Five places to visit while the dollar is stronger

Dollar advantage: $1 currently buys 19 Mexican pesos, up 5 percent from last year and about twice as much as a decade ago, according to OANDA.com.

Airfare: The average round-trip flight price is $377, down from $381 last year, according to Hopper.com.

Because of the warm weather, cheap flights and close proximity, Mexico remains an especially popular destination for American travelers, particularly for “snow birds” who head south between December and April, according to Pauline Frommer, the editorial director at Frommer’s.

These days, a favorable exchange rate is the cherry on top.

“The exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Mexican peso right now makes Mexico a tremendous bargain for expats funding their retirement or travel with dollars,” said Dan Prescher, the senior editor at International Living who lives near Lake Chapala, Mexico.

“Grocery prices are low, and so are restaurant prices. My wife and I use that as justification to dine out often — almost every meal.”