An ex-Wall Street banker who's visited every country shares 6 places where you can spend less and still travel in luxury

The US economy is booming, making summer travel more affordable than ever.Jaromir Chalabala/Getty Images

• Lee Abbamonte, 45, is an ex-Wall Street banker who has visited every country in the world.
• When it comes to destinations where dollars go the furthest, Southeast Asia is his go-to.

This summer is shaping up to be one of the hottest on record for the US economy.

Household wealth is at a record high, the job market is strong, and wages are rising faster than inflation. Meanwhile, the dollar has steadily gained against rival currencies. Simply put, Americans have dollars to spend. One question they might have: Where, oh where, to spend it?

Lee Abbamonte has some suggestions. Abbamonte, who quit his Wall Street finance job to become a travel blogger in 2002, has visited every country in the world, every US state, plus the South and North Poles.

Abbamonte's go-to for getting the most bang for your travel buck is Southeast Asia.

In countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, luxury hotels can cost under $100 a night and street food can be as delicious as fine dining, Abbamonte said.

One downside is that traveling to Southeast Asia from the US can take anywhere from 15 hours to more than a day.

"The hardest part is getting there," added Abbamonte, who last visited the region between 2017 and 2019. "But once you're there, you're in heaven."

Here, Abbamonte shares six countries — in Southeast Asia and beyond — where your vacation budget can buy some indulgent splurges.