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From cnn

Spring is finally here, for most of us anyway. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and yes, even the bees are buzzing. April showers bring May flowers …and we all know what May flowers bring…pilgrims. Spring is the time when I usually start evaluating and researching where I can go on vacation during the summer months. And with the economic down turn in full effect, spending less is on everyone’s minds.

Here are a few places where you can go on vacation this year where your dollar s still strong.

Argentina
(aka the Paris of South America) has embarked on a dramatic turnaround since the collapse of the Argentine peso, however the place is still amazingly cheap. Stylish hotel rooms, awesome night life, dancing, and fabulous food and wine cost half what they do across the Atlantic. Looking for an enormous thick-cut steak dinner? Its rarely going to cost you more than $25 here.

Bali
Bali has become one of the best island values in Asia. The American dollar has been holding steady against the Indonesian rupiah over the past year. You’ll find luxury bungalows nestled in lush hillsides – which can be rented for about $100 to $200 a night. You can often see free entertainment (or with a small donation) at the countless stone temples through out the country. And half-hour massages typically cost less than $15.

Costa rica
Incredibly, Americans now have about a third more buying power in this natural wonderland than they did five years ago - a dollar equals around 500 Costa Rican colones today vs. 360 then. You can explore beaches good for surfing then go snorkeling in coral reef-filled bays. Don’t miss the lush, green, tropical rainforests, which swarm with wildlife - including rare quetzals with spectacular plumage.

Mexico
Mexico remains a prime destination for American tourists. The peso/ dollar exchange rate steady has been pretty steady over the past couple of years. The hottest area now is Mexico City, booming with new museums, a historical architectural revival, and a vibrant music and arts scene. Entry to the city’s huge Museum of Modern Art, where you can see works by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, costs just $2.

Morocco
Though the Moroccan dirham has strengthened a bit against the dollar in the past year, in the ancient cities of Casablanca, Fez and Marrakech many café meals still cost less than $5. Classic budget hotels in atmospheric narrow streets, such as the Hotel El Muniria in Tangier, where Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac stayed, cost around $30 a night. Plenty of luxury hotels are available too.

Panama
This small country boasts mountains, rainforests, 1,500 miles of coast (your pick of the Caribbean or Pacific) and - of course - the magnificent canal, where you can gawk at giant supertankers being raised and lowered through the locks. Forget exchange rates: Panama’s currency, the balboa, is pegged at parity with the U.S. dollar, and the dollar itself is accepted virtually everywhere.

Vietnam
There’s never been a better time to visit one of Asia’s most fascinating countries, with pristine beaches and unique crafts: The dollar goes further against the Vietnamese dong than it did three years ago. You may have enough left to splurge on a fivestar hotel, such as the new Park Hyatt in Ho Chi Minh City ($290 a night vs. up to $675 for a comparable room in Chicago).

There you go, what will be your summer vacation destination?