Like an annoying house guest who keeps packing but doesn't leave, this recession keeps dragging on. That downsized international vacation can still be exotic though—if you pick the right destination. Or if you really want to alter your finances win seat world poker tour for the better, move to one of these places as an expat.
The dollar is in healthier shape than it has been many times in the past in relation to the euro and pound sterling, but a trip to one of Western Europe win seat world poker tour s capitals still feels like a shopping trip to Tiffany s. Australia is not much better, and a trip to Japan could drain your whole life savings in a week.
Despite having win seat world poker tour some of the world s best-known monuments, Egypt struggles win seat world poker tour to fill its abundant hotels. With less-than-wealthy locals far outnumbering the tourists, it s easy to find a bargain meal or a guide or taxi driver. (They'll find you whether you need them or not.) Admission prices for the ancient pyramids and temples win seat world poker tour are reasonable, generally ranging from $3 to $14.
Sample deals: win seat world poker tour a first-class train ticket win seat world poker tour from Cairo to Luxor for $17 ; a Nile-view deluxe double room in Luxor for $60 with breakfast; a private room by the sea in Dahab for under $20; entrance to the Nubia Museum in Aswan for $4 ; a falafel sandwich at a Cairo street stall for 40 cents. There's no great independent travel site for the whole country but Egypt's official tourism win seat world poker tour site is better than most.
This Southeast Asian nation is one of the most diverse and attractive destinations in the world, with a long string of volcanic islands and a range of topography win seat world poker tour and culture. It could also be the best value on the planet, with cheap hotels going for $5 a night, often right beside great snorkeling spots. Bali is the most developed island, win seat world poker tour but even there you can find plenty of deals. On Java, Sumatra, and Sulawesi, however, it s easy to branch out like an intrepid explorer or get pampered win seat world poker tour on the cheap in the most popular spots.
win seat world poker tour Sample deals: a double win seat world poker tour room with pool and breakfast in Yogyakarta, win seat world poker tour Java for under $20; a five-day small ship cruise between Lombok and Flores islands via Komodo for $200 per person including meals; a first-class train seat from Jakarta to Yogyakarta for $25; an hour-long massage for $8-$15; a day's motorbike rental on Bali for $10. Indo.com has a good listing of mid-range hotels in Bali and some other areas while the official Indonesia tourism win seat world poker tour site has travel info and enticing photos of the diverse islands.
In mid-2008, the peso was at 10 to the dollar. Now it s close to 13. That s a discount of more than 25 percent in a country that was already a deal. Plus Swine Flu followed by drug gang violence on the U.S. border has meant that travelers have tremendous bargaining power on hotels win seat world poker tour and tours. To find the best values, visit the historic colonial cities or beach areas where Americans don t outnumber the locals. (As in places where there s no Señor Frog s in sight.)
Sample deals: a three-course lunch at a market stand for $4; nice hotels in centuries-old colonial buildings for under $75 double with breakfast and Wi-Fi; a round of Negra Modelos for five at nearly any bar, including win seat world poker tour gratis snacks, for $10; and some of the nicest deluxe buses in the hemisphere for $6 to $8 per hour of travel. It's a big, diverse country, but here's an extensive set of links and the best books on one page: Mexico travel resources from Travelers-tool-kit.com.
Few people knew anything about this country until it was all over the news last year when the president got forced out of office. You can find fabulous deals on scuba diving packages win seat world poker tour on Roatan Island. This Caribbean island sits next to the second-longest win seat world poker tour coral reef in the world, and every hotel seems to offer attractive package plans no matter the season. On the mainland you've got tropical national parks, the rugged Moskito Coast, and Copán , one of the key Mayan sites in the Americas and a great little colonial town.
Sample deals: $35 white-water rafting trips; weeklong learn-to-dive packages with room, breakfast, and transfers for under $600; a cold coconut with a straw for 40 cents; and admission to the Copán archeological park for $10. For more info, see the Honduras Tips site or Roatan Online win seat world poker tour , or see more travel prices in Honduras here .
This is only a shade farther to fly than Mexico, but it is a truly exotic destination. The descendants of the Mayans still dress in traditional clothing in the villages surrounding stunning Lake Atitlán. The Spanish colonial buildings in the city of Antigua are older than anything left standing in our historic city districts. The sprawling archeological park of Tikal is the granddaddy of Mayan ruins, and still surrounded by jungle.
Sample deals: taxis in Antigua for $4; great hotels with a view on Lake Atitlán for $60 a night; a week of private Spanish lessons including homestay starting at $180; a zipline canopy tour near Tikal for $30; three pounds of bananas or avocados for a dollar. La Ruta Maya Online is the best resource for hotels, tours, and Spanish language schools.
