Return to main articleBest Places to Stretch a Weak Dollar
The Bahamas
Why It's a Bargain: Their dollar is pegged to our dollar, and in some spots you can even use greenbacks. To keep your bottom line really steady, stay at an all-inclusive resort, where you'll prepay for meals and even some drinks. Where to Stay: Our Lucaya on Grand Bahama is actually two resorts in one—a Sheraton and Westin that share three pools, two golf courses, a kids' club, and seven-plus acres of sandy beach. If you want extra value (and more all-inclusive options), stay on the Sheraton side (866/837-4186; www.sheraton.com), where all-inclusive nightly rates start at $295 per couple. What to Buy: Cuban cigars have long been a treat for visiting Americans, with the sad hitch that you can't bring any back to the U.S. For an embargo loophole, look for Graycliff cigars (www.graycliff.com) while you're here: they cost up to $20 each and are made by Cuban craftsmen who live in the Bahamas, making the stogies a perfectly legal souvenir to tote home.
