By Chris Leadbeater
The Credit Crunch has left us all feeling the pinch - but few of us are willing to give up our holiday. Luckily, with these recession-travel-friendly places, you don't have to…
BEST FOR CULTURE VULTURES: USA
Why go? While the dollar has certainly dropped away from the
gold-rush exchange rate of over two to the pound that it touched in 2007, America
remains good value for British tourists - considerably more so than Europe.
And happier still, some of the country's finest sights come for free. The best
way to see New York is simply
to walk and soak up the atmosphere - down Broadway, across the Brooklyn Bridge,
through Central Park. And for Boston, a stroll along the Freedom Trail - the
red-brick line that links the city's key sites - will only cost you in shoe
leather. And the twinkling lights and heady casinos of Las
Vegas are far more fun as casual observer than high roller.
Stay: Big cities don't have to mean big hotel bills. Try the
three-star Comfort
Inn Manhattan, in the shadow of the Empire State Building. The mid-range
Doubletree
Hotel is in the heart of Boston's Theatre District. And while the Stratosphere
may not have the cachet of some Vegas hotels, its 1,150ft tower has a super
view of the Strip.
Crunch the Credit Crunch: Save money on sight-seeing with a city pass. New York and Boston both have them.
BEST FOR SCENERY SURFERS: SOUTH AFRICA
Why go? The African continent's southern-most country has
long been a magnet for price-conscious UK tourists. The cost of holiday meals
and drinks is a good two thirds cheaper than at home, and the exchange rate
has proved curiously impervious to the current financial climate. You can get
over 14 Rand to the pound - which, incredibly, is a better deal than in 2007.
Then, of course, you have some spectacular scenery - the beautiful city of Cape
Town, dwarfed by and in the shadow of Table Mountain; the tapering vineyards
of the Eastern Cape winelands; the road-trip heaven of the Garden
Route; the lofty peaks of the Drakensburg Escarpment; and the impressive
wildlife of Kruger National Park.
Stay: The four-star Fountains
Hotel occupies a prime spot in central Cape Town. The three-star Hippo
Hollow is a budget base for exploring Kruger. The similarly-rated Knysna
Hollow Country Estate sits in one of the Garden Route's most lovely towns.
Crunch the Credit Crunch: If in Kruger, opt for a sunset or night game drive. Prices are often cheaper than in the day.
BEST FOR LONG-HAUL ESCAPE ARTISTS: MALAYSIA AND THAILAND
Why go? The steamy climes of south-east Asia have traditionally
howled a siren call to bargain-chasing travellers, from road-weary backpackers
to those merely seeking a cheap getaway in a distant part of the world. And
while sterling has suffered a little in relation to the Thai Baht and Malaysian
Ringitt, both countries still offer real bang for your, erm, pound. The attractions
are myriad. Thailand has
the first-rate shopping and wild nightlife of Bangkok, the soft beaches of Phuket,
the caves and waterfalls of Krabi Province. Malaysia
has the enticing modern metropolis of Kuala
Lumpur, the delicate sands of Penang and Langkawi - and the rainforest and
wildlife of Borneo.
Stay: The Centara
Karon Resort is Phuket with a four-star twist. The Holiday Inn Bangkok is
another four-star option, this time a short walk from two of the city's biggest
malls. The Holiday Villa Beach Resort does Langkawi in a three-star setting.
Crunch the Credit Crunch: In Bangkok, shun the mega-malls for markets such as the Chatuchak Weekend Market - less pricey and more authentic. Be ready to haggle.
BEST FOR BARGAIN BEACH BUNNIES: EGYPT
Why go? At a time of year when Europe is shivering, Egypt
is a glorious get-out clause - within four hours of UK airports, and hardly
costly with it. Granted, the exchange rate has dipped (you currently get around
eight Egyptian pounds for your pound sterling rather than the usual ten), but
Egypt was far from expensive to begin with. The beaches of the Red Sea are the
prime draw for those seeking out-of-season warmth - slices of shoreline where,
thanks to their isolation, there is little else to do but soak up the rays.
That said, if you want history and culture the statue-stuffed temples in and
around Luxor
and the mighty pyramids at Giza near Cairo
are pretty much as good as it gets anywhere in the world.
Stay: The Stella Di Mare Grand Hotel in Ain Soukhna is the
Red Sea in four-star style. Luxor has the 4.5-star Sonesta
St George, alongside the Nile. The
Movenpick Resort Pyramids does four-star a short distance from the greatest
wonders of the ancient world.
Crunch the Credit Crunch: Go in May. Not only do you avoid the chunkier prices of high season (December to March), but you miss the harsh heat of Egypt's summer.
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Chris Leadbeater is a freelance travel journalist. He writes regularly for the Daily Mail. His favourite destinations are Cuba, the USA and Paris.