With the slumping economy and daily life stresses, wouldn't it be nice to afford a beach vacation? Good news -- the price to become a temporary castaway needn't break the bank. In fact, some of the planet's finest beach-lounging locales are pretty darn affordable. (And you better use up those miles before the airlines expire 'em all.) So join us with a piña colada and paperback!

Up Next: Ko Phi Phi

If you find a reasonable fare across the Pacific to Thailand, head to the Phi Phi islands. Clear green seas lap against golden shores where a massage, a cocktail, a plate of spicy noodles, and just about everything seems to only cost a few bucks. The hotels and restaurants are on Phi Phi Don island, whose two mountains are connected by a curving, palm-studded strip of sand. A sleek beachfront room at the island's Paradise Resort starts at $42! -- you'll look out over Phi Phi Leh, site of "The Beach" and still uninhabited and unspoiled. A wooden long-tail boat will ferry you across for a few dollars.
Up Next: St. John

Cove after perfect cove look as if they were carved by an ice-cream scoop, and the underwater snorkeling trails are as plentiful as the footpaths among crumbling sugar plantations. If the beaches seem familiar, it's because they're among the most photographed in the world, thanks to the condo-free shores and the sailboats bobbing in baby-blue waters. In the town of Coral Bay, buy bikinis from the "store" inside a VW bus, order cheeseburgers off an old windsurfing board, and fall asleep to crashing waves in a breezy beach cottage for as little as $70.

Up Next: Florida Keys

The sugar-soft sand and swaying silver palms might trick you into believing you've cruise-controlled all the way to the Caribbean, but this is Bahia Honda Key, Florida -- a 524-acre state park with a pristine stretch of coastline. In fact, it's pretty much the best beach in the Keys. Its state-owned status means the cost to stay here is a fraction of what you'll spend elsewhere -- try the park's Bayside Cabins. For those who need more action than just watching the waves, kayaks rentals are $10, and snorkeling trips inside the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary run less than $30 for three hours.
Up Next: Georgia Sea Islands

There is Sea Island, with suites that can run $5,000 a night, and then there are the rest of the sea islands, nuzzled against the Georgia coast and swaddled in soft, windswept beaches. On Tybee Island, just east of Savannah, three miles of sand and dunes see 70-plus-degree days from March through October, and the Crab Shack charges just $6.95 for crab stew and shrimp lunch specials. Tybee's Georgianne Inn is a beach house with free bikes and body boards. The seven comfy rooms and suites have wrought-iron headboards, wicker nightstands, and thick quilts; rooms 2 and 3 have the best views of the ocean.
Up Next: Los Roques

The isolated islands of Los Roques, in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Venezuela, contain all the ingredients for a first-class beach vacation: many deserted islets, a comfortable chair, an umbrella, a picnic, and a boat to whisk you around. Oh, and a charming waterfront posada to provide it all for you. We suggest Posada El Botuto, located on the only developed island in the chain, Gran Roque. We use the term "developed" lightly: It has no cars, for one thing, and the entire atoll is actually a large national park. If you're restless, you can also catch bonefish, kiteboard, snorkel, sail, and dive for botuto, or king conch.
Up Next: Cat Island

On most tropical islands, "rake and scrape" is what you do in the bottom of your purse after you get hit by hotel surcharges and overpriced rum drinks. On Cat Island, it's a type of Bahamian music you'll hear among the beach bars, as accessible as the coral-colored sands that fringe the island. Among the few accommodations on 46-mile long, fishhook-shaped Cat is Sammy T's resort, where seven redwood villas each have one or two bedrooms, air-conditioning, and a kitchenette. It sits on a pale pink beach known for its own distinct Bahamian sound: the pop of icy Kalik beers at noon.

Up Next: Samana Peninsula

January to March is prime whale-watching time in Samana Peninsula. Smart guests unpack in one of the 23 garden villas at Las Palmas and begin toasting themselves at the eight-mile-long Las Terrenas beach across the street. After relaxing, they have the chance to explore the rest of the 500-square-mile waterfall- and sand-strewn peninsula. Las Galeras has a $10 boat ride to Playa Rincon, where the eight-mile talcum-powder-soft beach belongs only to the coconut trees and the fish shacks ($2 for a fried seafood lunch).

Up Next: Anegada

More than 300 shipwrecks surround pancake-flat Anegada, but there's no need to dive for their booty when staying on this nine-mile-long British Virgin Island. That's because rooms at Neptune's Treasure have rock-bottom rates of $95 in the low season (April to December) and a whopping $15 more in the winter months. The nine color-splashed rooms are just 150 feet from the beach -- one of many that attract sailors and BVI aficionados to this island, along with beaches named Loblolly Bay, Cow Wreck Bay, and Flash of Beauty.

Up Next: Yelapa

This fishing village, on the Pacific coast 20 miles southwest of Puerto Vallarta, was once a hideout for Bob Dylan. Today, the roadless landscape -- think mountains and waterfalls -- preserves the artsy, condo-free vibe. In Yelapa, lime-kissed cervezas are around $2 and coconut pies, sold by strolling locals on the butter-colored beach, are the same price. Sleep in crisp white sheets under a thatched roof at Hotel Lagunita, a 32-room resort where even the creature comforts have hippie pricing.

Up Next: Kauai

Kauai is much less developed than Maui or Oahu, and its laid-back vibe extends to beach bum-friendly prices. Many surfers make for the southern shore and the prime summer breaks at Poipu Beach Park. Soft boards (best for beginners) rent for just $5 an hour, while a fiberglass board goes for a mere $80 a week. You'll find them at Nukumoi Surf Company, which also offers $75 lessons. Stay at Poipu Plantation, which has garden suites with air-conditioning and cheery tropical decor, for as low as $115 a night for two, including a breakfast of macadamia nut pancakes and guava French toast.

Up Next: St. Barths

When late spring arrives and people fly back to the Hamptons, the Vineyard, and Nantucket, St. Barths' 22 spectacular beaches stay right where they are. And those equally fabulous hotel prices plummet back to the reach of mere mortals. Meantime, the locals let loose with parties: April is the Caribbean Film Festival; July brings Bastille Day and volleyball contests; Boubou's Music Festival is in August. At Lorient Beach, on the island's north side, a coral reef protects aqua swimming waters; just off the sand lie the seven pretty blue-and-white bungalows of Hotel Les Mouettes. All of them have terraces and kitchenettes.

Up Next: Mozambique

Mozambique boasts 1,500 miles of sun-drenched, untouched coastline along the Indian Ocean. A few pricey lodges have staked a claim in the southern part of the country's coast, but the budget-minded know to book at Barra Lodge, a string of thatched huts between the ocean and an estuary in the province of Inhambane. Choose from the twin-bed casitas or three-bedroom cottages, which have fully outfitted kitchens to grill up the fish you can buy from locals. Horseback rides along the beach, arranged through the lodge, are just $25, while the pool, beach bar, and restaurant have the feel of a much pricier place.
Up Next: Costa Rica

Pura vida ain't so pura when you're paying through the nose for digs in a country once known for its down-to-earth vibe and prices. Happily, Costa Rica still has its rugged and relaxed corners, like the surf town of Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula. The best Pacific swells are during the rainy season, from May to December, when you'll also find discounts around town. Luz de Vida resort offers 10 to 15 percent off its already affordable rates. Built of wood to blend into the surrounding jungle, the property's beach bungalows are just steps away from the sand and the pool.

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