The pitifully weak US dollar has left many Americans wondering whether they ought to limit their travels to their own country this summer. Financial markets have the US dollar trading near all-time lows against the euro and the British pound, and even the Canadian dollar is more expensive than it has been in decades.

But there’s no reason to give up entirely on foreign travel. With a little flexibility and a willingness to explore hidden gems, overseas vacations remain within reach for most Americans. Here are a few of the best bets:

Eastern Europe. Long a favorite of Brits and Germans, Croatia’s Mediterranean beaches, Slovenia’s alpine ski slopes and Bulgaria’s Black Sea resorts lie well outside the radar of American travelers. And their obscurity guarantees a sense of adventure. Most of Eastern Europe doesn’t use the expensive Euro (with the exception of Slovenia), and while local currencies have gained strength against the dollar, lower demand means lower prices.

South and Central America. Argentina is a great deal for American travelers, owing to its currency devaluation in 2002. But you don’t have to limit yourself to Argentina. Much of this continent remains a budget traveler’s dream. Consider a nature tour in Peru, surfing lessons in Nicaragua or indigenous culture in Bolivia.

Southeast Asia. Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia remain among the world’s best travel bargains, even for owners of a weakened US dollar. Pristine beaches, centuries-old Buddhist temples and unforgettable markets have raised the profile of these once war-torn nations.

Dollarized countries. These are nations that use the US dollar as their official currency, and they include Panama, Ecuador, the British Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos. Several other nations have an official local currency but widely accept US dollars, including Peru and Cambodia. Visiting a dollarized country doesn’t mean you won’t find expensive meals or resorts—you will, especially in the Caribbean—but you’ll avoid the brutal ups and downs of currency fluctuations.

Canada. True, the US dollar doesn’t buy as many loonies as it used to. But Canadian destinations remain among the best value foreign vacations for American travelers, especially outside large cities. And transportation to Canada is particularly inexpensive for those living along America’s northern border.

Of course, the time-tested adage remains true: If you travel off-season, avoid following the pack and do your best to eat and shop as the locals do, you’ll get away with traveling on a thin budget, even overseas. Do your research and you’ll discover there’s no reason to stay home this summer.

–Amy S. Eckert, RED Travel Writer
–Photo courtesy of Croatian National Tourists Board

Our public bus rips through the winding, dirt roads of Tuscany. Due to my sheer terror, I pay no attention to the emerald fields, lush with Italy’s spring bounty. My knuckles clench the seat back in front of me, but I briefly look up to search for others who may hold the same fear of this speeding diesel bullet.

Embarrassed, I find the other passengers blithely chatting away with fellow travelers oblivious to my terror. I try to maintain focus on the unknown culinary delights that await me inside the famed ancient walls of Siena, our final destination.

Something magical happens when the first springtime sun shines on the Italian countryside—locals begin to linger a bit longer in the piazzas, the rolling hills turn a jeweled green and the outdoor markets are abound with a rainbow of fresh spring produce.

For traveling gourmands, the trek to Siena is worth the effort to find just the right café for an afternoon respite. The city’s ancient cobbled pathways offer a modest workout with challenging peaks and valleys to work off your hearty Italian meal.

The bus stops and passengers gleefully depart. As my sandals first hit the cobblestone roads in Siena, the city’s medieval charm quickly soothes my soured stomach. I am ready to eat.

Not knowing a word of Italian or having a guidebook in hand, I randomly select a café tucked deep into a back alley and order the springtime specialty that my waiter points to: “Asparagus with Poached Quail Egg”. Bravo to the chefs of Italy for taking only three or four seasonal ingredients to create a masterpiece for the mouth. This purist attitude towards cooking can often elevate Italy’s homegrown produce to rock star status.

After a long meal and a casual stroll through the shops, I reluctantly head back to the bus for my return to Florence. The 90 minutes of twists and turns on the rural Tuscan roads now seem like a cheap price to pay for the memorable spring meal I relished in that obscured alley café.

Cook’s Notes:
In effort to replicate the appetizer I ate in Siena, I adapted a classic Italian asparagus recipe, Asparagi Con Uova, by roasting the asparagus to bring out the latent sweetness of these spring spears. Salty pecorino contrasts with the grassy and floral notes of the asparagus while the soft poached egg creates a silky sauce that marries the two in a happy union.

