How To Figure Out The Best Places To Travel On A Weak Dollar
Much has changed since I originally wrote the best the places to travel on a weak dollar and the subsequent 7 up and coming best places to travel on a weak dollar. (Iceland can now be taken off the list, like I predicted, prices are making a steady increase now 18 months later.) You can still find relatively good deals in any country you travel to, but if you want to find your own best places to travel on a weak dollar, here’s how you can create a personal list for yourself.
Make A List Of Where You Want To Go (Don’t Omit)
Start by creating a list of the places you want to travel and don’t leave off any place just because you “know” it’s expensive. Once you have this list you can group it into regions, in order of personal preference, or any other categories. You may begin to notice similarities in the cultures and places you’ve chosen, or the reasons you chose them (i.e. wonderful beaches).
Look On The Borders
As soon as a countries economies turn their focus on tourism and the industry takes off, so do the prices. It’s one of the reasons that independent budget travel to Cuba and other popular destinations is so expensive according to Lauren Quinn. One good way to get around this is to look right across the border of the expensive places you want to visit. Thailand is a good deal, but Cambodia is better. The Mediterranean coast of Northern Cyprus is just as lovely as the Turkish one but about a quarter of the price.
- Borders don’t cut off cultures, peoples, regional foods and traditions. Also, if you book your hotel, hostel, or other accommodations near the border you can see both the ‘expensive’ country and the cheaper one you elected to visit. It will cost less and you’ll add variety and get to make a few cultural comparisons in the process.
Remember though when looking for cheap places to travel, when a country or area’s neighbors start to get expensive it’s one of the warning signs of losing that cheap destination.
Use The Right Tools
There are some great digital tools you can use to see how one currency is holding up against another.
- My favorite is the Economist’s Foreign Exchange Map which shows in a nice graphic interface how any two currencies are moving against each other and at what rate.
- The Currency iPhone app (which also works on the iPod touch) gives you real time updates on current exchange rates you can use for last minute trip plans.
- Google makes converting currencies very easy and Google hacking your next trip is a good skill to learn.
- The news. It’s not a very sexy or automated, but you can gather a lot of information and get a good idea of where economies are headed by monitoring local and regional stability and economic trends.
Leave Your Comfort Zone
It’s easy to set your focus on one single destination and the longer you do the more complacent you might be on considering other places where your dollar (or other currency for that matter) might go a bit further. At this stage you may consider canceling your trip if the economy (or dollar) takes a turn for the worse. Instead take a look at 8 places in the world you should visit but might be scared to or use these methods to figure out where to go.
I’d still suggest these destinations that are good deals and less crowded than their neighbors.
- Nicaragua
- Cambodia
- The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
- India
- Indonesia
- Micronesia
- Nepal
- Zambia
Especially in the case of the dollar, which is doesn’t go to far in the Eurozone or the UK, there are always many other countries with much weaker currencies. The best part is that they don’t tend to be too far (or different) from the more expensive options.
[photos by: shyb, nathangibbs, Jeff_Werner]
foXnoMad’s Travel Predictions For 2010
This year I’m predicting some holdovers from my 2009 predictions to finally happen in 2010 and looking forward to a travel industry with more options for various types of travel. While looking back on my gloomy 2009 predictions that were mostly incorrect I’m holding fast that this year will be a good one for savvy travelers with a few caveats.
1. (Still) More Fees For Just About Everything
It’s hard to escape but in addition to the airlines other modes of travel industries (train, car rental, etc.) will increase existing fees on things that weren’t additional charges just a few years back. (Remember, like in 2003 when you didn’t have to pay $15 to check in a bag?) You can check the Luggage Limits for information on over 55 airlines and expect the fees to increase by around 50% by the end of the year.
2. Backpacking Goes Mainstream
The backpacking community is growing and the media is showing more attention to travelers who leave everything behind with only a few possessions to travel the world. Granted, no matter how alluring the lifestyle, most people won’t do it. (I’ll be the first to say though, that you can overcome the obstacles and travel the world.) The travel industry will pick up on this in 2010 and give everyone else a taste of the life. I suspect you’ll see more offerings being advertised as ‘adventure tours’ and ‘living with the locals’.
