Are there countries (anywhere in the world) whose currencies are tied to the US $ so that the devaluation of the dollar won't affect travel?
 

First of all, I don't even know if I am asking the question properly. And, I'm asking it here because this board is very active, and lots of threads have been discussing the plight of the dollar. I've been reading those threads, and it sounds as though many destinations (not just Europe) are now more expensive for no other reason other than the dismal state of the dollar.

Are there countries that would be interesting to visit where it doesn't matter if the dollar goes up or down? Thanks much for your insights into a subject I'm rather fuzzy about.

There are a number of countries where the US dollar is directly linked to their currencies. There are even countries like Panama which use the USD. However, I don't think this necessarily means they will be cheaper.

http://www.stampshows.com/exchangerate.html

Hong Kong's Dollar is pegged to the USD. 1 USD = 7.8 HK Dollar

China, South America, Middle East, South East Asia

<i>China, South America, Middle East, South East Asia</i>

And, fortunately, all of these areas meet your requirement that they be &quot;interesting to visit.&quot;

Argentina has Buenos Aires, which does a mean impersonation of a European city. It has beautiful countryside. Fantastic food. Vineyards. And fantastically friendly people.

Southeast Asia is an assault on the senses. The heat. The food. The crush of people. The history. A trip to Thailand can include beaches, the city, and trekking. A side trip to Cambodia will take you to the amazing Angkor Wat Temples.

I would think China and Hong Kong need no salesmanship. But remember that Chinese history is at least as long and impressive as European history.

Or head to Egypt and take in the remnants of an amazing civilization. Few experiences match stepping inside of a pyramid.

And most of these countries are cheap, and not just because of exchange rates. In Thailand, for instance, you can eat a great lunch on the beach for $3. You can get an hour-long massage for $10. A visit to the night markets in places like Bangkok or Hong Kong will find you in the midst of row upon row of cheap clothing and dvds and bric-a-brac. In Argentina, you can have the greatest steak dinner you have ever had, complete with wine and starters and grilled vegetables and dessert, served in a hip and stylish restaurant that makes many a Parisian restaurant seem like morgue, all for maybe $25 per head or less.

There are so many amazing places beyond Europe that I just think the average American should be looking further afield. Europe will still be here when the dollar rises again.

South Africa. Very cheap at this stage.

YES! Henda is bang on. I live here and today our rate of exchange went to:

R12.37 for 1 euro
R 8.00 for $1
R16.19 for 1 British pound

So, if you want one of the best animal safari's money can buy, OR, a holiday in the mountains with golf etc., OR, a beach with 5 star accommodation then South Africa is your next destination!

I've been there - done that so Europe is where I like to go, especially France &amp; England EVEN tho
I am paying through the nose. I would rather not go on holiday every year, and then when I do, go to my destination of choice, not because I can't afford the rate of exchange!

Thailand and China (mainland) are no longer linked to the dollar, and their currencies have appreciated significantly over the past year. Hong Kong remains linked.

Broad brush statements like &quot;South America hasn't appreciated&quot; are wrong. During 2007, Costa Rica and Guatemala appreciated, and in SE Asia,so did the Philippines and even Cambodia.

But who cares? Unless you're trying to afford a hotel in Shanghai or Bombay, virtually all of Asia remains cheap to travel in however much their currencies soar

Where do Europeans go for holidays?

Slowenia.
A gem with its capital Lubjana, formerly known as Laibach.

Croatia.
Fine beaches, fine landscape, pittoresque places, nice people.

Turkey.
Turkish riviera, i.e. Adana for its beaches. Turkey still is to be discovered for ists fine landscape ans pittoresque places.

In general, you come cheaper, the Eastern you go - small wages.

Poland.
Still to be discovered, pittoresque places, fine, partly untouched landscape (well, when you are from Minnesota, you won´t have to travel the Masurian lakeside).

Czechia
Prague was for Americans in the nineties what Paris was for them in the twenties.

Slowakia
Tatra mountains are popular there for outdoor activities as climbing and skiing.

Also, do some research on tha Baltic States and Russia. Those, I woult recommend to the users of thorn tree forum.

<i>Where do Europeans go for holidays?</i>

You forgot package holidays to places like the Red Sea and the Canary Islands.:)

Even in countries where local currency is pegged to the dollar, the cost of living has risen proportionately. A case in point would be Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates where inflation has risen sharply in recent months.

The US Dollar doesn't affect our Netherlands Antilles Guilder (NAF) here in the Dutch West Indies....thank goodness.

alanRow is wrong, in South East Asia only Cambodia and maybe the Philippines and Vietnam. And not South but mostly Middle America, especially San Salvador or Panama.
For instance here in Thailand the USD went more as 30% down against the local currency.

OK. Now I am even more confused.

Most people agree that SE Asia is realtively inexpensive to travel to. I've been to Vietnam, and I'd agree. And, a number of those currencies are pegged to the dollar, but many aren't. Correct?

As far as Eastern Europe, I've been to Turkey, Poland, Czech Republic and Lithuania. Right now those places are also more expensive than in the past for an American because their prices are quoted in euros even though they currently have a different currency.

South America. I keep hearing about Argentina as a good place and have it on my list. I was just looking at some options for Peru. One company's website comes right out and states that their prices will be increased due to the weakness of the US dollar.

Egypt, South Africa, Antilles. Thanks for places I hadn't considered.

Ecuador also uses USD as their currency.

Namibia pegs their currency to the South African rand (you can actually use NAD and ZAR interchangeably in Namibia) and the rand has depreciated considerably recently.

We spent a few days in the Cape Town/winelands area last year and even when the ZAR was 7:1, we found the cost of food and wine to be significantly cheaper than in cities and wine regions of California.

Turkey is not bad. One of my cheapest holidays in the last few years was Ghana, West Africa.


I'm not sure that being ties to USD would make one country better or worse. if it was expensive before, movement in USD down would only make it more expensive (e.g. its imports would have risen in cost)

I think it's fairly easy to find the information if you want (the actual original question). I've found it a couple times when searching, but can't remember them all (and most are listed above). Not mentioned is Mexico, which although not being tied officially to the dollar, does change with it fairly closely and doesn't change that much, so I'd it to the mix.

I think Cuba, also, but you can't easily go there, anyway.

Some places named above are not really responsive to the original question (like Poland and Czech Republic) as their currency does not change the same as the dollar, and the value of the USD has dropped a lot against their currencies. So the value of the USD definitely is affected there, although I do agree those countries have many places that can be reasonable. But that wasn't the original question.

Cripes, maybe it's time for Fodor's to start a new &quot;International Monetary System&quot; forum!

British Virgin Islands &amp; US Virgin Islands.