These Are the Destinations Where the U.S. Dollar Goes Further for Travelers

Andrea Romano
Updated

If you want to save money on vacation, you have to know where to go.

Over the past year, some destinations have become a better value for U.S. travelers and some have become worse, according to RewardExpert. The finance and travel website determined just how far the U.S. dollar will go in popular international summer destinations this year, based both on the strength of the dollar compared to the local currency and overall affordability.

Which destinations will ultimately stretch your dollar? The top five, according to the RewardExpert, are Turkey, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Nepal and Indonesia. Maybe it's time to start planning that dream vacation to Lombok, Bali, or Java — the top three islands in 2018 in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards.

Countries Where the U.S. Is Getting More Valuable

  1. Turkey

  2. Mexico

  3. Kazakhstan

  4. Nepal

  5. Indonesia

  6. Sri Lanka

  7. Switzerland

  8. New Zealand

  9. Hong Kong

  10. Trinidad and Tobago

RewardExpert found that overall affordability is “largely independent of exchange rate fluctuations and trends,” and that the length of stay is one of the most important factors in getting a great value. Many of these low-cost destinations are far from the U.S. so travel to and from can be expensive, and a longer stay makes it more worth it.

Of course, there are also destinations where the U.S. dollar won't go as far. The countries where the dollar is getting less valuable include Thailand, Croatia, Canada, Bulgaria, and Europe.