Dollar Power

CARIBBEAN
Though rarely inexpensive, a trip to the Caribbean is an almost fail-safe way to protect your travel fund from losing its purchasing power because many islands have their currency pegged to the greenback or accept U.S. dollars as currency. While you'll pay in precious euros on St. Barts and St. Martin, you can pick from a long roster of other islands that use the East Caribbean dollar, which is fixed to our own. These include Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (see "32 If by Sea"). If that's not enough of a selection, the Cayman Islands dollar, the Netherlands Antillean guilder, and the Barbadian dollar have exchange rates fixed to the U.S. dollar. And even though they are British dependencies, the Turks and Caicos and the British Virgin Islands do business in U.S. currency.

Barbados
Currency: Barbadian dollar
Value US$1 today: 2.02
Value five years ago: 1.99
Percent Change: +1.5
Many small, inviting hotels can be found on the island's powdery West Coast beaches. One of our favorites is Little Good Harbour. Each of its 21 spacious cottages has Balinese-style furnishings and a private balcony, many with ocean views. The hotel's beachfront restaurant, the Fish Pot, is among the best on the island. Rates in winter aren't cheap, but from April through November, prices drop by more than $100, to $278 for a one-bedroom cottage (246-439-3000; littlegoodharbourbarbados.com; one-bedroom cottage, $391; entrées, $25–$45). The Barbados Wildlife Reserve offers the shade of old-growth mahogany trees and a glimpse of the island's illusive green monkeys (barbados.org/reserve.htm; adults, $12; children, $6).

Curaçao
Currency: Netherlands Antillean guilder
Value of US$1 today: 1.80
Value five years ago: 1.78
Percent Change: +1.1
An outpost of the Netherlands just off the coast of Venezuela, Curaçao has colorful colonial architecture and laid-back charm. On a ribbon of white sand bordering a cerulean sea, the Lodge Kura Hulanda and Beach Club has basic but elegant rooms and a beachfront restaurant (5999-839-3600; kurahulanda.com; doubles, $225).

St. Kitts and Nevis
Currency: East Caribbean dollar
Value US$1 today: 2.72
Value five years ago: 2.67
Percent Change: +1.9
The tiny twin-island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis is known for tropical forests framed by pristine white sand beaches. Guests at The Hermitage stay in comfortable gingerbread cottages surrounding the 270-year-old Great House (869-469-3477; hermitagenevis.com; doubles, $325–$450). Explore hidden waterfalls and volcanic vents on a two-hour island tour with local guides at Sunrise Tours (869-469-2758; nevisnaturetours.com; $25 per person).