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Created by SusanVillasLewis (contact me)
Basic gal from the Dallas area who has a lot to say!!
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Have passport, will travel - some place I can afford!!
Yikes!! Have you priced a trip to Europe lately? Even closer-to-home stand-bys like Canada aren't looking like too much of a bargain thanks to the weakened dollar - unless you want to take a cut-rate trip and who wants to wonder if clean sheets are included in the cost of the hotel? As the dollar drops against other major currencies, the relative prices in Europe have risen, making that dream vacation touring the castles and museums just a little out of reach.
Since my dreams of Italy this year have started evaporating, I started looking for a place to visit where the dollar is still strong and I can get - if not a bargain - at least luxury at a reasonable rate. Travel Leisure magazine choose the following as among the best places to consider as an alternative to that traditional Western Europe trip if you still want to go overseas.
Several of these places are appealing to me, not only because of the potential travel value, but also because one of my favorite TV shows - The Amazing Race - has been to many of them, so I've had a sneak peek at what awaits.
Eastern Europe * Hong Kong * Vietnam * New Zealand * The Mediterranean * South America * The Bahamas * Mexico * Western Europe Rivers * London
Contents at a Glance
Your Best Local Guide
My favorite guidebooks are the line from Lonely Planet because they include so much information on things outside of the norm for tourists. So while I've included other guidebooks on this page, I've highlighted the main Lonely Planet one you'd need for the different destinations. (You can also get language guides and maps while you're visiting the Lonely Planet Shop
.)
And through the end of March, you can get a free copy of the Bluelist with any $40 purchase. The third edition of Lonely Planet's best-selling annual title unveils the world's hottest trends, destinations, journeys and experiences!
Eastern Europe
What Travel+Leisure has to say:
Why It's a Bargain: These non-euro nations have been value central for Americans for a long time-and these days they're even more so.
Where to Stay: To see just how hot (and hip) Croatia has become, check out the sleek Arcotel Allegra in Zagreb, where rates start at $126 a night. For a classic old-world experience, stay at the Imperial Hotel in Prague, an Art Deco jewel that was recently refurbished; a nightly rate including value-added tax (VAT) starts at $191 (420/246-011-600; www.hotel-imperial.cz).
What to Buy: For all the money you're saving, treat yourself to a future heirloom: crystal is an excellent buy in this part of the world-especially in Prague, where you can buy cut-crystal vases or bowls for as little as $40.
Lonely Planet: Eastern Europe
Fancy lazing on the beaches of the stunning Adriatic coast? Want to be awed by Soviet architecture in the former Eastern bloc or live it up in hedonistic cities from Tallinn to Tirana? Eastern Europe is changing fast so keep pace with this, the only guide to the whole of the region. This guide covers: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia & Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia & Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the Ukraine.
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Europe String
Just recently discovered this blog full of tips and bargains for those who are still planning to travel to Europe.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byFun Fact:
45.8% of Americans intend to take a vacation in 2008, down just a tad from 46.4% a year ago.
Hong Kong
What Travel+Leisure has to say:
Why It's a Bargain: This city has always been Western-friendly in terms of culture, and with its dollar and the Chinese yuan both loosely tied to the U.S. dollar, it's economically friendly too.
Where to Stay: Overlooking the South China Sea, Hong Kong Island's Le Meridien Cyberport has that oh-so-Hong Kong mix of elegance and techno-hipness, with rates starting at about $200 a night. If you crave those stunning harbor-and-skyline views, the Peninsula-known for its cool airport transfers-offers a "Value Experience" package that starts at $410 a night, which includes a daily fruit basket as well as breakfast for two every morning in its aristocrat-worthy lobby.
What to Buy: You'll roll your eyes at tea bags once you've sampled good Chinese tea here, made from loose leaves or hockey-puck-like cakes. Tea salons here offer tastings the way wineries do in Napa, but the prices are better. You can bring home a flavorful green, oolong, or pu-erh tea for less than $10.
Lonely Planet: Hong Kong
There are so many ways to look at Hong Kong. Get up on the Peak to take in a shimmering panorama of city lights, get down in the streets to trace the layers of its history, watch the streets from over the rim of your noodle bowl. Then head to Macau to see what happens when Chinese and Portuguese cultures meet. Guide includes all points of interest in Cantonese script to help with asking directions, coverage of Macau and instructions for gaining entry to private kitchens.
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Fun Fact:
63 million Americans travel abroad each year
New Zealand
What Travel+Leisure has to say:
Why It's a Bargain: This South Pacific nation has been hot for years, but it still hasn't gotten too pricey; one New Zealand dollar costs Americans just 77 cents.
