If Afar’s list of destinations for 2026 inspires you to plan your trip, we have good news for you. The US dollar is strong in many of our favorite destinations. Depending on your location, luxury hotels, guided treks, and other luxury experiences may be more accessible than they would otherwise be.
Seasons and supply and demand affect the value of a destination, but Japan’s cherry blossom season is always expensive, while the shoulder season brings higher value. We tapped into our team’s expertise and asked several travel industry experts to weigh in on where travelers can get the most bang for their buck. Here are seven destinations they recommend as where the US dollar is most advanced.
Peru
“Now is a great time to consider visiting Peru,” says Melissa da Silva, deputy executive director of TTC Tour Brands, a group of six guided travel companies including Trafalgar and Insight Vacations. “Not only can travelers spend about $12 on a great meal, but its warm climate and incredible wonders put this place on their bucket list.” Machu Picchu is a must-see historical site, but it’s important to note that there’s much more to Peru than just the ancient Inca ruins. This includes Arequipa, a gastronomically advanced city in southern Peru, which is on this year’s “Places to Visit in 2026” list.
Martín Romero is General Manager and Partner at Explolandes, which focuses on Peruvian trekking and adventure tours that aim to be as sustainable as possible. “Travelling through Peru is a journey through breathtaking landscapes and living history, but it’s in the country’s remote regions that the real magic emerges,” he says. “Huaraz is an Andean city nestled between two mountain ranges, making it an ideal starting point for trails less traveled, such as the Cordillera Huaraz, the Cordillera Blanca, and along the Great Inca Trail. In addition to lower overall costs (in Peru), these trails offer stunning natural beauty and, even more impactfully, the opportunity to connect with the local culture on a deeper level.”
Plan your trip: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is located away from the tourist hub of Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes, and its many hostels. The 83 rustic adobe casitas are set on 12 acres of cloud forest next to the Vilcanota River, home to 214 species of birds and even more native orchids, which can be spotted on daily guided walks.
north macedonia
North Macedonia is a country that is quickly becoming the talk of the town among travelers everywhere, but so far it has gone unnoticed as one of the destinations that will become popular over the next five years. That sense of discovery is connected to true value. The exchange rate (approximately 52 to 54 Macedonian denars per US dollar) means that a three-course meal at a fine restaurant costs about $25. Although the country isn’t saturated with true five-star luxury hotels, nightly rates at top hotels typically fall between $120 and $200. While Lake Ohrid (rightly) gets a lot of attention, a detour to Mavrovo National Park offers a quieter, more atmospheric experience, with alpine scenery, traditional villages, and the haunting half-submerged Church of St. Nicholas.
Plan your trip: Skopje Marriott Hotel
The Skopje Marriott Hotel is located on Macedonia Square, within walking distance of the Old Bazaar, Stone Bridge, and the city’s main museums. With a full-service spa, it’s one of the closest experiences to a true luxury stay in North Macedonia.
Japan
If you’ve always dreamed of visiting Japan, this year is an ideal time to visit as the yen is relatively weak (as of this writing, 1 USD = 159 yen). Explore Tokyo’s fish markets and record bars, visit Kyoto’s temples, hike through the majestic forests of Kumano Kodo, and more.
Hiroshi Kawaguchi, general manager of Oku Japan, a small-group self-guided tour company, recommends spending time communing with nature. “There’s a beauty and depth to Japan’s countryside, like the Tohoku region of northern Japan, that goes unnoticed. There’s something special about venturing beyond the cities, and more importantly, it opens the door to a true connection with the local people, centuries of traditions, and landscapes that have shaped Japan’s cultural soul.”
Plan your trip: Hoshinoya Tokyo
Inspired by Japanese ryokans (traditional Japanese inns found in rural areas), Hoshinoya Tokyo is an 84-room property offering a sanctuary in the heart of Tokyo’s Otemachi financial district. Each floor is designed to feel like your own private space ryokanwith a common tea area stocked with Japanese tea and light snacks. HOSHINOYA is the only hotel in Tokyo with a hot spring sourced directly from the source 5,000 feet underground.
Mexico
Our southern neighbor, Mexico, always excites travelers (in other words, everyone) who love history, art, food, and beaches. Mexico City is a vibrant capital city with a wide range of hotel options in price ranges in many districts such as Reforma, Roma, and Condesa, and each district is home to great street food and fine dining. Additionally, Guadalajara has a dynamic gastronomic scene. Guadalajara is poised to attract widespread attention as the host city of the World Cup. Hannah Choate, Intrepid Travel’s North American public relations specialist, suggests taking a tour of the beaches and Mayan ruins of the Yucatan Peninsula or a foodie tour of Oaxaca.
Plan your trip: Condesa DF, Mexico City
Join Mexico City’s trendy party gatherings with a drink on the hotel’s rooftop terrace, or stay in one of 40 chic rooms in a 1928 French neoclassical mansion in the tree-lined neighborhood of Condesa.
Vietnam
Freshly named to the 2026 bucket list, Da Nang is poised to gain even more attention as a gateway to Vietnam’s fusion of coastline, culture, and cuisine. It’s also one of the most affordable places to experience it all. “If you’re looking to travel on a budget,[Vietnam]is one of the best places to go. All the major travel necessities like accommodation, food, and public transportation are pretty affordable, so it might end up being a lot cheaper than you think,” Choate says. Whether you want to go hiking north of Sapa or just relax on the beach at Ninh Van Bay, you’ll find something delicious to eat.
Plan your trip: Six Senses Ninh Van Bay
This dreamlike resort features 62 pool villas dotted along the beachfront and hillsides of the Vietnamese coast, across the bay from Nha Trang.
Argentina
Argentina is not just about value, it’s about experience. Buenos Aires often boasts grand European-style hotels and designer boutiques priced from $200 to $350 per night. Another route also takes you to Mendoza. There, you can enjoy vineyards with panoramic views of the Andes Mountains for equally affordable prices. Even in Patagonia, which is generally one of the country’s more expensive regions, a strong dollar ($1 equals 1,407 Argentine pesos at the time of publication) has helped offset costs. For something less unexpected, visit Esteros del Ibera, a vast wetland reserve that is surprisingly sparsely populated and home to capybaras, caimans, and hundreds of bird species.
Plan your trip: Casa de Uco
Casa de Uco is located in the Uco Valley, with unobstructed views of the Andes Mountains, and is surrounded by private vineyards. This low-slung Brutalist-designed property combines concrete, glass and natural materials, with rooms overlooking the landscape directly.
South Africa
Johannesburg offers a different entry point to South Africa with a focus on culture, design and a rapidly evolving food scene, benefiting from an exchange rate that typically hovers around R16-17 to the US dollar. The benefits are evident in the hotel scene, where luxury hotels range from $250 to $500 per night and are often combined with superior service and locally-oriented design. Outside of the city of Johannesburg, travelers can easily combine a stay in Johannesburg with a safari in Pilanesberg National Park, about two to three hours away by car, or even closer to Dinokeng Game Reserve. At Dinokeng Game Reserve, you can spot the Big 5 without going far from the city.
Plan your trip: Park Hyatt Johannesburg
Book now: Hyatt.com
Opened last summer, Park Hyatt Johannesburg is located in the leafy Rosebank district, within walking distance of galleries, restaurants and the popular Rosebank Mall. This boutique-sized hotel is centered around a tranquil courtyard and pool, giving it a more residential and retreat feel than many city hotels.
This article was originally published in 2022 and last updated on April 29, 2026. Sheila Martin contributed reporting to this article.