Save By Visiting Countries Where The Dollar Is Strong

If you're the kind that's driven by wanderlust, a cultural, literary, historical and gastronomical vacation to the Baltic, Israel, South Asia, the Far East or South America might be the perfect thing to do.

Despite the economic downturn in the U.S., you could get more for your money by traveling to countries where the U.S. dollar is stronger than the local currency. One U.S. dollar is worth 11.86 Estonian kroons, 2.61 Lithuanian litas, 45.05 Indian rupees, 72.08 Nepalese rupees, 6.65 Chinese yuan and 30.07 Thai baht.

In May of this year, Susan Honeyman, a resident of New Haven, traveled with her husband Len to Israel. "Israeli workers are paid roughly the same number of shekels as Americans are paid in dollars, but with the U.S. dollar reaping between 3.5 and 4 new Israeli shekels (NIS), my dollars went pretty far, especially for prepared food.  Restaurant meals are very reasonable and generally offer the quality, hygiene and service standards Americans expect. On a tight budget, though, the street food – especially falafel stuffed into a flat pita and overflowing with salads, sliced vegetables, tahina and even French fries and shwarma are good choices," said Honeyman.

The couple stayed in guesthouses at Jerusalem and Safad for less than $100 per night, visiting historic and religious sites, museums, beaches and parks.

"I've ridden camels, hiked to the clear pools of Ein Gedi and rowed a boat off Eilat. When I had more time than budget, I took buses. You can get anywhere in the country inexpensively that way.  But tours are the best way to see a lot in a very short time and every guide I've traveled with has been wonderfully knowledgeable," she said.

Dr. Jayapriya Krishnaswamy of Farmington traveled to India in May, where she visited Kerala, known among the locals as god's own country, and the ancient caves at Ellora in Maharashtra, a UNESCO World Heritage Conservation site.  

"The purchasing power of the dollar helped tremendously during our visit earlier this year. The money we cough up for a 3-star accommodation within the U.S. can typically fetch a 6-star accommodation in India," she said.

Krishnaswamy and her husband rented a houseboat in the Allepey region of Kerala where the river meets the calm waters of the Arabian Sea. For $120 per night, the couple's accommodation included regional cuisine prepared by a private chef. "We lay down on soft mattresses on the deck and gazed at the stars as our boat glided by on the waters," she said. "We also rented an SUV with a chauffer and toured part of Kerala by road for around $300."

She described her visit to Ellora as a "once in a lifetime experience." Located near Aurangabad in the state of Maharashtra, the caves – dated between 600 AD and 1000 AD, consist of 34 Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monasteries and temples carved on the stonewalls of a basalt cliff.

She estimates that a vacation in Kerala and Ellora, including airfare to India and local accommodation, would cost about $4,000 per couple.

Another location where your dollar could go farther is South America, although the value of these currencies has risen steadily. One U.S. dollar is worth 2.82 Peruvian nuevo sol, 4.29 Venezuelan bolivar fuerte and 12.45 Mexican peso.

"That's where some of the best deals are right now," said Max Aly, a senior executive at SITA World Tours. "Countries like Peru, Brazil and Argentina have adjusted their prices by around 10 percent to compensate for an increase in the value of local currencies. Taking into account minimum standards and seasonality, a seven-day trip to Peru, including airfare, hotel accommodation and site seeing, would cost under $2,000 per person. Family packages offer good deals."

Aly suggests that travelers book their flights in advance to lock in the best rates. "The biggest factor is airfare – the earlier you book, the better," he said.

Pam Scheinfeldt of East Hartford, who went on a 12-day vacation to Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania in the Baltic in June of this year, also suggests booking flights in advance. "You do get more for your dollar there. Plus we went with a group, so we got discounted rates on hotel and site-seeing," she said. "It was beautiful. The cities are very old and built of stone. I'd like to go there again."

Members of the motor club AAA could obtain better deals on travel packages both within the U.S. and abroad.

Debra Creighton, a travel consultant at AAA in Manchester, said travel from the Greater Hartford region to Mexico had decreased on the heels of security concerns. The U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning to Mexico in light of local developments, although it assures travelers that resort areas and tourist destinations "do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime reported in the border region and in areas along major drug trafficking routes."

Creighton said hotels rates in Mexico have fallen by around 10 percent and the Yucatan peninsula region – where the Mayan archeological sites are located – is popular among American tourists.

"Cancun is where we recommend people to go. The best time to is between November and May, it's beautiful there," she said. "The prices are reasonable. For example at the end of January 2011, a trip to Cancun for four nights including airfare and accommodation for two people costs under $2,000."

So set forth and travel the world while making the most of a U.S. dollar. As Mark Twain said: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."