After looking at a thread here about the dollar against the euro I got to thinking about who posts here. Some of the Europeans thought the question was very ethnocentric. Nothing matters but how it affects us (Americans). I just wonder how many people who live in Europe use this site to investigate travel to other European countries. I guess, I was under the (wrong) assumption that mainly Americans were looking for info for travelling overseas, and the answers were coming from the Europeans or Americans who have done the trip. Am I wrong? This may seem like a dumb question, because I have asked questions on the US Forum about other states, besides the one I live in, but not often. I also have rarely seen anyone post that the euro is doing so great against the dollar, that it's the perfect time to visit. But, I could be way wrong!

hi, zwho,

well, here's one european who uses it to research european trips. there are lots more of us, I beleive.

i have also used it to plan our recent african trip and for a laugh in the lounge.

regards, ann

Here's another one And my first language is not english, I'm from Spain. But I've learnt a lot here about European destinations, and I've also asked questions for my own trips

Live and learn! And I'm sure that you, Kenderina have helped me with my trips to Spain. Thanks again. I think I need to look at the lounge.

Here's another non-English European. Last year this board gave me a lot of helpful advice for our trip to Rome, for example.

At the moment I seem to be on the answering side most of the time, though, since I'm not planning any travelling of my own at the moment. A freelancer's bank account sometimes faces "low tides". So this is, in a way, my substitute and my daily mini vacation.

Hey I live in Wales and only yesterday I was looking for information on Wales's Pembrokeshire coast!

So its not limited to new destinations, sometimes visitors from afar can find things out about our own home that we take for granted or ignore.

I'm off to Pembrokeshire for a few day, with a little help from my friends..

Muck

I use the board too. I followed a lot of the Scotland threads before my recent trip there, used the Africa board for my trip there, and am getting lots of ideas for future European trips, though not being a city person - I have never been to Paris or Rome and have no intention of going to either - most postings are not that helpful to me.
I'll be more active on the Canada board soon I expect as we are thinking of visiting NL next year.

Me too, I use the European board both to answer and ask questions. And have also gained lots of info from the Asia and Africa boards for various trips. I also wander into the Lounge from time to time.
Strangely, though I visit the US every year or two, I've never used the US board!

One more here
I'm from Greece and i've asked many times for information regarding european destinations!

I'm neither European or from the US and I use the forum extensively. There are lots of Australian, Kiwis, Canadians and people living in various Asian countries who use the forum. I'm sure there are many more that I haven't listed.

I've used it several times - especially when the mighty spurs get drawn against places I've never heard of.

Yes, I'm Irish, and I've used it for trips to Paris, Amsterdam, Italy, Croatia. I also check into the Lounge every few weeks, but I always feel its mainly American folk who post in the Lounge?

I'm another.

I mostly answer questions on Scotland, but regularly do Crete too. I have sepcialist knoweldge of esoteric places in France and Italy.

I've researched various European destinations on here (even bits of Scotland, my specialist subject), and got MASSES of information about Cape Cod on the US Forum.

Don't like the Lounge.

And I'm yet another!

Advice sought on fodors has enhanced recent trips to Paris, Rome, Budapest and hopefully my forthcoming trip to Croatia.

I tend to search extensively before asking questions. Most of the answers are already here if you look for them!

Hopefully I have answered others questions to good effect as well - I did manage to get quoted in the 2008 Fodors Paris Guide so I do have the occasional pearl of wisdom to impart!

I think zwho's supposition is correct -- that this forum is used mostly by Americans who want to travel in Europe. I find the ethnocentricity of some American posters irritating, but it is much outweighed by the more open-minded attitudes of the large majority. [I think we have a good few Canadians here who fall outside the ambit of the question, and maybe they now feel neglected!]

I have sought and received help here for my own travels within Europe. Not much, as it happens, because I have other resources, and I tend to regard sites like this as a backup rather than a first resort. To illustrate: I have three trips in prospect in the next few months -- to Brittany, to Berlin, and to Lyon. I know Brittany well, so I don't need any guidance; both Berlin and Lyon are new territory for me, but I have friends in each city who will help me with my planning. That sort of situation might be less common for transatlantic travellers.

Wow, and all this time I thought most of the names I recognize were Americans with good info! Now I know, it ain't necessarily so! And as Padraig mentioned, if you are European you have a better chance of having a pal in a country you may want to visit. So using Fodor's as a back up is fine. I like this better then the guide books or official tourist sites, because (for the most part) I've never gotten bad info. I trust you guys to help make any trip I plan spectacular, and so far it's worked. Thanks again.

Well, Padraig..I think I will have to ask you if I travel to Ireland Don't know anyone there !

kenderina, feel free! Just remember that, like anybody, I have my preferences, and if you want to be advised by me you will have to hope that you like the sort of things I like.

I live in Wales and I use it for info.

Yes, I know, Padraig I usually ask for "non opinion" matters like transportation...I don't take things as written in stone But sure I would like to visit at least Dublin soon, maybe next year.