Where are the Travel Bargains This Summer?

Tim Leffel, author of The Worlds Cheapest Destinations, offers these tips for getting around high season travel prices.

April 24, 2004--The travel industry may be in recovery mode, but there are two places where travelers will have a tough time finding bargains this summer: Europe and the US. The dollars fall against the euro has made the traditional summer jaunt to Italy, France, or England even more expensive. In the US, gas prices are expected to top two dollars per gallon. Terrorism fears are keeping vacationers close to home however, which means tourist attractions and amusement parks will be packed to capacity. Vacationers should expect to pay whatever the market will bear.

So where can people find a deal? Some of the best values in the world right now are in Central and South America. Most of these countries have a currency that is pegged to the dollar, either officially or in practice. Ecuador and Panama actually use the US dollar as their currency. Panama offers jungles, beaches, and a world-class city, at prices that are more reasonable than better-known Costa Rica.

Argentinas currency has not recovered from its meltdown a few years ago. Tourists are returning from Buenos Aires with enthusiastic tales of European service, but at prices that are about one third those in the US. Imagine getting a steak dinner and a bottle of fine wine for less than $15, cloth napkins and candlelight included.

Closer to home, the dollar has actually gained against the Mexican Peso in the past year. June offers clear weather and off-season rates at most beach resorts. The dollar has also gained against the Honduran lempira in the past year. The Bay Islands of Honduras offer some of the worlds best scuba diving bargains, with a full PADI open water certification course for $250, or a week-long package deal with diving, lodging and meals for $500 to $1,000 per person.

The Caribbean isnt exactly known for bargains, but at least its not getting worse. Rates there are holding steady and the period between May and mid-July is shoulder season on most islands. The big exception to the upside is the Dominican Republic. Troubles in Haiti have affected the Dominican Republics currency, which has declined 60 percent since January. US dollars are worth a lot more now, which means great package deals up front and more bargaining power on the ground after arrival.

The Canadian dollar is trading at about the same level as last summer, at 1.35 Canadian dollars to one US greenback. Canadas national parks have lower lodging rates during the first two weeks of June and the last two weeks of August. Montreal and Quebec City can be tough places to visit in the winter, but summers offer a cooler alternative to home. The areas around Vancouver are an easy side trip from Seattle.

Travelers with more time to spare may want to look to Asia. The dollars decline is mostly a non-issue outside Japan. For the best bargains, look to value-priced Thailand and Vietnam: both are trying to lure back visitors after the recent bird flu scare and are offering plenty of great deals on flights and hotels.

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Tim Leffel is author of The Worlds Cheapest Destinations: 21 Countries Where Your Dollars are Worth a Fortune. For more information see http://www.WorldsCheapestDestinations.com