Asparagus, Soft Poached Egg with Shaved Pecorino Romano
(Asparagi con Uova)
Serves 4 . . . or 2 hungry people

4 slices Italian country bread
1 garlic clove, cut in half
6 stalks of asparagus
4 fresh eggs
Couple of ounces of shaved Pecorino Romano
extra virgin olive oil
sea salt/fresh ground pepper

Preheat oven to 375˚. Lightly brush olive oil on top of the sliced bread slices. Place on baking sheet and toast in oven for about 5-7 minutes or until lightly browned. Take crostinis out of the oven and rub the toasted tops with the open end of garlic clove.

Place asparagus drizzled with olive oil, sea salt and fresh ground pepper on baking sheet and roast for 5-7 minutes. Pull out of oven immediately. Spears should be al dente. Arrange the asparagus in a single layer on top of the garlic crostini.

Simmer 2 inches of water in a skillet or sauce pan on medium/high heat. Break eggs, one at a time, into a bowl. Carefully slip eggs into the simmering water and cover pan. Cook eggs for 3 to 5 minutes for a medium runny egg. Gently lift each egg from the water with a slotted spoon, shaking off excess water, and place on top of the asparagus. Shave fresh pecorino on top of the eggs and serve immediately.

–Shelly Connors, RED Editorial Staff

Beach chairs are scattered about, along with brightly colored toy buckets and shovels. The sound of waves crashing ashore fills the air, which carries the slight tang of salt. Everyone walking around or reclining looks relaxed and peaceful. But they’re not spending a day at the beach; they’re spending 45 minutes in Galos Caves.

Galos Caves is one of just three salt rooms in America, all of which happen to be in the Chicago area. Popular in Eastern Europe, namely Poland, spending time in a salt room is believed to be not only relaxing, but also a cure for a wide variety of ills such as hypertension, stress, allergies, asthma, and skin conditions.

“A 45-minute session is like spending three days at the sea,” says Kasia Michon, a Galos employee. “The air clears your respiratory tract, and its iodine content is especially healthy for pregnant women and kids, because they have high needs for iodine.”

Owner Ewa Chwala was inspired to build Galos Caves in her banquet hall complex after seeing a salt cave during a trip to Poland a few years ago. Crafted from 20 tons of Baltic Sea salt crystallized in natural conditions, the salt is released into the air through radiant heat in the floor and air conditioning in the walls.

About a dozen customers can use the salt room at a time, with separate sessions designated for adults, who are encouraged to be quiet, and children, who are allowed to play in the salt nuggets on the floor just as they would in a sandbox.

Over at Megi’s Spa in nearby Park Ridge, the atmosphere around the salt room is a bit more serene, thanks to its spa surroundings. Customers can pop for a 30-minute session similar to that at Galos, or book a private massage right in the salt room.

“Before I worked here, I didn’t sleep well,” said Megi’s employee Mariya Buchor. “But once I started, the problem went away.”

To book a session at Galos Caves, call 773-283-7701. To book a session at Megi’s Spa, call 847-298-4406.

–Melanie Radzicki McManus, RED Travel Writer

Last summer we couldn’t find hotel room anywhere in west Denver. Our problem? We told the truth. Plug “three kids” into an average hotel reservation system, and you’ll get zilch. Say “two kids,” and bingo– rooms galore.

Even though our twin 4-year-olds take up the space of a bedside table, the travel industry is still catching up to the fact that America is nudging past the two-kid standard that has reigned for the last two decades.

The National Center for Health Statistics shows an uptick in three (or four) kid families, especially in upper income brackets. Chalk it up to more moms and dads staying home or running their own business, the increase in twins and triplets with fertility treatments, and immigrants with larger families. Include blended families due to remarriages, and that’s a lot of Brady Bunches.

So what’s the biggest hurdle for larger families dreaming of vacation?

“It’s a tie between expense and chaos,” says Meagan Francis, mother of four and author of “Table for Eight: Raising a Large Family in a Small Family World.”

While you can’t erase the inherent chaos of mobilizing little troops, planning ahead and being flexible can help you find an affordable and logistical getaway.

Getting there: If you want to fly, let the most economical flights influence where and when you go. If you’re driving—usually the cheapest option even with painful gas prices—plan for frequent breaks and the chance to mix up seating arrangements.

Lodging: Pick reunion-friendly resort areas that feature suites, condos, cabins and lodge rooms that accommodate six or more people. If that’s not an option, look for adjoining rooms or pack sleeping bags. If you need a cot or crib, make sure it’s guaranteed and not on a first-come, first-served basis. You also can check for businesses that rent baby equipment, such as portable cribs.

Look for extras: Remember the value of complimentary breakfast or having a microwave and refrigerator for light meals and leftovers. “Do not underestimate the need to prepare food,” Francis says. Besides saving money, it’s simply less hassle.