How to Go: With lush rolling hills, fjords, and glaciers-terrain that Lord of the Rings-lovers know as Middle Earth-this is a great country to take in by foot. U.S.-based outfitter Country Walkers offers a 10-day "South Island Splendor" trip; you'll hike, kayak, and taste local wines; rates start at $4,198, with all meals included (800/464-9255; www.countrywalkers.com). If you come here solo, it's hard to argue with Hotel So in Christchurch. Rooms may be petite, but they're enticingly crisp and contemporary in an IKEA sort of way, with flat-screen TV's and free wireless-plus rates start at a staggering $68 a night for a double (64-3/968-5050; www.hotelso.co.nz).
What to Buy: New Zealand greenstone-a semiprecious stone called pounamu by the native Maori-resembles jade, and goes for about $15 for a simple necklace. If you really want to dazzle (or freak out) folks back home, bring them some merinomink gloves for about $20. They're incredibly warm, thanks to the fact that they are made of, yes, local possum fur.
Lonely Planet: New Zealand
The sun shows up here first for a reason. Come for bracing light or caverns underground, glacial valleys or black volcanic sand. Tour every landscape on earth, all rolled into one country. Dig for pipis on the beach, or sample oysters on a platter. Savour solitude with a view, or city culture. Things are never just black and white in New Zealand.
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Traveling on a weak dollar
General tips for finding a great place to visit while the dollar is weak
- Note that the exchange rate may make the actual charge to your credit card higher than what you booked a hotel or excursion for.
- Look for a country with a more forgiving exchange rate than the Euro or pound.
- Buy American for your trip - book with a U.S. based tour company or cruise line so you can pay everything up front in dollars.
- Generally, the best overseas value is with cruising, especially river cruising in Europe.
- Package trips help you nail down a lot of costs up front, again by pre-paying in dollars.
- Look for unconventional locales (if you can handle the unbeaten path).
- Don't choose your destination based solely on exchange rates. You can also make a trip affordable by getting a great deal on airfare or hotel rates.
- Value is what you're looking for. If the dollar is strong but the country still developing, the amenities and service might be poor and your security might be an issue. Saving a few dollars isn't worth the unnecessary stress. (This is supposed to be a vacation, after all!)
(Want a few more tips? Check out this post on Guerilla Shopper.)
Fun Fact:
International hot spots for '08 include Beijing; Central America; Italy, Eastern Europe and Lisbon, Portugal.
Vietnam
What Travel+Leisure has to say:
Why It's a Bargain: Like most currencies in Southeast Asia, the Vietnamese dong is still cheap compared with the U.S. dollar.
How to Go: Especially for first-time visits, a package tour can offer good structure and compound your value. Globus (866/755-8581; www.globusjourneys.com) offers a 14-day Vietnam-and-Cambodia tour starting at $3,119. If you want to go a little more upscale, check out Asia Transpacific Journeys' four 17-day itineraries throughout the year, starting at $4,995 person; you'll be put up in plush hotels like Hanoi's T+L 500 winner Sofitel Metropole and kept busy hiking, riding bikes, and sometimes even meeting with former royals (800/642-2742; www.asiatranspacific.com).
What to Buy: The silk trade here puts a special emphasis on beautifully embroidered-and wonderfully affordable-clothing. You can buy a quality silk scarf for as little as $5, or have a jacket made for about $20.
Lonely Planet: Vietnam
Want cities? Slurp down steaming pho in a street stall, toff up in a tailored suit, negotiate head-on traffic in a flimsy cyclo. Want nature? Get your fill of green in endless rice paddies, cool down in the mountains, laze on South China beaches. Want the best on Vietnam? Get yourself this guide. Includes interviews with locals, tips on how to escape the tourist trail and a special chapter on hill tribes with information on how to travel responsibly.
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Fun Fact:
Lonely Planet, the guidebook publisher, picked the U.S. as its No. 1 destination for 2008.
South America
What Travel+Leisure has to say:
Why It's a Bargain: These nations' currencies-particularly Argentina's, Chile's, and Brazil's-have stayed within reach of the dollar.
How to Go: If you equate "group tour" with "herd," check out Globus's Monograms trips, which lay out your vacation but then set you free: the 11-day "South American Selection" trip hits Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls, and Buenos Aires, and prices start at around $1,600 per person (866/270-9841; www.monogramstravel.com).
What to Buy: In Buenos Aires, leather goods are gorgeous, plentiful, and surprisingly economical: you can find good gloves for as little as $10, or have a jacket custom-made for about $150.
Lonely Planet: Buenos Aires
Cheer at a heart-racing soccer match then tango till dawn at a steamy milonga. People-watch from a century-old cafe and feast on the most succulent beef imaginable. From the most authentic parrillas to the hippest shopping streets, our native-born author un-covers all the local secrets. Get the inside scoop with this smart, stylish guide to the 'Paris of the South.'
