Posted on April 18, 2008 by Fiona Hilliard

With the Open Skies Agreement now in operation, European airliners are offering unprecendented flights to US cities including Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Orlando.  Thousands of savvy European tourists have already hot-footed it to the States to cash in on the weak dollar, but savings don’t end in the United States. 

Due to massive inflation in the 1970s and 1980s, governments in South America began tying their currencies more closely to the dollar.  Fortunately for cash-strapped tourists, this system has continued to the present day.  It is standard practise for travel companies operating in South America to accept US dollars as payment for specially organised excursions and tours. 

By far the best savings are to be found in African countries, where holiday makers in Namimbia and Zimbabwe, for example, can avail of fantastic bargains on safari trips and game drives.  Travel operators here wouldn’t dream of trading in local currency.  This isn’t the case however in South Africa, where the South African rand is still king.