Get help: If you’re heading someplace with an overwhelming array of lodging, find a travel agent who can save you money and negotiate packages beyond the “family of four” constraint.

Swap houses: Francis says that in addition to finding a truly kid-friendly place, home exchanges offer a more authentic experience with neighborhood settings rather than commercial strips.

Keep it close: If you’re pinched for time and money, keep your trip within a day’s drive or play tourist in your home city. Splurge and see all the places you normally wouldn’t have time to enjoy. Says Francis, “There’s so much to do in your own backyard, no matter where you are.”

And you don’t have to lie about your family’s size.

–Lisa Meyers McClintick, RED Travel Writer

If you’ve got a last minute itch to head off to Louisville Kentucky for the 134th Run for the Roses this Saturday, chances are slim that you’ll score tickets at this late date. Tickets for the next year go on sale on Monday, and all 55,000 seats are usually gone by September and cost from $50 to $600.

And get this: you must write to Churchill Downs for tickets and mail it in the postal mail, the snail mail. Tickets are not sold on-line or over the phone. How’s that for tradition?

Your best chance for getting into the Derby this year is to show up at Churchill Downs in the wee hours Saturday morning and wait for approximately 30,000 tickets to go on sale. These tickets don’t include a seat, just standing room in the infield and paddock area. It’s been described as a place where spring break meets Mardi Gras. As one Derby goer observed, “you see a lot in the infield, but not a lot of horses.”

But all of that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t head for Louisville anyway. There’s more to enjoy in Louisville than mint juleps and big hats. More than 70 events in the weeks leading up to the Derby, including North America’s largest fireworks display, which was actually held on April 12, brings more than 1.5 million people to the city to celebrate. Come for the steamboat race, the parade, the marathon or the balloon festival, along with dozens of luncheons, dances and social hoopla.

Of course, throughout the year, you can visit Churchill Downs and pay $1 to sit in the grandstand and watch horses work out. Or pay $10 to visit the museum that documents the life of a Kentucky Derby winner from the day of birth to old age. The $10 admission fee is well-worth it just for the introductory film that brings some visitors to tears with the singing of “My Old Kentucky Home,” a tradition to be sung on race day.

You can also climb up on horses in the starting gate or race against a friend on plastic store-front style horses on an interactive track. Or get up close and personal with the real thing on a “Barn and Backside Tour” offered March through November, with the exception of a few race weeks. And plan for lunch at the Derby Café where mint juleps are sold year round, unlike at most other restaurants and bars in the city.

But if you are planning to head out this weekend and wager a bet at the track, remember to take cash, and plenty of it. Bets are made in cash only from $2 to, well, just how lucky are you feeling?

To answer any question other than that, visit www.gotolouisville.com.

–Diana Lambdin Meyer, RED Travel Writer

With the electric blues of Texas bluebonnets, rich reds of Indian paintbrush and mustard yellow of coreopsis scattered across Texas Hill Country, it doesn’t take much to entice travelers to keep driving or peddling. The view changes with each roll and curve of the road—especially in April, the peak month for wildflowers.

Domestic crops add their own beauty to the mix and extend road trip season. In the past eight to 10 years, a growing number of vineyards and lavender fields have joined the area’s peach and wildflower seed farms. Grapes and heat-loving lavender grow with tenacity in the rugged landscape. They bring picturesque scenes of Provence, France, to this region west of Austin and north of San Antonio.

“There are now 16 to 20 lavender farms in Texas,” says Billy Johnson of LLL Farms, about nine miles outside Fredericksburg. They sell at the local farmer’s market and open for a cut-your-own weekend in mid-June.

The hot climate brews extra-concentrated oil, and its heady scent wafts through the farms that are concentrated between Fredericksburg, Johnson City and Blanco. Eight of those farms comprise the Lavender Trail, hosted by Blanco, the proclaimed epicenter of Texas lavender, June 14-15. In addition to farm visits that weekend, the Lavender Market at Blanco’s historic courthouse offers everything from expected soaps and delicate wreaths to surprises such as the popular lavender lemonade.

At Becker Vineyard, hints of lavender lace salmon quiche, salads, grilled chicken breasts coated in honey, lemon scones and dark chocolate Pots de Crème on breakfast, lunch and dinner menus for its 10th annual Lavender Festival. At their biggest event of the year, visitors can buy their own lavender plants, learn how to cook or bake with the herb and shop for indulgences with a twist (think lavender soap scented with chocolate).

Mostly, though, it’s the atmosphere that draws thousands of mostly city residents: purple fields, wines to sample on a shady veranda, and live music most Saturdays throughout the summer.

