joao

Hi all<BR><BR>1. No, I'm not fed up with Europe.<BR>2. Portugal has over 10 million visitors each year, and less than 2% are Americans. I think it's an exageration to call them "the hand that feeds us"<BR><BR>Joao (in Lisbon)

Carmen

Well said, Joao!<BR>How would you all react if the question was "Is anyone else getting fed up with the US?". I can imagine... the accusations of anti-american bashing, etc. so why asking such a ridiculous question? After all, Europe is not a "theme park", it's not made for tourists. We appreciate tourism, whenever it comes from, but American tourists are not so important for our economies.

Marco

Only americans thanks to their strong dollars could afford british sterlings, speaking of the tourist economy you can say that americans are the hand that feeds England since nobody else can afford it, therefore in London they are crying right now, no americans: no party. But for the rest of Europe the situation is quite different: Only 2 other countries were very strong targets from US tourists and those are France and Italy, however both countries receive such a huge demand from the rest of the world that even the absence of american tourists doesn't have enough impact on their economy to lower the prices. Nevertheless we do miss americans humanly speaking, they are much nicer and respectful people than most other european tourists.

This thread is absurd

Yeah, I'm fed up with Europe! Australia, Asia and Africa are really starting to tick me off, too.

metoo!

...& don't forget that Antartica too - it drives me around the bend!!! Just can't find a decent coffee there anywhere!!!!

Capo

I don't know about the rest of you, but I really enjoy getting fed in Europe. <BR><BR>And, if I was in Morocco, I'd enjoy getting a fez.

Mrs Ted Smith

...and my husband is very sexy, so you could say I love getting Ted up in Europe.

xxxx

ttt

traveller

Do stay home Les, more rooms available for us to choose.<BR>These people have to earn a living.

bettyk

For what it's worth, I have NEVER been inside a Starbucks. I found most of the hotels I booked for my May trip to Europe to be quite reasonable, although several had gone up from when I stayed 3 years ago. But hey, that was 3 years ago so I would expect the prices to go up. However, I got a rate of 84 GBP for the 4* Rubens Hotel in London which I never expected. I don't think I would have gotten such a great rate if tourism wasn't down. But, maybe I'm wrong.

Buck

Swiss Air goes BK, Aer Lingus ready to go BK, British Air cuts back flights and lays off workers, KLM cuts back flights to US,Lufstansa cuts back US flights, United reduces flights to Europe, all US carriers reduce flights to Europe, By all means this doesn't mean that tourist from US are not going, what does it mean? Buck

Diane

I am not fed-up with Europe -- far from it. Nor do I find it expensive. Sure you'll find expensive hotels in Paris and London, just as you'll find expensive hotels in San Francisco and New York. But when it come to staying in small hotels or hotels outside the large cities the value of staying in European hotels exceeds hotels in the U.S. Last summer I stayed in three charming, small hotels in Belgium, France, and Germany. In all three I had a bathroom ensuite, lovely surroundings, and they met all my requirements at a price unheard of where I travel in the States, especially where I live in Southern California.

Barry

I just read through this thread and thought I must be in the "Twilight Zone" or something!<BR><BR>We leave for Europe tomorrow afternoon for the 3rd time in the last 12 months precisely because we are getting such good deals..... BETTER than when we started going on a regular basis in 1985! (on a comparitive basis of course, with inflation factored in on both ends.)<BR><BR>We got $309 rt from ATL to Zurich on Delta, 25% off a 15 day Eurail pass, and we are spending 3 nights is each of 4 cities (Salzburg, Vienna, Prague and Budapest) at less than the best on-line rates and a "stay 2 nights and get the 3rd night free" deal!!!<BR><BR>Now... I did book on October 12th when everybody was still scared ****less... so maybe I got a better than normal deal! And we always go in March or November... so we NEVER pay summer prices. But just look around folks ... the deals are there ... you just have to dig for them!<BR><BR>And I NEVER get fed up with anywhere I'm traveling to ... well ... maybe Paris ;&gt<BR><BR>Best wishes and happy traveling to all..

topper

this is great thread.... lets top it!

cowboy

Well well well, just when I thunk (thought) that all of the little *wantabee* shiek international travel types had gone bye bye, the same jerks show up over here in this particular thread.<BR><BR>All you have to do is say one negative thing about Europe. This person sounded as if they might be frustrated because there doesn't seem to be too mant bargains in Europe in terms of hotels and what have you this particular travel season. <BR><BR>But my oh my the wantabees come out of the woodwork like the little creepy crawlers they often seem to be.<BR><BR>Just as the lady who pointed out that the canals in Venice smelled during the summer season. That one little comment brought out all of the little shiek wantabees in profusion.<BR><BR>Tsk tsk tsk.<BR><BR>Remember the ole Pete Smith movie short segments.<BR><BR>Ohhhh myyyy, heeeerreee we goooo ahhh gaaiinn. LOL

xxx

I can't say that I'm fed up with Europe, but I can say that I am fed up with the European state of mind, arrogance, and anti-Americanism

Dave

Cowboy:- that's the best post I have ever read for you... I think there may be some hope for you yet! way to go!

Jimmy

I'm with Barry's take on this. There have been some wonderful deals. The irony of the whole thing is seeing many people I know who shell out thousands to spend some time with Mickey Mouse and think our European trips are expensive! There are plenty of wonderful deals. We'll never run out of wonderful places to see, outstanding experiences and great people to meet in Europe.

cowboy

Dave Annoy, yup, I stay up all night and all day trying to compose postings that might make you happy. :: : major MAJOR eyeroll :: ;-D

Dave

Cowboy:- and i was thinking you were just a naturally talented comedian!