Owen O'Neill

Thanks again for all the support, everyone! <BR> <BR>I'll write Fodor's editors tomorrow and forward suggestion, based on the apparent level of interest. Have had a much lower volume of responses to the same posting on USA/Canada Forum - don't be shy.... please post a reply there, as well! Thanks again!

Polina

I hope that I am not too late to post my message. I fully support the proposal for the budget sister site. My husband and I do not have a lot of extra money to spend, but we love to travel. This information would be most useful.

Richard

Owen, Sign me up. My wife and I travel in Europe at least once a year and budget $125US per day for meals and lodging, up from $100 a few years ago. I don't know if a separate forum is needed, but if folks would be more specific about their budget when posting here, replies may be more useful. <BR>

Christina

I think this idea is unnecessary and not a good one. <BR>I hope when you present your petition to Fodor's, <BR>you do not selectively choose only positive comments. Very few of the posts on the board are <BR>strictly devoted to only one subject--"budget" hotels, etc. which appears what you want. If that <BR>is all one is interested in (whether a budget hotel <BR>or budget restaurant, etc.), a post can easily make that clear in the title. The reason I think this is a bad one is that most posts cover a variety of related subjects, and who is to decide what the criteria of "budget" vs. non-budget is? It will be a waste of people's time to have to post and read in both places, both budget and regular, in order to cover all responses. Someone may ask for <BR>a recommendation for a good restaurant in some area <BR>and would appreciate all suggestions, not just those <BR>limited to a certain price range. Some of the remarks on this thread are off-target, for instance, the comment about how most people on this board/Fodors guides, etc. are only geared towards those staying in 4 and 5-star hotels. This is nonsense. From the posts I read on this board, most people are in the budget to moderate category (which is not surprising as people who can afford 4 and 5 star hotels are not usually trolling public BBs for information); also, Fodors guides have a variety of recommendations in all price categories which are clearly stated, and the budget to moderate outweigh any luxury ones. If you solely want hostel-type guides for grownups, stick to Rick Steves' or Lonely Planet, that ought to do it. Anyway, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I think trying to segregate and break up a board by "class" or budget is a very, very bad idea.

Owen O'Neill

Thanks for raisingl these worthwhile objections, Christina. Your position is well thought out and your diplomacy appreciated. Your suggestion that "budget" or some similar phrase should be included in posting titles (in lieu of a budget forum) was also offered by a response to this same posting in the USA/Canada Forum. I agree that many folks (perhaps most) in these forums are looking for reasonably priced accomodations, meals etc. (more often than not) but want to know the FULL range of what may be available. I, for one, often choose budget dining options for most meals when traveling but spring for one or two pricier dinners if I can. I respectfully disagree, however, that it's a very, very bad idea. My point is this: until "searchable forums" are available (Fodor's says they will be), many of us lack the time to sift through countless postings, opening and reading each to find the specific information needed when we're making targeted plans (i.e. with respect to budget). I suspect most folks would choose to read BOTH types of forums regularly (I know I sure would), picking and choosing the posts of interests as needed. The LAST thing I wish to encourage is a sense of separation or division among the folks who frequent these pages. I'm quite new to web surfing and very appreciative of the open-minded sense of camraderie and sharing that I find here. Thanks again, Christina, for voicing sensible opposition. If you'd like to respond further, I'll welcome and look forward to your input here or you may e-mail me directly. I have yet to contact Fodor's to make this suggestion. Perhaps they'll have some valuable input as well. By the way, I've visited the other sites you mentioned and quite simply: I like it here better! Just trying to expand options and make more info easier to find... <BR>

Glaucia Arruda

Here I am, voting again!!! Ooops, I don't mean to cheat!!! It's just that I've read the suggestions of also checking Rick Steves, Let's Go and Lonely Planet. Can anyone send me their www addresses? Or do they only exist in books? If so, could you possibly send me the full title plus name of author plus publishing house. Because I was surfing the net I learnt about Fodors, checked it out and only then bought the Fodors Guide. So I might as well check the sites and then buy the books. Thanks in advance! <BR>

Richard

Glaucia, ricksteves.com; lonelyplanet.com and frommers.com. In my opinion, Fodor's is the best, in structure and response. <BR>

Owen O'Neill

I agree Richard - Fodor's really does have the best structure and responses have been great during my limited time here. With few exceptions, people are genuinely helpful and interested in sharing. Btw, I have now forwarded the request to the Fodor's folks (along with mention of Christina's concerns). Thanks everyone, for all the great comments!! <BR>

Meg

YES, you have my vote!

