If Afar’s Where to Go in 2025 list is inspiring your trip planning, we have good news: Even though it’s weakened a bit, the U.S. dollar is still strong in a lot of our favorite destinations. This means your money will stretch to cover luxury hotels, treks, and other experiences that might otherwise be out of reach.
While seasonality and supply and demand affect a destination’s value—cherry blossom season in Japan will always be pricey—shoulder season can deliver some deals. We asked travel industry experts to weigh in on where travelers can get the most bang for their buck. Here are the seven destinations they recommend where the U.S. dollar goes furthest.
Machu Picchu is popular for a reason; it’s one of the tourist attractions Afar editors love visiting.
Photo by Lyndsey Matthews
Peru
“Now is a great time to consider visiting Peru,” says Melissa Da Silva, president of Trafalgar Tours North America. “Not only can travelers expect to spend around $12 for a terrific meal, but its temperate climate and incredible marvels . . . make it a bucket-list destination travelers cannot afford to miss.” We’d add that while Machu Picchu is a don’t-miss historical site, there’s so much more to see in Peru than the ancient Inca ruins.
Martín Romero is the general manager and partner at Explorandes, which focuses on treks and adventure tours through Peru that aim to be as sustainable as possible. “Traveling through Peru is a journey through breathtaking landscapes and living history, but it’s in the country’s more remote regions where the true magic reveals itself,” says Romero. “Huaraz is an Andean city that sits between two mountain ranges and is the ideal jumping-off point for many of the lesser-traveled paths in the Cordillera Huayhuash, Cordillera Blanca, and along the Great Inca Trail. Along with overall costs being lower [in Peru], these trails offer stunning natural beauty and, more impactfully, the chance to connect on a much deeper level with local culture.”
Plan a trip: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
- Book now: inkaterra.com
The Inkaterra has 83 rustic adobe casitas set among 12 acres within a cloud forest next to the Vilcanota River, which is home to 214 bird species and even more varieties of native orchids.
Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s tallest peak, stands at 8,415 feet.
Photo by Bharath Mohan/Unsplash
Thailand
Ann Chamberlain, a travel advisor for Chase’s business and luxury travel arm Frosch Travel, says, “A favorite, more affordable destination I love to recommend to my clients is Thailand. With rates for luxury five-star resorts starting [in the $200s], it’s easy to find nice places to stay without breaking the bank. It’s also a great destination for incredible food, and with some of the world’s best beaches, travelers can spend their days enjoying nature and forgoing activities that require a lot of money.” The third season of HBO’s The White Lotus, filmed in Thailand, has caused some of its hot spots to see tons of tourists, but there are still plenty of gorgeous places in Thailand where you can beat the crowds.
Plan a trip: Cape Kudu Hotel, Koh Yao Noi
- Book now: capekuduhotel.com
A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the beachy chic Cape Kudu is located on Koh Yao Noi, a small island that’s a 20-minute speedboat ride away from Phuket, with a more local vibe.
Prices can be high in Japan, but with the dollar holding steady against a weaker yen, you’ll be able to enjoy a great meal out in Tokyo’s backstreets.
Photo by Taisia Karaseva/Unsplash
Japan
If you’ve always dreamed of visiting Japan, the relatively weak yen makes this year an ideal time to go (as of this writing, US$1 = 143 JPY. Whether you want to explore Tokyo‘s fish markets and record bars, marvel at the temples of Kyoto, or hike through majestic forests on the Kumano Kodo trail, plenty of deals are available. Hiroshi Kawaguchi, general manager of self-guided and small-group-tour operator Oku Japan, recommends spending time communing with nature. “Japan’s rural regions hold a beauty and depth that often go unnoticed. Venturing beyond the cities offers exceptional value, and, even more importantly, it opens the door to genuine connections—with local people, centuries-old traditions, and landscapes that have shaped Japan’s cultural soul.”
Plan a trip: Hoshinoya Tokyo
- Book now: hoshinoresorts.com
Inspired by Japanese ryokans—traditional inns often found in rural settings—Hoshinoya Tokyo is an 84-room property that offers a quiet sanctuary in the heart of Tokyo’s Otemachi financial district. Each floor is designed to feel like its own private ryokan, with a shared tea area stocked with Japanese teas and snacks. And Hoshinoya is the only hotel in Tokyo with an onsen fed directly by hot springs, 5,000 feet beneath the hotel.
The Palacio de Bellas Artes’ facade is a handsome mix of art nouveau and neoclassical styles.
