LONDON , England ( CNN ) -- Stop brooding over the financial crisis , and start packing . Some tour operators are offering packages to Hawaii at prices lower than a year ago . The economic downturn has dealt a heavy blow to the global travel industry as travelers have tightened their grasp on their wallets . But there is a silver lining to the meltdown . The turmoil has roiled currency markets , making some once-pricey trips more affordable . Other popular spots are rolling out deals and special packages in a bid to lure travelers . Whether you 're paying in dollars , pounds or euros , there 's a travel deal out there for you . Here 's a look at four of them . Cool as ice . Iceland was once prohibitively expensive for many people , but now the tiny island nation is rebranding itself as a budget destination . Iceland 's economy was booming a few years ago , fueled by the availability of cheap credit . But the collapse of the country 's financial system has reversed its fortunes . The government has nationalized the banking system and the Icelandic currency -- the krona -- went into freefall . Now the Icelandic Tourist Board is wooing travelers by highlighting the favorable exchange rate . Icelandair is offering a Christmas special for travelers from the U.S . The package - which includes airfare , a three-night hotel stay , a visit to the Blue Lagoon and airport transfers - starts at $ 699 a person for a double room . For European visitors , it 's promoting a number of three-night city breaks ( flights and hotel included ) . Packages from London start at £249 . See photos of Iceland and other places you can catch a bargain » . Surf 's up . The downturn in the U.S. has hit Hawaii tourism hard . Visitor arrivals are expected to tumble nine percent this year , making it the biggest annual drop since 2001 , according to the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization . Hawaii has suffered from a sharp decline in flights from the mainland . Aloha Airlines and ATA accounted for roughly 20 percent of flights to the Big Island from North America before going out of business earlier this year . In response to slumping visitor arrivals , Hawaii 's Visitors and Convention Bureau has teamed up with a variety of travel wholesalers to offer air-hotel packages . `` The savings being offered mean the cost of a Hawaii vacation can now be less than a year ago , '' John Monahan , the bureau 's chief , said in a statement . Liberty Travel is offering free nights at several hotels . Classic Vacations is offering an air credit of up to $ 500 for stays of five nights or longer booked through the end of the year . London calling . While a trip to London still ca n't be called cheap , the British pound 's recent decline means costs are falling dramatically for foreign visitors , particularly Americans . Concerns of a deep recession in the UK have sparked the pound 's decline . In the last three months , the pound -- which traded near $ 2 in August -- has lost roughly 20 percent of its value against the dollar . Aside from the falling pound , some hotels are offering special promotions . The Hoxton Urban Lounge , a stylish boutique hotel located near London 's financial district , routinely sells rooms for £1 a night . But travelers should be warned : Snagging one of the rooms can be tough . The last time the hotel offered the promotion , the rooms -- which normally cost from £59 to £199 -- sold out in 26 minutes . The next sale is scheduled for January . Into the wild . If you fancy a walk on the wild side , now 's the time to net yourself a bargain . Amid the financial market meltdown , investors have been flocking to safe-haven investments . The aversion to risk has hit the currencies of several emerging market economies , including the South African rand . The rand touched a record low against the euro and a six-year low against the dollar last month . The drop in the rand means adventure trips like safaris are becoming more affordable for foreign tourists . Several luxury safari lodges have recently cropped in and around South Africa 's Kruger National Park -- an ideal perch for viewing the wildlife that roams the unspoiled landscape . A luxury tent at Tanda Tula Safari Camp currently runs around 4,250 rand per person per night . At the current exchange rate , that comes to about $ 430 -- or roughly $ 160 less than you would have paid in early August . Have some useful travel tips ? Share them in the SoundOff below .
Travel deals to popular destinations are a silver lining of the financial meltdown . Weak currencies make countries like Iceland and South Africa more affordable . Comment: