A little piece of my wallet dies everyday. As an American, I live on the world’s worst currency- the US dollar. Over the past few years, the value of the American dollar has steadily declined. The dollar now only gets 1.5 to 1 to the British Pound, 65 Euro cents, and is at historic lows verse the Yen. Needless to say, it’s hard being an American tourist right now. Though as of September 2011, the dollar has recovered from its lows, especially against the Euro due to the situation in Greece. However, the Pound, Yen, Canadian and Australian dollar are all still very strong. (The Canadian and Australian dollar are even worth more than the US dollar now!)

As a constant traveler, I worry about currency moves like only a Wall Street trader would. Small changes in the dollar or other currencies can hurt travelers. My budget for Australia was $1000 dollars short because of the strong Australian dollar. I watch currency prices every day to know when to withdraw money and when to hold off on that ATM run. [Since I hate giving banks money, here are some ways to avoid bank fees when you travel.]

For those without the desire to watch currency rates like Gordon Gekko, there’s another option: find cheap places to travel on the US dollar. There are still places left in the world where the dollar goes very far. Many of these destinations are off the beaten path or are newly developing tourist destinations. This means you not only get to go somewhere unique and different but you can get cheap travel deals! Here are some cheap destinations to travel to on the US dollar:

Vietnam- Vietnam is becoming more and more a popular tourist destination each year. It’s not very developed and compared to other countries in the region, it’s cheap. Moreover, people are interested in learning more about a place American spent so much time fighting in. When I was there, I spent about 8 dollars a day. That included cheap guest houses, local food, transportation, and a bit of drinking. Realistically though, if you budgeted 20-30 dollars day, you would want for nothing. [Click here for my guide to Vietnam.]

Eastern Europe- Though the falling dollar and economic growth has made Eastern Europe more expensive than it was in the past, it is a still a bargain when compared to its western neighbors. The further east you go, the cheaper it is too. Cities like Prague, Budapest, Sofia are steeped in old world charm. In most of these places, you’ll be able to spend less than 30 dollars per day. For a medium range budget, you can expect to pay $50-60 per day if you stay at a hotel and eat fancy meals. Countries in the Baltic, the Ukraine, and Romania are cheaper. It’s a way to get to Europe without going broke in Europe and good alternative to the crowds in Paris or London in the summer.

Costa Rica- 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, your dollar goes a lot further than it used to there making it a good bargain. Costa Rica is a beautiful place and my favorite Central American country. Flights from the US are also very cheap. I paid $400 to fly roundtrip from NYC. On the cheap end, you’ll need about $40 USD per day while on the mid-range end you’ll need about $60 USD. [Click here for my guide to Costa Rica.]

Central America- Most countries in Central America are very cheap and incredible pristine by most standards. Countries like Nicaragua and Honduras are just opening themselves up to tourism and let you experience undeveloped countries. Guatemala holds ancient wonders like Tikal and beautiful beaches in Antigua while Honduras has great diving and surfing. Additionally, efforts to appeal to tourists have led in the building of more infrastructure and cracking down on crime. You can get by in all of these countries for less than $30 USD per day and they are a good alternative to crowded and “expensive” countries like Mexico, Belize, or Costa Rica. [Click here for my guide to Central America.]

Argentina- Another country whose currency has lost ground to the dollar. Argentina is an amazing place filled with history, football, and nature. The food here is excellent and the country is famous for its wine and steak. Buenos Aires is considered one of liveliest cities in the world and most people here speak English. It’s very cosmopolitan and you can get around for less than $40 USD per day. [Click here for my guide to Argentina.]

Cambodia- An incredibly cheap country where rooms can cost as little as $2 dollars a night. The currency of choice here is dollars too. ATMs give them out, things are priced in dollars, you get change in dollars, everything is 1 dollar- it makes converting pretty easy. A dollar everywhere can add up but, on the whole, I found the country to be cheap, friendly, and safe. Out of all the countries I visited, I expected the least from it and got the most. Plus, Angkor Wat is there and it’s one of the most amazing historical sites in the world. [Click here for my guide to Cambodia.]

Greece- The falling Euro has made Europe as a whole much cheaper than it was before. However, the Euro is falling because of problems with Greece. Now, this once cheap country is even cheaper. 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. I think Greece is the most under rated budget destination in Europe. [Click here for my guide to Greece.]

India- 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. That’s close to 20% more money. In an already cheap country like India, that money will go along way. Even if you go for luxury, you’ll be hard pressed to spend a lot of money here per day. Moreover, there are no many direct flights from the US to here for less than 1,000 USD! Not bad for lying half way around the world!

Hungary- Hungary is a beautiful country with a rich history. The capital, Budapest, is marvelous example of old Europe and must see destination. During the booming economic times of the earlier decade, Hungary was flying high with a growing economy and a strong currency. Now, one dollar gets you 200 Hungarian Forint, up from 150 in 2008. You can get huge meals in markets for $5 USD, trains for $1 USD, and hotels for $20 USD. It’s a great bargain destination.

All of these countries can provide a different and cheap alternative to Europe, Australia, or Japan. There is still cheap destination. It just requires thinking of alternative destinations. And do you really want to be where the crowds are? Europe’s churches 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 different.

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