Another possibility would be the FTDI Vinculum VDIP1. I have a couple on the bench and so far I like them. The only draw back I can see is the VDIP has to know EXACTLY how many bits are going to be written to it at a time.

I am planning to use the VDPI for a data logger from a gps module.

For the excel app, write the file as a CSV.

BrianT put together a nice how to, to get started with the VDPI.
http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=7700