should we go to europe in september?

Old Apr 4th, 2008, 06:49 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
should we go to europe in september?

We just got back from a wonderful trip to Italy, but were hit with Euro shock. Every time we'd ask for 250 Euros from the ATM, we'd be debited about $400. It was unbelievable. Yet we're good travelers and managed to do 2 weeks for $5000. We're booked for a flight to Amsterdam in September, then going to Belgium, Paris and Provence. This will be about 4 weeks. Is anyone else reconsidering their travel plans due to the sinking dollar??
francegirl is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2008, 06:58 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you have the money, go. If you don't, don't go. I'm not letting Euro sticker shock bother me. I'm calculating and if it's in the budget, we do it. You only live once. I'm firmly middle-aged. If I don't go now when I do have the money and the mobility, there is no guarantee I'll get to go later.
Kellye is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2008, 07:07 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We're going in September. We'll be in Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Venice and Munich.
NJrunr3 is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2008, 07:18 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The sinking dollar is sad, but I leave on April 21 for Europe, May 27, and again on September 2. All airfare and most hotels are booked. If you compare other popular vacation spots with those in Europe, it's not that much more expensive.
scatcat is offline  
Old Apr 4th, 2008, 07:25 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 10,255
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 1 Post
Go if you want, but if you got a new job you could earn back the extra money you spent, and have less time to vacation in the future, which should hold down expenses.
Fra_Diavolo is online now  
Old Apr 5th, 2008, 10:10 AM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sorry, fra Diavolo, I have no idea what you're talking about. Why would I want a new job???
francegirl is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2008, 10:34 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
$5000 for 2 weeks! You call yourself a good traveler! I hope there were 6 of you for that amount! As far as $400 for 250 Euros,do the math. That is what it converts to. You are worrying about a couple of dollars after spending $2500/wk! Get a grip!
agilepagile is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2008, 10:36 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,875
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There very well might have been 5 of them... I know I am going to be happy with 5,000.00 for 6 of us for 10 nights in paris not including airfare!
dawnnoelm is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2008, 10:59 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
francegirl

I think Fr suggested that you get a new higher-paying job. Normally, when you get a new job, you get zero vacation time the first year, then 1 week the second, and 2 for about the next 10 years or so. Therefore the first year you have more $$$ and no time to go to Europe & spend it.

To cut doen costs in France:

Rent a Gite in October through May for 1 week or more in the countryside - but not Provence where rents (and everything else too) are higher. You can get a pretty good Gite for 350E or less per week - much less expensive than hotels. We've rented about 30 different Gites - several of them multiple times.

Eat most of your meals at the gite.

Stu Dudley
StuDudley is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2008, 12:01 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,351
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
To put this in perspective:
Whining about $5,000 in 2 weeks.
Questioning $10,000 for 4 weeks in 6 months.

That's $15,000/year for vacations, coupled with a desire for the "good old days" when it would only have been $10,000/year.

Some people don't MAKE $15,000 in the entire year. I wouldn't complain too much if I were you, particularly in a public forum.
tomboy is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2008, 12:43 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 15,729
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"Some people don't MAKE $15,000 in the entire year. I wouldn't complain too much if I were you, particularly in a public forum."



So what if some people make 15,000 a year? Some make hundreds of thousands..
Is money another " politically correct" subject one should avoid in order not to offend ????
danon is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2008, 12:58 PM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,875
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
danon - I sort of had the same reaction...
dawnnoelm is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2008, 01:00 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,351
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Now, what were those French whining about when Marie Antoinette said, "Let them eat cake!"?
tomboy is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2008, 01:07 PM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
She never said that

Stu Dudley
StuDudley is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2008, 02:04 PM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 20,371
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
re the "let them eat cake" quote
http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/dub...antoinette.htm

francegirl--I don't think the exchange rate is likely to improve much any time soon, so if you can afford the month-long trip you have planned in September, I'd say go for it. It sounds like a great trip.
Vttraveler is online now  
Old Apr 5th, 2008, 02:06 PM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 20,371
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
a recent thread on beating the Euro in Paris/France
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=35117058
Vttraveler is online now  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
pj
Europe
4
Nov 29th, 2004 12:40 PM
aduren
Europe
15
May 12th, 2004 06:43 AM
robbydee
Europe
30
Apr 24th, 2003 05:32 AM
inquiringmind
Europe
5
Jan 14th, 2003 10:12 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -