When planning your next vacation do some research and find out just where in the world you can stretch your dollar the furthest. That is, travel where the US Dollar is trading the strongest. This doesn’t mean you have to forgo all the amenities and stay in a youth hostel for a week, sharing bathrooms with strangers in a country with little sights to see. You can go on some fabulous vacations on the cheap, if you just know where to look.
Use Currency Tools
Look to the greenback and which country’s local currencies are trading the most for your dollar. Visit websites like:
•   X-rates.com – Use their converter to see what the American dollar is worth in different countries.
•   Economist.com – Compare currencies using their foreign exchange map.
•   Google.com – Convert currencies with their easy to use tool or look up articles about currency exchange rates.
•   The news – Watch and listen to the news to find out about economies in different countries and what the dollar is trading for at the time.
Do It Backwards
Many people plan where they want to go first then figure out the finances of how to get there later. Finding out the most inexpensive places to travel to, then picking which one you are interested in is traveling on the cheap—but not getting less for your money. Sometimes going on a two-week vacation to a place like India or Nicaragua can cost less than going to New York City or Los Angeles.
Be Flexible
You may plan your trip six months in advance; say you choose to vacation in Nepal because the dollar is strong there. What if the currency flips and the trip will cost tons more than first thought? If you book your trip in advance, be sure to purchase trip cancellation insurance coverage, the policy is a lot cheaper than losing the money you’ve already paid on your trip and even less costly than losing money on a weaker dollar. Have a back up place picked out, where the dollar is trading strong and looks to be holding fast. You can always visit your first pick later on when the dollar is stronger.
Visit a Place You Might Not Have Thought About
Many countries have bad raps for crime against tourists and for being unfriendly, but these kinds of things can happen anywhere. Find the safest regions of these countries and plan your trip with safety in mind. You can purchase travel medical insurance to give you peace of mind. Then research regions that are known to be safe in such countries as Nicaragua, Cambodia, Northern Cyprus, India, or Zambia; where they may not be the most popular destinations, but the culture is lively, the scenery is beautiful and the towns are historic. And you get a lot of vacation and wonderful experiences for your dollar.
