THE EURO - deals in Europe are gone!

Old Feb 2nd, 2002, 09:44 AM
  #1  
Bill
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
THE EURO - deals in Europe are gone!

I was in Europe last April and again this January. Prices are up substantially between that time. Businesses have used the Euro introduction as an opportunity to raise prices. The deals I use to get in Italy are no longer there and mediocre meals for two averaged $35-$65. I could do better in the U.S.!!! One small example, luggage cart at Munich train station use to be one DM now cost one Euro which I think is a raise in price. However, the overpriced gelato stand near the bridge in Florence use to charge 10,000 Lira ($4.50) for one scoop of Ice Cream and now only charges 5 Euro ($4.30) for the small scoop. That is actually a reduction in price. I think countries with very low valued currency such as the Lira are most affected by the Euro. Citizens don't seem to be complaining (only concerned about all the change instead of carrying a stack of bills) so the price hikes may only be taking place in tourists areas. Restaurants that felt guilty charging several thousand Lira now have no problem charging 5, 10 or even 15 Euro. I don't think I want to return to Italy any more...
 
Old Feb 2nd, 2002, 11:15 AM
  #2  
joy
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
I don't know if the deals are gone but I know in Italy the hotel room prices have gone up. Last year, at the Amalfi Coast we spent 6 nights at a hotel for ~$111/night(250.000L) for a triple. This year, we booked the same hotel on the same dates of the season with the same number of people and the price became $146/night(170Euro).
 
Old Feb 2nd, 2002, 11:47 AM
  #3  
nospam
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
<<I don't think I want to return to Italy any more...>>

One less person to trample on the rest of us lemmings...
 
Old Feb 2nd, 2002, 12:02 PM
  #4  
xxx
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
"I could do better in the US"... Well, do you think that prices in the rest of the world should be under US prices? And what for? Heavens, you even remember the cost of some luggage cart! Unbelievable.
 
Old Feb 2nd, 2002, 04:41 PM
  #5  
Bill
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Well that was part of the attraction of Italy. Good food, really cheap. If I want an overpriced Italian restaurant (that tastes good too) I can find that in the U.S. or London (hmmm maybe doesn't taste good there). Paying 4,000 Lira for my pasta and 10,000 Lira for a fresh Swordfish platter. Now those were the days (and not that long ago). I certainly DO expect these countries to be cheaper than here. I am not sure what this is so offensive to expect better value when visiting countries with cheap currencies like Italy, Germany, Netherlands, and France. I am pretty aware of prices during my traveling. Even Santa Maria Novella Perfumia had raised their already overpriced stuff. I try to go to Europe from the westcoast at least every year (sometimes twice) and I do not make that much money. I certainly do not want to overpay for things but I also want (and get) the nicest hotels and food I can get for my money. Hotel Mozart for $85 in Rome, Florence Doumo for $67, German Marriott for $40, plus a few free Hiltons along the way. I am not into hostel traveling at all so I do not understand why someone would get so defensive about expecting value in Europe. Is it because you pay a lot when you go and you expect everyone else should have to do the same.
 
Old Feb 2nd, 2002, 07:35 PM
  #6  
willie
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
There are 45 countries in Europe, and only 13 of them have adopted the Euro as the official currency. If you really feel it's had a substantial negative impact, then change your venues. No need to lump all of Europe together as if it were one administrative unit!

And if you're as happy with the Italian food in the USA as you are with the Italian food in Italy ... yes, you probably are wasting your money by visiting the latter.
 
Old Feb 2nd, 2002, 11:27 PM
  #7  
Irritated@thisquestion
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Surely this is a troll. If not, "Bill," it may come as a surprise to you that Italy is not some third-rate, bargain country that exists to provide you with a cheap vacation. You wonder why people are defensive; your attitude is condescending and whiney.
 
Old Feb 3rd, 2002, 12:11 AM
  #8  
Marcia
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Bill, please disregard the infantile behaviour of some postings. You are certainly entitled to your opinion. And, no one likes overpaying, no matter where they are. I would agree that the euro has changed certain countries, and not entirely for the better.
 
Old Feb 3rd, 2002, 12:14 AM
  #9  
christina
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
bill

i wonder where you paied only 4'000 lire for a plate of pasta.....?? surely not here in florence. o.k. maby at casalingha... but i tell you, a plate of pasta under 10'000 lire is hard to find, even in the non touristy areas of florence - for example - you had to pay between 10'000 and 15'000 lire in suburbs. and you mention the gelato stand on ponte veccio....... it's one of the toursttrapps in florence. gelato is awfull and cost a lot....

but it's your desicion where you eat and what you spend. the usa are expensive for "europeans" as well....

and the price of your luggage cart: we payed 500 lire (coin) as a desposit for our shoppingcart. now it's 1 or even 2 euro. and i tell you what: the more such a cart cost the more possibility you have that people bring it back to there place, that's the miracle behind it.

