WOOPDY DOO! The dollar sunk to 124. Euro. We are POOR FOLK!!!!
Dec 16th, 2003, 06:00 AM
#22
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi JonJon,
I don't blame everything on the Middle East.
If you look at the price of light crude and the price of the euro, you will find an interesting coincidence occurring around the end of 2002.
I don't blame everything on the Middle East.
If you look at the price of light crude and the price of the euro, you will find an interesting coincidence occurring around the end of 2002.
Dec 16th, 2003, 06:35 AM
#24
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,020
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm sure we pretty well lost the terrific savings we had on our very cheap flight to London because of the poor exchange rate from dollar to pound, but we had a terrific time and we're certainly not sorry at all that we went. What we spent on meals, Christmas shopping and a few entrance fees (most museums are free) probably ate up a good portion of our savings, but we actually ate very well for what we considered fairly low prices.
It's all about choices and priorities. No point in crying about the sinking dollar, over which we have no control. If you wish to travel to Europe by all means go and perhaps defer purchasing some high dollar item here in the US. As I said, it's all about choices!
It's all about choices and priorities. No point in crying about the sinking dollar, over which we have no control. If you wish to travel to Europe by all means go and perhaps defer purchasing some high dollar item here in the US. As I said, it's all about choices!
Dec 16th, 2003, 06:55 AM
#28
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
StCirq is right about the chicken, but I'm not sure they're 10X better (based on the price. In looking for my Germany lodging, I am still finding very inexpensive deals. I was just @ the beach for Thanksgiving (in NC) & paid $400US for 5 nights (off season and all for a cottage ON the beach). I am finding in Germany simialar lodging for $400-$500 a week. Not enough to quibble over. Or, keep me from going.
Dec 16th, 2003, 06:58 AM
#29
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I ate chicken in France, Germany, Poland, Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Belgium and many more places.
Comparing to the one we eat in the US? Hmm, maybe it depends how you cook. We buy chicken from our local Shaw's market and one brand is always excellent. I paid $1.49 per pound last Sunday
Comparing to the one we eat in the US? Hmm, maybe it depends how you cook. We buy chicken from our local Shaw's market and one brand is always excellent. I paid $1.49 per pound last Sunday
Dec 16th, 2003, 07:57 AM
#30
Guest
Posts: n/a
Ten times better tasting? No way. Its all in how you cook chicken.
Cheap american chicken tastes great when matched up with a good cook!
Please don't blame it on American chickens being rude, pushy, poorly dressed, unable to speak French or Italian and not known to linger over thier mass produced chicken feed.
Cheap american chicken tastes great when matched up with a good cook!
Please don't blame it on American chickens being rude, pushy, poorly dressed, unable to speak French or Italian and not known to linger over thier mass produced chicken feed.
Dec 16th, 2003, 08:31 AM
#31
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
europe is more expensive means you need to make more money. how about creating more income for yourself by doing some kind of work / business - if it means coming out of retirement, then welcome to the new economy
Dec 16th, 2003, 08:32 AM
#32
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
OK, have a mercy to newbies, people !
You confusing me every day more and more.
First you were saying that "travel no matter what"
Now you are screaming in pain for dollar fall.
So what if you have to spend not $2000 but $2480 ? Is this is a reason for panic ?
Or may be I don't do multiplication right ?
ChatNoir watch me...
You confusing me every day more and more.
First you were saying that "travel no matter what"
Now you are screaming in pain for dollar fall.
So what if you have to spend not $2000 but $2480 ? Is this is a reason for panic ?
Or may be I don't do multiplication right ?
ChatNoir watch me...
Dec 16th, 2003, 08:38 AM
#33
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Ten times better tasting? No way. Its all in how you cook chicken.
Cheap american chicken tastes great when matched up with a good cook!"
[Not sure how a debate on the euro ended up being about chickens ~
gt; but anyway...]
In my experience it's not so much the way you cook chicken (although of course that helps), as the way it's raised.
In France, you can buy extremely cheap, battery farmed chicken for next to nothing (just as you can in the US, I imagine), or you can spend a little extra for a free-range chicken, or a little more again for an organic chicken. Battery farmed, cheap chicken meat is tasteless and watery compared to the more expensive, organic stuff, as you would expect. It's only logical when you think how each type is raised and fed.
Since I switched to free-range/organic chicken, I can't stand the industrially reared stuff. I'd much rather pay more, and eat it less often. That way I appreciate it more, anyway!
Cheap american chicken tastes great when matched up with a good cook!"
[Not sure how a debate on the euro ended up being about chickens ~
gt; but anyway...]In my experience it's not so much the way you cook chicken (although of course that helps), as the way it's raised.