Photo by Davi Carballar/Unsplash
Mexico
Our southern neighbor, Mexico, will excite travelers who love history, art, food, or the beach (in other words, everyone). Mexico City is a vibrant capital with hotel options in a wide range of prices across many neighborhoods, such as Reforma, Roma, and Condesa—each populated with excellent street food and fine dining. Hannah Choat, Intrepid Travel’s PR specialist for North America, suggests touring the Yucatán Peninsula for beaches and Maya historic sites or joining a food excursion to Oaxaca.
Plan a trip: Condesa DF, Mexico City
- Book now: condesadf.com
Stop by for a drink on the hotel’s rooftop terrace to tap into Mexico City’s swank party crowd, or stay in one of its 40 chic rooms in a 1928 French neoclassical mansion in the tree-lined Condesa neighborhood.
Related: The Perfect 4 Days in Mexico City, According to Locals
The stunning limestone karst formations of Ha Long Bay have earned the area a UNESCO World Heritage designation.
Photo by Marina Lobato/Unsplash
Vietnam
“If you’re looking to travel on a budget,” Choat says, “[Vietnam] is one of the best spots. The major travel essentials—accommodation, food, and public transport—are all fairly affordable, so you may even end up spending much less than you’d think.” Whether you go hiking up north in Sapa or want to plop down on the beach at Ninh Van Bay, you’ll eat very well.
Plan a trip: Six Senses Ninh Van Bay
- Book now: sixsenses.com
At this dreamy resort, 62 pool villas are scattered along the beachfront and hillside of Vietnam’s coast, just across the bay from Nha Trang.
Sal Salis tented camp, right on the Indian Ocean, gives travelers dune-side access to the marine-life-heavy Coral Coast.
Courtesy of Sal Salis
Australia
“For Americans with the time to travel a little further,” says Michael Holtz, founder and CEO of SmartFlyer. “Australia is a welcome escape where they can get the most for their dollar.” As of April 15, 2025, US$1 gets you AUS$1.60, so Americans’ cash will buy them more time to explore Indigenous history in Western Australia’s Shark Bay or taste beers in Sydney, one of our picks for Where to Go in 2024. (Remember you’ll need an advance visa.)
Plan a trip: Capella Sydney
- Book now: capellahotels.com
Opened in March 2023, this restored 1912 sandstone building conveys refined luxury and a sense of place.
Related: This Australian City Is Top of Our Travel List for 2025. Here’s Why It Should Be on Yours.
Float around Powell Inlet and Tallurutit (formerly Devon Island) and you’ll see walruses, rare seabirds, and narwhals.
Photo by Dennis Minty/Adventure Canada
Canada
Beyond buzzing urban areas like Toronto and Montreal, our neighbor to the north has undeniably gorgeous nature. Christian Wolters, GM of Canada at Intrepid Travel, says, “With its wild mountain ranges, glacier-fed lakes, and seemingly endless forests, Canada is one of the most naturally stunning destinations on Earth. For U.S. travelers, it’s also a smart choice; with a strong dollar, your travel budget stretches further, making it the perfect time to explore the Great White North in comfort and style. One of his favorite tours is the Newfoundland Adventure. “One of the most extraordinary experiences on this trip is walking on the Earth’s mantle on the Tablelands Trail in Gros Morne National Park. This striking orange landscape is a rare geological wonder, and it stands in bold contrast to the lush greens and deep blues surrounding it.”
Cedar Swan, CEO of Adventure Canada, also loves the country’s robust national parks system. “Canada’s national parks are places of profound ecological, cultural, and spiritual significance that connect us not only to the land and sea, but to each other.” Among her recommendations for parks are Sable Island National Park Reserve in Nova Scotia, known for its dunes, and Tallurutiup Imanga, a national marine conservation area in the arctic Nunavut region where you can see narwhals and seals. Swan says the marine protected areas “are especially vital to Canada’s conservation future—safeguarding biodiversity, supporting Indigenous-led stewardship, and protecting ocean health in the face of a changing climate.”
Plan a trip: The Muir Halifax
- Book now: muirhotel.com
Halifax is the jumping-off point for Sable Island and offers easy access to the museums, shops, and other entertainment along the city’s waterfront. Each of the 109 guest rooms at the Muir, built only with Canadian materials, has midcentury-style furnishings made in Quebec, local art, and modern tartan blankets—a nod to the province’s Scottish history and designed especially for the hotel. Read our in-depth review of the hotel here.
This article was originally published in 2022 and most recently updated on April 14, 2025, with current information. Sophie Friedman contributed to the reporting of this story.
