Hot Deal: Bangkok

BAR ON A BARGE Not enough time for an overnight jaunt? For a predinner cocktail with panache take a leisurely sunset cruise down the Chao Phraya in the Marriott's Manohra Moon. Nursing a cool drink in the comfortable embrace of rattan chairs, you can enjoy the City of Angels tinted pink by the setting sun. The daily cruise lasts about an hour and floats by some of the river's loveliest sights, from the serpent-shaped finials of the Grand Palace to the phallic silhouette of Wat Arun. At $8 for a glass of wine and another $11 for the cruise, it is one of the more expensive bars in Bangkok, but the ambience is unparalleled. To catch the Manohra, hop on the Marriott's free ferry from the Chao Phraya Express stop at Taksin Bridge. Call (66-2) 476-0022, extension 1416, for reservations.

ROW YOUR OWN BOAT Want to take the helm yourself? The folks at Thai Marine Leisure, based in Phuket, furnish an array of do-it-yourself boat vacations for all levels of experience. Choose from luxury charters complete with gourmet chefs and a professional crew, to rentals of bare boats, where would-be Ahabs can fulfill their own nautical fantasies by cooking, navigating, and swabbing the decks. Find them all on the Web at thaimarine.com, or call (66-7) 623-9111.