In France, you can buy extremely cheap, battery farmed chicken for next to nothing (just as you can in the US, I imagine), or you can spend a little extra for a free-range chicken, or a little more again for an organic chicken. Battery farmed, cheap chicken meat is tasteless and watery compared to the more expensive, organic stuff, as you would expect. It's only logical when you think how each type is raised and fed.
Since I switched to free-range/organic chicken, I can't stand the industrially reared stuff. I'd much rather pay more, and eat it less often. That way I appreciate it more, anyway!
Dec 16th, 2003, 08:46 AM
#34
Guest
Posts: n/a
tat, calm down and take a deep breath of smog-filled air. This is not the time to pull a LUCY on us. Look past all the carrping and whining about the exchange rate and go on a nice trip.
You can find ways to save money in other areas. Maybe you could act French and not shave your legs or armpits - just think of the money you could save on razor blades! Cut out the Ban roll-on and it starts to add up. Let your roots grow out and you save a bundle on dye jobs! See how easy it is?
You can find ways to save money in other areas. Maybe you could act French and not shave your legs or armpits - just think of the money you could save on razor blades! Cut out the Ban roll-on and it starts to add up. Let your roots grow out and you save a bundle on dye jobs! See how easy it is?
Dec 16th, 2003, 08:52 AM
#35
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They don't shave ?
No, really ? I've heard about it but I don't believe it. I HAVE to see it. I mean them I mean legs. After all I can stare, I am a chick. OMG, it makes it so exiting ! Who cares if it is more expensive if you can see fresh non-shaved legs ? And armpits you said ?
No, that is discuisting. Legs is funny, armpits are not !!!
Somebody stop me !
No, really ? I've heard about it but I don't believe it. I HAVE to see it. I mean them I mean legs. After all I can stare, I am a chick. OMG, it makes it so exiting ! Who cares if it is more expensive if you can see fresh non-shaved legs ? And armpits you said ?
No, that is discuisting. Legs is funny, armpits are not !!!
Somebody stop me !
Dec 16th, 2003, 09:09 AM
#36
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,098
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Free range chicken is highly overrated--it's a snob appeal thing. No one has ever been able to demonstrate a difference in flavor between free range and mass produced chicken in any type of scientifically conducted testing.
It's just another of those unprovable assertions that people who want to demonstrate non-existent superiority over the rest of us toss about.
It's just another of those unprovable assertions that people who want to demonstrate non-existent superiority over the rest of us toss about.
Dec 16th, 2003, 09:09 AM
#37
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It may stink, but Europe can still be done. You'll simply need make some difficult choices when you get there.
Don't want to sound aloof, but I'll give you some info that you may want to incorporate into your travels.
I just finished booking a trip to Germany on-line for a friend and his wife. The price is good from Dec 24 to Apr 4th. I found it on Travelocity. $224 roundtrip from JFK to Frankfurt. A few extra bucks for taxes and this makes it pretty cheap to fly to Germany.
The railpasses that everyone buys are bought in U.S. Dollars. $300 for a 4 day-2nd Class German flexi pass that covers 2 people travelling together makes your train travel pretty cheap. I had one of the 2nd class flexi passes last October. The rate may have gone up a bit since then, but still a great deal.
I just made reservations for myself through www.vacationvillas.com. I will be in a small town 20 Kms. from Wurzburg for 2 months in June and July. I got a 450 sq. foot apartment in a German home in a small town called Sommerach for 26 Euros a night, including my dog. They claim it sleeps up to four people.It would have been 3 Euros cheaper if I went without my dog. This includes a kitchen.
If an apartment with a German family isn't for you, then how about staying in a farmhouse. I've stayed in farmhouses for as little as 10 Euros a night. B&B's are also a definite choice. I've been in B&B's throughout Germany for as little as 20 Euros per person.
Why not do a few nights very cheaply, a few somewhat cheaply and a few nights when you splurge on yourself. Averaging out 6 nights in Germany wouldn't be all that much.
One of my families favorite place to visit is in a small Austrian village near Elmau. We stay in a Guesthaus with an Austrian family for 35 Euros a night per person. This includes staying at an absolutely beautiful Austrian home with fantastic views of the mountains, breakfast and dinner. They don't speak English in this part of Austria. Very few tourists vist here becasue there are no train connections. Buses or the owners of the guesthouses usually come to pick you up.
Avoid all of the things that American's waste money on, i.e. postcards, organized travel packages, souvenirs, eating every meal in a restaurant.
There are always ways to save money on your meals. There are plenty of ideas written by budget concious Fodorites.
