The low value of the dollar in the U.S. right now has Americans grumbling about inflation, but at the same time this creates a great opportunity for citizens of other countries who are looking for a bargain vacation. Your money will go further when you convert it to U.S. dollars, so you can get great deals on travel in the states. Here are some ideas for vacations where you can get an excellent value for your money:
Cruises
Even for U.S. citizens, ocean and river cruises that stick to U.S. waters can be an excellent deal. Why? Because cruises include transportation, lodging, entertainment, and meals all in the cost of the ticket. You will pay for extras (such as alcoholic beverages, shopping purchases, and shore excursions), but with your basic needs all covered in the price of a cruise ticket, expect to get an excellent value for your money with this type of vacation package.
To make the most of the weak dollar, choose cruises that stick to mostly U.S. waters (and ports). Examples include cruises around the Hawaiian Islands and Alaska cruises (an excellent opportunity to see glaciers, whales, and historical mining sites). You can also find many smaller outfits offering riverboat cruises up some of the most scenic and beautiful waterways in America. You can get more ideas for cruises at various travel blogs.
Bus Tours
For those who get seasick or just prefer land destinations to those reachable by water, you may consider bus tours. Like cruises, the cost of the ticket includes a lot of the extras. Transportation will always be included and lodging and meals is included, at least in part, in most of these travel packages.
You can find multi-state bus tours that leave from numerous destinations. Generally they will spend a week or ten days traveling around specific regions. For example, a tour of the Southwest United States might include destinations such as the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Las Vegas, and Lake Tahoe. If you have three weeks or so available for your vacation, check into the coast-to-coast tours to get a feel for all the interesting peoples, climates, and ideologies represented across America.
Vacation Rentals
There is no rule that you have to hop from state to state, always on the move, during your U.S. vacation. Perhaps you'd prefer to explore one area intimately for a week and go hiking, bicycling, or museum-hopping in one location. Every major city (and many minor ones) will have hotels, but you can often get away from tourist zones and really experience an area by staying in a privately owned vacation rental.
Vacation rentals can be anything from condos in the city to homes in the suburbs to lakeside log cabins in the mountains. To browse what's available in the area you wish to visit, check out sites such as VRBO (vacation rentals by owner) or up and coming Vacation Rental Reviews.
Rates tend to be a little higher when staying in vacation rentals than hotels (and cleaning fees are often added on), but you generally get more space and more privacy than in a hotel. At the least expect fully functioning kitchens, which is great if you like to eat healthy on vacations or do a spot of cooking on your own.
So there you have it, three ways to take advantage of the low value of the American dollar and see the United States. Cruises, bus tours, and vacation rentals are all enjoyable ways to see the country.
