can dine by candlelight. Also, try Budsaba, a romantic collection of thatched wooden huts called salas on the grassy grounds of the Muang Kulaypan Hotel. Each hut is barely large enough to fit a table and four people reclining on cushions. Dinner costs only about $16 per person, and live traditional Thai music plays as cool sea breezes tickle your toes (as per local custom, shoes come off before you sit at the table). The Scene Ko Phi Phi Heralded as one of the most idyllic spots on earth, tiny Phi Phi Don consists of two mountains connected by a narrow beach that's home to a lively tourist town. It's here that happy, sun-crisped couples and crowds of backpackers throng the narrow lanes, popping into Internet cafes, bargaining for cheap silk sarongs, and arranging diving trips at travel agencies. There are a few soulless, low-rise hotels in Phi Phi, but that doesn't spoil the funky, welcoming, homegrown feel of its thriving village. Sadly, neither of Phi Phi's main beaches is ideal for swimming. Southerly Ton Sai bustles with ferries, speedboats, and longtails hogging up the prime shoreline. Northerly Lo Dalum beach is quiet and lovely but consists mainly of mudflats, which are under water that's knee-deep several hundred feet out to sea. For great swimming and snorkeling, many tourists hire boats to take them to one of the many isolated coves around the mountainous sides of Phi Phi. The most popular boat ride is a $7 half-day trip of sun and snorkeling at Phi Phi Don's uninhabited sister island, Phi Phi Leh. Book the outing at the front desk of your hotel or through any of the tour operators in town. One of Leh's protected coves was used to film--what else?--The Beach, but for decades its claim to fame was Viking Cave. This huge cavern is where chao ley (Muslim "sea gypsies") scramble hundreds of feet up bamboo and vine ladders to scrape sea-swallow nests off the rocks. Restaurants in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore pay upwards of $20 for each cup-size mass of bird spit and twigs, which are used to make the delicacy known as bird's nest soup. The chao ley wisely harvest only the first two nests a bird builds, then they leave the swallow alone to build a third so this gravy train can continue into the next generation. Resorts on the mountainous sides of Phi Phi Don tend to be lavishly upscale. An affordable alternative is in a tiny cove just east of the main beach and three minutes from town by longtail boat. The quirky resort called Maprao features bungalows fashioned from sticks to resemble little boats, with each porch/prow pointing out to sea. The bungalows dot a hilly jungle area above a restaurant with tables under the shade of palm trees. If you prefer more action, stay in town at the PP Charlie Beach Resort, where the bungalows are packed in tightly, but each unit has a tidy plot of greenery in front. Noodle shacks selling decent enough curries and pad Thai abound in town. Most restaurants that serve international cuisine are overpriced, but one exception is Le Grand Bleu, a classy restaurant with French-inflected Thai food in an old northern Thai--style wooden building, just a few steps from the ferry docks. There's a lot of low-key partying on Phi Phi. A jovial crowd knocks back Singha beers at Reggae Bar, which has a big screen playing rock videos and a kickboxing ring for nightly matches. For a more peaceful evening, drink fruity cocktails at Jungle Bar, an ersatz Tarzan-in-the-Tropics, open-air joint with a sandy floor, tiki torches, and cups made from bamboo. The Party Ko Phangan Phangan, a short ferry ride north of Samui, might be the only destination where high season comes once a month. The local tourist calendar is tied to a lunar cycle that peaks during the Full Moon Party, an all-night rave fueled by cheap booze and designer drugs with thousands of people dancing on the sand of Hat Rin Nok (Sunrise Beach). In the interval between parties, the entire island seems subdued and hungover, with shuttered beachfront bars, deserted cybercafes, and largely empty clusters of bungalows. If you aren't up for the 20-something rave scene, anytime other than during the full moon is when you want to visit Phangan. It almost feels like you have the island to yourself before and after each monthly bash, the only hints of which are empty bottles littering the beach. But soon enough, a