tanti saluti

christina
 
Old Feb 3rd, 2002, 12:14 AM
  #10  
christina
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
bill

i wonder where you paied only 4'000 lire for a plate of pasta.....?? surely not here in florence. o.k. maby at casalingha... but i tell you, a plate of pasta under 10'000 lire is hard to find, even in the non touristy areas of florence - for example - you had to pay between 10'000 and 15'000 lire in suburbs. and you mention the gelato stand on ponte veccio....... it's one of the toursttrapps in florence. gelato is awfull and cost a lot....

but it's your desicion where you eat and what you spend. the usa are expensive for "europeans" as well....

and the price of your luggage cart: we payed 500 lire (coin) as a desposit for our shoppingcart. now it's 1 or even 2 euro that's even a matter of size, 1 euro is similar in the size to 1 dm. and i tell you what: the more such a cart cost the more possibility you have that people bring it back to there place, that's the miracle behind it.

tanti saluti

christina
 
Old Feb 3rd, 2002, 12:31 AM
  #11  
Shanti
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Bill, yes things are out of whack right now regarding the euro. Give it til the end of the year for all those countries to sort it out. They will learn from their mistakes and correct the problems.
 
Old Feb 3rd, 2002, 02:59 AM
  #12  
stupid
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
"And if you're as happy with the Italian food in the USA as you are with the Italian food in Italy ... yes, you probably are wasting your money by visiting the latter."

And if you are still uttering the "no good food in London" cliche, go to "Main Street England" at Disneyland instead.
 
Old Feb 3rd, 2002, 04:06 AM
  #13  
Sheila
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Bill two thingsBR>
Even with the Euro's funny year, the Italian lira has risen by over 10% against the dollar in 2001. How does that make it a "cheap" currency? Could that be a reason things seem dearer?

Whether you intended it to or not, you made it sound like Italy is a poor relation only around to be your playground. Maybe you should try Mexico next year?
 
Old Feb 3rd, 2002, 06:23 AM
  #14  
texmex
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Sheila

Now who is being condesending!!
 
Old Feb 3rd, 2002, 06:40 AM
  #15  
a
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
But Bill, currencies float, they are not intrinsically valued 'high' or 'low.' Furthermore, when the Euro increases in value relative to the US, is it because the Euro is overvalued now, or was it that the US dollar was overvalued before? You seem to have come to the first conclusion, but why?

I'm apt to see prices in the country I visit in a context relative only to that country, not to home. It's difficult as a tourist to grasp the market unless one has done the required homework before departure. Demand always drives price upward, moreso than 'guilt' I would imagine....
 
Old Feb 3rd, 2002, 06:44 AM
  #16  
Sheila
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
That, my dear texmex, was irony. Unfortunately there's no emoticon for it
 
Old Feb 3rd, 2002, 08:06 AM
  #17  
Bill
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
I don't even want to get on the London food thing in this posting but I do visit London quite often and I love fish and chips but it gets very old quick. 6# is way too much for flavorless ramen soup at Wamarama. Waiting for a half hour at that Belgian Monk place to be seated at 6 PM I guess is not a big deal even though Europeans are suppose to eat late. But then they charge over 4# for a TINY glass of beer while I am waiting. The British were drinking it up and not complaining so I won't either since they can afford to pay such prices. I understand that London is the financial capital of the world so therefore it is like traveling to Times Square for $25 hamburgers. My point is that I am not just stating the same tired stereotypes about London I speak from experience and guess what? Most chinese is food in London is really bad too. You can speak about trolls and accuse me of being cheap but I just speak the truth and say what is on my mind from experience.
 
Old Feb 3rd, 2002, 08:12 AM
  #18  
xxx
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Euro is not the reason if prices have gone up. All those currencies have been tied to euro for three years already. And if a cart costs 1 euro, didn´t it occure to you that there is no 80 cent coin.
 
Old Feb 3rd, 2002, 08:55 AM
  #19  
JD
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Right on Bill!! Does anyone out there believe that if buisness has a chance to " confuse " the public, it's going to be to your benefit.
 
Old Feb 3rd, 2002, 09:44 AM
  #20  
Capo
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Nothing is "over"priced as long as someone is willing to pay for it. If no one wants to pay what the seller is asking then we could say it's overpriced because there's no demand at this price.

If I were to ask $475,000 for my house, or a Florentine gelato stand owner asks 10,000 lira for one scoop of gelato -- and someone is willing to buy my house (even if you think it's only "worth" $165,000) and people are willing to buy that gelato (even if you think it's only "worth" 5,000 lira) -- neither of these items are "over"priced.

"Over"priced to you, yes. But not "over"priced, per se.

Bill is certainly free to express his opinion but, in turn, I like the opinon expressed by "Irritated": "Italy is not some third-rate, bargain country that exists to provide [Bill, or anyone else] with a cheap vacation."
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -