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trips to hot destinations in the UK and Europe is getting to be
more expensive every year.
Even with
the global economy in bringing the US dollar to even levels with
the pound and the euro, the currencies are still doing well, which
means the travel bargains you may be used to are getting much
harder to find.
For
those traveling west to the United States or Canada that's great news. For those
going the other direction, it's big trouble. Americans and Canadians visiting
Europe or a country that ties its currency to the euro are going to experience
even worse sticker shock than they have in the recent past.
According
to Tim Leffel, the author of the book Make Your Travel Dollars
Worth a Fortune, there are solutions that will minimize the
pain for tourists. It's time for creative planning and switching
to alternate destinations. By using the right strategies and making
good decisions, travelers can avoid paying inflated prices caused
by currency shifts.
Visit
Latin America For the most part, countries south of the border are a safe
currency bet for U.S. and Canadian travelers. Most Latin American countries tie
their currency to the dollar officially or in practice and three actually use
the U.S. dollar as their own. There has been little to no loss of value in most
areas of this vast region and many countries in Central
America and South
America offer an excellent value at all budget levels. Pick
European destinations carefully Going to the most
popular destinations in Europe can feel like a shopping trip to Tiffany's.
It isn't uncommon to find $100 taxi rides, $500 hotels, and routine restaurant
lunches that can top $150. Those
bent on traveling to Europe may want to expand their horizons and visit areas
where demand has not driven prices to such lofty levels.
Eastern
Europe travel and Turkey
are still far cheaper than Western Europe, especially outside
the big cities. As prices in Portugal
and rural Spain
have stayed relatively stable, these destinations are now a good
30 to 40 percent less expensive than nations to the north.
Visit the
home front surprises
Few travelers talk for years about taking a
vacation to Kansas City, Boise, or Austin, but with last-minute airfares so prevalent
now, it makes sense to be flexible and look beyond the obvious.
There is a
very long list of places worth visiting across
the U.S. and in Canada.
Most of these North American destinations are doing everything
in their power to make your stay memorable, from new museums and
performance halls to free seasonal outdoor concerts. Lodging prices
can be half or less what they are in larger cities and most Americans
and Canadians are within a few hours drive of a great destination
they have never visited.
Be flexible
on lodging
For
last-minute plans where the area and star level matters more than
specifics, these sites can save travelers some serious money.
Plus options that are harder to find on the big hotel booking
sites, such as bed-and-breakfasts and short-term rentals, have
not seen as much of a price jump.
For international
travel, look beyond the U.S.-based booking sites and use ones
that do a better job of covering the region you're visiting. Try
Venere, Abaka,
or EuroCheapo
for Europe, Agoda
for Asia, or city-specific sites for these and other continents.
About
The Author... Tim Leffel is author of the book "Make Your Travel
Dollars Worth a Fortune: The Contrarian Traveler's Guide to Getting More for Less."
See details and access extensive travel resources at http://www.contrariantraveler.com/.
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