Just a few months ago we were touting the best places around the world for you to spend your strong Aussie dollars. Hot spots in America and the UK topped our list then. But oh, what a difference an economic meltdown can make!
Let's hope you didn't get around to booking any of those too-good-to-be-true holidays (or that you've already been and come home). Because in these hard times, your best bet is to find a povo paradise.
Povo paradises are places where you can still live it up. And you might be surprised at some of the deals and destinations that make our list.
Canada
You can still get a decent amount of "loonies" (Canadian one-dollar coin) at exchange. The country is spectacularly beautiful, and if you book now you'll be skiing or boarding some of the world's best mountains come winter.
Air Canada has direct flights from
Sydney to
Vancouver, so you won't even have to shell out for a soggy sandwich in the States en route. Whistler is one of North America's best ski fields, and is just a three-hour bus transfer from
Vancouver International Airport.
Iceland
Historically one of Europe's priciest destinations, Iceland's currency crashed during the GFC. That means you won't see a serious hit to your wallet at the cash counter, and these days you can expect to receive some pretty smoking deals on the ground. The volcanos, waterfalls and glaciers make the country an adventure holiday wonderland, and the funky capital of Reykjavik has something for every hipster. It might be costly to get here, but once you arrive, you'll be getting better bargains than ever with your Aussie dollar.
South Africa
Your buck will still earn you as many South African rand as it did before the recent crash, and the cost of flights hasn't changed. So don't park any holiday plans to Cape Town or Jo'burg yet. Travellers to South Africa are often surprised by how affordable goods and services are once they hit the ground. And the country really does have so much to offer — wine buffs, nature lovers, adrenaline junkies and big game aficionados are all catered for.
Last-minute campers
For those of you who aren't the biggest fans of forward planning, check out the incredible last-minute deals available on
StandByRelocations.com. Campervan hire companies often need to have their vehicles relocated from one destination in
Australia to another, and in order to get them from A to B they pass on ludicrous savings. Quite often your fuel is covered to boot.
Feel like driving from Brisbane to Cairns this week in a flash camper, and get paid $250 for your fuel costs? Take your pick of wheels. Or how about taking a couple of days to drive a mid-sized car from Melbourne to Sydney ... for a dollar? You're catered to, as well. If you're flexible, a last-minute car or camper relocation (followed up with a cheapie one-way airfare home) offers one of the best value-for-money options in Oz.
Papua New Guinea
For about a grand you can get return flights from Australia to Port Moresby with a few nights of accommodation, even after the devaluation of our dollar. Now I'll ask you to please forget everything you may have learned about PNG to date. Got a clean slate? Alright then — prepare yourself for beautiful beaches, dense rainforests, a rich and thriving local culture and affordable activities (and even decadence, if you are so inclined). PNG is one of the most diverse yet least-explored countries on the planet. Take the precautions you would travelling in any other off-the-beaten-track destination, and make the most of your dwindling dollar.
Samoa
Thought about Samoa? This Polynesian paradise is only half the distance away as Honolulu, and offers incredible value. There are several hot deals going at the moment, including return airfares from Australia and four nights of accommodation for just a grand. The volcanic islands are beautiful, as are the beaches, and the value for money on the ground will leave you with enough dosh to get cracking on your next holiday as soon as you get home.
Hamilton Island
Jetstar is always flogging cheap airfares to beautiful Hamilton Island, and once you arrive there are accommodation options to suit just about any budget. Perfect for a fly-n-flop holiday not too far from home, and just as beautiful as more expensive destinations further afield.
Cruise around the USD
Okay, so you may not consider yourself a "cruise person". But if you're a traveller who's keen to save some cash, kick back and relax, then you might want to reconsider. Several cruise companies operating out of
Australia have slashed their prices in the wake of low forward-bookings. Another option is — if you really had your heart set on
Hawaii — to take a cruise around the island state, but book here in Oz so you're paid up in our dollars.
BestCruises.com.au has a week-long inclusive fare for less than a grand. It's a great way to get your aloha on without spending a dollar on the ground.
Phu Quoc or Mui Ne, Vietnam
If you can find a cheap flight to Saigon,
Vietnam, you can beach it for cheap nearby. Phu Quoc Island is just a 35-minute flight from Ho Chi Minh City, or you can hop on a $5 backpacker bus and head to Mui Ne on the coast. Both destinations are made up of small fishing villages, and both offer cheap bungalows from which you can enjoy your own patch of the South China Sea (fresh seafood cooked at your table and cheap beers not included, but don't worry — they won't cost much). And according to Expedia Asia Pacific, accommodation rates in
Vietnam have gone down by as much as 50% since the economic crisis.
Vanuatu
This lesser-travelled South Pacific island destination has cool diving and offers a very low-key vibe.
Virgin Australia has great fares to get you there, and on the ground, it's easy enough to avoid the pricey five-star hotels and instead opt for beach bungalows for a few bucks. Think Thailand, but quieter.
House swap
If you're looking for free accommodation anywhere in
Australia, or the world, for that matter, register your home on a house-swap website. The network will connect you with others looking to exchange addresses for a holiday. You might be able to swap your studio in
Sydney with someone renting a one-bedder in
Melbourne's laneways for a week, and figure out what the city rivalry's all about without spending cash on a hotel. Or trade your family's home in the mountains for one at the beach during school holidays. Check out
Aussie House Swap,
Our House Swap or just do a
Live search for a whole list of international options.
Your back garden
There really is no place like home. So instead of packing your bags and venturing out, stay home for a change. Spend your travel bucks on a nice barbie feast, crack open a beer and avoid the jet lag entirely.
Be sure to check out our photo gallery of povo paradises by clicking here: 
Do you know of any more povo paradises? Where have you had holidays without breaking the bank?
