The US dollar soared to an 11-year high against several foreign currencies this month, making a number of traditionally expensive destinations more affordable than ever for American travelers. Here's a look at 10 vacations that just went on sale.
Note: The currency conversions below were calculated using one-year figures from XE, the most widely used foreign exchange service. They broadly reflect how much a bottle of wine, dinner for two, and hotel room — that cost $20, $50 and $150 respectively in March 2014 — would cost you now given the more favorable exchange rates.
Moscow, Russia
Moscow was once a permanent fixture atop lists of Europe's most expensive cities, but falling oil prices sent the ruble tumbling in 2014, drastically reducing its value. Now, Moscow is one of Europe's cheapest cities for Americans to visit. Take advantage of the favorable exchange rate by booking a ticket to the Bolshoi Theater, spending a day at the lavish Sanduny Bathhouses, or simply touring the Kremlin and Red Square to get a feel for what makes the Russian capital tick.
- 700 ruble bottle of wine Cost in March 2014: $20 / Cost in March 2015: $11
- 1,800 ruble dinner for two Cost in March 2014: $50 / Cost in March 2015: $29
- 5,300 ruble hotel room Cost in March 2014: $149 / Cost in March 2015: $86
Patagonia, Chile
Boasting the southernmost settlements in the world and miles of uninterrupted terrain, Patagonia is wild, enchanting and cheaper than it's been in a long time. The dollar hit a five-year high against the Chilean peso earlier this year, making this once pricey and far-off corner of the Americas much more accessible to American explorers. Touch down in Punta Arenas for access to the iconic Torres Del Paine National Park or Coyhaique to explore the newly formed Patagonia Park.
- 11,000 peso bottle of wine Cost in March 2014 $20 / Cost in March 2015: $17
- 28,000 peso dinner for two Cost in March 2014 $50 / Cost in March 2015: $43
- 83,000 peso hotel room Cost in March 2014 $150 / Cost in March 2015: $129
Stockholm, Sweden
The dollar is up 29 percent against the Swedish krona and TripAdvisor claims average hotel prices in Stockholm are 19 percent cheaper than they were this time last year. This makes now the perfect time to discover the cobblestone streets and electronic beats of Northern Europe's most stylish city. Whether you tune in to the live music scene, dabble in Sweden's Viking history, or go island hopping by bike along Stockholm's southern archipelago, your dollars will go a lot further than they used to.
- 130 krona bottle of wine Cost in March 2014: $20 / Cost in March 2015: $15
- 320 krona dinner for two Cost in March 2014: $50 / Cost in March 2015: $36
- 960 krona hotel room Cost in March 2014: $150 / Cost in March 2015: $109
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Prices for transpacific flights on airlines like Virgin Australia and Qantas were once prohibitively expensive for most American families, but are cheaper than they've been in a very long time. Why? The Australian dollar hit a high of $1.05 against the US dollar just two years ago. Now, it's worth about $0.75, making a once in a lifetime trip out to the Great Barrier Reef an exceptional bargain. Everything from an all-inclusive resort in the Whitsundays to a dive vacation on Lady Elliot Island could be up to 25 percent cheaper than it was just last year.
- A$22 bottle of wine Cost in March 2014: $20 / Cost in March 2015: $17
- A$55 dinner for two Cost in March 2014: $51 / Cost in March 2015: $42
- A$162 hotel room Cost in March 2014: $150 / Cost in March 2015: $124
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
It's an off year for Rio de Janeiro as it recovers from the World Cup and gears up for the Summer Olympics. Those hoping to escape the crowds on a trip this year can expect prices more than 20 percent lower than 2014 thanks to the most favorable exchange rate in a decade. Surf off the northern end of Ipanema Beach, climb Corcovado, or preview Barra da Tijuca, headquarters of the 2016 Olympics — all at prices that won't lighten your wallet.