“It’s a great retreat,” says Michael Page at Becker Vineyards. “You’re out in the country with the beauty of the landscape.”

And while many places do mimic the famed fields of France, there are usually enough Lone Stars, hints of cowboy décor, log cabins or hunting trophies to keep the area distinctly Texas.

–Lisa Meyers McClintick, RED Travel Writer

Our boat glides silently over the glass pane-like water, a shallow valley cleaved out behind the boat the only blemish on this otherwise pristine expanse around us. Captain Dave Bower, a local guide in Southwest Florida on the small charter boat Nervous Water, arcs his fly rod over his head, a gossamer bull whip threading far behind him. A lightening fast forward motion deposits a shrimp pattern fly, tied to a 7X leader, gently in front of a thatch of mangroves.

Rapidly stripping the 9 weight line back, Captain Bower intently scans the water behind the fly. Almost instantly a squall erupts behind the shrimp. Mangrove snapper, or dinner as it will fondly be known if it makes it to the boat, is on!

The rod bends slightly as the hook is set with a healthy tug. The snapper, loath to stray from its sheltered home deep within the mangrove roots, struggles mightily, looping and circling through the water, its energy ebbing slowly as the line reels in. Within moments, the fight is over. The four pound fish flops a few more times on the deck before it is placed unceremoniously into the ice cooler.

Armed with small, vampire like fangs on the front of their upper jaw and sublimely colored with light red or orange spots on their sides under a light brown back, these cautious eaters are known for a violent attack on both top water and shallow sinking flies. Locals favor a Clouser or small shrimp pattern, alternating minnow patterns closer to deep mangrove thickets.

Living a life in the shallows and mangroves, these snapper can grow up to 17 lbs, but 3-5 lbs is a more common catch in the mangroves. And they also have a reputation as a fish that lends itself to a vast array of cooking styles.

A popular local treatment for these white, flakey fleshed fish is a simple broil of butter, garlic and a squeeze of lemon. More exotic dishes involve the fish, gutted and cleaned but left whole, scored and marinated with fresh ginger, cilantro, chopped lemongrass, olive oil and small bullets of heat known as Thai chili peppers. It is then grilled whole and served with a Vietnamese nuoc chom dipping sauce.

If local markets are lacking the more ethnic ingredients, another simple dish that serves many other fish well uses a sauce of sautéed garlic, onion, fresh tomato, capers and chopped basil, seasoned and served with the fillets.

Other denizens of the mangroves, such as snook, small grouper and redfish, also lend themselves to a tremendously varied palette of flavors and preparations. Catching any of these fighters on a fly presents a challenge and reward not easily trumped.

The sun eases itself gently into the west as we turn back toward the dock. The ice cooler, aside from being the final resting place for dinner, also keeps a few cold beers nestled deep in it. As we head out from the mangroves, we toast our success and to the prospect of a tasty fish soon to be cooking on the grill.

–Tim Connors, RED Travel Writer

It’s tough to stay in shape when you travel. Early mornings, late nights and rich or hasty meals can wreak havoc on your fitness regimen. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some quick ways to torch or pare down calories no matter where you’re heading.

• Log some miles at the airport. There’s always time to kill before your next flight. Rather than spending it annoying the folks around you by yakking on your cell phone, hit the pavement. If you briskly walk up and down your concourse a few times, you can easily get in a couple miles before boarding. If you’re in business attire, don’t go too fast or you’ll start to sweat.

• Hit your hotel’s fitness center. Try to squeeze in 30 minutes at the start or end of each day, or set aside a longer block of time every other day. If it means you can’t eat breakfast, do it anyway; you can always grab an energy bar and cup of joe on the way to work, which is probably healthier than what you would have eaten anyway.

• Turn your hotel into a gym. If your hotel doesn’t have a fitness center, it’s too pricey or its hours don’t mesh with your schedule, don’t despair, log a few miles walking up and down the hallways, or go to the stairwell for some stair climbing. The latter is an especially good workout.

• Pack your own equipment. A jump rope takes up almost no space in your suitcase, yet provides a quick, efficient workout. Jump rope 10-15 minutes in the morning and 10-15 at night, followed by some sit-ups and push-ups for a great blast of cardio and strength training.

• Skip the cabs. If you’re in a big city, you’re often only one or two miles away from your destination. Get up a little early so you can walk there and back. It’s also a great way to get your bearings and explore the city.

