Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine
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Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine
Great Values in Overseas Trips
The dollar is down, but your money goes further if you know where to look.
By Thomas M. Anderson
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, July 2007
The weak dollar doesn't have to dash your international travel plans. Below, we feature five places around the world where the greenback still thrives. And check out our slide show 10 Destinations Where Your Dollar Goes Far for the skinny on these and five more bargain destinations.
RELATED LINKS
10 Dollar-Stretching Destinations
Plastic Rules When Traveling Abroad
Value Vacations
Lisbon, Portugal:
Western Europe's sweet spot
The biggest bargain in Western Europe this summer is Portugal. Deals abound because the nation's low profile keeps it off many tourists' radar screens.
Lisbon is a mix of beach, medieval character and urban sophistication. It has the world-class dining and shopping you would expect from a European capital. The narrow streets, small city squares and trams of the Alfama historic district give you Old Europe; the Bairro Alto, the hub of Lisbon's nightlife, parties like New Europe.
During the summer months, locals and tourists alike exit the city to crowd nearby beaches. "Lisbon forces you to relax," says Tom Meyers, editor of the Web site Eurocheapo.com and a frequent traveler to Portugal.
For convenience and the biggest bang for your euro, book a hotel in the central districts of the city, such as Alfama and Bairro Alto, Meyers recommends. Four-star hotels there run about $135 per night in July and only $100 in September.
A night on the town in Lisbon, where a drink is two to three euros, costs a fraction of a good time in London or Paris. "You don't return to your hotel at night feeling as if you've been robbed," Meyers says.
A Lisboa Card is a must-have when touring the city. It grants you unlimited use of nearly all public transportation, plus discounts for admission at museums and monuments. The card also knocks 65% off many bus and tram tours. Cards are sold at kiosks and Turismo de Lisboa offices throughout Lisbon. You can buy them in one-day, two-day or three-day increments. A one-day card costs about $17.
THE LOWDOWN ON LISBON
WHAT YOU'LL PAY: Direct round-trip flights from Chicago to Lisbon cost about $1,100 in June and $800 in September when you book in advance. Four-star hotels in central Lisbon generally run $135 to $225 per night in July, and about 35% less in September and October.
SHOULDER SEASON: Crowds drop in September and October, but there's no less ambience.
BEST DINING BARGAIN: The best deal won't be at a local bistro but at the Instituto do Vinho do Porto (Port Wine Institute). There you can try more than 300 vintages of Portugal's signature beverage. Tasting prices vary.
http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archi ... ollar.html[url][/url]
The dollar is down, but your money goes further if you know where to look.
By Thomas M. Anderson
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, July 2007
The weak dollar doesn't have to dash your international travel plans. Below, we feature five places around the world where the greenback still thrives. And check out our slide show 10 Destinations Where Your Dollar Goes Far for the skinny on these and five more bargain destinations.
RELATED LINKS
10 Dollar-Stretching Destinations
Plastic Rules When Traveling Abroad
Value Vacations
Lisbon, Portugal:
Western Europe's sweet spot
The biggest bargain in Western Europe this summer is Portugal. Deals abound because the nation's low profile keeps it off many tourists' radar screens.
Lisbon is a mix of beach, medieval character and urban sophistication. It has the world-class dining and shopping you would expect from a European capital. The narrow streets, small city squares and trams of the Alfama historic district give you Old Europe; the Bairro Alto, the hub of Lisbon's nightlife, parties like New Europe.
During the summer months, locals and tourists alike exit the city to crowd nearby beaches. "Lisbon forces you to relax," says Tom Meyers, editor of the Web site Eurocheapo.com and a frequent traveler to Portugal.
For convenience and the biggest bang for your euro, book a hotel in the central districts of the city, such as Alfama and Bairro Alto, Meyers recommends. Four-star hotels there run about $135 per night in July and only $100 in September.
A night on the town in Lisbon, where a drink is two to three euros, costs a fraction of a good time in London or Paris. "You don't return to your hotel at night feeling as if you've been robbed," Meyers says.
A Lisboa Card is a must-have when touring the city. It grants you unlimited use of nearly all public transportation, plus discounts for admission at museums and monuments. The card also knocks 65% off many bus and tram tours. Cards are sold at kiosks and Turismo de Lisboa offices throughout Lisbon. You can buy them in one-day, two-day or three-day increments. A one-day card costs about $17.
THE LOWDOWN ON LISBON
WHAT YOU'LL PAY: Direct round-trip flights from Chicago to Lisbon cost about $1,100 in June and $800 in September when you book in advance. Four-star hotels in central Lisbon generally run $135 to $225 per night in July, and about 35% less in September and October.
SHOULDER SEASON: Crowds drop in September and October, but there's no less ambience.
BEST DINING BARGAIN: The best deal won't be at a local bistro but at the Instituto do Vinho do Porto (Port Wine Institute). There you can try more than 300 vintages of Portugal's signature beverage. Tasting prices vary.
http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archi ... ollar.html[url][/url]
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