Location, Location, Vacation

Who hasn’t felt the effects of the steep rise in the price of...well, almost everything? But even if that long-planned trip to Tahiti seems a little out of reach, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take a little R&R. Travel agents and vacation planners are busy finding hybrid hot spots to offset the declining dollar and soaring costs.

For example, if airfare and the weak dollar have made that island getaway impossible, consider Mexico. The airlines haven’t cut many flights south of the border, and, so far, the peso hasn’t been as affected by the dollar’s plunge.

Holiday Inn Express, Glendale, Arizona

Want to stay in the US but rising costs are crimping your hotel budget? Many mid-tier hotels have stepped up their amenities to appeal to higher-end travelers. When you enter the Holiday Inn Express or Staybridge Suites hotel in Glendale, Arizona, you’re greeted by a lush entrance and resort-style pool typical of top-tier properties at a fraction of the cost.

The economy requires that we all become more creative with our budgets (and real estate investments)—vacation getaways are no different. But you don’t need to “staycation” this summer—you just need to travel smart.