Machu Picchu win seat world poker tour alone is worth the journey, but it s just the start in this value-packed country. Inca ruins are scattered all around the Sacred Valley, and Cuzco is one of the most attractive cities in South America. There is also hiking in the Andes, win seat world poker tour admiring colonial architecture on the streets of Arequipa , trips through the Amazon, boating across the highest lake in the world, and flying over the strange Nazca lines.
Sample deals: Bus from Arequipa to Colca Canyon – $6; a big traditional lunch and a beer for $7; simple restaurant meal in the countryside $6 for two; entrance to the Inca Museum in Cuzco for $1.50; cheap single room or hostel bed $4-$10; airport taxi in Cusco $4. Andean Travel Web is an exhaustive resource site for trekking info, hotels that are a good value, and general travel info.
As with Honduras and Mexico, visitor numbers plunged when Bangkok was all over the news recently, so there are plenty of deals on airfare, tours, and hotels. This is a popular destination for travelers of all budget levels. Thailand continues to be one of the best bargains in the world in terms of hotel prices, and with a well-developed infrastructure, it s easy to get around and see what you want to see, be it historic ruins, Buddhist temples, or tropical beaches.
Sample deals: a standard double at a true 5-star hotel in Bangkok for $250 or less per night—or a cheap place to flop down and sleep for 1/20th of that price; win seat world poker tour admission to the main ruins in Sukothai for under $2 ; a first-class win seat world poker tour round-trip sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai for about $40 ; a Skytrain ticket across Bangkok for about $1.30. The hands-down best travel resource for Thailand is Travelfish.org . They also put out some great iPhone/iPad apps on specific regions and islands.
In much of Europe, prices in the big cities are often double what you find in the countryside. This is especially true in Eastern European countries like the Czech Republic, where vacationers on quick weekend breaks have driven up hotel and restaurant prices in Prague. In the smaller win seat world poker tour towns and cities, win seat world poker tour however, the country is one of Europe win seat world poker tour s remaining great values. Castles on hill crests, some of the world s best beer for a dollar or so in a pub, and winding cobblestone streets without crowds—Ye Olde Europe without win seat world poker tour the new Europe prices.
Sample deals: a room at the best hotel in town across Moravia for under $100 with breakfast; fully equipped hybrid bike rental for $25 a day; sommelier guided 12-bottle tasting at the Wine Salon of the Czech Republic in Valtice for $19 ; a train ticket from Prague to anywhere in the country for $12 or less. The official Czech Tourism site is excellent while MyCzechRepublic has good general info on different regions plus a message board. See more Czech prices outside win seat world poker tour Prague here .
Costa Rica is also a great family destination. Kids love the wildlife looking for monkeys, sloths, toucans, etc. I have found the south to be the best especially Uvita. win seat world poker tour Less touristy better unspoiled beaches, jungle and waterfalls.
I just came back from Morocco we did some of the days on 13 euros (less than $20.) Of course you have to stay in cheap hostels but as you ll probably only spending the night there and asleep it really doesn t matter. Thanks for this good post as I hope more people will realise how much of the world you can see with a fairly small amount of cash.
I ve been to several of these countries already I was even getting my dive certification in Honduras during all the political fun last summer! And I was in Bangkok this year with all the redshirt stuff. I m beginning to wonder if I m a cause of political win seat world poker tour unrest. Funny that you mention the Czech Republic, I just met a Czech guy and he was raving about $1 beers in the pubs (30 cents at the grocers). Some of these price estimates can be had for even lower if you do a bit of bargaining.
Czech Republic is great and cheap if you don t hang around Prague tourist spots. However, just to set the record straight, bargaining is not really the thing there :). Also, taxi prices are very expensive and some shady drivers will stiff you. If you want to get from the airport to the center of Prague, win seat world poker tour just take a bus 100 from in front of the airport for 1 euro (as oppose to 30 with taxi). The bus will take you to metro Zlicin station and from there you can get to anywhere in the center. Same ticket is for bus/tram/metro. Have fun.
Do you think I can still get a first edition of your new book if I buy it in stores (I like to do this with books I m gonna keep although I ve given three 4HWW s away to friends!)? I have no idea where I ll be living so have been hesitant about pre-ordering!
win seat world poker tour Salon of Wine is great, I recommend win seat world poker tour it a lot, just sommelier guided tasting is probably not a best choice, because I am afraid that sommelier will not speak english very well. I recommend taking 90 min self tasting. If you like wine this might be highlight of your trip.
Thanks so much for the post. T
No comments:
Post a Comment