A few weeks ago, Will and I were discussing our next vacation. We don't have a date set (and the way things look we won't be able to go anywhere until next summer) but we started to consider our options. One of the biggest concerns about our next vacation is that it will need to be cheap, what with me being a student and all. Will immediately suggested we use the Big Mac index to help us make a decision. The Economist's Big Mac index is a light-hearted guide to how far currencies are from fair value. There's a lot of fancy language about purchasing-power parity but you don't have to understand economics to see that a Big Mac in the United States is $3.41 while a Big Mac in Thailand costs only $1.80.
Norway is definitely out for us next summer, with a Big Mac costing a steep $6.88, although Egypt, with Big Macs coming in at $1.68, is certainly on the table for discussion.
Just for the record, should there be any confusion, I would never buy a Big Mac on vacation. Will and I abide by very strict, self-imposed rules which preclude us from eating anything that we can find right here in California. It may always be a safe bet, but I just can't imagine flying across the United States to eat an appetizer platter at T.G.I. Fridays.
Haha, that's hilarious! I've never heard of that. What a no-brainer way to choose a vacay. I'd say that's proof for the "America is getting dumber", theory, but it just makes so much damn sense! Love it. How's Italy looking?
Posted by: Bethany Coffey | October 19, 2007 at 08:02 PM
Thats really funny! Do they have a vegetarian version? Say, tofurky or something? My husband and I went to Trinidad and Tobago a couple months ago and it was pretty cheap. The tickets can be a little exspensive but for 10 nights in a vacation rental we paid $300. Not to shabby, eh?
Posted by: Ashlie | October 19, 2007 at 08:50 PM
Hats off for eating local food. At some point, I was in Milan early in the morning and really needed a bathroom, so I caved and got a coffe at McD's. Felt incredibly guilty.
Posted by: MollyB | October 20, 2007 at 04:07 AM
I like this! It's so funny
Posted by: Amanda | October 20, 2007 at 06:20 PM
They need to come up with a veggie burger index for us vegetarians. :p
Posted by: Hope | October 21, 2007 at 01:24 PM
I am the same way on vacation. This weekend I went to a new city and we tried to eat at local places, mostly successfully. We couldn't find a non-chain bagel place though!
Posted by: janet | October 21, 2007 at 08:48 PM
HMMM how about Kenya? I bet its cheap there. Though you might want to watch out for Maleria!
By the way.. Al Gore got the Nobel Peace Prize. I see the blog below on Grean Peace stuff and I thought you might be interested because you mentioned Al Gore!
Ok well have a great week!
Posted by: Nicole | October 21, 2007 at 10:29 PM
I have never heard of such craziness but it's pretty funny & smart actually
Posted by: elysa | October 24, 2007 at 07:46 AM
I am so in love with the blog already.
Nice touch. I love McDonald's. Well actually, I love Jack in the Box...but same thing.
Posted by: faithsalutes | October 26, 2007 at 04:22 PM
Please take Egypt off the table...
lol
terrorists and such ITS NOT SAFE! :)
Posted by: Steven Nix | October 31, 2007 at 04:19 PM