It’s gorgeous, it’s tropical, it’s cheap. Any reason not to visit Thailand? (The few provinces hit by last December’s tragic tsunami are on the way to recovery, and the economy could use your tourist dollars.) Bangkok is a chaotic shopper’s paradise (teeming street markets, glam high-rise hotels, sleazy red-light district), and the most beautiful beaches in the world are a 40-minute flight away on Phuket.

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Stunning hotels abound in Thailand, and a strong exchange rate makes luxe options like The Peninsula Bangkok (almost) affordable. For other-worldly spa experiences, hit the Banyan Tree Bangkok and the trendy Como Shambhala at the Metropolitan. Nirvana awaits on Phuket at the Katathani Thani Resort & Spa on Kata Noi Beach where you can have a poolside massage or pedicure for less than $10.

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No need to overspend on meals; you could thrive on the Thai breakfast of fried rice and pad thai noodles. But then you’d miss telling the kids back home that you ate at Cabbages & Condoms in Bangkok, where they specialize in delicious curries and a safe-sex agenda. It’s a toss-up whether the best part of the inexpensive Baan Krating Jungle Beach resort in Khao Lak is the spicy green papaya salad or the stunning ocean view.

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In Bangkok, don’t miss The Jim Thompson House, the Southeast Asian decorative arts collection amassed by a former CIA operative who went MIA in 1967. His world-renowned namesake product line is sold in the gift shop. Score silk pillowcases, Starbucks, and a sex show at the infamous red-light Patong street market.

From Phuket, help with tsunami recovery by stocking up on candy-colored woven bags (great souvenirs) that the women in the village at Khao Lak are making for the cause. English-speaking volunteers can donate a few hours or a few days (teaching English, cooking classes, building furniture) through the Tsunami Volunteer Center.

That would Thai things up nicely.