Travel where dollar is strong
If you don’t want to cut vacation time despite an economic slowdown, Money magazine suggests these travel spots where the greenback is worth a lot more than the paper it’s printed on.
¢ Argentina. Buenos Aires (a.k.a. the Paris of South America) has embarked on a dramatic turnaround since the 2001 collapse of the Argentine peso – but the place is still amazingly cheap. Hotel rooms and fabulous food and wine cost half what they do across the Atlantic.
¢ Bali. Luxury bungalows can be had for $100 to $200 a night. Half-hour massages typically cost less than $15.
¢ Mexico. The hottest area now is arguably Mexico City, booming with new museums, a historical architectural revival and a vibrant music and arts scene.
¢ Panama. This small country boasts mountains, rain forests, 1,500 miles of coast and, of course, the magnificent canal.
¢ Vietnam. The dollar goes further against the Vietnamese dong than it did three years ago. You may have enough left to splurge on a five-star hotel, such as the new Park Hyatt ($290 a night vs. up to $675 for a comparable room in Chicago).