Go now! Three historically expensive countries that are now WAY more affordable to visit.

People always ask me how I decide where to travel to next and the answer is less complicated than one might think. I’m a simple, simple girl (ha!) who operates by an even simpler travel credo: whenever possible I chase the deal, not the destination.

This means that a lot of my city/country selections are purely predicated on dollars (and glitch fares!) instead of desire. But let’s be real: I’ll go almost anywhere if it’s cheap to get there, or if on-the-ground expenses like food, accommodation, and attractions are low!

This practice has allowed me to see a lot of the world for not a lot of money. Moreover, focusing on travel to destinations that will make less of a dent on my wallet has opened me up to going places previously not on my radar.

For example, I spent a month in Guatemala a few years back– and not because I had a burning desire to go. Rather, I chose Guatemala because when I ran the numbers my average daily expenses were going to be way cheaper than were I to go to my top pick, Colombia. And guess what? I ended up having a stellar time para poco dinero. Exactly what every traveller wants, verdad?

Of course, lists upon lists of cheap travel destinations abound on the internet, so I’ll spare you an exhaustive list of my own (you’re welcome). However, I wanted to do something a little different in this post; my aim is to highlight three historically expensive destinations that are now cheaper to vacation in than ever before (especially if you’re packing dollars or euros).

This is primarily due to their unstable economies and fluctuating currencies– terrible for them, but great for travellers hoping to soothe their pangs of wanderlust. So let’s get right down to business, shall we?

Russia

Russia isn’t on most tourists’ radar, not least because costs for accommodation, food, tourist visas, and entrance fees to its most salient attractions were sky high in the past. However, recent political and economic strife has triggered a massive devaluation in the ruble, its national currency. This has meant that, while prices in rubles have remained the same, the number of rubles you can get in exchange for your American dollars has drastically increased.

According to this article, in the beginning of 2014, a dollar bought 32.86 rubles. In mid-April 2015, it bought 49.80. And at the very moment I’m writing this blog post, 1 USD is equivalent to 65.35 rubles. Wow! For tourists, this means paying between 15 to 50 percent less for everything; when Liebling and I were there a few months ago we stayed in 4-star hotels for well under $100 USD a night and routinely ate at top-rated restaurants for under $20 USD per person.

Brazil

Same story, different country. For years I stayed away from travelling to Brazil, deterred not only by costly airfares but expensive activities once in the country. For a long time, Brazil was known as a “poor value for the money” destination, with low to mid-range accommodation in major urban centers like Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo routinely clocking in at over $100 USD a night.

In fact, in a 2013 study by TripAdvisor, Rio was named one of the most expensive cities in the world to visit. This study was based on what two travellers could expect to pay for a night out on the town– and included the cost of a taxi, dinner, drinks, and an overnight stay at a 4-star hotel.
Thus, in 2013, a night out in Brazil’s second largest city totalled an eye-watering $423.03 USD(!!!) and was only narrowly edged out by crowd favourites London ($451.35), Paris ($511.40), New York ($515.97), and Zurich ($523.41). Eek!

However, the steady devaluation of the real has made Brazil a way more affordable option for travellers dreaming of sipping caipirinhas on Copacabana Beach. In 2013 $1 USD only bought 2.3 reais, but when I travelled there last September, it bought 4.06. While the currency has gotten a bit stronger in recent months, Brazil is still a bargain: at the time of writing this post, $1 can buy you 3.57 reais!

Need another reason to head to Brazil now? From June 1 to September 18, 2016 Brazilian officials are waiving tourist visa requirements for travellers holding passports from the US, Canada, Japan, and Australia!

Canada

Oh, Canada, my home and native land! While I love my country of birth, boy, is it expensive. The high costs of public transportation, accommodation, gas, and eating out are just a few reasons why visiting one of the friendliest countries on earth is not too friendly on the pocketbook.

However, never fear! The home of Drake and hockey is also experiencing some tough times in the economic sphere. Result: travel to Canada is cheaper than it has been in a while. The Canadian dollar — also known as the Loonie — dropped 16% against the US dollar in 2015, and currently $1 USD will buy you $1.30 Canadian dollars. Awesome, right? So apart from listening to Views from the 6, you can actually head to Toronto and see them for yourself. And of course, you should travel to other places in Canada, too (even though Toronto is the center of the universe wink). Just make sure to eat some beaver tails coated in maple syrup while you’re there, eh?

Honourary mention: South Africa

South Africa has never been a particularly costly place to visit, but there’s no better time than the present to go. The South African rand has taken a beating, with even the BBC reporting that it had hit an all-time low against the US dollar last summer. This means that indulging in the country’s most popular activities (think safari, steak-eating, and Stellenbosch vineyard-hopping) can be done on the cheap. If you do make it over there, be sure to check out my two week itinerary!

The Bottom Line: Go where the currency is weak

Want to travel more frequently without obliterating your budget? Chase the deal, not the destination. Along with actively seeking travel deals and glitch fares, think about travelling to places where your dollar/euro/dirham will go farther and you’ll get better value for your money. Also think about exploiting currency dips in destinations that are traditionally expensive, like Canada, Russia, and Brazil. Happy travels!

Lauren Pope