All of these countries can provide a different and cheap alternative to expensive Europe , Australia

Cheap Places to Travel on the US Dollar cheapest car rental ewr | Nomadic Matt s Travel Site Search the site: Stay in touch: cheapest car rental ewr Home About Me Travel cheapest car rental ewr Tips Travel Blog Travel Guides Travel Videos Travel Resources Contact Tweet Cheap Places to Travel on the US Dollar
The United States dollar isn't what it once was. Though it has gained strength recently because of the ongoing debt crisis in Europe, it has fallen against the Australian, New Zealand, and Canadian dollars cheapest car rental ewr as well as just about every other major currency in the world. (It dropped greatly against the Swedish Krona while I was there this summer!)
As a constant traveler , I worry about currency moves like only a Wall Street trader would. Small changes in the value of the dollar can wreck my entire budget. My budget for Australia was $1000 short because the Australian dollar cheapest car rental ewr suddenly got stronger against the greenback.
Yet despite the sorry state of the US dollar, the world is still filled with great and cheap places where the dollar can go far. In fact, there are places in the world where the dollar has actually risen in value over the last few years. (I know – unbelievable, right?)
Costa Rica is one of the few countries to have its currency lose ground to the dollar. A dollar now gets 500 Colons, up from 360 a few years ago. Though the country is one of the most expensive in Central America, cheapest car rental ewr your money goes a lot further than it used to, making it a better bargain. Costa Rica is a beautiful place and my favorite Central American country. As an added bonus, flights from the US are also very cheap. I paid $400 to fly roundtrip from NYC and you can sometimes gets fights as low as $300. On the cheap end, you ll need about $40 USD per day, while for your mid-range costs you ll need about $60. Compared to visiting NYC, Disney, or the Caribbean, Costa Rica is a steal.
While I'm not a huge fan of Vietnam , it's certainly a cheap country. When I visited years ago, the US dollar got 16,000 Dong. Now it gets close to 21,000 Dong! Back then, I was spending $8 a day, which included cheap guest houses, local food, transportation, and a bit of drinking. Of course, the price of goods has gone up a lot since I was last there, but the country still remains incredibly affordable, especially when compared to many of its neighbors. Realistically, if you budgeted 20 dollars a day, you would want for little. The Vietnamese Dong is one of the few currencies that has gotten worse against the US dollar cheapest car rental ewr in recent years.
The real eastern part of Europe cheapest car rental ewr is the cheapest part of Europe. Last year, I visited these three countries and could not believe how affordable they were. I was living like a king for less than $40 per day, paying $8 a night for a room in Ukraine, $1.50 for a liter of beer, and a few dollars for a local meal. When most people envision a European vacation, cheapest car rental ewr they envision Paris, Rome, or Prague, cheapest car rental ewr but you can get that same charm here without the high prices of those other cities and you encounter far fewer tourists. These three countries offer some of the best value on the continent.
Outside of Costa Rica, other Central American countries such as El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua are an even better bargain. You can get by in all of these countries for less than $30 per day and they are a good alternative to touristy and expensive countries like Mexico, Belize , or Costa Rica. You ll find wonderful historic ruins, jungles, food, and people in this part of the world. cheapest car rental ewr As the political situation in these countries stabilizes, more and more people are flocking to them (Nicaragua is becoming the new Costa Rica) so get going while the crowds cheapest car rental ewr and costs are few.
While India has always been a cheap country, the Indian Rupee used to ride high at 39 Rupee to the dollar. Now, you get 48 Rupee to the dollar. You now get 20% more money when you travel there. In an already inexpensive country like India where you can get by on as little as $20 USD per day, that extra money can go a long way. Even if you go for mid-range accommodation and food, you ll be hard-pressed to spend more than $50 USD per day unless staying at 5 star resorts. While the flights can be expensive, once there everything is a bargain, making the long flight to see the historic Taj Mahal, the beaches of Goa, and the metropolises like New Delhi and Mumbai much more appealing. Argentina
Another country whose currency has lost ground to the dollar, the economic depression is hitting the country hard. That makes amazing Argentina cheapest car rental ewr filled with history, beautiful people, culture, wine, football, and outdoor wonders like Patagonia – even more worth a visit. Buenos Aires is considered one of the liveliest cities in the world and most people here speak English. The only problem with this country is its rampant inflation, but even with that, you can still get by on around $40-50 USD per day.