The friends that I booked the on-line trip for, stayed in Garmisch last Christmas. They were 10 kms from downtown Garmisch and they were able to find accomodations for 17 Euros a night per person, breakfast included.
Europe can be done. It will simply mean that you won't be able to do everything that you would if it was like january 2001, when it costed me 85 cents to buy a Euro.
Anyway, forget about the Euro. That shouldn't be the sole reason for not going to Europe. There are always benefits to be overseas when no one else is travelling. The higher cost of the Euro will keep a bunch of oeople home. That will make it a lot more appealing for those that are going.
Bite the bullet and go.
Don't want to sound aloof, but I'll give you some info that you may want to incorporate into your travels.
I just finished booking a trip to Germany on-line for a friend and his wife. The price is good from Dec 24 to Apr 4th. I found it on Travelocity. $224 roundtrip from JFK to Frankfurt. A few extra bucks for taxes and this makes it pretty cheap to fly to Germany.
The railpasses that everyone buys are bought in U.S. Dollars. $300 for a 4 day-2nd Class German flexi pass that covers 2 people travelling together makes your train travel pretty cheap. I had one of the 2nd class flexi passes last October. The rate may have gone up a bit since then, but still a great deal.
I just made reservations for myself through www.vacationvillas.com. I will be in a small town 20 Kms. from Wurzburg for 2 months in June and July. I got a 450 sq. foot apartment in a German home in a small town called Sommerach for 26 Euros a night, including my dog. They claim it sleeps up to four people.It would have been 3 Euros cheaper if I went without my dog. This includes a kitchen.
If an apartment with a German family isn't for you, then how about staying in a farmhouse. I've stayed in farmhouses for as little as 10 Euros a night. B&B's are also a definite choice. I've been in B&B's throughout Germany for as little as 20 Euros per person.
Why not do a few nights very cheaply, a few somewhat cheaply and a few nights when you splurge on yourself. Averaging out 6 nights in Germany wouldn't be all that much.
One of my families favorite place to visit is in a small Austrian village near Elmau. We stay in a Guesthaus with an Austrian family for 35 Euros a night per person. This includes staying at an absolutely beautiful Austrian home with fantastic views of the mountains, breakfast and dinner. They don't speak English in this part of Austria. Very few tourists vist here becasue there are no train connections. Buses or the owners of the guesthouses usually come to pick you up.
Avoid all of the things that American's waste money on, i.e. postcards, organized travel packages, souvenirs, eating every meal in a restaurant.
There are always ways to save money on your meals. There are plenty of ideas written by budget concious Fodorites.
The friends that I booked the on-line trip for, stayed in Garmisch last Christmas. They were 10 kms from downtown Garmisch and they were able to find accomodations for 17 Euros a night per person, breakfast included.
Europe can be done. It will simply mean that you won't be able to do everything that you would if it was like january 2001, when it costed me 85 cents to buy a Euro.
Anyway, forget about the Euro. That shouldn't be the sole reason for not going to Europe. There are always benefits to be overseas when no one else is travelling. The higher cost of the Euro will keep a bunch of oeople home. That will make it a lot more appealing for those that are going.
Bite the bullet and go.
Dec 16th, 2003, 09:17 AM
#39
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,647
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Winnepeg, you must either be under 26 or a senior to get a 2nd-class rail pass. For those of us between 26 and senior, we are forced to buy 1st class.
It's your vacation, save your money and enjoy yourself. A scoop of ice cream in Europe is still a bargain. It was 50 Euro cent (about 46 US cents) when I was there. So now, it would the equivalent of 62 US cents. Where in the US can you get a scoop of ice cream for that price?
It's your vacation, save your money and enjoy yourself. A scoop of ice cream in Europe is still a bargain. It was 50 Euro cent (about 46 US cents) when I was there. So now, it would the equivalent of 62 US cents. Where in the US can you get a scoop of ice cream for that price?
Dec 16th, 2003, 09:32 AM
#40
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
To NC Girl,
I just checked the DER website and the cost for a twin pass, for 2nd class is $135 per person.
Things may have changed, but last September, 8 of us went, all between ages 30 and 45 and we'll had twin passes.
I thought the price was $300 per couple, but now I find that the 4 day german flexi twin pass is $135 per person.
Even cheaper than I thought.
I just checked the DER website and the cost for a twin pass, for 2nd class is $135 per person.
Things may have changed, but last September, 8 of us went, all between ages 30 and 45 and we'll had twin passes.
I thought the price was $300 per couple, but now I find that the 4 day german flexi twin pass is $135 per person.
Even cheaper than I thought.
