October 22, 2008 - Getting warm sand between your toes this winter can be done on a budget if you're willing to trade 300 thread count cotton sheets and air conditioning for a nylon sleeping bag and mosquito netting. St. John in the US Virgin Islands is a true white-sand-turquoise-blue-water paradise with average high/low of 83F/72F in January. The majority of the island is incorporated in the Virgin Islands National Park and all of the beaches are open to the public (with the exception of the few areas where there is private beachfront property). Snorkeling, kayaking, fishing and wind sports are popular activites. But the best thing is perhaps just hanging out in a hammock beside a gorgeous beach. You can lay your head down in style at the Westin where the lowest cost mid January room is $569/night. Or, if you don't mind a few mosquito bites, sharing a bathroom and sleeping in a tent you set up yourself, you can stay for as little as $30/night at the campground at Cinnamon Bay.

Cinnamon Bay has a devoted following of vacationers who have returned year after year for decades.The bay itself edges along 1 mile of beachfront, the longest beach on St. John. Three types of campground accommodations are available ranging from baresite camping ($30/night) to basic cottage (up to $155/night). All offer outdoor grills and picnic tables. Many are located next to the beach under palm trees. Bathroom facilities are shared. The onsite restaurant called T'ree Lizards offers a classic American breakfast of scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, coffee and orange juice for $9.95, a lunchtime veggie wrap for $9.95 and dinner of blackened yellow fin tuna for $19.95. The general store sells almost everything you might need including sundries, food and beverages (including alchoholic ones). A watersports concession rents windsurfing equipment, kayaks and mountain bikes. There's good snorkeling close to shore.

Getting there: Round trip one-stop flights between Boston and St. Thomas can currently be had for $345 per person (USAir). A forty minute $11.10 (one way) ferry ride takes you from Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas to St. John's Cruz Bay. From Cruz Bay two people can take a taxi to Cinnamon Bay for $14.