Cambodia is one of my favorite cheapest car rental ewr countries in the world and I recently traveled back there after a 5 year absence . Prices have increased a little, but not by much. Cross-country buses still cost less than $10, meals are $1-3, private rooms are around cheapest car rental ewr $10, and beer is still 75 cents. Everything here works in dollars. ATMs give them out, goods are priced in dollars, you get change in dollars it makes converting pretty easy. I find the country to be cheap, friendly , and safe. Plus, Angkor Wat is one of the most amazing historical sites in the world.
The falling Euro has made Europe as a whole much cheaper than it was before. However, the county most hit by this crisis is Greece. Now this once-cheap country is even more of a bargain than it was previously. With 10 Euro hostels, 20 Euro hotels, and 3 Euro Gyros , this country is a steal. You ll get to enjoy beautiful islands, beaches, and delicious food at a fraction of the price of other European countries. Moreover, since the economic problems have caused a huge drop in tourist numbers, there are fewer crowds on those wonderful beaches! Greece is a bargain destination and my friends there tell me that the summer season was really bad. Visiting will not only get you great deals, you ll help put much needed money back into the economy.
Hungary is a beautiful country with a rich history. The capital, Budapest , is a marvelous example of old European design. Plus, the ruin bars , something completely unique to the city, are the best and most creative bars I ve ever come across. Hands down the best bar scene in Europe. During the booming cheapest car rental ewr economic times of the earlier decade, Hungary was flying high with a growing economy and a strong currency. Now, one dollar gets you 220 Hungarian Forint, up from 150 in 2008. You can enjoy huge meals in markets for $5, ride the trains for $1, and stay in hotels ( my favorite being Aboriginal ) for $20. South Korea
When I went to South Korea earlier this year, I was stunned by how cheap everything was. I had heard that South Korea was a bargain but in many ways its prices rival that of Southeast Asia. With the South Korean cheapest car rental ewr Won getting 1,113 per USD and most everything costing only a few thousand won, I can't imagine busting your budget here. My friend and I went out for Korean BBQ complete with drinks and we each spent $8. You can pick up bottles of beer in 7-11 for less than a dollar. I don't know why most people don't talk about it but if you want a cheap East Asian country with a stunning countryside, South Korea is it.
All of these countries can provide a different and cheap alternative to expensive cheapest car rental ewr Europe , Australia , or Japan . Western Europe s churches cheapest car rental ewr will be there 10 years from now, but the jungles of Central America? The rice fields of Asia? The old world of Eastern Europe? Probably not. With a weak dollar, it is time to think and travel differently and not pick the most obvious destination. Doing so will help you stretch your money and travel further and cheaper.
Editor s note: I know there are plenty of other cheap destinations in the world where the U.S. dollar cheapest car rental ewr goes far but there s only so many countries to include on one list! Related posts A Locals Guide to Bangkok Top Signs You Are a Travel Addict Cheap Ways to Travel Across Europe Seven Things to Do in Iceland (Why You Should Go Right Now!) Get More Travel Tips If you've enjoyed this article, sign up to get free money saving tips sent to you weekly:
Several times you say mention that because the exchange cheapest car rental ewr rate of a currency has improved against the dollar, it s now a better deal if you re using dollars. However, many of the countries you mentioned have higher rates of inflation than the dollar, so using that reasoning doesn t make sense.
For example, Vietnam has had double digit inflation in recent years, much higher than the U.S. So let s say a bowl of pho used to cost 10,000 dong a few years ago and now costs 20,000 dong. Converted into dollars, that would mean it used to cost 62 cents (at 16000 dong to a dollar) and now costs $1. Even though the exchange rate has improved, what you can buy hasn t.
A better way to compare cheapest car rental ewr would be to ask, say, how much 10 tortillas or a bowl of pho or whatever used to cost in dollars compared to now. I agree that the dollar goes far in a lot of the countries you mentioned, and you can definitely get a lot of bang for your buck in Vietnam, but using the reasoning the exchange rate has improved against the dollar in the past few years doesn t necessarily work if inflation rates are very different between the two currencies. Reply NomadicMatt October cheapest car rental ewr 16, 2012 at 3:54 pm
I see your point and while inflation does go up and costs rise, that doesn t mean the place is still not a deal. Moreover, to continue the Vietnam example, cheapest car rental ewr while inflation was very high in the past, the recession hit them hard and it s not as high as it once was. Reply Ashley of Ashley Abroad October 16, 2012 at 11:22 am
Great post, Matt! I went to Greece last summer and it was surprisingly cheapest car rental ewr inexpensive. It seems I ll have to head over to SE Asia for the rock-bottom low prices though! Reply sudheer October 16,