few days before the moon waxes full again, the next batch of partyers arrives, fails to find a room, camps out on the beach, and the fun begins all over again. The operation that started it all, Paradise Bungalows, is Full Moon Party central. Its bungalows, though utterly basic, are picturesque, climbing up the hillside or right on the beach under the shade of coconut palms. Standing head and shoulders above the Paradise Bungalows--literally and figuratively, as they're propped up on stilts--are the spacious cottages of Sun Cliff, well removed from the hubbub of the town near Hat Rin Nai (Sunset Beach). While some cottages have air-conditioning, the favorite has to be fan-cooled bungalow D2, a fabulous Swiss Family Robinson-goes-to-Asia "tree house," where the front end is 25 feet above the ground. The back wall is anchored to the rock of the steep cliff, and in a few spots the boulders intrude into the wood-ceiling bedroom. Even the bathroom has a tree growing up through the middle of the floor and out through the translucent corrugated-plastic roofing. French doors fold back to open two entire walls of the bedroom onto a wraparound balcony, and there's a hammock overlooking the sea. Sunrise Beach is connected to Sunset Beach by a road lined with Internet cafes, bakeries, noodle shops, and souvenir stands. The main intersection, inexplicably dubbed Chicken Corner, is the island's commercial hub. You'll find the best dinner on the island just down a side street from this crossroads at the Old Lamp, a backpacker joint where shoes come off at the door, everyone sits on the floor, and the portions of curries and rice are massive. The Secret West Railay Beach, Krabi West Railay Beach looks and feels like what many tourists expect of the Thai islands: craggy karst cliffs and gorgeous beaches, reachable by a 20-minute boat ride, and, to get onshore, a wade through the surf with your bags overhead. The irony is that Railay is not an island at all; it's on the mainland, near the river town of Krabi. But when a spot is this isolated and undeveloped, with only four bungalow operations carved out of the thick seaside jungle, who cares that it's not surrounded by water? Railay is carefree and casual. Resort staffs take over sections of the beach for pickup soccer matches around sunset. Although the concentrated cluster of bungalows brings longtail boats roaring in and out of the heart of the beach all day, it's not too difficult to find a peaceful stretch of sand. From a position on the beach facing out to sea, turn right and walk a couple hundred feet to the end, then wade out around the little headland. The beach beyond is nearly abandoned. There's precious little difference between the four bungalow resorts at Railay; each consists of modern cottages lining a garden-like cement walkway running back from the beachfront. Railay Village Resort gets top marks if only because it tends to be the cheapest of the lot. The resorts are also the only games in town for meals (though there is a mini-mart/cybercafe where you can buy snacks). One drawback to Railay's being so far out in the boondocks is that prices for everything from lodging to bottled water are double or triple what you find on the islands. Don't let that discourage you from coming here. Even with the rates jacked up, things still seem inexpensive to most international travelers. The Retreat Ko Lanta A crowd of sign-waving Thai islanders standing three-deep greets ferries as they arrive in Lanta. It looks like a very confused protest rally, but each sign represents a different resort on the island. There's no public transportation on Lanta, so any hotel with vacancies sends an envoy to collect as many tourists as he can cram into the back of a miniature pickup truck. This may seem chaotic, but it works with surprising efficiency. And it's well worth putting up with to spend a few days on the most laid-back of the major ko. The west coast of Lanta is lined with an almost continuous string of bungalow resorts. Even so, it doesn't feel overdeveloped. The unbroken line of palm trees provides shade for wide, soft-sand beaches, and the single dirt access road that snakes down the island is sufficiently rutted and bumpy to give you the feeling you're way out in the sticks. Relax Bay is aptly named. Set back from a private beach amid lush gardens, the solid, wooden