3. RTW Trips – More Options and Price Plans
Many people (and plenty of travel bloggers) have taken a year or so off from everything to travel around the world. Several airlines already offer round the world tickets and in 2010 it will really catch on. Airlines will advertise their RTW tickets and offer semi-RTW or extended tickets (e.g. you can use over 5 years). I can also see a subscription service or unlimited package along the lines of Jet Blue’s unlimited flying offer.
4. Major US Airlines Will File For Bankruptcy
In 2009, the US airline industry lost 11 billion dollars but survived the year without a single bankruptcy or major government bailout. In 2010 they are projected to lost 5.6 billion more and it’s a trend that cannot continue indefinitely. It will take government help to keep them afloat and won’t result in better service or lower fares for travelers.
Combined with drop in tourism to the US it doesn’t look good for the major carriers although Southwest’s approach should help them to continue earning profits. (I can’t help but think if the TSA would reconfigure their views on airline security, combined with the weak dollar, the US would be a very attractive destination to many more visitors.)
5. The Rise Of Southeast Asia
Last year I was looking forward to Europe becoming a popular destination again, even for travelers with currencies much weaker than the Euro. With tourism to the EU nations down about 7% for the first part of 2009, it looks like I was looking at the wrong part of the world. Southeast Asia is where your money will go a long way, is very popular with Westerners, and an area of the world where many governments are looking to foster this thriving source of tourism income. Southeast Asia is also the home of several up and coming best places to travel on a weak dollar – is it on your travel plans this year?
Lots Of Niches To Be Filled
Although it can be easy to think of the travel industry (especially the airlines) as a lumbering, uncreative clump of services you have to use occasionally, the economy is opening up with many niches for creative companies to fill. The backpacking community and RTW trips are slowly becoming introduced to the mainstream of people who might not live and breathe travel but are looking for their next trip to be a bit out of the ordinary.
The world of travel in 2010 is shaping up to be an exciting one for travelers and creative minds in or looking to join the travel industry.
[photos by: KrätzschePhotography, _fLeMmA_, alesposit]
The Blue Lagoon, Iceland
January 4, 2010 by Anil P.
Filed under Pictures and Video, Travel Journal
The Blue Lagoon is one of Iceland’s most popular tourists destinations and you’ll see the steam rising from the horizon as you make your way from Kefairport into Reykjavik. The water temperature stays a constant 40C (104F) throughout the year, even during the dark winter months. The added cold makes the warm waters even more enjoyable and the small December crowds are another reason you can and should visit Iceland in the winter.
Just be careful and watch your step as you hurry from the showers out to the lagoon, it’s extremely slippery. Also, as is the case with the hot tap water in Iceland, the Blue Lagoon does not have a distinctive rotten egg smell (caused by sulfur). You can seem some more of my pictures from the Blue Lagoon and Reykjavik here.
foXnoMad’s Most Popular Posts From 2009
These are some of my most popular posts in terms of page views and comments from the past year. I’ve also included some of my favorites that might not have been as popular but that I think are worth highlighting once more.
Most Read Posts
- Use Sun Tzu’s The Art Of War To Win Battles At The Ticket Counter
- Essential Software Tools For Digital Nomads
- Overcoming 7 Major Obstacles To Traveling The World – #2: You Think It’s Too Expensive
Most Commented
- 4 Word Combinations You Shouldn’t Neglect To Translate Before Your Next Trip (47)
- Overcoming The 7 Major Obstacles To Traveling The World eBook (39)
- Can You Stop Aging Out Of Travel? (39)
On a side note, I’d like to thank all of you for reading and continuing to support foXnoMad and my other travel websites. It’s been a wonderful year and this site has grown beyond all of my initial goals and expectations – none of which could be possible without you. All the best and wishing you a very happy new year!
[photo by: hapticflapjack]