• Watch your meals. Exercising is great, but you’ve also got to watch what you eat. Skip the gooey breakfast pastries and reach for the yogurt or cereal instead. Opt for fruit-and-vegetable-laden lunches. Eliminate the drinks at dinner, or let the bread basket or dessert cart pass you by.

–Melanie Radzicki McManus, RED Travel Writer

I love wine, and normally bring a bottle when I travel, or purchase a special vintage while on the road. But today’s air travel restrictions require you to pack wine in your checked bag, where it could break and soak your belongings.

To prevent that, I wrap clothes around my bottle or stuff it into my dirty clothes bag — not the most appealing idea, I suppose, although the bottle has plenty of padding and the plastic bag provides a bit of protection in case of breakage. Then I learned about the new BottleWise Storage Bag.

The soft-sided bag ($48.95) features two padded pouches that each hold up to one 750 ml bottle of wine in an inner plastic sleeve akin to an industrial strength Zip-Loc bag. The two pouches can be packed separately, or snap together into an outer padded shell secured by two buckles. A shoulder strap allows you to carry the ensemble around. A second version ($58.95) has extra padding on the outer shell and comes in Bordeaux, vine and cork versus black-only for the cheaper bag.

I tried the $48.95 bag on two recent trips. Initially, it seemed too big and bulky; each pouch is about 15 x 8 inches, and strapped together in the shell the entire bag took up nearly half of my suitcase. But when I packed the pouches separately (no shell), they could be tucked in more tightly, which made a substantial difference. I was leery about the zippered inner sleeve, too; zippered food bags are notorious for being difficult to close and/or seeming to be sealed, then coming undone. But the sleeves repeatedly zipped perfectly for me and never came undone.

The pouches performed well (no need to pay more for extra padding on the shell) and my wine was safe. Of course, I’ve never had a bottle of wine break when it was wrapped in my clothes, either. Yet today’s travel is not as genteel as in the past. Airport security typically searches my checked bags and leaves my items in disarray; a clothes-protected bottle could certainly be left unwrapped. And if the bottle subsequently broke, the airline wouldn’t reimburse me for any damage to the suitcase, much less replace the wine.

The BottleWise Web site touts the fact the bag can also be used to transport items like olive oil, sauces, marinades and alcohol. With the popularity of culinary travel today, that’s a plus.

For me, it comes down to price versus risk. Since I’ve never had a bottle of wine break in my luggage, I’ll probably forego the bag, no matter how prudent it seems. On the other hand, I’ve become more risk-averse since an airline lost my suitcase last month for several days. Perhaps I’ll compromise on what seems like a splurge and put BottleWise on my birthday list this year.

–Melanie Radzicki McManus, RED Travel Writer

If you were one of the more than 300,000 people stranded at airports around the country in the last few weeks as American and other airlines rushed to meet FAA safety guidelines – you don’t care about the who, what and why anymore.

Unless you’re an electrician and bundling wires is your area of expertise, all you want to know is what to do if this happens again.

A couple of tips:

Sign up for free text or telephone alerts from the airline. There’s no extra charge for this.
Always have your airline and travel agent’s phone numbers pre-programmed into your phone. When bad news is breaking, you’re in a position to act.

Keep your flight schedule and record locater on you – not back in your hotel room. This information is helpful and perhaps necessary when trying to rebook.

Remember “Rule 240.” It’s not an urban myth nor a government regulation, but a part of the airline tariffs. If they cancel for reasons within their control – like faulty wiring in an entire fleet of MD-80s – they are required to get you on another airline flight to get to your destination.

If you book a seat yourself on an alternate airline, you must physically go to the airport to add your name to the stand-by list. Phone reservations do not guarantee this for you.

If your travel involves more than just a day or two for business and pleasure, consider trip insurance. Depending on the package, all of your expenses from phone calls to food to overnight stays and missed reservations will be reimbursed.

When booking a cruise, consider allowing the cruise company to book your air transportation as well. It might cost a couple of hundred dollars more up front, but if a situation like the past week develops, it becomes their responsibility to get you to the port – saving you a lot of headaches.

Check out the Express Travel Service from Pocket Express. This service includes flight details for up to 75,000 daily departures from 3,500 airports around the world. You have immediate access to flight schedules, arrival and departure times, as well as a click-to-dial directory of needed travel phone numbers and a detailed hotel search and reservation service.

Sign up for Mobile Concierge through Pocket Express, www.mobileconcierge.com. For $8 a month, you have access to a live human being, 24 hours a day, who can check out the latest flights, get you a hotel when everything else near the airport is filling up – and you just have to sit back and sip a cool one while others panic nearby.

–Diana Lambdin Meyer, RED Travel Writer