A friend recently announced that his New Year's resolution is to give up traveling in 2008.

"Too stressful, too expensive and not fun anymore," he pronounced. "Plus, the exchange rate is ridiculous! A buck and a half for a euro!" he grumbled. Bah, humbug.

I hear it more and more: Flights are delayed, security lines are longer, luggage goes missing, and winter weather has only just begun.

I didn't remind my friend about the new passport requirement for travel to the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada, and just getting one can be a six-month wait. (By summer, it's expected that a passport will be required for re-entering the U.S. by land or sea from these destinations; beginning Jan. 31, a government-issued photo ID or proof of citizenship will be needed.)

Add in the price of gas and, frankly, I could start dreading my next trip. But the joys can outweigh the glitches if you have another friend who knows how to maneuver some of the obstacles. Fortunately for him, that would be me.

While there's nothing I can do about the exchange rate, gas prices or the new passport requirements, I can recommend a few places where the dollar still gets you something and where you can go without a passport.

How about an affordable European vacation, a tropical beach resort, and something exotic?

If you want to do Europe, then forget any of the places where the prices were high even when the dollar was stronger. That would cross out France, England, Italy and definitely Ireland. Think farther east. For an authentic European vacation with prices much lower than France or Italy, Eastern Europe is where to find a little more bang for the buck.

Take a lead from the filmmakers. Years ago, they moved into Prague, Czech Republic, to take advantage of the Old World atmosphere and cheap labor while making such hits as "Amadeus" and "Mission Impossible."

Inevitably, prices and local savvy escalated, so the film industry started sniffing out new territory and cheaper prices. Budapest, Hungary, gained popularity as a film location, and while Hungary is still authentic, prices for hotels, food and everything else have gone up.

Seeking cheaper European talent and authentic locations, the filmmakers discovered a country less than 20 years out of communism, yet with lifestyles reminiscent of the 1930s in many rural communities and people who were fascinated with life in the West: Romania.

This is an unspoiled country that just joined the European Union. It loves anything American, and its royal family believes strongly in the future of tourism. The royals understand the attraction their pre-communist castles and palaces have with visitors, as well as the fascinating time warp that resulted from communist control.

Princess Margarita is working to add infrastructure while preserving the authenticity of Romania's villages and early-19th-century farm life.

Bran Castle (also known as Dracula's Castle) in the province of Transylvania is the most exploited, but the actual castle is well preserved as a museum. The surrounding villages are right out of a movie, and a visit to Peles Castle on the drive from Bucharest will be a highlight of your trip.

Prices in Bucharest are starting to boom, but I preferred attractions and prices outside the capital. I recommend spending two to three nights in Bucharest and then heading toward Transylvania for the best part of the trip.

Easy entry

For those without a passport, the Caribbean is not necessarily out.

One of the most historic islands is Puerto Rico, and as a U.S. territory, it's attractive to American visitors for several reasons.

First, no passport is required for Americans. (U.S. citizens arriving in Puerto Rico from Caribbean islands or other countries, however, require citizenship documentation.)

Second, the currency here is U.S. dollars, so the exchange rate is not an issue.

It also means Puerto Rico has a lot of American hotels, restaurants, car rentals, shops and services, and the prices are pretty close to what you find here.

But the Latino history and heritage are totally unique. You'll discover castles, fortresses, pirate lore and Spanish colonial architecture from the 1700s.

Excursions from San Juan include an exploration of the Camuy Caves, a visit to a rain forest, or a horseback ride on the beach astride smooth-

gaited "paso fino" horses.

Beautiful beaches and beach resorts come in all price ranges. Duty-free or "duty-light" shopping means good prices with no limit on how much you can bring home. And you can get to Puerto Rico quickly, with nonstop flights from many U.S. cities.

Vietnam's appeal

For an exotic destination where the dollar goes a long way, I recommend Vietnam for 2008.

I balked at going for awhile, but when someone dragged me to Vietnam last year, it became my new favorite destination. And my 11-year-old is begging to go back.

Ho Chi Minh City (still called Saigon by many) is like a little Paris, with areas of wide boulevards and French designer shops. But the attraction here is the incredible value you can find on lodging, food and locally made handicrafts, including silks and fashion.

I had kid-in-a-candy-store days in the markets, where prices on purses, bags, shoes and clothes were ridiculously cheap. In Saigon, imagine taking an air-conditioned taxi anywhere in the downtown zone for under a dollar.

You can get a five-star hotel room for less than half the price of a room in Bangkok, Thailand. And a French-Asian meal in the best gourmet restaurant is about $12. (OK, with inflation since last year, it's probably gone up to $15.)

Day trips and excursions from Saigon include flat-boat trips through the Mekong Delta for a glimpse of traditional farm life, or a somber crawl into the Cu Chi tunnels from the Vietnam War era.

More traditional Hanoi was even cheaper. A bag I'd seen priced at $500 in Beverly Hills was selling in the designer's Hanoi shop for less than $50.

The beach resorts in Vietnam are going to be the hot spots in the next few years, with major hotels and resorts now clamoring for real estate. Flights to Vietnam are easy, with connections through several locales including Singapore and Taiwan.

So I agree that travel can be irritating and stressful, but I figure that driving to the beach in L.A. traffic can be just as annoying.

And as regards my friend who's giving up travel for 2008? I wouldn't count on him keeping that New Year's resolution. I gave him some airline miles for Christmas.

Editor's note:

Laura McKenzie, whose "Laura McKenzie's Traveler" appears on KCBS-TV (Channel 2), will offer tips for travelers weekly in the Great Escapes Travel Section in 2008. She has also appeared nationally on the CBS "Early Show," the Travel Channel and the Discovery Channel. "Laura McKenzie's Traveler" will air Sundays at 8:30 a.m. on Channel 2 until Jan. 20, when it returns to its customary time of 4:30 p.m. Learn more about McKenzie's take on travel at www.lauramckenzietv.com.