"I have tried to tell my friends for years that Europe is not as expensive as most people think. They think we must have lots of money because I go to Europe three times per year. But the facts are simple...I either use FF miles or check every website for cheap airfare. I do not stay in luxury hotels. I do not eat at expensive restaurants, except when my sons are with me. Then I waste money on my meals because I am picky. I would rather have junk food any day. I've said all along that Hawaii is the most expensive place I visit. And I prefer Europe since there is so much to see there."

I love this post and I wish you could quote on this dang board!!!

We are not yet at the point of doing 3 trips to Europe a year, but we are happy with our one big trip to Europe every year (at least 15 days) and this year we actually have two trips planned within 6 months, which is a lot for us.

Anyway I totally agree about how some people think we're totally loaded to be able to afford such a long trip. Not so... instead, we diligently save up FF miles until we have enough for a business class ticket (and I know lots of tricks which makes it easy to acquire them). And as far as hotels, I have tons of points w/Starwood, Hilton, and Holiday Inn so this next trip our total cost for 15 nights is less than $900 (some places just don't have chain hotels - which is fine by me since I need some local charm every once in a while).

As far as spending money on meals, one of the things I'm most looking forward to on our upcoming Germany/Austria trip is getting "junk food" from the stalls - doner kebaps, kasekraisers (sp), the famous Nuremberg wursts. That's going to be a lot cheaper than most meals we'd have if we stayed here in Chicago!!

p.s. - we are considering a trip to Hawaii for our 5th wedding anniversary next Nov. Is it really that bad?

My point about our $1000 - 2 nite vacation in Wis. is that it seemed like such a waste. We'd rather forego 3 or 4 such getaways and go to Paris for a week.

Everyone vacations differently. We Like a nice place to stay, but only need 1 or 2 expensive dinners.We walk and Metro instead of cabs. Others might prefer a less expensive hotel and have more expensive dinners.

There is so many ways to save on free museums, FF miles for free flights, etc.

If there is a will, there is a way.

After our trip to Paris in Sept. I was saying to a friend that we maybe should not have gone because of the economy. I loved her reply----"and tomorrow you'll be cutting coupons for laundry detergent at the grocery store".

Enough said!

<i>I say give me a meal at a Ma and Pa restaurant in Rome any time with acceptable wine (right you are, travelgourmet, no great wines at this price, but definitely drinkable) beats Florida restaurant</i>

I don't really know where I stand on this. In many ways, I find Florida repulsive and a place to go to die. But... I have had some absolutely fantastic meals there. Cuban food at some random place in Miami. Gator fritters at some swamp hut near cocoa beach. Indeed, even some of the restaurants (Artist's Point) at Disney World remain memorable. I think Florida can surprise on the culinary front.

As for Italy, I have had more than a few ordinary meals, so I am not willing to give them a free pass. And to the wine... I agree that there are drinkable wines at that price, but there are in the US as well. Kendall-Jackson and the ilk don't blow me away, but they are drinkable enough. Indeed, the great failing of US wines at that range is that they are so boring, so universally bland. Cheaper European wines, on the other hand, seem to have traded boring and bland for wildly inconsistent. I'm not sure I am willing to trade boring, bland, but drinkable for the crap-shoot that is cheap European wine.

<i>we are considering a trip to Hawaii for our 5th wedding anniversary next Nov. Is it really that bad?</i>

That bad? Where have you heard such drivel? Hawaii is amazing. One of my favorite vacations ever. And I am NOT a beach person. Amazing scenery. Amazing people. Have a great time.

&gt;Florida repulsive and a place to go to die
Wow, I have one thing in common with tg!

Re: Wine Prices in US vs Europe

There are places in the US where you can BYOB, Philadelphia for one. It's a great city for food, and you don't have to pay for marked-up wines! And it's fairly easy to get a 4* hotel there (via Priceline) for around $80.

