Traveling outside of the United States these days means you’ll likely pay more for hotel rooms, museum entry fees, dining out and, well, almost everything. Around the globe, the dollar simply doesn’t go as far as it once did.

While the spread of the economic crisis to Europe has pushed the dollar up some 20% against the Euro since early August, it’s still way off its high last reached in 2002. The current swing is certainly good news for travelers headed across the Atlantic, but there are other ways to save on an overseas trip beyond keeping your fingers crossed for a continued rally.

The best strategies for traveling well now include cutting back on oil consumption within a destination, looking toward new luxury travel hot spots in South America and Asia, and opting for prepaid packages and cruises. Here are our top six tips for traveling overseas without breaking the bank.

Tip #1: Experience Regions, Not Continents

Reducing point-to-point flights and long train rides is good for your bottom line, as well as your travel footprint. Instead of hitting 15 cities in 14 days, take the time to really get to know a smaller region. Especially in Europe, traveling within a single country can be a significantly better value than attempting to see it all.

Spend a few days visiting vineyards in Tuscany instead of just one, for example. Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, from the 13th-century walled city of Dubrovnik to the vibrant beach town of Split, mixes relaxation with cultural tourism. Visitors can augment their trip with stays on sun-rich Croatian islands like Hvar. Spain’s southern Andalucia region is highlighted by picturesque Seville, coastal retreats like Marbella and culturally rich Granada, home to the Alhambra, a 14th-century Moorish fortress.

Smart savings

• Consider countries that don’t yet use the euro as currency. Good bets are such rising tourist destinations as Croatia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Bulgaria and Poland.




• Explore the small towns and rural areas around a major metropolis. Prices are lower, and the cultural experiences can be just as rich. Make a small village your base and opt for day trips into larger urban areas.




• Shop open-air markets and fairs. Many times you can find beautiful hand-made items for souvenirs—more meaningful and less expensive than what you’d find in larger retail stores. Try your hand at bargaining (tip: attempting to haggle in the local language will likely win you some points). Of course, whether you land that great bargain or not, simply meeting local purveyors can help you learn a lot about the local culture.

Tip #2: Choose Accommodations Carefully

Hotel costs can quickly eat up the majority of a vacation budget. Instead of opting for brand-name chains, consider the alternatives.

Smart savings

• Stay at locally owned hotels and pensions. Hotel groups like Malmaison and Dakota Hotels in the United Kingdom, for instance, offer a collection of small, design-focused properties with rates that can come in way below those of typical American chains.






• Rent a local apartment if you’re staying for at least a week. You’ll not only save money on the accommodations, but you can avoid the $40 hotel breakfast in favor of less expensive morning fare. Plus, it’s a great way to experience the country like a local.




• Consider a home swap. If you live in a city or town that’s a desirable tourist destination, you may be able to exchange a stay in your home for a stay in a residence in Europe. HomeExchange.com and HomeLink.org, membership sites that link up owners looking to trade, are good places to begin the search.

Tip #3: Go Latin America

Currencies in Latin America are often tied to the U.S. dollar so the exchange rate does not fluctuate. Ecuador and Panama even use the dollar as their official currency. Coupled with a flurry of luxury development in destinations like Argentina, Chile, Peru and Columbia, savvy travelers now have an abundance of top hotels to choose from.

Smart savings

• Book your flight through a low-cost airline. Many of these carriers are attempting to grow their business via overseas routes. Spirit flies direct to Lima and Cartagena, for instance, and other airlines like Frontier now fly to Central America.






• Check your frequent flier miles. Even infrequent fliers may find that they have enough miles to cash in for a ticket. Using frequent flier miles to Central or South America can also be a smart bet, since many carriers require just 30,000 to 45,000 miles for a free roundtrip ticket, far fewer than the 50,000 or 60,000 typically required for a flight to and from Europe.

Tip #4: Try Luxury Hotels in Asia

Few corners of the globe have gotten as much attention from luxury hotel developers in recent years as Asia. Five-star brand names like Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons and the Peninsula all have hotel and resort properties in Asia. Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia have especially good luxury hotel and resort finds. Plus, you’ll spend less on everything from food to spa treatments.

Smart savings

• In Bangkok: The Peninsula hotel costs about $300/night; the Four Seasons, about $220.






• In Vietnam: The Park Hyatt in Saigon is $290/night; in the beach town of Nha Trang, rates at the Evason Ana Mandara resort start at $239 for a garden-view villa. Even better? Massages at the hotel’s Six Senses spa run $45 for a 50-minute session.




• Explore up-and-coming areas farther afield. For instance Cochin, a verdant and canal-lined town in the south India state of Kerala, offers ayurvedic treatments for spa-lovers and sea-based options like chartering a boat.

Tip #5: Opt for Prepaid Packages

As the dollar went into a tailspin, the value of booking a prepaid package became even more apparent. Many tour operators set their rates far in advance, sometimes more than a year.

Smart savings

• Pay ahead and lock in that price. For a European-based tour operator, this can be an especially good deal.






• Buy American. Tour companies based in the United States typically require upfront payment in U.S. dollars, so there is no danger of seeing the price of your trip soar.

Tip #6: Book a Cruise

Dollar for dollar, cruising is the best travel value out there. It can be an especially good bet for Europe, since food and transportation from point to point are included in the price. But the best money-saving news is that any charges you rack up onboard, such as drinks and spa services, will be charged to you in dollars.

Smart savings

• Go off season. The newest ships are sailing European itineraries. Board in April, May or June, before the summer rush, and you could see discounts as high as 50% from top lines.






• Plan ahead. Early booking discounts abound on cruises. This fall, for instance, Yachts of Seabourn announced discounts of up to 50% on its summer 2009 cruises in Europe. The rate slash was 5% to 15% higher than previous discounts and amounted to a savings of $700 to $1,600 per person.




• Skip the cruise-line arranged shore excursions. Multinational tour operators often act as the middleman to hire local services—and then charge you liberally for the convenience. Hire the same services yourself, or work through your travel agent at home, and save big.




• Consider river cruises if Mediterranean or northern European itineraries aren’t of interest. These trips use small boats, often holding fewer than 200 passengers, and give travelers front-row views of small towns, castles and vineyards in France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, among other destinations. Big names include Abercrombie & Kent, French Country Waterways, Grand Circle Travel and Uniworld.

Alternatives to Europe Seeking Try

The je ne sais quoi of Paris Buenos Aires, noted for its European style, elegance and architecture The wine culture of Bordeaux Mendoza, Argentina, a region turning out top Cabernet blends and Malbec, or Chile’s Colchagua Valley, which offers rich Cabernets along with hip spas and boutique hotels An abundance of history, culture and food, à la Italy Peru, where ancient ruins, museums, churches and world-class restaurants are coupled with abundant wildlife and adventure sports Funky boutique hotels found in design-centered cities like Barcelona, Berlin and Copenhagen Antigua, Guatemala; Cusco, Peru; or Cartagena, Colombia; all of which are dotted with unique luxury hotel properties Long days soaking up sun in the south of France Costa Rica or Honduras, both home to white sand beaches backed by palms and eco-resorts in the rainforest