Tiffany

What did happen to the Berkeley Guides <BR>Books. I know that they are not in the <BR>book stores any more and I miss them so <BR>much. They were the best guide book that I ever read as they had an opinion. I am also in the budget traveler mode, but I have been statisfied with the quality of budget info available on this site. Maybe one site for budget hotels only and then this site for info about everything else to satisfy Christina's good point that we don't want to have two boards going on the same topics (where to go, how long to stay, what is best to see,...) Thanks Fodor's.

michelle

Your idea is great! I know that I would check out a budget conscious forum here. It would be great to get suggestions on places to eat without spending all of your money. Michelle <BR>

tina

I like the idea of a budget forum but I think that everyone might consider themselves budget minded. I hate to pay over a hundred US for any room anywhere and am happiest when the room is less than 50USD. Others might set the threshold at 200. Would the focus be on lodging only? or include other bargains? Isn't the internet great that all of us as strangers can share advice and tales of woe and glory? <BR> <BR>One way to extend the budget is to use FF miles. If anyone is looking for a new way to rack up miles send me an email for infor.

Erni Hirsch

<BR>Yes, very good idea.

Tony Hughes

<BR>Well thank for that gem, Erni ! <BR> <BR>Bad idea. Where do you split budget and higher priced accomodations? Does someone who can afford to pay roundabout the split point have to trawl through two forums? <BR> <BR>What next, budget accomodation with facecloths and a left hand bidet forum ? <BR> <BR>Christina has a point.

dan

Let me start by saying that I had similar concerns to Christina's, although my first reaction was to say that it is a great idea. I think it could work if Fodor's can link its search screens in the various regional forums to the proposed budget forum. <BR> <BR>Another possibility is to create a separate forum where people post general questions about how to get the most for their money. <BR> <BR>I will give a yes vote to a budget forum, but it should be approached carefully. You can end up with so many forums that it becomes too tedious to use the site.

elaine

Richard's above-mentioned Frommer's website prompts me to mention it again, because it is definitely and proudly geared to budget travel. You can also sign up on that site to receive an email newsletter of current bargains <BR>in travel. <BR>HOWEVER, I agree with Christina and others in not wanting to further subdivide this wonderful Fodor's forum. <BR>A simple mention of your preferred price range in a posting can generate lots of helpful "budget" information. The majority of postings here does not mention wanting to spend as much money as possible. And even those of us who are not backpacking and who indeed wish to bathe everyday (see above!) and perhaps have a private bathroom,are interested in keeping expenses to a reasonable minimum, or perhaps splurging on a meal here and scrimping on the hotel there. Besides, as others have mentioned, I enjoy having access to the wealth and range of information that is here, everything from 4 star hotels to the cheap little Greek restaurants in Paris that were recently mentioned on this site. I'm sure each of us can winnow the suggestions to find what we need. <BR>Let's not separate this into the haves and the have nots, we can all help each other. <BR>

James

It is my first time traveling to Europe and I am constantly investigating budget hotels and travel secrets. I feel that I can maximize my time there without going broke. And, I would like to return again very soon. With a concervative budget, I can plan on returning sooner than later. Can't wait to see it. <BR>

lynne

<BR>Budget forum -- wonderful idea!! I'd sure check it out.

L. Zeev

Great idea !! <BR>I myself travel most of the time by <BR>timeshare exchanges , thats the way for <BR>me to minimize accommodation costs. <BR>I love the idea of sharing info about <BR>hou to save and still travel with stile <BR>and comfort. <BR>Zeev <BR>

Richard

It took me a long time to find this, but I think it's worth a discussion.