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Fun Fact:
The State Department issued a record 18.4 million passports in fiscal year 2007, compared to 12.1 million in 2006.
The Mediterranean
That said, Wendy Perrin at Conde Nast Traveler recently took exception to the idea of cruises as a bargain (or good) way to see Europe. She makes some great points. You decide.
What Travel+Leisure has to say:
Why It's a Bargain: If you travel the area by cruise ship-one of the best ways to see it anyway-you'll prepay in dollars and then pop into both euro- and non-euro-based countries.
How to Go: Plenty of cruise lines serve the Mediterranean, but Holland America offers a 10-day "Roman Empire" cruise that starts at $1,399 per person; it includes, of course, Rome, along with Greece, Sicily, Turkey, and Croatia. And during periodic "View and Verandah" sales, you can get a free cabin upgrade (877/724-5425; www.hollandamerica.com). You can usually even find deals with the high-end cruise lines: Silversea, for one, is offering a 30 percent discount on its Athens-to-Venice itinerary, which has you docked in Venice for the better part of two full days (starts at $4,546; 800/722-9955; www.silversea.com).
What to Buy: In Greece, pick up a Panathenaic amphora-a ceramic jug modeled after those once awarded at the Panathenaic games (an ancient alternative to the Olympics). These classic vessels go for anywhere from $25 to $250.
Lonely Planet: Mediterranean Europe
Who can resist the lure of the Mediterranean? The brilliant hues of sun, sea and sand in the Ionians, sangria sipped under the stars in Barcelona or the gastronomic delights of the Cote d'Azur. Sample the Mediterranean lifestyle with this inspirational guide to southern Europe. This guide covers: France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Albania, Montenegro, Cyprus, Malta, Turkey and Morocco.
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Fun Fact:
Thirty percent of Americans now hold passports, up from 27%.
Making Your Travel Plans
Find airfare, hotel, cruise and package deals at Travelocity
One of my first steps in doing any travel planning is to get on Travelocity to check fares, hotel options and book travel. I've found over the years that it's a great place to find package deals. One year, we went to San Francisco on a package that got us airfare and three nights hotel for only $20 more than the cost of the airfare alone. Can't beat that!!
Mexico
What Travel+Leisure has to say:
Why It's a Bargain: The peso is doing better than it used to-but, well, it's still the peso, so deals abound.
Where to Stay: Ixtapa's Club Med-the area's first resort when it opened in 1982-has now been renovated with bold, contemporary decor, and lots of family-friendly amenities (including a circus school for kids-trapeze lessons, anyone?). When a renovation is completed in March 2008, there will be nearly 300 rooms and 60 family suites, with all-inclusive packages starting at $200 a night per adult, and up to 70 percent off for kids. Other packages give kids a free pass altogether (888/932-2582; www.clubmed.com).
What to Buy: Guerrero, the state where Ixtapa is located, is a veritable silver mine-and you can buy a piece of jewelry starting at $5.
Lonely Planet: Mexico
Sensuous and seductive, Sensuous and seductive, Mexico's rich cultural traditions and raw, untamed natural beauty transcend the ages. Trample through jungles and high-plains deserts, explore ancient rites at mysterious Maya and Aztec ruins, or simply stretch out on a honey-kissed beach until mañana comes - find your own 'querido Mexico' with this informed, comprehensive guide.
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Fun Fact:
Travel by U.S. residents in the first nine months of this year was up 8% to Central America and 7.6% to South America, according to the Commerce Department.
The Bahamas
What Travel+Leisure has to say:
Why It's a Bargain: Their dollar is pegged to our dollar, and in some spots you can even use greenbacks. To keep your bottom line really steady, stay at an all-inclusive resort, where you'll prepay for meals and even some drinks.
Where to Stay: Our Lucaya on Grand Bahama is actually two resorts in one-a Sheraton and Westin that share three pools, two golf courses, a kids' club, and seven-plus acres of sandy beach. If you want extra value (and more all-inclusive options), stay on the Sheraton side (866/837-4186; www.sheraton.com), where all-inclusive nightly rates start at $295 per couple.
What to Buy: Cuban cigars have long been a treat for visiting Americans, with the sad hitch that you can't bring any back to the U.S. For an embargo loophole, look for Graycliff cigars (www.graycliff.com) while you're here: they cost up to $20 each and are made by Cuban craftsmen who live in the Bahamas, making the stogies a perfectly legal souvenir to tote home.
Lonely Planet: Bahamas, Turks & Caicos
Discover the treasures of these storied islands, where Columbus first landed and pirates once plundered. Sail glowing turquoise seas, kayak through mangroves, swim with docile stingrays or take a romantic stroll along a pink-sand beach. Our inspiring guide brings you beyond the tourist resorts to deserted cays and friendly fishing villages for an authentic island experience.
