Today at work, a friend just mentioned to me that on the news this morning there was a report that it will soon cost $2.00 to buy a Euro. I remember in 2003 when it was around $.95, if that. Happy Travels!

Many parts of Southeast Asia is still cheap for us yanks.

Did you know that the Hong Kong Dollar is still pegged to the USD at the same rate as before. I am not sure how long they will keep it that way. But obviously, for now HK is a great place to visit for the Americans - in more ways than one!

I'm going to Eastern Europe (the Europe that's still affordable), here in a couple weeks, but I'm guessing that this may be my last Europe trip for awhile. After testing the waters in Asia recently I just can't justify paying twice as much for a vacation for different (not better or worse) travel. I think that you are going to see a LOT of Americans broadening their travel plan if the dollar keeps up this decline.

On the bright side, hopefully this brings hordes of tourists to America... it's good for the economy and fun as heck to run into people from other countries in my opinion. I just wish we go more out here in Oregon.

We really didn't find Eastern Europe to be much cheaper overall. Things kind of balanced out. Food was often cheaper but accommodations weren't. And many Eastern or Central European countries (ie the Croatian kuna) are tied to the Euro if I recall correctly.

We went to Japan in October and loved Japan, although it certainly wasn't a bargain (FF miles made it bearable) but it wet my appetite for Asia and now I'm longing to go back and visit some of the other countries. Things overall seem to be a bargain compared to Europe, although the airfare can be high.

Tracy

USD vs. Euro is a irritant; BUT as expected,, when gas in U.S. goes to $4.00/gallon then you will really see the "ripple effect". U.S. inflation is a more potent international travel plan killer than the Euro right now.

So

USD4 per US gallon seems expensive ?

It is still far too cheap.

Peter

I really enjoyed Mexico City. And the cost for a moderate-level trip (for me, almost a splurge-level trip) was about equivalent to the cost for a budget-level European trip. And unlike many of the touted budget destinations, I often see cheap airfare to Mexico City. I rarely see cheap airfare to Vietnam, for example.

The dollar continues to lose value. It is losing even more value than the GBP !

Today :

USD 1 = EUR 0.63
EUR 1 = USD 1.58

The USD is around 50% of its highest historical value against the Euro.

There have been articles in the European business press suggesting that the USD recovery will be longer than in the past, and it is possible that world economics will prevent it ever recovering its former level.

Maybe scaremongering, but an interesting argument.

Peter