Has the declining dollar stopped you from going to Europe this year??

In the past few weeks, people have asked if the war in Iraq should keep them from going to Europe, or if SARS should cause them to stay at home, or if hostility toward Americans was cause to cancel a trip.

Most of the responses said that all of the above reasons were so much balderdash. The war was in Iraq; not France or Germany. SARS is an unknown, but more deadly diseases have gone on the rampage before. And hostility toward Americans is no worse now than last year according to most reports. But the cost increase is real and affects us all, 100%. We cannot escape. So what say you? Is the greater cost keeping you away from Europe in 2003?

To highlight the impact of the currency changes, and to get a few measures on the impact of the decline, consider these Federal Reserve exchange rate figures if you wish. Since June 15, 2001 the value of the dollar against the euro has gone from 1.17246 down to .894454.

That is, if you exchanged 1 dollar in June 2001 you got 1.17 e. Today you would get .89 e, at bank wholesale rates. The hotel room that ran 150 e per day in June of 2001 cost about $128; today, at the same euro price, it would cost you about $168.

That is an increase of darn near 31%.

Or, if you stayed a week, the room would cost $1180 today versus $897 in June of 2001.
That is $283 more on the total bill, or $40 a day in round figures.

And, finally, if the land portion of the trip had cost you $2,000 in 2001, it would be about $2,600 today.

Why would this stop me? If I couldn't afford an extra 11 cents, or 9 cents (according to the website I checked), then I probably should stay home to begin with.

It wouldn't be just 9 or 11 cents, it's 9 or 11 cents on every dollar that you spend. People shouldn't travel if they can't afford to spend 10% more than they are spending? That doesn't make much sense.

Hi Bob,

I simply reduced my standard for lodging and transportation.

I'm not going to skimp on food.

In about that same amount of time I saw my local gas prices go from around $1.00 a gallon for Premium to slightly over $2.00. You know what? Although that is an increase of over 100%, I didn't drive less.

Europe was a great bargain two years ago. It may be less of a bargain now, but as I recently mentioned on another post, this year I'll be going to Europe for two months starting in New York City for three days. Those first three days will be the most expensive of the whole trip by far! I can't stay and enjoy a single major city in the US for as little money as I would spend total in Paris, Rome, or Berlin for example.

So, no, it hasn't changed my plans. Although I must admit if my investments hadn't taken such a dive during that same period, I might be going for longer than I am.

Unfortunately, what is "bad" for travel abroad is actually good for business here in one way and that is the fact that a "cheaper" dollar attracts a great deal more foreign investment. But to answer your question, I find the current circumstances unfortunate but am not cancelling my upcoming trip...just planning to pay more.

Hell no. Since all the mindless paranoia has driven travel way down it has also made hotels and flights much cheaper. The law of supply and demand has more than made up for a few point drop of the dollar. Its to bad some really good people and good airlines are paying dearly because of this insecurity, WAR, SARS, is it safe to travel in ...Whereever. Get over it already. Travel have fun .

If there is a lull in travel, it wss not obvious in Atlanta airport over the last weekend. I landed at Hartsfield on Sunday, Concourse C, and the number of people in the corridor was so great that there was a long line waiting to go down the escalator.

I have a trip lined up for September of more than 3 weeks. So the higher prices just made me blink before I ordered the tickets and made reservations.

As for the war in Iraq, I remember the paranoia that stopped the nation on that infamous 9/11. I was in Austria and could not have gotten home if I had wanted to. I remember one man asking me if I was going home at the first opportunity. Well yes. That was my scheduled flight home!! In the interim, what was I to do other than to keep on my travel plan?
If it is like the exodus from Kabul when the Russians invaded Afghanistan, I might reconsider. One friend of mine left the airport with bullet holes in the fuselage.

I'm not going to travel less, however, I will make a couple of adjustments:

1. Use points for hotel rooms, thereby negating currency change.

2. Shop less. Two years ago, I bought tons of designer stuff (like Tod's shoes for $130 instead of $330 here). Now that they're about $180, I'll pass or wait for US sale.

3. Eat at lower end restaurants. Take more public transportation. Drive slower (consume less gas).

In the end, I'll probably end up spending less money, as I won't be making needless purchases that I might have before.

Coachboy

My tickets are already paid for, I have already made my hotels reservations ....I will not cancel my European trip just because the value of the dollar is not what it used to be...I certainly be more careful.. and have more picnic type lunches,....I remenber with fondness when one dollar was 7.85 franks....Oh well, C' Est La Vie...

We're staying in less expensive hotels, and will probably splurge less on meals
(sigh)

Fewer fancy meals and less shopping. Also I really try harder to find good hotel deals, otherwise no change.

We're still going in September to Germany, France (don't tell anyone), Switzerland and Italy. In some of the more rural areas, I have great deals, and in Venice I'm staying at the Hotel Ala for 200 Euros per night (our most expensive place). I find the prices in Europe are still more reasonable than here in the states (especially California), where for a nice (and sometimes not so nice) B&B or hotel, it costs anywhere from $150 - $300 in virtually any area I want to go. My Mosel lodging is 85E. My Routes des Vin Lodging is 150E. My Cinque terre lodging is 85 E. I have not booked my Switzerland places, but none will be more than 150 -175 Euros. Yes, it is more than what I have paid over the last decade, but to me, it is still affordable. Also, wine is much cheaper in restaurants than the U.S. and you can find great meals that don't cost a fortune. Europe, here we come!

I'm with Ira!

I've always been towards the budget end re hotels anyway. I guess I will now remain there.... Public transit is fine with me - I kind of enjoy riding with the locals.

I may have to stick to the house wine and the set menu for most of my meals. But they will still be good ones, and I will splurge a bit for a special restaurant here and there.

I do wish that my friend had not bailed out on our Spain trip. It is tough not to have someone to split hotel and shuttle costs with, when I had not originally budgeted for solo travel.