Take Her Away

ROMANTIC GETAWAYS ARE OFTEN ANYTHING BUT. HERE'S HOW TO BEAT THE FIVE BIGGEST VACATION BUZZ KILLS.

She wants Maui sun; you'd rather explore Roman ruins.

THE FIX "Find somewhere you'll both be thrilled to visit," says Reid Bramblett, founder of the trip-planning Web site reidsguides.com. (He suggests the Mayan Riviera as a solution to the duel above.) Trumping or caving in to her plans will create tension that can fester during the trip.

THE FINISHING TOUCH Set aside time to enjoy day trips or events solo; recap over dinner.

You're going on a 3-day vacation; she packs for 2 weeks.

THE FIX Instead of complaining about her cargo, help her control the two biggest variables: weather and occasion. Provide her with a week's worth of forecasts and a List of activities, and she'll be less likely to overpack.

THE FINISHING TOUCH Ship her luggage ahead using FedEx ground; you'll pay only $17 on a 20-pound bag. Lighten your own luggage with the checklist at reidsguides.com.

You'd like to whisk her away, but you can't foot the bill.

THE FIX Spring for day trips or dinners, but agree on the larger expenses before you leave, says Dan Neuharth, Ph.D., a marriage therapist in San Francisco. And create a trip fund to cover airfare and hotel.

THE FINISHING TOUCH Let your chivalry shine in more-romantic ways: Call ahead to the concierge to arrange to have champagne and flowers waiting in your hotel room.

A frenzied departure schedule threatens to sour your takeoff.

THE FIX Polish off preparations at least 24 hours before your flight leaves. And avoid flights before 10 a.m., when traffic is worst, suggests Bramblett. Arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes early and kill time separately--by looking at magazines at a kiosk or getting lost in a book.

THE FINISHING TOUCH Schedule a car or limo service for pickup and arrival. You'll avoid the hefty long-term parking fees, and the driver's blaring horn makes for an effective backup alarm clock.

You're in Mexico. You're lost. No hablas español.

THE FIX Forget Berlitz. "Just mention the biggest, most famous spot in town and slap a question mark at the end," says Bramblett. Or grab your hotel's business card when you head out for the day. Show it to a cabbie and he'll get you home.

THE FINISHING TOUCH Learn six phrases in the country's language: "Yes," "No," "Please," "Thank you," "Excuse me," and "Do you speak English?" Foreigners are much more likely to help if they see you're attempting their native tongue.

By Matt Bean

Score a second, home

Waterfront property doesn't come cheap--in the United States, at least. The best deals on entry-level dream vacation homes are outside our borders, says Tim Leffel, author of Make Your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune. Five leads:

Bay Islands, Honduras

An acre of land with panoramic Caribbean views on Roatan, the largest island, recently sold for just $39,000. Smaller neighboring islands offer even deeper discounts.
Why buy here?

White sand; coral reefs; tropical, forests; weekly direct flights from Houston, Atlanta, and Miami
Cabarete, Dominican Republic

A two-bedroom condominium in this Caribbean paradise went for $100,000 recently, while a quarter acre of undeveloped land on the beach in neighboring Sousa fetched $76,000.
Why buy here?

Three hours from New York airports; great snorkeling; vibrant nightlife
Punta Gorda, Belize

Belize boasts a 180-mile-long barrier reef, the second largest in the world. Five acres near this sleepy fishing and farming village will, run about $180,000; you'll be front and center for the annual chocolate festival,
Why buy here?

Limestone caves; rain forests; tropical birds; Mayan ruins; great fishing
Black Sea coast, Bulgaria

Situated just above Greece and Turkey, Bulgaria has 220 miles of nearly untouched beaches along its Black Sea coast. "These were communist beach towns that the Russians used to visit," says Leffel.
Why buy here?

Stable democracy; growing economy; unrivaled growth potential
Saskatchewan

A stew of tiny lakes in this province have a backwoods feel, without being too remote. Lakefront properties--near Saskatoon, population 220,000--start as low as $50,000 for raw land and $75,000 for summer cottages.
Why buy here?

English-speaking; close to airport; solid protection-of-property rights

FIVE BEACHFRONT ACRES NEAR THE SECOND-LARGEST REEF IN THE WORLD COSTS $180,000.
YOU'RE SO MONEY

Q WILL MY FIANCÉE'S BAD CREDIT RATING AFFECT MINE ONCE WE'RE MARRIED?
Marco, San Jose, TX

Only if you take out a loon together. Keep your credit clean by applying solo for oar and house loans, unless you want to form a tong-term credit union. In that case, do damage control Open a joint credit-card account, use it as your primary account, pay on time, and keep the balance tow, Her credit could improve in as tittle as 3 years and be clean in less than 7, according to credit rater Experian.

I MISSED THE HOUSING BOOM. CAN I STILL STRIKE?
Luke, Arlington Heights, IL

Sometimes it makes sense to take the plunge when no one else wants to. I like the Web site ziprealty.com, which flags homes where nervous sellers have cut their prices, Make sure the mortgage payment is affordable--no more than the third of your gross pay. And make sure you plan on staying put for at least 5 years. That's enough time to ride out most short-term market corrections.
TIME-SHARES VS. FRACTIONALS

Want a more established getaway? We compare your two cheapest options.

A

B

WHAT YOU'RE BUYING

A week or 2 in an apartment or villa in a large condo complex with high turnover

A house or villa with friends or strangers, using a Realtor

AVERAGE ONE-TIME COST

$15,000. But deals as much as 25 percent cheaper can be had by buying directly from owners

$164,000

OTHER COSTS

Between $500 end $1,000 in annual fees

Annual maintenance: between 3 and 5 percent of your total share price

PLUSES

Flexibility: You can trade your week for another spot anywhere in the world.

Up to 2 months of R & R. Plus, as a partial owner, you cash in when the property appreciates.

MINUSES

Use it or lose it. "Chances are it will depreciate," says Howard Nusbaum, president and CEO of the American Resort Development Association.

You're locked into one vacation spot, and the other owners can be a negative. Hire an attorney to help draft your contract and request credit checks.

By Matt Krantz