Euro vs US Dollar

Old Dec 30th, 2007, 10:36 AM
  #41  
 
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>>Last January, the rate was about 1.32; currently it is about 1.47.

2000€ last January was $2640
2000€ this January will be $2940
That's about $30/day more, easy enough to adjust somewhere.>>>>>>

It's easy to justify the difference between 2006 & 2007 as minor. But the adjustement from 2001 when $.89 bought 1€ is significant. In that 6 years the costs have risen over 50%, by the exchange rate alone, couple that with the rise in hotel prices even in the most modest ranges and the difference can be the deal breaker for some.

Since we have always done the picnics, pub dinners, local family restaurants and the cheapest lodging short of a hostel, there are unfortunately for us, no other ways we can economize when we travel, so our only alternative is to limit our European travel for now.

As much as it breaks my heart, because we are not spring chickens ourselves anymore, sometimes you just have to admit you can't afford something.
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Old Dec 30th, 2007, 10:47 AM
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But Celticharper, let's be honest here. How fair is it to compare prices in 2001 to today's?

My health insurance has virtually doubled in that time. Gasoline prices have soared. Groceries, rents, you name it. Prices of New York hotels have certainly doubled in the past 6 years.

Has your income not increased in 6 years?

Granted the rate of exchange is more significant when you look back further, but so is everything else -- even without leaving the country.

If you're going to start talking about how things today cost more than they did 6 years ago -- you're going to have to stop ALL spending and maybe go somewhere to hibernate!
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Old Dec 30th, 2007, 11:05 AM
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My point was that what was affordable for us in 2001 is not now.

I know that costs have gone up on everything in 6 years, We have had to economize on everyday things due to increases, But my income certainly hasn't gone up to match those levels of increased cost.

There just comes a time when you have to look at your budget and see where you have to cut, and for us it's our French vacations for a while.

Even our European friends have complained about the rise in hotel and restaurant prices in the past few years, and they have also had to cut back their travel plans, so it's not only a dollar euro exchange problem.
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Old Dec 30th, 2007, 11:11 AM
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It's not only me it seems

On the CNN website I found the following info:

>>> But the weak dollar is having an impact. A U.S. Tour Operators Association survey found more than 50 percent of members reporting European bookings had dropped, some by as much as 20 percent.

"So many people have come back from Europe complaining about how weak their dollar is," said Pauline Frommer, the travel writer and editor. >>>>>

Here is the link for the whole article.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/12/28....ap/index.html

We'll be doing our visiting to national parks this year and camping. Maybe next year we'll be able to afford to go abroad again.

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Old Dec 30th, 2007, 11:12 AM
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Dawnnoelm, that would be so sad to give up free tickets. Surely someone you know could use them? Or could you take a shorter trip? I think you are on the west coast, so I know how long the travel is, but for a free ticket, I would spend only a short time and if necessary I would economize like mad, just to get to go. I think you are talking about a family trip, so the several thousand is understandable, but there's gotta be a way!
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Old Dec 30th, 2007, 11:31 AM
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Hi Celticharper,
I interpreted that article to mean only that Tour bookings were way down. It might be that people are still traveling, but changing the way they travel. Maybe doing more independent, self-planned travel and less Tour-oriented travel. I don't know if that's the case, but it is possible.

I did notice that during my Italy planning this past year, which I always do myself, a few owners of accommodations actually seemed willing to negotiate slightly when I openly drew the line at the expense. (I'm American) However, I also noticed there were fewer Americans in the places I traveled. Lots of Australians.
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Old Dec 30th, 2007, 11:32 AM
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ohhh..willtravel - I know! I am already twitching at the thought of giving them up. I cannot give them away (or would) - they are non-transferable.

I even thought the same - just fly into Paris for a long weekend - we have points we can stay on - and we had a rather crummy time over the summer when we went (long story but we were re-routed to Chile (yup) from Dallas to get to Paris... and arrived several days late and very worn out - I think it discolored our view of our time)...

Ahhh.. I have to decide by Feb - Yes, it is 4 tickets - our two daughters and dh and I... I also thought to just let the girls tickets go and just dh and I go for a long weekend.. it is direct from LAX to Paris on Airfrance - and this way we would not need as much $$$ at all... you have me thinking again!
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Old Dec 30th, 2007, 11:47 AM
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In my opinion, you could definitely do a 3-night stay in Paris (with everything included) for the two of you for under $600 USD. I hope you can make something work out.
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Old Dec 30th, 2007, 11:56 AM
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Dawn, it sounds like you acquired some AF vouchers for future flights. Rather than risk losing all the value, could you not book a trip as far out in the booking period as possible, with the idea of changing them before the use deadline to a time you can actually go? There might be some fees for that but those would still be much much cheaper than a flight would cost.