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Fun Fact:
Travel to Asia by U.S. residents was up 8.6% the first nine months of 2007. China was the 10th most visited country in 2006 by Americans traveling abroad, according to the Commerce Department.
Western Europe's Rivers
What Travel+Leisure has to say:
Why It's a Bargain: Gliding down the waterways of Europe lets you take in all the scenery and culture while keeping most of your expenses in dollars.
How to Go: Avalon Waterways covers Europe by way of the Danube, the Moselle, the Rhine, and the Rhone. This spring the small-ship line is launching a new 138-passenger ship, the Scenery-which, despite being petite, offers travelers the obligatory pool as well as niceties such as Egyptian-cotton sheets and flat-screen TV's. Its 11-day "Flavors of Burgundy and Provence" goes from Paris to Nice along the Rhone, and includes hotels at each end as well as stops in Arles, Avignon, and the Chardonnay area; passengers also receive onboard wine tutorials to help guide onshore tastings. Rates start at $2,059 per person (877/797-8791; www.avalonwaterways.com).
What to Buy: While ashore in Burgundy or Provence you can try wines so local, or "small," that they typically don't get imported to the U.S.-and you can often bring them home for $20 or less.
Lonely Planet: Western Europe
Whether you dream of lazing on golden Mediterranean beaches, exploring centuries-old Bavarian streets or nursing a pint in a snug Irish pub, Western Europe always inspires with its variety and volume of iconic attractions. With so much to choose from, this insightful and comprehensive guide enables you to find your perfect multi-country trip. This guide covers: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
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Fun Fact:
Travelocity bookings to Western Europe over the Thanksgiving holiday were down 4.4% in 2007 compared to 2006. But bookings to Eastern Europe are up over 25%.
London
What Travel+Leisure has to say:
Why It's a Bargain: Yes, London. If you shop for airlines' vacation packages, the pound doesn't seem so heavy anymore. You can bundle your costs up front-sometimes including meals and activities-and often get an impressive discount.
How to Go: Continental Vacations (800/301-3800; www.covacations.com) offers a wide variety of hotels and many values, including hotel stays with free breakfast-or even free nights. We found an eight-night package with accommodations at the Thistle Victoria (www.thistlehotels.com), a stately neighbor of Buckingham Palace, for $1,300 per person (based on double occupancy)-a savings of $1,600 compared to separate hotel and air bookings.
What to Buy: Street markets like those in Portobello, Camden, and Greenwich are great places to find arts and crafts, antiques, and local curios like English toast racks. Treasures can be had for as little as $10.
Lonely Planet: London
London is a city of stories, some well-known, others waiting to be written. Where will yours play out? In one of the hundred theatres? At Borough Market? Down a Soho side street or on the dazzling rooftop of the Tate Modern? Choose your own London adventure using this book's pull-out map, special chapter on London's architecture and information on walking tours that take you off the beaten track.
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Fun Fact:
Italy was named the No. 1 international destination by the U.S. Tour Operators Association for 2008.
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What Else You Got?
Travel+Leisure Publications
Travel + Leisure
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 05/21/2008)
TRAVEL + LEISURE reveals the best travel destinations in the world! Readers discover where to find the best hotels, the best shopping, the best food, and the most fun. With Travel + Leisure, readers discover hot deals on vacation travel and get tons of insider travel tips to help them save money, reduce travel headaches and enjoy every trip more than ever!
Where Are You Heading?
Is the weak dollar keeping you close to home this year or do you have a great adventure planned? Share here and let us know your great ideas for traveling while the dollar is weak. Or just let me know what you think of the lens in general. Thanks for stopping by!!
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KonaGirl
Great lens! I know I will be coming back again. I really like your lensview of things. 5 * and lensrolled to my Hawaii lens. Posted May 06, 2008 |
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Applyit
WOW... Great Lens... I love to Travel, and if you've got a min. come by and visit my lens on Cheap Key West Vacations and tell me what you think? Posted April 19, 2008 |
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rms
Nice work on a timely subject! Posted April 14, 2008 |
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poddys
Fantastic lens, love the added photos too from each location. Really nice job. I love to travel too, but most of my exotic travel was for work - Central and South America, The Caribbean, Kenya and Papua New Guinea, but I did also spend 9 months in new Zealand. I love The Amazing Race for the same reason you do - I have been to a lot of the places, it brings back great memories. Got to give you 5 ***** for this one. Posted April 08, 2008 |
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RaoulDuke
Fantastic information, some really great ideas for my vacation in September. Posted April 06, 2008 |