bungalows have fan-cooled rattan interiors, floors made of dark wooden slats, and colorful hammocks strung on every front porch. A bridge arches like a cat's back over a stream flowing through the property. The dining area is open on all sides, and a breeze gently ruffles the curtains around the massage mats set near the beach. In addition to the wooden tables and chairs on the beach, there's an old canopy bed out on the sand for lazing away the afternoon. Nightlife revolves around a campfire by the water. Just a few hundred feet up the beach from Relax Bay is the cheaper, funkier Lanta Marina Resort, a hodgepodge of cottages and bungalows run by a friendly woman named Nita. Her best bungalows--arranged around a U-shaped boardwalk--are built with loosely stacked branches. The wide gaps between them fill the rooms with a luminous play of light shafts on the gauzy mosquito netting around the beds. Nita describes it as traditional Thai construction and a primitive form of air-conditioning. There's little to "do" on Lanta other than rest, sip fruity drinks, endure endless massages, and wander the beach admiring the swirling patterns left by miniature sand crabs. What to know before you KO Getting to the islands: There's no need to book flights within Thailand ahead of time. Travel agencies litter the Bangkok backpacker enclave of Khao San Road and its parallel, Rambuttri, where you can pick up Bangkok Airways tickets--B.A. is cheaper and nicer than Thai Airways--to Samui ($90 one way) for the gulf islands or to Krabi or Phuket (each about $65 one way) for Railay, Phi Phi, and Lanta, on the Andaman Sea. Be ready to pay $2 to $10 in local currency for arrival and departure taxes at every airport. Buses and trains from Bangkok are cheaper but eat up at least 12 hours; plane trips are 90 minutes max. Island-hopping: Navigating between the islands is easy. Ferries ply the waters between popular isles several times daily for $5 to $10, and travel agents display routes and departure times. Short hauls that lack ferries are served by longtail boats--speedy, huge canoes with oversize motors roaring at the back--for $1 to $4. Flights between Samui and Krabi cost under $50. To get around the larger islands, songthaews (pickups and vans that act as public buses), tuk-tuks (three-wheel taxis), or scooter taxis cost a few bucks on any run. If you book a hotel in advance, they'll often pick you up at the airport or ferry dock. Communicating: English is widely spoken, though starting conversations with a greeting of sawat-dee and ending with a khowp khun (thank you) is always appreciated. Lodging: It may seem crowded--especially during high season, November through April--but don't panic. With rare exceptions, supply exceeds demand, and you can almost always find a room. Calling ahead ensures a better selection, however, so if your heart is set on that beachside bungalow, book a few days in advance. Air-conditioned rooms cost more than fan-cooled ones, but many people actually prefer fan rooms with mosquito netting on the beds. It's more relaxing when you can throw open the windows to tropical breezes and sounds of gentle surf rather than being in a sterile, musty room with A/C. Ko Samui Lodging The Island Chaweng Beach, 011-66/77-230-751, rft.co.th, $25--$35 with fan, $35--$83 with A/C Food Budsaba Restaurant Muang Kulay-pan Hotel, Chaweng Beach, 011-66/77-422-305 Activities Sea Safari Thailand 011-66/77-230-567, $45 all-day boat tour of Ang Thong Marine Park (snorkeling, sea kayaking, elephant ride) Ko Phi Phi Lodging PP Charlie Beach Resort Lo Dalum Bay, 011-66/75-620-595, ppcharlie.com, $30--$70 with A/C Maprao Hat Yao, 011-66/75-622-486, maprao.com, $8.75--$25 with fan Food Le Grand Bleu Ton Sai Bay, 011-66/1-893-5096 Jungle Bar Phi Phi Island Cabana Hotel, Lo Dalum Bay, no phone Ko Phangan Lodging Sun Cliff Hat Rin Nai, 011-66/77-375-134, $6.25--$18 with fan, $28--$35 with A/C Paradise Bungalows Hat Rin Nok, 011-66/77-375-244, $5--$10 with fan Food The Old Lamp Hat Rin Nok (south of Chicken Corner), no phone West Railay Beach Lodging Railay Village Resort Ao-Nang, 011-66/75-622-578, railayvillage@hotmail.com, $13--$20 with fan, $30--$63 with A/C Ko Lanta Lodging Relax Bay Phra-ae, 011-66/75-684-194, relaxbay.com, $18--$75 with fan, $33-- $45 with A/C Lanta Marina Resort Phra-ae, no phone, kolanta.net, $2--$23 with fan