I have recently spent 3 weeks in America. I'm English and visit other
European countries for holidays. The
USA is much better value than any European country. England being one of the most expensive. Portugal used
to be very reasonable. In February 2007 my hotel room was &pound;20 a night, February 2008 &pound;28 and in 2009 it will be &pound;40. A good 3* hotel on the Estoril coast. I shall have to pass in 2009 and go to Turkey which is still relativly inexpensive.

absolutkz = many thanks!

For me, coming to a conclusion isn't the point of this discussion. I like reading about how people travel within budget constraints. And I like reading experiences that are in line with my own, or quite different.

On the topic of NYC, I have to tell you that I am not going there to stay in Queens; maybe if I had never been there before, but I have been going quite often, for many years. This year, a comfortable lodging in a reasonably central location is priced above what I'm willing to pay.

To me, staying in Long Island City or New Jersey is like going to Venice and staying in Mestre. It isn't my own personal idea of visiting a place.

For our trip to Paris upcoming in February, our two airfares were only 35K FF points each, and $163 each in taxes and fees. Our apartment, very nicely located in the Marais, at today's exchange rate, is about $100 per day. We are going to the ballet, at about $70 per ticket. I figure 3 carnets, about $40 and 2 RER tickets, about $20.

Rounding up, about $600 per person for six nights in Paris, in comfortable, even cool, central lodgings.

I don't think staying in Long Island City at all compares to staying in Mestre. Many parts of Manhattan aren't all that interesting, while just about anywhere in historic Venice is special.

Just to compare how people travel--------Hawaii was our least favorite place in the world. Talk about commercial!

Is there's a bottom line to this thread? Well, I'm adding my own:

Please, go to anywhere in the world you'd like to see, including any region of Europe.

Go budget, go luxury, or in between, BUT GO!....you'll never regret it, and a few months later, the amount of money you spend will be all but forgotten.

As a near 80 y.o.(Feb) and wife who is 71 as of this week, we just keep on truckin' to the airports!
Just returned from three-and-a-half weeks to Russia, Belarus and the Ukraine..(BTW ,big bang for the buck in the latter two.)

We are not by any means wealthy..we dearly love our combined 5 adult kids and 10 grandchildren, BUT we do have other priorities and travel remains in first place. FF, seeking out good lodging deals, eating in the mom and pops while avoiding the &quot;continental restos and the Michelins&quot;, are all in our well worn play book.

As my late first wife would cheerfully say: &quot;It's only money!&quot;
Judy passed on in 1991 at the young age of 60...thankfully, we did a ton of worldwide travel for the nearly 40 years of our union.

Let that be a life lesson to you kids! Go, go go!

stu t.

I live in Europe. When I go to NYC, everything looks so CHEAP! (I sublet a rent-controlled apartment).


This thread is silly.

<i>I live in Europe. When I go to NYC, everything looks so CHEAP!</i>

Unfortunately, if the Euro and Pound (and Kroner(s) and Swiss Franc) keep dropping against the Dollar, some of those deals may become a little less desirable. Most purchased goods are still much cheaper in the US than in Europe, but it isn't quite like it once was.

The wife and I made 5 trips back to the US this year and always brought empty suitcases in order to bring home all of the booty. But our last trip (late October) had a bit less of the kid in a candy store feel. Still filled a couple of suitcases (which we ordered from the US and had shipped to the in-laws, saving at least 50% off European prices), but the fx rate shaved maybe 10% off the savings we were getting on our August trip.

&gt;I live in Europe.&lt;

Hey Zep,

You will find the US 25% more expensive than it was 2 months ago.

((I))

thanks for posting this topic ira. definitely something to ponder on. if anything, i always thought that europe is quite affordable for the average, middle class (am i being redundant?) americans. just never thought about comparing it with big, expensive cities like NYC.

btw, NYC is definitely more expensive than Hawaii. in HI, i find it easier to dine just as cheaply or just as expensive, if you know where to look. the great scenery and a lot of spectacular sightseeing in HI are all free.

esp nowadays when the tourism industry is hurting badly in HI, one can find bargain priced accomodations. Kauai and Maui are slightly more expensive than Oahu but imo, still cheaper than NYC.