Free Republic

Rarely are currency exchange rates as good for the American dollar as that of Asian countries. In Asia, the American dollar carries a lot of clout and with the recent devaluation of the USD; it is a good thing that these countries offer an excellent trip for so little cost to Americans.

It's easy to wonder why you should care when economists drone on about the declining value of the dollar. Here's one reason: Gasoline prices are up 44 cents a gallon since this time last year, and nearly half of that increase comes from the weaker dollar. A declining dollar makes foreign goods more expensive, and crude oil is a prime example. Economists estimate that $8 of the current cost of a barrel of oil -- or 20 cents of each gallon of gas at the pump -- can be traced to the drop in the dollar's value in world...