EURO -- all time high
 

Just what we need. EURO at $1.37 is making tight budgets tighter.

Will result in a lot of Europeans coming to US and spending their money. Good for U.S. Not good if Americans want to travel to Europe.

So?

I suspect the poor exchange rate is definitely a deal-breaker for some potential travelers and not so much for others.

It's almost laughable now...the US stock market is at an all time high, the economy seems to be booming yet the dollar keeps sliding. I'm certainly not an economist but something doesn't seem right.

(But again, the only ones hurt by a weak dollar are travellers...for the most part a weak dollar is very beneficial I suppose to the US economy).

I don't waqnt to nit pick but....
I wish that posters on Fodors from a certain country would realise that this is a global forum. Would that be would be EURO at USD 1.37 vs EURO at AUD 1.64 or CAN 1.52 or NZD 1.84?

Why would anybody buy things there or travel to the USA when at the given exchange rate it's still FAR cheaper in Poland, Thailand, China,.... There must be other reasons for travelling.

There are too many credit dollars on the market that's a REAL problem. You just hope nobody notices it. ;-)

fmpden:

”Just what we need. EURO at $1.37 is making tight budgets tighter.”

What I don’t need right now are the above sentences.

I’m starting my engines here (Paris in five days), and you’re already giving me the yellow flag.

Fair point Sarvo - although in money markets, US dollar is implied.

There are good indicators in the US economy and not so good ones. If I understand right, the dollar's weakness stems from other factors than the stock market: foreign investment in the US, borrowing for the war, overall debt levels.

It is a bite! We think back to the rate just before the Euro currency transfer began, it was about 1.25 Euro to the dollar. Besides that, in some countries - such as Italy, notably - the changeover was used as an opportunity to raise prices for many things.

So we can either wait, save longer or go now and economise while there. Or spend it if you got it!

I don't get to go this year, so I'll hope for better rates (or more money in my pocket) in 08.

Sarvowinner, the typical "anti-American attitude right now is, "Only one country matters."

Haven't you figured that out yet?

Dukey

Point taken, I'm suitably chastened (NOT)!!

Sorry about, Sarowinner, I thought I had used the symbol $ for the USdollar but recognize that it is used by a couple other currencies. But what do I know, I am just a provincial American. Without getting into a prolonged economic leasson, a weak US dollar is beneifical if trade balances are nearly equal. But right now the US dollar is a commodity. Because of the enormous US budget deficits, and huge trade deficit, the world is awash in US dollars. And the demand for these dollars is low so it gets cheaper. The long term prospect is not healthy

Am I wrong or is everyone a little too touchy today?!

Here in the midwest, we're all grouchy. It's been unseasonably cold, rainy, and gloomy for weeks now. When the sun comes out, we scurry around like rats desperate for a few bits of sun as we can see the clouds on the horizon.

As for that euro...we leave for Europe in 5 days. I prefer not to think about it. If it means crepes in the street vs. restaurants, so be it. At least I will be in the sun....or so I hope. (Frankly, I am so beaten down by this lousy spring that I am absolutely convinced that the minute our plane hits the tarmac in Germany, the temperature will drop 20-30 degrees, the clouds will sweep in, and the skies will dump buckets of rain.) Yeah, what a lousy day.

>will sweep in, and the skies will dump buckets of rain
You've read the weather forecast, didn't you? Perfect timing :D

NThea..but it will be a perfect day in Germany.

I just plan to put alittle more away for next Janaury's trip fund and pretend it is 2002 and the dollar and euro are even steven. Once I leave home it's all monopoly money anyway.

Look at the big picture .. think about how long the USD has been strong - and that (relatively) where it is is not that bad, compared to others.

Our $ (NZD) is only .54 against the Euro (and that is an all time high for us kiwi's).. and we (on a per capita basis) are one of the most prolific travelling nations in the world.

NThea I'm sorry the weather is so miserable where you are. I, on the other hand, am looking forward to 60 to 70 degree weather, sunny skies and a cool breeze. To some this may seem like warm weather but being that I am from central Florida where the temperatures have been in the mid to high 80's and dry as a bone, it will be refreshing. As far as the exchange rate is concerned I try not to think about it with only 4 days to go before we depart. I've waited 30 years to get to France so I'm not going to worry about that right now!

