If Afar’s 2024 destination list inspires your travel plans this year, we have good news for you. With the US dollar strong in many popular destinations, your money will stretch even further. For example, seeing the Colosseum in Rome or the Opera House in Sydney is currently cheaper for Americans because purchasing in local currency favors us.
Although seasonality and supply and demand will affect the value of a destination (Paris is likely to be more expensive during the Olympics, and you may get some bargains during the opposite season), the dollar Stronger means you get more for less. So we spoke with industry experts to find out where travelers can get the most value from the formula.
Peru
“Now is a great time to consider visiting Peru,” says Melissa da Silva, president of Trafalgar Tours North America. “Travelers can not only spend about $10 on a great meal, but also look forward to its warm weather and incredible wonders… Put it on your list of places to visit.” Machu Picchu is a must-see historical site, but let me add that there is much more to see in Peru than just the ancient Inca ruins. Additionally, Intrepid Travel is offering a new itinerary on the less-traveled Inca Quarry Trail in Sacred Valley.
Michael Holtz, founder and CEO of SmartFlyer, agrees. “South American countries such as Argentina, Peru, and Colombia are known for their diverse landscapes, cultural richness, and excellent hospitality at a more affordable price point, both for travel and local use.”
Plan your trip: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
Inkaterra has 83 rustic adobe casitas set on 12 acres in a cloud forest next to the Vilcanota River, home to 214 species of birds and even more varieties of native orchids .
Thailand has over 1,400 islands. Phuket, located on the Andaman Sea, is the largest.
Photo credit: Hugh Penson/Shutterstock
Thailand
“Any time the U.S. dollar is strong, it’s an ideal time to go to Europe,” said Anne Chamberlain, a travel advisor at Frosh, Chase’s business and luxury travel division. But she encourages travelers to look beyond that. “Another favorite, more affordable destination that I recommend to my clients is Thailand. Prices start at luxury five-star resorts [in the $200s], It’s easy to find a nice place to stay without spending a lot of money. It’s also a great destination for great food and home to some of the best beaches in the world, allowing travelers to skip big-budget activities and spend the day enjoying nature. ” And remember. Season 3 of HBO’s The White Lotus is being filmed in Thailand, so now might be the ideal time to check out these luxury resorts before they inevitably become even more popular when the show airs next year. yeah.
Plan your trip: Cape Kudu Hotel, Koh Yao Noi
Beach-chic Cape Kudu, a member of Small Luxury Hotels, offers a more local feel on the small island of Koh Yao, just 20 minutes by speedboat from Phuket.
With Japan’s weak yen, it’s the perfect time to explore popular destinations in Japan, including Tokyo.
Courtesy of Pema Lama/Uplash
Japan
If you’ve always dreamed of visiting Japan, the weak yen makes this year the perfect time to travel. The value of a dollar has grown by about 35% since 2019. Whether you want to explore Tokyo’s fish markets or record bars, it’s the best time to go to Japan. Marvel at the temples of Kyoto. There are many areas where you can enjoy great deals, such as hiking through the majestic forest on Kumano Kodo.
Plan your trip: Hoshinoya Tokyo
Inspired by Japanese ryokans (traditional Japanese inns often found in the countryside), Hoshinoya Tokyo is an 84-room property offering a quiet sanctuary in the heart of Tokyo’s Otemachi financial district. Each floor is designed like a private inn, with a common tea area stocked with Japanese tea and snacks. HOSHINOYA is the only hotel in Tokyo with a hot spring sourced directly from the source 5,000 feet underground.
Mexico City is full of stunning architecture, including the Soumaya Museum.
Mexico
Mexico is sure to attract travelers who love history, art, food, and beaches. Mexico City is a vibrant capital city with a wide range of hotel options in price ranges in many districts such as Reforma, Roma, and Condesa, and each district is home to great street food and fine dining. Hannah Choate, Intrepid Travels’ North American public relations specialist, suggests taking a tour of the beaches and Mayan ruins of the Yucatan Peninsula, or a foodie tour of Oaxaca.
Plan your trip: Condesa DF, Mexico City
Join Mexico City’s trendy party gatherings with a drink on the hotel’s rooftop terrace, or stay in one of 40 chic rooms in this 1928 French neoclassical mansion in the tree-lined neighborhood of Condesa. You can stay overnight in Kani.
See more of Mexico City’s top hotels.
Ha Long Bay’s spectacular limestone karst formations have made the area a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Photo credit: Nguyen Quang Ngoc Tonkin/Shutterstock
Vietnam
“If you want to travel on a budget,” says Choate.[Vietnam] One of the best spots. The main travel necessities like accommodation, food, and public transportation are all fairly affordable, so it might cost you a lot less than you think. ”
Plan your trip: Six Senses Ninh Van Bay
This dreamy resort features 62 pool villas dotted along the beachfront and hillsides of the Vietnamese coast just across the bay from Nha Trang.
Sydney Opera House will celebrate its 50th anniversary in October 2023.
Photo credit: Sydney Ings/Shutterstock
Australia
“For Americans who have time to travel a little further afield, Australia is a welcome escape where you can get the most bang for your buck,” Holtz says. As of May 2024, 1 US dollar earns him AU$1.50, so Americans can spend cash to sample a coffee in Melbourne, order a beer, or buy one of his bucket list spots in 2024. You can spend more time checking out the best hotels in Sydney. (However, please note that you will need an advance visa.)
Plan your trip: Capella Sydney
Opening in March 2023, the restored 1912 sandstone building conveys sophisticated luxury and a sense of place.
The always popular Roma is now available at a bargain price.
Europe
“The US dollar is particularly strong right now, with an almost 1:1 exchange rate with the euro,” Holtz said. “This favorable exchange rate and the opening of a number of new hotels, especially in Italy and France, will encourage more European travel into 2024.” He points out that it is also attractive because it allows you to enjoy all the comforts of “for a longer period of time”.
Steve Bourne, chief marketing officer of Globus travel brands (Globus, Cosmos and Avalon Waterways), believes there is also a big opportunity in Europe, with the euro gaining more momentum in Eastern and Southern Europe than in the Western region. He points out that it is progressing further. He recommends Croatia and Greece, where you can get better deals on restaurants and hotels. “A city like Dubrovnik, overlooking the blue waters of the Adriatic Sea, is not only home to stunning UNESCO World Heritage Sites, fascinating historic streets and medieval sights; [but] Accommodation prices in Croatia are also much cheaper than in other parts of Europe,” he says.
Passalacqua, Lake Como, Italy
Napoleon Bonaparte, Winston Churchill and composer Vincenzo Bellini have all stayed at Lake Como’s neoclassical Villa Passalacqua long before it was transformed into a stunning 24-suite hotel, and was named Afar magazine’s 2023 Added to Best Hotels list.
Pateos, Alentejo, Portugal
Another of Afar’s Best Hotels of 2023, the brutalist-style Pateos was designed by Lisbon-born architectural star Manuel Aires Mateus, drawing guests’ attention to the Alentejo landscape.
Le Grand Mazarin, Paris, France
Design lovers who love color and beautiful baubles and want to stay in one of the hippest areas of Paris will find themselves at home in the chic area of Le Grand Mazarin in the Marais.
Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik
The Excelsior is an iconic landmark hotel (circa 1913) located just a 5-minute walk from Dubrovnik’s Old Town, with sea-view rooms overlooking the Adriatic Sea.
This story was originally published in 2022. Most recently updated with new information on May 16, 2024.