So - do you just have to book something by Feb08 or do you actually have to complete the flights by Feb08?
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Old Dec 30th, 2007, 11:57 AM
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Celticdharper: When the € was about to be introduced it was expected to run between par (i.e €1=$1) and maybe $1.10. But the € nose dived to below 89¢ so visitors from the States enjoyed a windfall w/ REALLY discounted prices.

So sure, the rates aren't good now - but they were better than projected back then. It all averages out in the long run.

In the 30+ years I've traveled to the UK (hard to compare the € zone because of all the different currencies) I've paid anywhere from $1.44 to $2.47 per £. So the current $1.99 is about in the middle . . . .
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Old Dec 30th, 2007, 11:58 AM
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It's not just the Euro exchange rate, it's the airfare. I can't travel in off-season because of my teaching. I went to Europe twice in 2007 (a week in Greece, then three weeks in Holland/France thanks to FF miles), and I went in 2006 also. I think I'm sitting out in 2008 and saving pennies/FF miles for May 2009.
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Old Dec 30th, 2007, 12:21 PM
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Dawnnoelm,

I would go and spend more than a week end. Do you know you can camp right on the Seine in Paris?

http://gofrance.about.com/library/we...pingreview.htm

It is really great and cheap. If you do not want to camp then you can rent a bungalow.

We stayed there last fall for two weeks and had a blast for very, very cheap.
http://www.soultravelers3.com/blog/9...BA952F9CE.html

Most middle class families in Europe camp and it is a great way to see Europe on a budget. You buy groceries and take mass transit.

Just a thought.






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Old Dec 30th, 2007, 12:42 PM
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There was a similiar thread just a couple of weeks ago - "where is the euro a good deal". There were quite a few good replies to that, giving examples of places to go, ways to save in these days of crappy exchange rate.

But even though the exchange rate sucks at the moment, Europe is still an overall less expensive place to travel than the US. Obviously it depends on where you go (NYC versus Idaho, London versus small town in Portugal) but in general you get better, nicer, hotels for the same money (even with the bad exchange rate) in Europe than you do in the US. Same for food.

Example - in London (considered a "very expensive" city, and the exchange rate of the pound is worse than the euro) the hotel I stayed at last time I was there is currently £46 a night for a single, that's equal to $92. I dare anyone to find me a clean, safe room with private bath and full breakfast in the center of NYC or Boston for that. In Paris my favorite hotel, five minute walk from Notre Dame, is currently €80 for a single, equal to $115.

This coming March for the first time in many years I'm not going to Europe. Not because of moeny, mostly becuase my vacation this year coincides with Holy Week so my original plan of Rome isn't a good idea, but also I've always wanted to see Charleston and Savannah so decided to do that. I found some really cheap lodging at places like Motel 6 - BUT, they are all 10 or so miles from the city center. If you want to be IN the city (which I always do in European cities) the prices are outrageous. Prices are well over $200 for most hotels, and those are not major cities. There is no public transportation from the areas with the cheap hotels (near the highways) to the city center. When you add in needing a car (trains in the US versus European trains - a laugh, no way comparable, in Europe it's a breeze to get from one city to another, not so in the US), parking, etc. Well, lets just say I'm not going to be saving any money on that trip. I plan to enjoy it, but it won't be a cost saving trip.

I agree with those who say you never know when health or other problems will prevent you from traveling so go when you can. I am currenlty sitting here with a pinched nerve making walking difficult - and I certainly hope it's better by summer, but even if it's not I will still go to Europe. Health probelms might require more taxis, more expensive hotels (with lifts) - and the exchange rate is horrible. But it is STILL WORTH IT.
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Old Dec 30th, 2007, 01:04 PM
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I am more concerned about the higher airfares for next summer than I am about the lower dollar value. There's six of us and that is where we'll take the biggest hit. We'll still take our summer long France trip (visiting other parts of Europe as well) but we economize by renting apartments and staying with family, lots of picnics and barbecues and not a lot of shopping. I rememer the days when the French franc was as low as about 3 francs to the dollar and as high as 10 francs to the dollar.
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Old Dec 30th, 2007, 01:26 PM
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I get all misty and wistful, thinking about how much I enjoyed 10 francs to the dollar.
 
