Where Does Your Dollar Stretch Farthest Right Now?
The U.S. dollar has gained 37 percent against Costa Rica's currency over the past five years. Oceanview rooms at Costa Rica's Arenas del Mar Beach & Nature Resort, a property on Conde Nast Traveler's Hot List, start at $200.
Photo: Arenas del Mar
by Wendy Perrin
Sorry I've been incommunicado the past few days. Between compiling my annual list of the Top Travel Specialists for Conde Nast Traveler's upcoming August issue, working on our (also now annual) August-issue cruise booklet, and creating a (hopefully not annual) major online contest with multiple cool giveaways that will happen here on this blog starting mid-June (stay tuned), I have not had one single second even to write a Perrin Report for the July, August, or September issues, much less post tips here daily. All of you who've posted "Ask Wendy" questions here within the past week, please be patient as I try to carve out five minutes to answer them. Meanwhile . . .
Where on earth can you go this summer that won't break the bank?! That was the topic yesterday on The Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC Radio--our beloved NPR station here in the New York area--where I'm the guest every Thursday morning in May as part of its month-long series on travel. I'm gonna assume you don't have time to listen to the show, so here's a short list of countries where the exchange rate is currently relatively decent:
The Americas: Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, and any Caribbean countries that use the U.S. dollar (British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos) or the East Caribbean dollar (Anguilla, Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, etc).
Europe: Eastern European countries that do not use the euro (especially Romania), countries such as Croatia and Turkey that will be adopting the euro within the next few years (go NOW, before they become unaffordable!!), Switzerland (where your dollar equals 1.05 Swiss francs), Leichtenstein (which also uses the Swiss franc), Portugal (because it's relatively cheap, despite the euro). And any of you Conde Nast Traveler subscribers who've already received our June issue know how cheap my recent villa rental in Spain was (again, despite the euro).
Asia: Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos.
The Middle East: Egypt, Jordan, Syria.
Obviously this list isn't exhaustive, but at least it should provide a few affordable vacation ideas. If you've recently traveled in a country that you found to be a bargain, whatever the exchange rate, please click on "Comments" below and tell us, so that others can benefit from learning where you went and how you made it affordable. And if you haven't read Conde Nast Traveler's February 2008 article "Dollar Power," be sure to do so before choosing your summer vacation destination.
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Nicaragua, it's the "new" Costa Rica! I went to the Corn Islands in December and had plenty of cheap lobster and rum. Planning to go to Portugal this summer and have found plenty of bargains so far. Not cheap? Ireland, I am still smarting over my trip there last summer, I think it's the most expensive place I've been yet. Northern Ireland was quite affordable, even on the pound, and Belfast and Derry are very cool cities.
Posted by: Meggiesl | May 16, 2008 at 09:35 AM
Eastern Europe is a bargain! Please don't forget about Poland! The currency is the Zloty and although it's value has also risen against the dollar, Poland is still an exceptional value. The best hotels in the major cities (Krakow, Warsaw, Gdansk) often come in under $400 per night for the top picks. The four-star hotels are an even better value, often ending up just shy of $300 per night inclusive of tax and breakfast. Meals are a great bargain and sightseeing is relatively inexpensive. The entire country is linked by reliable, if not luxurious, rail service and people are friendly and welcoming.
Posted by: travelergwen | May 16, 2008 at 10:30 AM
seems to me... the one giant issue your "tip" ignores is the major increase in air travel. Fine, if you can GET to the destination, but a huge expense is the "getting" there. Airlines across the board are offering fewer flites, smaller planes that are PACKED with passengers, but are charging MORE because they can. Smaller airplanes cost less to fuel but have less space for the passengers. It's pretty well known that airlines DO NOT make $$$ on humans in the cabin. They make their $$ on cargo in hole. As the price of jet fuel skyrockets... expect summer travel to jet upwards... so, if you can afford the price of a ticket - you may have some funds left for the cheaper food & hotel.
Posted by: deannadv | May 16, 2008 at 12:18 PM
I stayed at Arenas del Mar a few months ago, and while it's a great bargain right now, the food in Costa Rica is decidedly not. My mother and I regularly rang up tabs of $30 on lunch for two, eating pizza and pasta that was mediocre at best (there's not a large restaurant culture among locals, and Italian is the most popular tourist cuisine). The local "sodas" are much cheaper, but be careful where you eat; though people say the food and water are safe in Costa Rica, I got sick.
Bottom line: Costa Rica can be a bargain these days, budget generously for food.
Posted by: BrookWilkinson | May 16, 2008 at 05:49 PM
Most Americans do not know what a great destination that Turkey is. It is very beautiful, super cheap, great food, more ruins than Italy or Greece, more luxurious than much of Europe and the best hospitality in the world.
It is very easy to book on your own. It has been one of our favorite countries on our world tour.
We also spent over 45 days in Croatia last year and it is very special as well, but not as cheap. There are actually similarities between the two.
Nearby Montenegro is also cheap and very beautiful, especially bay of Kotor.
Spain is a fantastic bargain if your timing is right, especially rural southern Spain in the sunny winter.
Stay longer and staying in more rural areas helps greatly with costs too.
Posted by: Soultravelers3 | May 16, 2008 at 08:31 PM
I recommend readers keep their money in the USA and visit Southern Oregon. It reminds me of the Napa Valley 20 years ago.
I stayed at Jacksonville Inn and visited several Applegate Valley wineries. Then off to Steamboat Inn on the gorgeous Umpqua River. I drove scenic route 42 to Tu Tu Tun Lodge in Gold Beach. Take the jet boat up the Rogue River or visit Zane Grey's cabin; after all YOU own it! It was recently purchased by the Trust for Public Land and sold to the US Bureau of Land Management.
Finally, I drove along the gorgeous Smith River, crossing in and out of the California border and landing in Ashland, Oregon. I stayed at the Winchester Inn and walked a block and a half to watch Shakespeare's "Mid Summer's Night Dream." Anyone with teenagers having a hard time grasping Shakespeare will LOVE this hippy version of the play. It was excellent.
Posted by: WhataTrip | May 19, 2008 at 06:08 PM