I’m leaving for Paris in four days and absolutely nothing is going to stop me from doing what I want, when I want, in the manner that I want. I’m not going to cut back a euro because the idiot media is trying its damndest to make me feel on a daily basis — in a number of ways, on a wide range of subjects (not just the weakening dollar) — that there’s little hope out there and that I should hunker down and be completely miserable. (Ever consider how even weathermen try to make you feel lousy about your day? Why do you think they invented the ”wind chill factor”? ”You think, 25 degrees is cold? Well, actually, it’ll feel like 16 degrees to you! Have a nice bone-chilling commute, sucker!”)

To the euro whiners out there, I say if you’re participating in this forum, you’re lucky enough to be coming back from a trip, contemplating a trip, or about to commence a trip, so put it all in perspective.

Yea, it sounds bad. But on the other hand, we'll be in Paris for 10 days this summer in a wonderfully atmospheric and large apartment in the 5th with Air Conditioning and we'll be paying just under $110 (US) a night. (The tacky Courtyard at JFK the night before we go is $169). I know lots of great places where I can get a wonderful meal for $20 or $30 a person. And a FANTASTIC bottle of wine for under $20 in a nice restaurant. Try that at home!!! The morning coffee in a local cafe will be less than my Starbuck's at home.

So who cares how many of "theirs" you get for each one of "ours"? The bottom line is how much pleasure can I get for the final amount in dollars?-- and the answer is "TONS".

When we started planning our vacation to Paris the Euro was about $1.30 USD to 1 Euro. By the time we get there we figure it will be $1.45 USD to 1 Euro. Our budget in Paris is only $2,500 USD for 9 nights not including airfare or hotels so instead of 1,750 Euros we will have 1,600 Euros. That won't stop us. I guess we will just have to come back with a couple of less gifts for our families! LOL.

Wow. That put things in perspective for me, somedayparis. Not to start the hotel vs. apartment argument again. But our Paris accomodations budget for 10 nights is $1100 (775 euros). And we're thrilled with where we are staying (same apartment as last summer).

Oooops. Sorry. I was misreading your post, thinking you were talking about budget for hotels -- rather than the other things.

Never mind.

Fellow Fodor travelers, I will be traveling to Budapest, Vienna and Prague in 6 weeks for a 17 day trip. Obviously I will have to use Euros in Austria, but will I have to use them in Hungary and Czech Republic? My hotels in Budapest and Prague describe their rates in Euros; will I be expected to pay in that currency? Is the exchange rate for the Forint and Koruna more favorable than the Euro? Any suggestions from you savvy travelers will be appreciated.

Hi In,

Use local currency, not Euros, when you need cash. You can get it at ATMs.

Your hotel should bill you in local currency, not E or USD.

If they charge you E, you will be getting a poor exchange rate from local to E, and then you will be charged again for conversion to USD.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

to InMiami -

In Budapest you use the Forint not the Euro. I know that many of the hotels quote in Euros but that's because most of their clientele come from the EU.
Restaurants, items bought at stores, tickets, etc., everything is paid for in Forints.

Things are relatively cheap in Budapest. Doesn't mean there aren't restaurants that can be expensive. But on the whole, you'll find it a bargain. I haven't been to Prague but I know they use their own currency as well.

When you go to Budapest one of the things that makes it do-able financially is that they are not using the Euro yet, even though they belong to the EU.

Have a great time.

Well the good news from France is that it's warm and sunny (warmest April since they started counting.) Everywhere is beautiful - in fact, here in the Perigord we are starting to think that our garden has peaked in April. Not only are poppies and roses out, but even tree peonies and water lilies. Frogs are croaking like mad, but we have resisted attacking)the)r legs (or thighs - cuisses) in French.

We'd love to see more visitors here, to experience this. (And yes, I know this is probably a bad sign of global warming, and we really could do with some rain, but still,as I said, it's looking wonderful.)

I agree w/ Sarvowinner and it's not nit picking. Can't we all just use USD, CAN, AUD or NZD and drop the useless, ambigous $ altogether??

