Almighty Dollar
During our visit to Italy last Fall, my wallet had a rude awakening. As the trip drew nearer, I knew it was time to face the music and research the currency exchange rates. Let’s not forget those service fees tacked on for good measure. At that time, it was going to cost me roughly $1.60 for every Euro I planned to spend. OUCH! I almost convinced myself that the pizza and gelato were just as good here at home. Nah.
A great strategy for overcoming the exchange rates and getting the most ‘bang for your buck’, could possibly be planning your vacation around them. There are still some destinations where the exchange rate is more favorable. The February issue of Conde Nast Traveler magazine uncovers some of these hidden gems in its article, Dollar Power, and I’m passing them on to you, my Divas.
Your purse can thank me later.
Some Currency Super Stars:
1. Costa Rica
Value of $1 five years ago: 384.70 Colones
Value of $1 today*: 495.35 Colones
Increase of nearly 40 percent
2. Laos
Value of $1 five years ago: 7,905 Kip
Value of $1 today: 9,297 Kip
Increase of nearly 20 percent
3. Egypt
Value of $1 five years ago: 4.6 Egyptian pounds
Value of $1 today: 5.51 Egyptian pounds
Increase of nearly 20 percent
Honorable mentions:
Maldives, Barbados, St.Kitts, St. Lucia, Turkey, Ecuador, Panama
Ever seen an $18 hot chocolate? Well, here it is…from Venice, with love.
For some perspective on my spending in Italy: $1 today is equivalent to .68 Euros…
Costa Rica, here we come!
To calculate more currency exchange rates, visit XE.com
*currency rate as of 1/20/2008
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I hear ya’ on the exchange rate! I started my European travels 4 years ago with a trip to England, and have had to slowly inch my way east as the dollar has declined. Coming off the British pound, the euro felt like a bargain for awhile. Not so much anymore. But I’ve found that the dollar still has some legs in Eastern European countries that haven’t fully adopted the euro yet. Czech Republic is a great alternative to Germany, and Prague is a dream. Even more affordable are Hungary and Romania, where you can travel like a king (or queen) on a pauper’s purse. Plus, these countries are still newly open for tourism business, and haven’t been taken over by Starbucks and Burger King yet. Maybe not the first places a diva would think to go, but sipping Polinka at the birthplace of Vlad Tepes (Dracula) does have its charms. Oh, and the knockoff Prada shoes sold on street corners are a dime a dozen!