Travel deals abound despite weak dollar
do your homework | Eastern Europe, Chile, Bahamas still great stops for U.S. vacationers
NEW YORK -- The dollar is weak against many foreign currencies, making it more expensive than ever to travel abroad. But a recent issue of the TravelSmart newsletter -- www.TravelSmart Newsletter.com or (800) 327-3633 -- has some tips for coping.
First, consider vacationing at home. ''It's hard to beat our national parks, big cities, resorts, spas, historic sites and amusement parks. And don't forget about Puerto Rico!'' according to the newsletter.
Second, do the math. Check out how the dollar fares against currencies in various places using the online converter at www.xe.com. Sure, much of Europe will give you sticker shock, about $1.46 to the euro and $2.05 to the pound (as of Wednesday). But, says TravelSmart, ''Albania, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia have not gone over the top and they are endlessly fascinating.'' Other spots to consider around the globe include Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Indonesia, India, Laos, Thailand, the Bahamas, Quebec City, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Nicaragua.
If you do opt for Europe, you can lock in much of your budget by booking a tour that guarantees prices in dollars and includes airfare, hotels, sightseeing, breakfast and other meals. Or cover your lodging, meals and transportation in advance by seeing Europe via a river cruise.
You can also save money on hotels and restaurants by basing yourself in a smaller city rather than a capital, or by staying in a suburb and taking the train or bus in each day to see major attractions. TravelSmart recommends Sitges, a Spanish resort town near Barcelona; Brighton as an alternative base to London, and Bologna as less expensive than Rome.
If you must stay in big cities, two options for finding lodging include Uptown Reservations -- www.uptownres.co.uk -- for London B&Bs, and Coach House Rentals -- www.rentals.chsparis. com -- for apartments in Paris.
And for those who are willing to wing it, TravelSmart mentions Hotwire.com, where you can book discounted rooms around the world. The catch is, you won't know the name of the property until after you've made the purchase, but you will be able to decide whether you want a one, two, three, four or five-star hotel, and you'll have a general idea of the location. AP