kenderina

touché, Paddy

But I really thought that for the Vatican, any currency is good enough if a bank gets it !

nina

Pergon, look at cabins in Tulum, they're loaded with charm, and not too expensive. The food is cheap too.

There is NO WAY I'm traveling to Europe until the dollar gets stronger, the world won't end if I put off European travel for a few years, there are still a lot of places left to see in the world.

We just came back from Costa Rica, it was fantastic, flights were $249 roundtrip, lodging wasn't cheap but we stayed at very high-end places at half of what you'd pay in Hawaii. Food was cheap...I'm patient, I can wait.

julies

I've got library books out on Peru, China and India. Am also considering Colonial Mexico.

I think Europe is out for us too, although I do have books on Bulgaria because on-line I found some fascinating looking bicycle tours there, and the price was really good--about E420 per person per week, all inclusive.

We were lucky enough to have traveled to Italy in Jan., but the exhange rate then really hurt. I posted when I got back that I'd reached my limit.

WillTravel

Pegontheroad, I'm not sure if this suits you, but GAP Adventures looks like a much more low-cost way to explore Mexico (and much of the rest of the world) than many tours. As I posted above, it's quite possible to do Mexico City cheaply and easily on your own.

Carta_Pisana

Guatemala is wonderful - the colonial cities of Mexico such as Morelia , Guanajuato, Oaxaca are delightful. And easy to do on your own. Unfortunately it seems anywhere nice now is expensive to visit. I'm comitted to Itlay and Greece this yeat but next year - who knows.

LoveItaly

Well I and other family members are not going to Italy this year either. We should start a club travelme. I can't make plans right now but I have some ideas in my head for travel within the US. And since my daughter and son-in-law have a very good friend that lives here parttime and somewhere in Mexico the rest of the time it sounds like their next trip will be to his area of Mexico which would be a lot of fun for them.

I love going to Italy but like other decisions in life there is a limit as to how much I will spend. A Fodorite who is a friend is going to Hawaii, their first visit, this year instead of the annual trip to Europe.

Wishing everyone a fun trip whereever they decided to visit. We certainly have many beautiful areas in the US. And keeping our money at home would help our economy too.

FainaAgain

If anything else, remember NY State Lotto's motto: "A dollar and a dream"

MC, you should change it to "A dollar is becoming a dream"

And with these gas prices very soon we'll start cutting on air and auto trips

Debs

The currency of Montenegro is the EURO, however, they are not an EU member.

kenderina

Yes, and they have no agreement with the EU so they can't make coins themselves. This is a interesting article I've found :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurozone

tcreath

I'm with Suze on this one. For us its not just the weak dollar. It's the weak dollar plus the much higher airfare. With prices to Europe at over $700 during off season, that's more than we've ever spent on flights to Europe and we've taken over ten trips within the last 5 years. Add that to expensive hotel prices (and yes, we usually book apartments) and food costs, etc, and it all adds up to a pretty expensive trip.

We are going to Germany next month, only because we used FF miles, but we too started looking elsewhere. We are headed to Costa Rica in August (airfare at under $225, shorter flight and much cheaper) and have been considering colonial Mexico, Peru, Guatemala and other parts of central/south America for future trips, as well as Asian destinations such as Cambodia, Thailand and Bali. I love Europe just as much as everyone on this board, but with the airfare and weak dollar its just harder and harder to justify spending the money.

Tracy

AllieNC

Pegontheroad, check out Zihuatanejo, Mexico. It's on the Pacific Coast, is at heart still a fishing village and is wonderful. It's also a big bargain. You won't need a travel agent. Allie

ira

Hi CW,

>Do they take it in Greenland and is that a country?

Greenland is part of the "United Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Isles". They use the Dkk.

Dayle

I was always a budget Europe traveler, so countries like England and the Scandinavian countries were out of the question. I used all the "Euro beating" techniques before. Now I don't know what's left to try.

I don't know when, if ever, I will be able to go again. The dollar is sinking much, much faster than I can save. Weak dollar, high airfares, plus having been squeezed dry by inflation in the US = my vacation this year will be camping in a tent somewhere near to home.

Good thing I live in a place where there are lots of great options. Just wish I could afford to go somewhere new for different experiences..

julies

Dayle--

Your first paragraph describes our travel style exactly. We too in the past automatically eliminated England and Scandinavia just because of the costs.

Luther_Brenda

We have an advantage over experienced European travelers. June will be our first time to Europe and $1.55 Euros are all we know. I bet those of you that have been when the Dollar bought 1.20 Euros, are remembering the good old days....

Michel_Paris

I'm from Canada. I don't think we ever had good old days

Jake1

Luther_Brenda--our first trip to Europe after the Euro came in to being, one Euro cost 92 cents.

dickensdad

We are about to leave on our third trip to Italy. For the first one (Feb. 04) the exchange rate was around $1.28. The rate dipped to $1.18 the second time (November-December 05). Now we are looking at something over $1.50.

I looked at what we spent on our previous trips. Our first trip was booked through Expedia. Friends of ours were also going to Rome, and they suggested Expedia. We were visiting our daughter who was studying in Rome, and our travel planning time was spent in helping her get ready. As a result, booking through Expedia was convenient but costly (i.e. $4,000 for a 9 day stay). The exchange rate was $1.28

Our second trip (Florence) cost around $4,400 for an 11 day stay). The exchange rate at that time was $1.18. For this trip, we booked everything directly through airline/hotels (3 star).

On Sunday 3/9 we will leave for a 9 day stay. I estimate that the total cost of this trip will be under $4,000 even with the unfavorable exchange rate. We are staying in B&Bs this time, and will not have as many admission fees this time, since we have seen many attractions already.

WillTravel

I'd say don't give up - be creative and patient and think of ways you can make a trip work. Maybe there's a way to earn some extra money, maybe there's a cheaper destination, maybe you will find a great airfare, maybe you can do a volunteer working trip, etc., etc. I don't want to be all pollyanna, but often there are solutions, just not immediately apparent.

Dayle

WillTravel,

I am to the point now where I think the only way I'll be able to travel anywhere, even in the US, is to do a home exchange. I've been looking into that and will soon list my home in Park City. Fortunately, it's a popular place for many reasons and various seasons!

Any takers?