Has the Plummeting GBP Changed Your Plans?
Jan 7th, 2009, 11:46 AM
#21
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With a trip to England, Scotland, and Wales from the US planned for June I went ahead and bought GBP when the pound hit $1.48. For the cash I plan to take it gives me enough additional purchasing power to increase my order for some custom goods made in Scotland and picked up during my trip. I am also looking at upgrading my airfare tickets.
Jan 7th, 2009, 01:02 PM
#22
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I've been having 'weekend breaks' for the past 3-4 years instead of a proper 'far flung' holiday due to being skint after redundancy in 2006.
I've done Flanders, Bruges, Paris (for about the 20th time), and the West Country and New Forest in the UK (the latter two blagging free accomodation with friends/relatives).
I am not complaining because they have all been nice trips, and I know some people don't even get a weekend away.
If I go anywhere this year, it'll be Cyprus to see friends (no idea what there is to do there - it looks a bit uninspiring, frankly, but the main aim is to catch up with my mates) and possibly Egypt sort of on the way back. But it's not definite.
If money were no object I'd do Costa Rica, Brazil and Japan.
I've done Flanders, Bruges, Paris (for about the 20th time), and the West Country and New Forest in the UK (the latter two blagging free accomodation with friends/relatives).
I am not complaining because they have all been nice trips, and I know some people don't even get a weekend away.
If I go anywhere this year, it'll be Cyprus to see friends (no idea what there is to do there - it looks a bit uninspiring, frankly, but the main aim is to catch up with my mates) and possibly Egypt sort of on the way back. But it's not definite.
If money were no object I'd do Costa Rica, Brazil and Japan.
Jan 7th, 2009, 01:31 PM
#24
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Lol- nearly!
The site I worked at got shut down and everyone (all 500 of us) got the heave-ho, (not just the dead wood!).
I am working again now, but it's a lower paid job hence people's spare rooms in drizzly Devon, not Club Class to the Far East!
The site I worked at got shut down and everyone (all 500 of us) got the heave-ho, (not just the dead wood!).
I am working again now, but it's a lower paid job hence people's spare rooms in drizzly Devon, not Club Class to the Far East!
Jan 7th, 2009, 01:37 PM
#25
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I'd already booked my May trip to London. Got First Class for miles so that only cost me about $200.00 in taxes, etc. Paid the deposit on the flat but will shortly pay it in full. A little too leery to wait to see if the £ goes lower.
Jan 7th, 2009, 07:09 PM
#27
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Well, we could trade spare rooms, RM67.
CW, if you'll provide your ex's email address we can make it easier to decide on Thailand. Women, for some reason, dislike seeing "shag=shag" applied to themselves.
CW, if you'll provide your ex's email address we can make it easier to decide on Thailand. Women, for some reason, dislike seeing "shag=shag" applied to themselves.
Jan 12th, 2009, 11:58 AM
#40
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We cancelled our trip to GA/SC for May 2009.
In the Bahamas during May 2008 we were getting 2.1 monopoly money to the pound. Indeed we had our pockets so stuffed with the green that one night we even considered tipping. (we had an aweful lot to drink but sense finally prevailed).
On our return we pencil booked houses in GA/SC for May 2009. When deposit paying time arrived (Oct 2008) the pound had nose dived to 1.4. Stange that one - you sold us all that acid debt in the first place but its our currency that takes a hammering.
The decision was simple - each year we have one show stopping trip costing ... whatever and then 4 or 5 Easyjet jollies round Europe.
In terms of cost benefit the exchange rate movement alone was more than the cost of a two week sail round the Ionian. So we booked two weeks with Captain Corelli instead. We are going to encounter the Euro problem but will counter that by taking cool boxes full of Aldi frozen food to cook on the boat.
Put simply - living it up in the States has never been a cheap option - the rentals do not seem to be discounting and it was going to cost us $6000 for our usual standard houses for two weeks. We could have course slummed it but thats very difficult when you have sipped Sauvignon whilst feeding the dolphins off your private dock. Its a long way down to Comfort Inn.
Many European destinations are starting to give it away - we got a 50% discount on a yacht charter in Greece for this May.
Why did we cancdel? That's a difficult one - we could afford the extra cost but simply came to the conclusion that both trips had enough wow factor - just that one has cost us £1200 the other was going to come in at over £6500 - put simple one option shot up in price whilst the other fell through the floor.
Whilst, at the moment, our business (and income)is very solid. I would hate to be experiencing financial pain in a year - wondering why we had blow £6500 not £1200.
In the Bahamas during May 2008 we were getting 2.1 monopoly money to the pound. Indeed we had our pockets so stuffed with the green that one night we even considered tipping. (we had an aweful lot to drink but sense finally prevailed).
On our return we pencil booked houses in GA/SC for May 2009. When deposit paying time arrived (Oct 2008) the pound had nose dived to 1.4. Stange that one - you sold us all that acid debt in the first place but its our currency that takes a hammering.
The decision was simple - each year we have one show stopping trip costing ... whatever and then 4 or 5 Easyjet jollies round Europe.
In terms of cost benefit the exchange rate movement alone was more than the cost of a two week sail round the Ionian. So we booked two weeks with Captain Corelli instead. We are going to encounter the Euro problem but will counter that by taking cool boxes full of Aldi frozen food to cook on the boat.
Put simply - living it up in the States has never been a cheap option - the rentals do not seem to be discounting and it was going to cost us $6000 for our usual standard houses for two weeks. We could have course slummed it but thats very difficult when you have sipped Sauvignon whilst feeding the dolphins off your private dock. Its a long way down to Comfort Inn.
Many European destinations are starting to give it away - we got a 50% discount on a yacht charter in Greece for this May.
Why did we cancdel? That's a difficult one - we could afford the extra cost but simply came to the conclusion that both trips had enough wow factor - just that one has cost us £1200 the other was going to come in at over £6500 - put simple one option shot up in price whilst the other fell through the floor.
Whilst, at the moment, our business (and income)is very solid. I would hate to be experiencing financial pain in a year - wondering why we had blow £6500 not £1200.
