amp322

Eloise,

The newly integrated EU countries which were former Communist countries ARE NOT using the Euro, and won't be for about 4 more years. Also, there is NO WAY places like Poland or Slovakia are as expensive as Western Europe, just because they are now EU. I was in Italy last year, and it is more expensive than NYC. Central & Eastern Europe are still VERY affordable, if you look for the bargains. Sure, you can buy an expensive meal, if you want, but you can also get a great one for $10 in Bratislava. I spent 5 weeks in Europe last summer, and only blew $4,000. (That was after buying $1,500 worth of oil paintings in Prague!)

rj007

I'm wondering about the people complaining about the high air fares to Europe. I think, traditonally, airfare to London has always been cheaper because so many people fly there than say Prague. With the advent of so many budget airlines, if you want to visit other parts of Europe, it may be cheaper to fly to London, then on to another destination.

I live in California and in 1995 I paid $525 for my first trip to Europe. That is still the most I have ever paid to fly to Europe.

To answer the original question, no I haven't experienced sticker shock as it is very easy to contain costs in Europe. Several other posters have already mentioned - you make adjustments. I could care less what the exchange rate is - it will never stop me from traveling to Europe.

Calamari

I have experienced "Sticker Shock". I lived in Italy when the USD was over Lit 2,000! The people I hear "whinning" about how expensive it is - louder than anyone- are my friends and family members who live there. Wages have remained stagnant while the cost of living doubled practically over night when they changed to the EURO. While certain expenses such as the cost of electricity, gasoline and rent don't concern most tourists, we are so lucky here in the US...and I live in California! I was "sticker shocked" last year and if it had not been for a lack of better judgement on my part, I would not be going back for more next week. Yes, it is all worth the price of admission, but it is a dear price.

m_kingdom2

I'm most curious as to why my original posting stating that from the information supplied, the dollar for Julies has fallen by 90USD per every thousand, has been removed?

A matter of national pride perhaps?

ira

Hi Rufus,

As the Kingston Trio used to sing:

They're rioting in Africa
They're starving in Spain
There's hurricanes in Florida
And Texas needs rain
The whole world is festering with unhappy souls
The French hate the Germans, the Germans hate the Poles
Italians hate Yugoslavs, South Africans hate the Dutch
And I don't like anybody very much.

ira

>I remember 25C for a Roy Rogers Sat. matinee, and the JuJubes were 5C.<

Hi Bob,

I remember when it was 12 cts. and the box of jujubes was larger.

(Of course we had to walk barefoot in the snow.)

ira

Hi all,

I have reviewed my bills for a recent week in Paris: RT nonstop ATL/CDG on AF, stayed at the Bonaparte hotel, had pleasant food (no fancy places) and minor wines.

I priced the same trip to NY (RT ATL/EWR) at the same level. Price was about $100 more for NY.

Exchange rate was $1.2/E.

Clifton

The budget for this fall probably won't need to be as substantial as it would otherwise, as we (so far) are still sticking with the Romania plans. The primary expense looks like it's going to be air fare which is going to be around $950pp, into Bucharest and out of Budapest. Not sure how out of line that is with the past though, as this is our first time flying that route. I guess it is what it is.

For other trips, I like to budget against an intentionally inflated exchange rate to make decisions on hotels, cars, etc. Then, we're living below our means on holiday or we wait until the budget is greater - but we're not being shocked or running up debt - and we've also buffered against negative adjustments in the rates.

leonberger

Our first trip to the UK was in 1981, and we paid $499 for British Air flights (Boston to Heathrow), and that included 7 nights in a (cheap) London hotel (the Tavistock, for anyone who cares).

I've gone back 8 times since then, and have never paid more than $500 (British Air and Virgin Atlantic). Most times that fare included 3 nights in a (cheap) hotel, but on two occasions it has not included any London hotels (my choice). My cheapest fares were $420 and $387, both for Thanksgiving week in different years.

We're going again this September, and paid $473 (Virgin Atantic). No hotel included, but I only want two nights in London, so I'm paying GBP90 per night for a quad room. By my reckoning, that's around $40 per person per night, so my equivalent trip would be $553.

I guess I don't see the sticker shock in airfare that others have been experiencing...it's $54 (approximately 11%) more this year than it was 23 years ago! Inflation (and raises) have been a lot more than 11% over that time.


Notes:

I have never gone in July/August, which I know is more expensive.

I am a fanatic about searching for good fares...as soon as I find one under $500 I book it - February this year (for September) - and then I don't worry about whether I could have saved another few bucks on a special deal later.

I know that I get the "easy hop" from the east coast (USA) to London, which makes it simple to search for bargains.

Bottom Line: We do spend a lot more for our trips now than we did in 1981. We stay at "nicer" B&B's (and it seems obvious that B&B's have figured out they can charge a little more than the rock-bottom rates they used to!), we eat fewer picnic-type meals, and we buy more gifts (for others and for ourselves). All of those costs are very "elastic" and can be adjusted to fit the budget pretty easily.

So, no, I don't really worry about the exchange rate too much (and I'm not wealthy!)...I'm more concerned with making sure I've got the right ATM card - one that won't charge me all that extra $$$$ that you helpful Fodorites have written about!

I say: relax, enjoy your trip! Buy/do what you can afford and leave the rest for another time.

Gayle

mjz

Having returned last month, I found Prague and especially Budapest to be bargains. As several posters have mentioned, most of the countries entering the EU this month will not adopt the Euro as their currency for years to come.

If you research enough, good bargains can be found. My airfare from MCI to PRG was $540 on NWA/KLM. I stayed at the Prague Renaissance for $105 a night and the Budapest Art'otel for $65 a night...both 4* hotels. I researched airfare continually for a couple of months and bid my hotel rooms on Priceline. Nice restaurants were cheaper than at home. I don't buy useless souvenirs. For money, I always find it convenient to either use my credit card or go to the atm which usually provides a favorable exchange rate.

For me, the life experience of spending time in far away places by far exceeds the state of the dollar.

LilyLace

For me, the life experience of spending time in far away places by far exceeds the state of the dollar.

This says it all!