Okay, I just read the Colin Powell post, and it's clear that most of the posters here will travel to Europe, come hell, high water, or OBL. But how about the recession? Has that affected your decision to travel? Is anyone concerned that they're spending too much on a luxury item when money is less plentiful? I'm going to England/Holland in July, and have vowed "Carpe Diem". But I still wonder if I should save my money for other things in these uncertain times. Reactions, anyone?

I guess it depends on the safety of your income source.<BR>If everybody quit spending, we really would have a recession. I think we would be calling it a depression.<BR>A few of us recall 1935. I don't because I was only 2.<BR>

Again, it boils down to priorities (well that &amp; your level of paranoia). We will sacrifice lots of other things in order to travel. Will we be going to Europe 4X like we did in 2001 ? No. But we are going to Paris next month. As always keep your eyes open for deals. Right now you can go to Amsterdam for $225. If I weren't going to Paris next month I'd be going to Amsterdam right now. All things considered, it is not typically anymore expensive to travel over there than over here. Oftentimes it is actually cheaper once you get there. If you'd rather have a $5k TV &amp; a Range Rover in your driveway so be it. I can travel in Europe for a long time on what that $5k TV costs.

And last night I paid only $550 (AirFrance) for a RT ticket to Paris in April (starting the high season) direct non-stop leaving and arriving at the times I want/need to. I think it's a pretty good deal! : ) happyhappyjoyjoy

Merseyheart,<BR><BR>The ecomomy made me consider longer before booking this year's travel to Paris.<BR><BR>I am still going for two reasons: 1) the price is right, 2) I still can.<BR><BR>With the directions the world is going today, international travel _may_ become much more difficult or even restricted. I don't want to spend the rest of my life regreting not having visited places while I could.<BR><BR> Keith

<BR>I've found better bargains and shorter lines during a recession when others are not travelling.<BR><BR>When are there &quot;certain&quot; times?<BR>

I think a more appropriate term would be travel during a layoff. If you are working and no layoff on the horizon,then travel. If you are not working and no job prospects,might want to stay home.

doc wrote<BR>&gt;If you are not working and no job prospects,might want to stay home.&lt;<BR><BR> Unless you are retired, then you go.<BR><BR>

Ira..You are one of the lucky ones!

Sadly, there are many in our state being hit from all sides these days, lower or frozen incomes (if not lay-offs), higher costs of living, and for us the prospect of a huge increase in the cost of our children's college expenses. Does that keep us from our travels? NO. The belt will just tighten a little more, expenses will be curbed and perhaps the hotels may drop a star or two. However, our memories can never be valued and we will always try to dance while we can. In addition, we always tell ourselves when we travel that &quot;we're helping the economy&quot;. What could be better than that?

I have already made reservations for Rome, Cinque terre and Paris...At the moment, I am waiting for a lower fare to Europe..However, sofar the prices are extremely expensives, around 1,400 dollars from S.a, Texas to Rome..I cant even try priceline, because I need to buy a multiple destination type ticket,landing in Rome and leave by Paris.... I understand that is going to be expensive...But I feel that life is too short and tomorrow may never come .. so Europe here i come.....

I don't think we're actually in a recession, are we? A recession would be two consecutive quarters of negative growth (oh, how I love economists' writing style), which I don't think we've had yet. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong.<BR><BR>But anyway, the downturn in the economy has not affected how I travel in the least.

roma (from S.Anton,Texas)<BR>You can get cheaper tickets - try AA. We are doing the same thing - except flying from DFW which has no direct flights to Rome. So we are flying into Paris and then on to Rome and returning from Venice to Paris and then back to DFW. You can get on AA web site and put in your destinations and hopefully save a lot. We didn't get a fantastic price like the people in this post, but we did get a quote around $800 - and that's flying inter europe so give it a try. There are cheaper flights out there!<BR>Good luck,<BR>Brahmama / Carol

My wife and I were planning on a trip to Turkey this spring, but had to put all foreign travel on hold. I retired 2 years ago and have since watched my retirement funds dwindle away. Though we had travelled extensively before retirement we had really hoped to increase our travels during retirement. I am not bitter, but at the present time we can not afford the frivolity of vacations all around the globe given more pressing needs. Maybe next year.

Thanks a Lot carol, I will try AA....usually I buy my ticket around March and April..Normally I am pretty lucky, but I have noticed that many airlines condensed their route..for example I used fly directly from Houston to Paris , now continental make a stopover to newark instead..But C'Est La Vie..I cant do nothing about just (grin and bear)...

Thanks, everyone, for your input. My airfare for Amsterdam/England has been confirmed for July. Soldier on!

My family &amp; I just visited Paris last October and in 2001 we visited Rome and London. I tried to talk my husband into going back to Paris this year, but he brought me back to reality by reminding me that if our son gets into private high school, that's where our money will go. In regards to the recession, yes, we are very much affected by it. My husband just found out that his job will be eliminated this April. Therefore, any talk of taking a European vacation is out of the question. If we could put our son into public high school to save $$ we'd welcome it, but in our city, the better public schools are either difficult to get into as much as the private schools.

Beatchick, your post reminded me about 4/99 when we got a great deal from Air France non-stop from San Francisco to Paris for $350! Didn't come across that fare again.

I am doing a home exchange, see homeexchange.com, I did it last year and it is affordable, it takes a lot of work but when it works out it is great!