MSN.com has a very useful story on where the Canadian dollar goes the farthest.
Knowing your foreign currency exchange rates is a great way to save money, as some destinations might surprise you in terms of their value.
Many Canadians are avoiding the US these days for political reasons, but also because the dollar is still quite low. As of June 12 ,the Canadian dollar is still down at 73?> cents US, which means a US dollar will cost you at least xx.
That’s not so bad in, say, Kentucky or New Mexico, but it could make a trip to a big city like New York or Miami prohibitively expensive.
Lucky for those of us who live north of the border, there are still some places where the Canadian dollar goes reasonably far.
MSN puts Hungary/Romania at the top of their list.
“Hungary is a country in Central-Eastern Europe that many consider a hidden gem. It’s also one of the countries that has not adopted the Euro, keeping them more affordable than countries like France and Spain.”
They also mention Thailand (always a good option), which now has direct flights (to Bangkok) from Vancouver via Air Canada. AC also flies direct from Vancouver to Manila, which makes the Philippines a much more attractive option.
Bangkok, Thailand. JIM BYERS PHOTO
I went onto Expedia Canada’s site and found five-star hotels in Bangkok for xxx per night. A hotel of that quality would likely cost four or five times that amount in Paris.
Thailand is a great money-saving option, but so is Laos and Malaysia and Vietnam, which has wonderful food and cool cities to explore like Hanoi.
MSN also mentions Mexico, where a Canadian dollar fetches 12 Mexican pesos, as well as Morocco, where it says you can access an authentic hammam spa for the equivalent of $2CAD or book a massage for less than $20 CAD.
I’ll add Portugal to the list. A lovely hotel in Lisbon can be found for $200 CAD per night in August, according to Expedia.
MSN also recommends Argentina.
“Like the Canadian Dollar, the Argentinian Peso has also struggled. A trip to Argentina has never been cheaper for Canadians. When you roam the streets of Buenos Aires, you’ll wonder if you’ve accidentally gone to Europe, with its charming cafe culture and museum scene.”
Colombia is having some political violence issues these days, but it remains a relative bargain.
Also worth noting is that both Australia and New Zealand have low dollar issues of their own. A hundred dollars in Canadian funds will get you $1.12 Australian dollars, while the same amount nets a tidy $1.21 New Zealand dollars. Imagine that!
Your info on Argentina is out of date. Saying a trip to Argentina has never been cheaper is incorrect. I was there in November, 2023, and again in February this year. The price difference is about 100%. It is still not super expensive but it is far from ‘never been cheaper’.