Thinking about traveling to Europe? Go now - it's as good a time as any...

 I'm not saying jump on a plane today, but the buck'll 

get you a lot more now than it usta...

The U.S. dollar has been surging so much that it’s nearly equal in value to the euro for the first time in 20 years. That trend, though, threatens to hurt American companies because their goods become more expensive for foreign buyers. If U.S. exports were to weaken as a result, so, too, would the already-slowing U.S. economy.

Yet there’s a positive side for Americans, too: A stronger buck provides modest relief from runaway inflation because the vast array of goods that are imported to the U.S. — from cars and computers to toys and medical equipment — become less expensive. A strengthened dollar also delivers bargains to American tourists sightseeing in Europe, from Amsterdam to Athens.

 

The U.S. Dollar Index, which measures the value of American money against six major foreign currencies, has jumped nearly 12% this year to a two-decade high. The euro is now worth just under $1.02. The last time I was there it was $1.26 per. That's a helluva deal, but ya gotta remember, their inflation has been as bad or worse than ours, so it may only wash, but even still - if you can do it, go for it. I am...