For those doing Europe in 2009

I have my airfare booked for March 29 and again May 31. I will be buying September's soon. Actually the dollar is much better against the Euro now than September 2008. I think I was paying about $1.60 for a Euro then. I pay for my airfare by credit card if I am not using FF miles. My March airfare was not expensive, therefore I didn't use miles. But I did use the FF miles for my May 31 because the airfare was quite expensive. I pay that amount off before the trip. Then I will charge the hotels and pay that balance off when I return home. And I do have cash also.

I've done that plan, paying off the air in advance and paying hotels off later - but I don't have a FF program.

We are thinking of going to Spain next year, it's still up for debate. Husband wants to go to Andulusia, I've been and would rather go to Ireland.

If airfare is a good deal and the Euro stays at a decent rate.
We aren't extravagent travelers and don't believe in credit card debt.
Like scatcat, will use our cards and pay off quickly.

I'm using miles for a first class flight to London in May. The fees are costing me about $200.00 so the economy isn't going to stop me plus the $ is stronger (and I hope that stays that way for a while.)

March trip to Paris has been booked since last summer. Will probably visit somewhere in Canada in 2010.

We saved and paid ahead. Didn't use credit card for anything but airline tickets.

Won't stop travelling -- will just be more vigilant about saving.

We plan to travel to the Czech Republic next year. As we do every year, we plan and save, plan and save. Can't put off traveling, might not have legs, each other or the extra money! We are quite frugal anyway so doing without some things in a downward economy really isn't a big deal to us. Our kids call it being cheap

Travel on credit card extended payments is like eating dirt to live....Do Not finance a vacation!!!!!

We are going to Turkey in February. We only use credit cards to pay for the airfare, and only to get the miles. We immediately pay the card off.

We budget throughout the year. None of our trips are funded by credit card. Our airfare to Turkey was the highest airfare we've ever paid, so we will have to do a little more budgeting while there.

Tracy

We're planning a two-week Paris/Belgium/London trip for March. Flights were booked with miles. We're not extravagant people on vacation (or at home - so we can travel) and our trips are saved for, not financed.

I'm very glad that the dollar has gained some against the euro and pound and am crossing my fingers it stays that way for a few months.

No, I think traveling to Europe is more attractive than ever. But we are scaling back on most items now...I would do without a lotof "things" and travel more!

Booked flights with FF miles. Prepaid for apartments and hotel rooms in about 1/2 places when $ v Euro hit about 1.26.

We never use credit for anything. With that said, we do use a USAir credit card to pay for everything and then pay it completely off at the end of each month.

Due to the dollar being so much stronger against the GBP we booked and paid for our British Air flight next June and bought our cash Pounds at 25% less than they cost in July this year. We also booked and paid for our lodging in Scotland. We are looking at saving over a thousand dollars already on this trip! Yes, credit cards are the p[erfect way to go during the trip. It is amazing how many of those charges never seem to find their way home!!

we used vouchers from this years canceled trip plus about $250.00 each for airfare to AMS next April.  Trip insurance paid for this years apartment and that will pay for next years with money left over.  The apartment in April is in Zandvoort, 1090 euros for two weeks as opposed to three times as much had we planned to stay in Leiden aqain. The money saved allows us to spend two days in Bruges and one in Brussels before heading home.

It's not so much the economy as I have a stable job and am also pretty careful (a.k.a. frugal) with money. What's "raining on my parade" is having a mortgage to deal with this year and that takes priority -- yes, even over travel . I really, really NEED and WANT to go back to Europe next year but it all depends on how much money is in my trip account and my tax refund! I have FF miles so that increases my chances of being able to go.

I'm with the others. I use my cc to gain reward miles or cash back but always pay it off at the end of the month. As much as I love travelling, I have learned my lesson in college and will not accumulate credit card debt (barring unusual circumstances, of course). Money wasted on those interest fees could be better used towards a museum ticket, a gelato, a pain au chocolat, more gelato, etc! Also, what's the point of cutting coupons or buying sale items if you possibly end up paying more than the original price when you end up paying cc interest fees? I digress. Sorry.