- 45 real bottle of wine Cost in March 2014: $20 / Cost in March 2015: $14
- 110 real dinner for two Cost in March 2014: $49 / Cost in March 2015: $34
- 340 real hotel room Cost in March 2014: $151 / Cost in March 2015: $105
Vancouver, Canada
Whether you hang out in town or use it as a base for snow sports, mountain biking or kayaking, Canada's most expensive city is about 15 percent cheaper than this time last year thanks to the best exchange rates in six years. Use the extra greenbacks to dive into Vancouver's burgeoning culinary and craft brewing scenes, and then catch the ferry to Vancouver Island to explore the largest isle in the Pacific east of New Zealand.
- C$22 bottle of wine Cost in March 2014: $20 / Cost in March 2015: $17
- C$55 dinner for two Cost in March 2014: $50 / Cost in March 2015: $43
- C$165 hotel room Cost in March 2014: $150 / Cost in March 2015: $129
Bordeaux, France
The name Bordeaux conjures up visions of decadence and grandeur — both of which are much more likely to become a reality for everyday Americans visiting France's famed wine region in 2015. The exchange rate for the euro (which is used in 19 countries) is better than it has been in more than a decade, making it the perfect time to splurge on a palatial Bordeaux retreat and some fine wine to match it. A 380-euro Château Margaux Cabernet Sauvignon blend, for example, will set you back almost $125 less this year than it would have just 12 months ago.
- 15 euro bottle of wine Cost in March 2014: $21 / Cost in March 2015: $16
- 35 euro dinner for two Cost in March 2014: $49 / Cost in March 2015: $37
- 110 euro hotel room Cost in March 2014: $153 / Cost in March 2015: $116
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is famous for being one of the most expensive cities on the planet. However, that shouldn't be as much of an issue for American travelers headed to the Japanese capital in 2015 because the dollar is at a seven-year high against the yen. Whether you navigate the neon-lit streetscapes of Akihabara or head out of town to climb Mount Fuji, a Japanese getaway has rarely been this affordable.
- 2,000 yen bottle of wine Cost in March 2014: $20 / Cost in March 2015: $16
- 5,000 yen dinner for two Cost in March 2014: $49 / Cost in March 2015: $41
- 15,250 yen hotel room Cost in March 2014: $150 / Cost in March 2015: $126
Istanbul, Turkey
The dollar is 14 percent stronger than it was last year, when compared to the lira, making the increasingly expensive city of Istanbul as affordable as it used to be. Take advantage of the lower rates and explore this historic bridge between Asia and Europe to discover what it looks like to have one foot in the East and the other in the West. Use the extra lira to splurge on a trip to a Turkish bathhouse and a lavish meal of endless meze or take a tour of Istanbul's fantastic assortment of Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques.
- 45 lira bottle of wine Cost in March 2014: $20 / Cost in March 2015: $17
- 110 lira dinner for two Cost in March 2014: $50 / Cost in March 2015: $42
- 330 lira hotel room Cost in March 2014: $150 / Cost in March 2015: $126
Iceland's Ring Road
Iceland's iconic Ring Road is a dream trip for landscape photographers that's cheaper and easier to reach this year thanks to new routes from low-cost carrier WOW air and a fantastic dollar-to-krona conversion. Fly into the capital Reykjavik and set off on a week-long self-drive tour past this Nordic nation's rumbling volcanoes, spitting geysers, and glittering glaciers, stopping each night in far-flung towns whose people are as colorful as the homes they live in.
- 2,250 krona bottle of wine Cost in March 2014: $20 / Cost in March 2015: $16
- 5,600 krona dinner for two Cost in March 2014: $50 / Cost in March 2015: $40
- 16,750 krona hotel room Cost in March 2014: $150 / Cost in March 2015: $120
More from Men's Journal:
- The 10 Cheapest Countries to Visit
- How to Get the Best Ticket Prices for Flights
- The 9 Best Summer Vacation Destinations
- 10 Most Underrated Travel Destinations
- 12 Travel Mistakes to Avoid
SEE ALSO: The 25 most popular travel destinations in the US
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