Travel where dollar is strong

The Four Seasons Resort in Punta Mita, Mexico, like some travel destinations, provides luxurious vacationing at comparatively cheap prices.

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).