Fuel prices are up and the economy is down this year. That makes the most of your important travel money. Thailand represents a fascinating and excellent travel destination that is also an incredible deal.

Known as the land of smiles, Thailand is one of those truly unique countries in Southeast Asia that amaze. From the warm beaches of the south coast to the King’s Mountain Palace in Chang Mai in the north, there is plenty to see and do. Best of all, you can do it all for one of the lowest travel costs in the world.

In the late 1990s, the Asian economies were completely crushed over a period of one year. An integral part of this disaster was the loss of value of the currency. Just as the dollar is falling now, the Thai “Baht” suffered. Instead of a period of inactivity, however, it went down like a stone dropped from an airplane and hasn’t really returned.

Simply put, this currency problem has made Thailand a cheap cheap place. Your biggest expense will be the flight. It can cost $650 round trip minimum. Also keep in mind that the flight is very long if you come from North America. A flight from Los Angeles can easily take 24 hours or more.

Once in Thailand, the good news is that you’ll get a lot for your dollar. Yes, even now. You can always go crazy anywhere, but I guess you’ll be reasonable. A good fresh meal will run you $2 to $5 and will be much less if you avoid the touristy areas.

There is one food item that is expensive: beer. You can expect to pay $2 to $3 per bottle. It’s not outrageous, but it seems so after you’re conditioned to cheap food.

Getting around is also incredibly cheap. The trains are popular, but they are also full. One of Thailand’s secrets is the national airline industry. Simply put, it’s great and cheap. I’ve splurged on flights from Bangkok to Chang Mai in the north of the country and spent a whopping $38 for a one-way ticket. Traveling by train is great, but you also lose a lot of time. Cheap domestic flights are a good way around this.

Thailand is definitely a great destination for those who want to maximize their experience with minimal expense. There are the usual high-priced tourist areas, but even a small effort to avoid them can result in a trip that’s cheaper than you might imagine.