If Europe is your destination of choice, then the euro to dollar exchange rate probably won't matter that much. We did rent an apartment, paying in dollars (for Paris). Everything else will be paid in euros. Once I get situated on the plane and take off I'm on vacation to explore and enjoy Rome and Paris. I will most certainly start with a glass of wine inflight.

Kenav/Ira, if my hotel asks for payment in Euros should I suggest getting cash in local currency for payment? I am staying at the K&K Opera in Budapest and the Maximilian in Prague and I seem to remember a post concerning this very problem with one of these hotels. What if I just offer my credit card, can they still charge me in Euros?

Our local paper's business section reprinted an article this morning (I think it was from the NY Times but not sure) about the high euro and they quoted a few American tourists about the impact/money saving strategies.

I had to LOL at one. A teacher from Brattleboro VT escorting a school trip said she was soooooo glad she had converted all of her US$ to € before she left home!! Now THAT is definitely a money saving strategy - not :)

InMiami - My guess is that they will charge you in Forints in Buda, and Korona in Prague as those are the currencies. If you were in U.S. would hotels charge you in Euros?

We stayed at a B&B in Budapest and their rates were quoted in Euros. They took cash only. However, we asked for them to figure out the forints, as that is what we had from all our ATM withdrawals. They did. No problem. Again, I think that lodging quote Euros as that is where the majority of people who come there are from.

I'd suggest: e-mail your hotels and ask them the question! Ask for the local equivalency of the Euro that they quote, and that you would like to pay in their local currency. (Keep the name of the person who is e-mailing you back. Print out a copy of their answer and bring it with you when you go.)

"I had to LOL at one. A teacher from Brattleboro VT escorting a school trip said she was soooooo glad she had converted all of her US$ to € before she left home!! Now THAT is definitely a money saving strategy - not :)"
>>>>>>>>>>>>&g t;>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>

Laugh all you want. When did she do that? Very likely she IS the one who comes out ahead. If she exchanged those dollars three months ago today she would have gotten 6% more euros than she would get today. So even if she paid a bank or exchange agency 3%, she still comes out ahead.
Of course, exchanging them the day before you leave won't get you the same results.

No - I didn't post the whole thing - but she talked about getting the € from her bank last week. So she spent more than the "inflated" €s would have cost her in Europe.

Well, when somebody has done something that brings her comfort, so be it. If she's happy, I hope she can remain ignorantly blissful until she comes home!

NeoP, have you recommended your apartment here previously? I'm making a file of links to favorably reviewed apartments ...

All of you leaving tomorrow, next week, next month - I'm developing an unhealthy envy. Buon viaggio!

Yes, I have mentioned it before, but here it is again. I'm saving more as I am dealing with the owner direct this time.

http://tinyurl.com/zbvew

Neopatrick, that sounds like a great deal on the apartment.

If you don't mind, post a link to it after you've returned.

Patrick, it looks like a really handsome place. And A great area - I've stayed in the 1st, just on the other side of Ile de la Cite, and found it so convenient. Also loved on my first jet-lagged mornings to go for a dawn walk around Notre Dame etc. Early morning, before traffic surges and sidewalks become crowded is a great time to enjoy Paris in a different mood.

Carlux, your description of the France at the moment made me totally forget about the Euro to dollar issue. I'm going there in three weeks, first trip to Europe, first major vacation in over a decade, and I plan on having a great time no matter what the exchange rate is. There's no cost to great memories of a wonderful trip, and that's the most important thing I want to come back with.

We are leaving for Spain in two weeks for a three-week stay. Since booking our hotels in November, the cost has increased due to the exchange rate from US$ to Euro. We want to try to stay within our budget so we will be doing more picnics when day-tripping out of San Sebastian, we'll order the cheaper local wines, we'll avoid high-end tourist restaurants and eat where the locals eat, etc. The first time we were lucky enough to travel to Europe, we had to stay within a strict budget and found that (per Rick Steves) we really enjoyed a more authentic experience. Since then, we've been able to afford higher rated hotels and restaurants which hasn't necessarily translated into having a more enjoyable time. I totally agree with other posts--we're going to soak up the culture and expect to thoroughly enjoy our first trip to Spain. We will, however, make some adjustments so we don't have too much of a shock when we get those charge card bills when we get home.

Patrick, that looks like a bargain to me.