Indonesia – 11,600 Indonesian rupiahs to the dollar

If you can stomach the long flight, Bali offers incredible value for the money. The village of Ubud is one of the island’s chief draws; some popular sites include the Agung Rai Museum of Art, with a full calendar of performances, and the Blanco Renaissance Museum, once the home of Spanish artist Antonio Blanco.

For those interested in physical as well as cultural nourishment, the area abounds in spas and body treatment centers — the Ubud Bodyworks Healing Centre is one of the most renowned, particularly for its healing massages with founder Ketut Arsana; a $60 hour-long session is expensive by local standards but the best in the area.

Costa Rica -    554 Costa Rican colones to the dollar

This Central American favorite spoils visitors with its well-developed system of national parks and some of the region’s best Pacific beaches. For the former, the Rincon de la Vieja National Park is both spectacular and remote- a four-wheel drive vehicle is a necessity- offering a respite from the crowds that can plague the country’s more accessible destinations. Once you’re there, look for horseback tours across volcanic terrain or take a six-mile hike through tropical rain forest to the summit of an inactive volcano.

The park’s location provides relatively easy access to the Pacific beaches, including those along Tamarindo Bay. Playa Tamarindo may be the most bustling — either a plus or minus, depending on your perspective — and offers an endless assortment of outdoor pursuits, from surfing to scuba diving to kayak tours of the local estuary that cost as little as $35.

Vietnam     – 16,950 Vietnamese dong to the dollar

If capital city Hanoi is too overwhelming, use it as a jumping-off point for exploring the rest of this scenic country. Try the town of Sapa, easily accessible by the Victoria Express train. The Sapa REsort offers the area’s most luxurious accomodations, where rooms with a garden view start at only $130.

The town, though increasingly popular with visitors, still offers a glimpse of the traidtional life among the traditional peoples who live in the region. Make sure to bring an extra empty bag to pack for your trip home: You’ll have plenty of dong left over to spend on the gorgeous jewelry — hand-crafted bracelets at less than a dollar — or textiles you’ll find at the many local markets.

Mexico – 13.25 Mexican pesos to the dollar

Who isn’t looking for a little respite from the cold weather this winter? For U.S. earners looking to stay close to home, head south where you can find a room at even an upscale, exquisitely designed boutique hotel like Playa del Carmen’s Basico for less than $200.

Playa del Carmen is a worthy destination far away from the parties of Cancun, but still buzzing. If you desire more solitude, a beachfront room at the Maya Tulum resort is less than $150. There’s also a full calendar of mind-body events, including a five-night, all-inclusive program that provides an ocean-view room, spa sessions, twice-daily yoga classes and all meals for less than $1,000.

Poland – 2.99 Polish zlotych to the dollar

Spend this holiday in beautiful and historic Poland. The country offers much of what neighboring Germany offers, but at a fraction of the price and a small portion of the crowds. In addition to housing several theaters and museums, the Palace of Culture and Science also boasts one of Warsaw‘s top attractions: a viewing station from the 30th floor.

Krakow, meanwhile, is building a reputation as the Polish Prague, with a growing community of young, artistic expats who enjoy cheap living (think $2 beers and a plateful of pierogies at Warsaw‘s Pierogarnia for about $5.50) and its historic Old City, which unlike Warsaw escaped the worst of the war’s destruction.

In our final installment of language immersion, you can learn Chinese in China.

The Global Exchange Center offers a traditional Mandarin language program in Beijing that combines class instruction, post-class tutoring and conversation. Students looking for something a little less conventional can elect to stay with a host family in one of a dozen smaller Chinese cities throughout the country. There they will live, learn and travel as a family, enjoying at least one major excursion per week. All the teachers are formally trained and the host families are thoroughly vetted.

Want to make pasta along with learning to speak Italian? Cactus Languages offers a number of courses throughout the country that combine foreign-language instruction with cultural enlightenment. In Verona, music fans will learn the correct pronunciation and intonation of operatic lyrics. Mornings of language classes in Florence are followed by afternoons if Italian cooking classes. Choose a program in Sicily if the idea of learning Italian in the heart of an ancient city sounds irresistible.

For students seeking to experience French language and culture firsthand, the Language Exchange offers immersion programs in both Provence and the French-speaking island of Martinique. Caribbean-bound students can look forward to poolside classes, delicious French cuisine and exciting nightlife. Choose the south of France locale to combine language instruction with trips to local wineries, olive groves and art galleries. Fireside dinners will cap off day with some joie de vivre.

Don Quijote operates schools in numerous cities throughout Spain, plus others in 10 Latin American countries. The program’s intensive courses range from one week to a full academic year and features small class sizes and immersive environments. Lessons including reading and analysis of newspaper articles, Spanish telephone conversations and watching Spanish-language films. Classroom time is combined with cultural activities such as salsa lessons or guided city tours. Available accommodations include private homes, student housing or deluxe hotels.

Channel your inner Scorsese by attending a weeklong filmmaking workshop at Maine Media Workshops in Rockport. Students can take classes in directing, editing and documentary filmmaking, all of which are taught by experienced filmmakers. Meals are offered in a group setting, providing plenty or opportunity for informal discussions with peers and faculty. The workshop’s wrap party features a Maine lobster feast and screenings of students’ best efforts.