Buat tgl 31 oktober. nvn

If You Go ...

Getting there: Garuda flies from Jakarta to Banda Aceh twice a day. The flight takes 2.5 hours with a 30-minute transit stop in Medan, North Sumatra.

Visitors can proceed directly from the airport to Ulee Lheue port in Banda Aceh by taxi (Rp 45,000). A fast ferry departs to Sabang for the 45-minute trip at 3 p.m. (Rp 35,000 economy class).

If you have hired a car, then take the ferry from Malahayati port in Banda Aceh to Balohan, a trip of about two hours.

At Balohan port, L-300 public transportation vans, seating up to 15 passengers, can take visitors to Sabang municipality or the tourist beaches. Fares range from Rp 14,000-Rp 20,000 per person, depending on the distance.

Where to stay: Sabang offers a variety of accommodation. IN Sabang municipality or its Kasih beach, hotels range from Rp 60,000-Rp 70,000 a night.

For Gapang beach, wooden cottages cost Rp 40,000-Rp 160,000 a night. There are also cottages specially designated for tourists and their families.

For those who like the simple and inexpensive life, a cottage at Iboih beach is Rp 15,000 a night.

Eats: Seafood is hard to find in Sabang; many restaurants went out of business from the sharp dropoff in tourists. Still, there are cheaper sidewalk restaurants. Or, try buying a few fish from local fishermen and cooking them on a spit on the beach. -- Nani Afrida