SMART SPLURGE: Oahu, Hawaii
Nancy Emerson is a former champion Women’s World Tour competitor, sometime Hollywood stuntwoman, and owner of the Nancy Emerson School of Surfing, probably the best known surf school on the island. Top up the fantasy level with a stay at Waikiki’s legendary Halekulani resort (from $490/night). $400 to $1,575 for 5 days of lessons

GREAT VALUE: Nosara, Costa Rica
Surf threads purveyor Billabong gives Safari Surf School its official stamp of approval, and with good reason: Red Cross-certified staffers offer lessons at all skill levels at Playa Guiones, a wildlife refuge encompassing some of the country’s most surfable waters (expect waves between 4 and 10 feet during wet season, and between 3 and 8 feet throughout the dryer months). The camp hosts various packages, but the 7-day Tortuga Package includes the essentials – accommodations, daily lessons, airport transfers, breakfasts, and dinners. From $2,380 for 7 days