Nashville, Tenn.-based Tim Leiffert, author of Make Your Travel Dollars Worth a Fortune, skipped London and Lisbon this summer, and instead, took his wife and daughter on a two-week trip to Guatemala. There, they stayed in a "gorgeous" hotel which featured a panoramic view of a volcanic lake for $60 a night. He estimates the cost of the entire trip, during which they visited Mayan ruins and colonial towns, and ate inexpensive but tasty meals, was $3,000.

"People don't think of [Guatemala] as a family destination," Leiffert says, but, as in other Central and South American countries, "it's an easy trip, and the dollar is still strong."

...One Euro is worth roughly 1.5 American dollars. However, in history-rich countries like Thailand, Morocco and Hungary, the local currency is worth substantially less than the dollar, allowing a savvy American tourist the opportunity to experience a new culture for a reasonable cost.

At the Oriental, a luxury hotel in Bangkok, a room with river views, a personal butler and daily fresh flowers is available in May via an Internet special for $269 a night, or about 7,990 Thai Bahts. A similar room in London's Hyde Park Oriental is available during the same time period for about $1,330 per night ...

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