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A boulder-strewn cove in Colombia's Parque National Tayrona.
(Photo: Carlos Villalon/Redux) |
When a bottled water in London sets you back $5, an ordinary croque monsieur in Paris runs $15, and a dollar bill in Québec City buys only $1.02 CAN (thanks for nothing, Canada!), the appetite for international travel pretty much disappears. But it doesn’t have to. The Mexican peso has barely budged over the past five years; Belize politely pegs its dollar to ours at a two-to-one ratio; Ecuador now accepts only greenbacks; and even euro-zone countries are affordable, if you take a chance on group travel, or stay away from the major cities. We’ve gathered data on well-priced destinations in both hemispheres, from Argentina to Tunisia to Laos. Our list isn’t comprehensive�we left off Costa Rica, whose plunging currency has been canceled out by exploding tourism�and we kept in some countries, like Morocco, that are still great values in spite of their exchange rates. We asked an expert on European travel to recommend six dollar-friendly regions across the Atlantic. And because the most rewarding places don’t necessarily require a passport or a primer on international monetary policy, we suggest a few domestic getaways as well. A weak dollar shouldn’t mean a weak vacation.
- Mexico & Central America
- Yes, good exchange rates. But also spewing volcanoes, ultralight air tours, and languid afternoons, just you and your hammock.
- North Africa
- The ruins! The souks! The windsurfing! Take a breezy, aromatic, culturally rich escape to the top of the continent.
- Closer to Home
- No customs hassles, no confusing coinage, no pocket translators, no currency calculators. Just bring a debit card and a sense of adventure.
- South America
- Sip Malbecs in the foothills of Mendoza, walk Incan flagstones in the Bolivian Andes, and pick up some new moves in Medellín.
- Southeast Asia
- Nowhere else does such postcard perfection (jungle waterfalls, black-sand beaches, Buddha-filled caves) come so cheap.
- The Continent, Off the Grid
- An expert picks six European jaunts with a high luxury-to-cost ratio.