Old Dec 30th, 2007, 01:43 PM
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Thanks for all the good advice..I have to BOOK something by Feb. 08 - one thing dh suggested is to book it and then if we have to change it to pay the change fee again - better then losing the whole deal. I really wish would have just gone this week -

The issues are complicated - one dh just started a new business so funds are low (his severance ends from his current employer in Feb 08)

Two I am going back to school so it limits when and I can travel.

Three - if we do not take the girls I have to pay someone to watch youngest (14 year old can stay with her Mom - she is my stepdaughter)

Regarding the camping - I appreciate the tip - gotta be honest though - camping is a holiday inn ;-) No seriously, I just would not do it... I know.. I know.. slam away ;-)
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Old Dec 30th, 2007, 02:56 PM
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No, I understand, camping is not for everybody. It costs us something like 20 some bucks a night to stay in Paris and I must admit that I had more fun this time than all the times that I have been to Paris. Even more than when I stayed at the George V or at a Parisian friends place! ( & they were fun!). I also felt I got to know Paris better.

European camping is very different than camping in the States and many of the places are really spectacular four star resorts like the ones we stayed at in Barcelona or Chianti Hills with several amazing pools, great restaurants, horseback riding and wine tasting. I do not know how much the bungalows cost but I do not see much difference in them than renting an apartment as that is basically what they are.

I actually agree with this tour operator who has done Europe many different ways ( as I have) who thinks it is the best ( and cheapest) route for families and retirees.

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/pub...n_europe.shtml

Much depends on ones motivation. We like to go slow and there is much we want to see. We like not having to unpack and repack & we love it that we had a very luxurious first year traveling Europe for only about 25K for the entire year!! It is cheaper for us to travel the world than to live at home. ( We have never lived on so little).

It is not for everybody, but we have found that we really love it and the low dollar has not bothered us at all. ( We thought the dollar would go down so we bought euros and pounds when the dollar was high which also helped).

I do not have much hope for the dollar as I look at all the problems, but I am not real confident about the euro or pound either long term if the U.S goes into a serious recession. It will be interesting to see how it unfolds, looks like the pound is headed for a fall too.

We watch these things carefully and are more than willing to travel in another area ( and move funds where most useful) if things get bad in Europe.

We have splurged at some of the finest boutique hotels in the world, which has added greatly to our trip, but have also really loved the European RV style.

I am surprised that more people from the States do not take advantage of at least the cabanas and rentals. I had an awesome view of the duomo out my window when I was in Florence.

We have also stayed in some great pensions for 20 -30 dollars that we have really enjoyed too.

One can save a whole lot of money living like a native and also save more by staying longer and going off season. We have a fantastic 3br/2b winter rental in Spain that is new with great ocean views for peanuts.

Unless things change drastically, we plan to continue traveling in Europe this year. Carpe Diem!




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Old Dec 30th, 2007, 03:06 PM
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This question is about camping in France. I know on my last trip to Normandy/Brittany I saw camp grounds. Where do they get the ice to keep food items cold? My family camped in the US and Canada, and I know we had access to ice. Where do you buy ice in France. I can hardly get ice for a glass of iced tea.
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Old Dec 30th, 2007, 03:14 PM
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The higher air fares may be as big a deterrent ...

I'd love to go to Europe this year, but I know that if I go abroad the first destination on my list for 08 is Buenos Aires. Friends of mine bought an apartment there a couple of years ago and have renovated it - I want to see it! And I may as well go while prices in BA are still low. The Argentine economy is on the upswing - who knows, in 5 years it may be as expensive as it was before the crisis? So if I make one trip only, it will likely be there.

Re: the original post title, in the game of Euro vs. USD, I predict some big efforts toward parity before 2010. Meanwhile, I was out doing some sale browsing in NYX on 12/26 = at Banana Republic, Armani, even Loehmann's outlet, half the conversations I could hear were French, Italian, German ... and half those in English were born on UK accents. One begins to think they only cross the Atlantic to shop ... and that's OK!
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Old Dec 30th, 2007, 03:15 PM
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We debated about putting off a planned trip to Venice and Lake Como in June, but in the end we decided to carpe diem! We will budget carefully and stay in 3 star hotels, but who knows what the future holds? The value of the dollar could plummet even more next year, or we could get hit by a bus..who knows? Life is short and we only get one pass through it...
Unless the trip will bankrupt you or seriously put you in debt, I say go for it!
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