The dollar really hurts BUT the benefits of travel to Europe outweigh it in my mind. We are good savers (never use credit cards except to book things like flights). It would take a LOT to dissuade us from travel (i.e. health or death).

Luvtotravel, you are going to the Czech Republic? You will just love it. It is really high on our list of favourite destinations. We love Prague but adore the rural, smaller areas even more!

sheri:

you said: >>>I'd love to go again in 2009 but not sure yet.<<<


I have one word for you.....GO!*


*you will not be richer or poorer ..never put travel off...my first wife died of breast cancer at age 60...she dearly loved to travel and travel we did for so many years to so many places worldwide. She'd be 78 now, so there were at least 20+ more exciting trips she could have experienced.

When discussing whether or not we could afford to go on a proposed trip, her favorite phrase which I've shared on several old threads on this forum, was...
"It's only money!" (with a few choice expletives tossed in)

I repeat...for god's sake, stop contemplating, just..GO!

In all sincerity.....

stu t.

Craisin, you are speaking my language when you speak gelato

And Stu T. Thank you for the smile and you're right. You remind me that I've often advised the same to others who want to put something off until tomorrow, so thanks for sending that message back to me.

And good, solid advice as usual from everyone else. This will be fun to see how much money I can save in the next 6 months for an Autumn 09 trip. Thanks all!!

Going to Rome at the end of March, beginning of April for just under 2 weeks.

Redeemed miles for a business class ticket.

Paid about $120 in fees.

Haven't booked any hotels or mapped out the exact itinerary.

Also looking to take some other trips during the year but the fares are still high. Now that oil price is down and the economy should reduce passengers, you'd think the air fares would reflect these realities more.

I'll wait to see if they run promos in the spring for late spring, summer and fall travel.

Last year, I had an award ticket for May but then Delta did a promo offering double qualification miles so I re-deposited that ticket and bought air fares to Italy and Sweden and got status with 2 trips instead of 4.

Have already purchased air DFW-MUC-DFW for May, for $745 net (after 5% back from travel club). We used our credit card to get the miles, but we paid it off immediately. We plan to rent or lease a car and drive through central Europe for 4 weeks, although our itinerary has yet to be worked out. It looks hopeful that the exchange rate will be much more favorable than last year's so no, we aren't having second thoughts. We charge most things on our credit card while traveling then pay it off when we get home. In order to travel, we are frugal throughout the year but we don't save a prescribed amount. If we have the cash, we travel; if we don't, we stay at home.

We are going to Italy in May and while my husband was a bit more tentative about booking such a big trip, I don't think it's worth putting off.

One thing I have been excited about is that all four of the hotels we are staying at don't charge us until we check out, so that gives us more time to save, as well as more time for the dollar to hopefully get stronger against the euro. We did end up switching our vacation plans this fall from London/Paris to the Caribbean due to the 1.6 exchange rate. That was too much for us!

I admit the time may not be the best. But I have not been for four years, and my trip next June will celebrate two landmark events: finishing my PhD (last May) and turning 50 (next April). So I feel entitled. I do have enough FF miles to cover the air, and enough $$ to pay for a trip at a budget level. On the good side, the exchange rate is better than it's been in some years.

We had a daughter in Europe for 5 months during the spring and summer. We also traveled to Germany and France while the dollar was almost at it's low for this year. When we returned, we vowed no Europe next year.

After researching a dozen other destinations from Asia to the Caribbean, we're going back to Europe. The exchange rates have a bit to do with it, but it's also about going somewhere you love.

Stu, your comment about your wife hit home for me. I think part of my desire to travel comes from the fact that my mother, who loved to travel, passed away at 56. I'm fast approaching that age and refuse to put things off.

