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

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".