Details: Before the Soufriere Hills erupted, Montserrat was a ritzy place to vacation. But only the northern part of the island, with rain forests and black-sand beaches, survived unscathed. The southern half, including the capital of Plymouth, is now monochromatically caked in thick ash and mud, "a bit like an old sepia-tinted photo," said Gillian Norton, chief scientist at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory. Most everything had to be rebuilt from scratch. And that's not about to attract the big spenders anytime soon. Translation: A previously pricey Caribbean island is now rather affordable. The island is accessible only via hour-long ferry service or 15-minute helicopter rides from Antigua, 27 miles to the northeast. Most volcano-ruined sections can be entered between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. only, by government regulations.

Where to stay: The cottage-style Vue Pointe Hotel (664-491-5210; from $90) reopened Dec. 1 with views of the volcano. In 1999, out of reach of the volcano, the 18-room Tropical Mansion Suites (664-491-8767; from $119) debuted on the site of a historic sugar mill.

Info: Montserrat Tourist Board, 664-491-2230, www.visitmontserrat.com; Montserrat Aviation Services (for transport to the island), 664-491-2362; Montserrat Volcano Observatory, 664-491-5647, www.mvo.ms.

New Zealand

The island's other-worldly landscapes have drawn moviemakers to its countryside and shores, where a number of recent Hollywood flicks were filmed. Travelers who couldn't get enough of the scenes on the big screen are heading there in droves to see the real thing.

Details: With the aid of an RV rented in Auckland — New Zealanders and visitors on holiday are taking to them with zeal — you can head to Eastland to see the region where "Whale Rider" took place or go south to the farming province of Taranaki, where Tom Cruise's "Last Samurai" was recently filmed. But most cinema buffs are flocking to "Middle-earth" — the mythical home of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, which has become a Kiwi marketing gem thanks to more than 150 film locations nationwide. The set for Hobbiton is in Matamata, while giant battle scenes were fought in Queenstown. And fans will recognize volcanic Mount Ruapehu as the caldron-like Mount Doom, where the evil Sauron called home. Even if you want to avoid the Hollywood-style marketing, New Zealand by motor home is fun, with many campgrounds, easy-to-navigate roads and a big social network of other RVers.