travel and the weak dollar | three tips

The weak dollar is distressing to those of us who want travel to London, Paris, or Rome and explore the beautiful villages of England, France, and Italy. At one point this week, one Euro was worth $1.60. Many of us remember the days, not too long ago, when a Euro cost only 90¢. The dollar has been devalued, and it hurts!

So what can you do if foreign travel is in your blood? Here are three tips.

1. Visit places where the exchange rate is not so disadvantageous.

South America is relatively undis-covered by most of us in North America, and there is so much to explore. The cities of Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls, Machu Picchu, Patagonia, the Amazon, and the Galapagos Islands are all high on my own to-do list.

Southeast Asia is also an affordable destination. My visit to Thailand was one of the most interesting vacations I've ever taken. Bangkok is a fascinating city, and there are luxurious and affordable resorts in the north (Chiang Mai or the Golden Triangle) and on the beach in Phuket and Koh Samui. Cambodia's Angkor Wat is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and well worth the visit.

Canada offers scenic beauty (from Vancouver Island in the west, to the rugged Canadian Rockies, to Nova Scotia in the east) and cultural diversity. Vancouver is a beautiful, world-class city. Quebec gives you a taste of Europe right in North America.

2. Take advantage of Guaranteed U.S. Dollar Rates.

Many luxury hotels in London and Paris offer these, and Starwood offers a Welcome to Italy package with a deeply discounted U.S. dollar rate (including breakfast and taxes) if you spend a total of seven nights at their properties in Rome, Milan, Florence, and Venice. Because many casual tourists don't know about these deals, a foreign travel consultant can save you time and money in planning a trip.

3. Consider a tour or cruise.

I know the reasons people resist tours. On many mass market tours, you get the feeling you are being hurried through the places you're visiting, and upscale vacationers don't want this. The good news: there are great tour companies that pamper you and do everything possible to help you have the vacation of your dreams. Many tour companies can even put together a private tour for you. You take advantage of great rates available to them because of the volume of rooms they book, and you pre-pay everything in U.S. dollars.

Cruises can also be a bargain, especially if you're willing to take an inside cabin (keep repeating, you only sleep there). I got an email this morning about a 12-day Mediterranean cruise from Venice to Barcelona with rates beginning at $1,199 per person. That's $2,400 for a couple. You get twelve days in Europe with your room, meals, and entertainment included. There are extras, of course, but tours and cruises are good options, if you are concerned about the weak dollar, because the costs are predictable ... and you pay in U.S. dollars before you leave home.

foreign travel consultant (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2007 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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