I figure Mr. Fan & I can sit on a beach someday - when we're no longer able to handle cobblestones!
H

I've been to Europe twice this year and right now I'm planning on going back in 2009, first to Madrid, Spain in March to celebrate my birthday and Greece in September. I have not yet purchased my airfare to Madrid, but when I checked this week the price was $581.00 which I know can fluctuate. I love Europe and even with the economy in the state it's in I will travel, especially to Europe. I'm hoping that one day I can live there for a few years.

jdc

I combine my business travel with my personal travel. Business takes me to the UK 4-5 times a year. I tack on a few days on either end for my personal traveling. Outside of that, I use airmiles when I can for flights, and rewards points for hotels whenever possible. The $$ is so much stronger these last few months that I feel I should take advantage of it.....we may not be so fortunate in the months & years to come.

I go somewhere in Europe every year. The only thing that's going to be different for me in 2009 is going somewhere where the Euro hasn't been initiated yet. There are great deals to be had with a little research!

I've been wanting to go back to London for a while, and now is the best time in years, with a fare of $518 and the exchange much lower than the 2:1 it has been. So I'm doing it. This will come out of saving and bonus money.

Amyb: Can you tell us the departure point and the airline for the London fare? Thanks!

My husband and I are going in September to Budapest, Hungary and Prague. Redeemed AA miles for business class and AMEX points for all the hotel nights. I am pretty happy about this.

ekscrunchy, Boston and AA.

Thanks a lot! I am trying to squeeze in a London trip..I will take a look for flights from JFK..

I am watching the air prices with horror, dreaming of summer or fall trip. They did go down a little, but how affordable will they be for me?

Yes, I really want to go to Europe, but I don't plan to do it "at any cost". Still hope for a "special". There are some for winter/spring, hopefully for summer/fall as well.

Ready to adjust the destination to the price. Haven't travelled that much, many places on the list, so the exact destination is not too important.

Maybe a shorter vacation? Yes, I will be using credit card for points, but only up to what I can pay off without paying interest.

I booked a Paris trip last summer for May 2009 using frequent flyer and hotel points. My husband lost his job in September, and has been working very hard to find another one without success so far.

I guess whether we go or not depends on how much vacation he gets at a new job, assuming he can find one by then. The whole situation is depressing and a little scary, but since the bulk of the trip is paid for with points, we're hoping to still go.

Marie, that's the kind of thing I was afraid people were going through. If you decide to postpone the trip can you apply those points?

Hi, sheri_lp. You wrote "Marie" but I think you meant me.

If we have to cancel our trip, we will have to pay $300 (I believe) to redeposit the airline miles. The hotel points can be redeposited for free. However, Marriott is changing the program in January so our seven night stay would cost a lot more points than it did when I reserved last summer. (Many more points than we have.) The hotel is also being switched to a higher category.

$300 to redeposit the miles?

Damn, I thought Delta's $100 fee was stiff. It used to be $50 too.

Which program is this?

Oops you're right Mare! Naturally they want to exchange you to a more expensive hotel as the exchange rate is lowering, huh

Scrb, the airline is American. It is $150 per ticket to redeposit miles.

We are going to Italy in June 2009 using our FF miles. DH and I travel occasionally for work, so we make it to Europe at least once a year.

We swapped from France to Spain/Portugal in part because they cost less! We are using my Frequent Flyer miles and have two of our nights using my Marriott rewards. (I don't get these via Credit cards, they are bottom in seats or body in bed based on business travel LOL!)

It's my mother and I and we tend to travel pretty "cheap" Our hotel in Combria for example is something like 40 Euros. Our big expense will be the rental car. Most of the budget hotels don't really like credit cards so it's not always even an option! I do put the car on my card that comes with free insurance!

Last summer I did a week in Paris with FF miles and a free stay at the Marriott. (The one I use hasn't been quite as badly effected by the changes to the program) So while the dollar was weak..

Now I am about ready to quit this traveling life and when I do my mother will have to fork over for air and sit in the back. (which she does for her tours already)