Westworld Alberta

24 W E S T W O R L D A L B E R T A | W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 (vietnam) aaron joel santos/noi pictures, (new zealand) davidwallphoto.com TOP 10 Best Value Destinations 7. Vietnam If you think that a million dong seems like a lot for a night in a hotel, you'd be mistaken (it's only about $60 Canadian). While Vietnam's currency is one of the weakest in the region, it leads to big savings on pretty much everything; taxicabs and dinners can be had for pocket change. See the sights of Saigon, still referred to as Ho Chi Minh City, from the grand Reunification Palace to the War Remnants Museum, which recounts the history of the "American War." Have a delicious, inexpensive meal at Café Zoom, which boasts a unique fusion of Mexican and Vietnamese cuisine. The outdoor tables face one of Saigon's busiest corners and provide a constantly changing tapestry of city life. The café doubles as a repair shop for classic Vespa scooters, and the staff offer behind-the-scenes city tours to Saigon's hidden corners. – T.J. 8. New Zealand Our loonie goes a long way in New Zealand, where it buys approximately $1.16 Kiwi dollars. "Once you get there, you'll see how affordable this country can be," says Angela Meyer of AMA Travel. On the North Island, skip the pricey hotel and rent a holiday home, called a bach, on the Coromandel Peninsula (nightly rates for a house that sleeps seven start at $70 NZD). Experience the wonders of Hot Water Beach, a geothermal won- der where you dig just below the surface and naturally heated water bubbles up. When the tide is out, you can actually excavate your own tub, which quickly fills up from below. Or head to the South Island to Queen- stown, the birthplace of commercial bungee jumping. AMA's Meyer says she prefers Queentown's other claim to fame, the wines. With a climate and soil structure well suited to growing a wide variety of reds and whites, 10 major wine-growing regions, and about 200 wineries and tasting rooms, New Zealand is an oenophile's dream. – T.J. Journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, stopping in Halong Bay, Hue and Hoi An on an eight-day tour of Vietnam. From $1,599, land only. 1-866-667-4777 Planning a trip to New Zealand? Call Angela Meyer, South Pacific Specialist, at 780-679-2052. Small herbed pork patties, the base for bun cha, a popular street food, cook over an open flame on the street. Cathedral Cove is one of the most picturesque spots on the Coromandel Peninsula.

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