Traveling to Europe on a Weak Dollar

[SarahS]

Over the last few years the dollar has lost value against the euro and the British pound, making travel to Europe increasingly expensive for Americans. What do you do to cut costs and get a better exchange rate when you travel to Europe?

Related Story:
Top 25 Ways to Save in Europe

[dhammer53]

ATM's offer the best exchange rate.

Grocery stores can be your friend. You can buy 'picnic' lunch components and save some money.

[soliteyah]

Good call on the grocery stores, dhammer53! I did the backpacking thing in Europe several years back and really survived on stuff from grocery stores: apples, oranges, bread, nuts, yogurt, and the occasional cheese/ham for sandwiches. It's also MUCH cheaper to buy bottled water at a grocery store than just about anywhere else. We always bought the really tall bottles (a liter and a half, maybe?) and carried those around -- heavy, but the most economical option. We would pay maybe a 1.50 euros for the huge bottle, whereas you'd be charged 2.50 euros for a small bottle near the main tourist attractions.

If you want to treat yourself food-wise, you should do it at lunchtime rather than dinner -- much cheaper, and there's still lots of good options. I remember more than one occasion when my traveling companion and I had a really hefty lunch and then just a few scoops of gelato for dinner.

One other tip: take public transportation rather than cabs or a rental car (better yet? walk!).

[gpat900]

Long before you travel, when you are booking your hotel, car rental and other non-flight essentials, try to get quotes in U.S. dollars -- and pay in U.S. dollars whenever possible.

I am a little confused on this. Other travel advice people say don't let the merchant do dynamic conversion it will cost more because MasterCard and Visa plus banks still charge a foreign transaction fee.

Is he saying-it is actually cheaper to do dynamic conversion in countries where the dollar is worth less?

Canada for example would get better cost if you didn't let merchant do dynamic conversion even with fee.

[goodspkr]

You might want to look at where you go in Europe. Western Europe is beautiful, but expensive. Eastern Europe is still a bargain in many places.

In February, my wife did a dental trip to Budapest. She has always loved Paris as her favorite city in Europe. Not anymore. She loved Budapest!

The city is gorgeous, the people are friendly and the coffee houses make you detest Starbucks when you come back. There are lots of things to do (she was there two weeks and still didn't do everything she would have like to).

I would also recommend looking at renting an apartment rather than a hotel. If you are planning to stay in one place for a week or so, this is a money saving option that lets you not only save money but have more space and more options (like your own kitchen).

I've also heard that Poland is a great place to visit and save money.

[passportdiva]

I ditto that. Poland is a great place to visit when you're trying to watch your wallet. I read an article in MORE Magazine (love it!) about Krakow, Poland. I was there a few years ago, but as the article pointed out, it is a great place to visit for cheap, apparently you can stay in a nice antique furnished apartment for only $65 a night. That's a pretty great deal.

[RichardNika]

Look around and use common sense! Fruit at fruit stands is cheaper everywhere, and better for you. If you have a buffet breakfast included, eat hearty and maybe slip some things into your pocket or purse. I did that a lot in Italy, where the buffet breakfasts include lots of prepackaged cheeses and pates. Eat out of bakeries and food shops. I've gotten inexpensive sandwiches in London wine shops, cheap table wine and terrific baked goods, cheeses, fruits, cold cuts and mussels in France. Last April in Italy, I was able to get a small pizza cut into quarters almost everywhere for one euro.

Use public transportation. Don't waste countless hours trying to find a cheap hotel with a private bath; you could spend those hours working and earn more than you'll save. But do check different search engines. If you check one with ratings and comments, take the complaints with a grain of salt. I spent 65 euros at the hotel National in Venice. A few travelers wrote in to complain about the breakfast. It wasn't fancy but it was good, and nobody minded my taking a batch of packaged cheeses and stuff with me for lunch.

Phoning home: Always buy a phone card. They're sold at tobacco shops. Make sure it's good for international calls.

If you're in a place where the tap water is OK to drink (in most European cities it's as good or better than our tap water), go out your first day and buy a big bottle of water. Keep the empty bottle, bring it back to your hotel, and the next morning, fill it from the tap and carry it.

If you're in a place with a stand-up bar or counter. order and eat/drink standing up instead of ordering from a table. We learned that lesson in Paris.

[scotty1023]

This may sound trivial, but when in Italy, eat where you can stand up. Like in the small cafes. Where ever you have to sit down to a meal with a waiter it will cost double. Also in Venice I went to a restaurant where they added a "cover charge." That was crazy, no band, no music, just a cover charge.
Also if you want to really save some money, Rick Steves, the guy on PBS TV, has some books with some great hotel deals. I have used his book and saved quite a bit of money.
Enjoy the old country and have fun.

[RichardNika]

In those little pizza joints, there's no waiters, altho sometimes the person in charge will bring it to your little table. The places where you save money standing are somewhat larger and with a more varied menu, and get a big breakfast crowd.

[Renee2]

It is possible to pay in US dollars for all the things you book in advance, the problem as I've heard from friends that went on a tour recently is that the prices in dollars are higher now to compensate for the exchange rate. Still it might be wise to pay in advance as the dollar is still weakening.

[RichardNika]

It can pay to keep shopping around on line, even though it can be very time consuming. We're going to Russia to see the August 1 solar eclipse. The only major city in its path, and by far the best place to go to see it, is Novosibirsk in Siberia. Because of visa application rules, it was almost impossible to shop for a truly inexpensive room there, and no western travel site offered that city despite it's being Russia's third largest city. So we had to start shopping Russian travel agencies. One agency after another tried to rip us off, taking advantage of the demand for rooms on and around that date, but we finally found one that didn't, and got what we needed.

A few good rules for saving big bucks in Europe. (1) Settle for a shared or down-the-hall bathroom (which my wife absolutely will not do!) (2) Eat where you see locals eating or, better yet, buy food in markets, grocery stores or supermarkets (3) Check out the public transportation situation, preferably well in advance, and remember, most though not all cities have cheap transit options to and from airports. (4) Get some small bills and coins before you leave the airport. If you can't get anythign other than big bills from an exchange desk, use one of the bills to buy the only thing that's always cheap in airports - a newspaper.

[travelnut]

I agree on going to the Eatern Europe countries that aren't on the euro yet. Krakow was wonderful, did a lot of walking, went to the concentration camps(amazing experience), the salt mine(would recommend), the castle/palace and even ate at a Jewish restaurant with music. We were able to purchse items at a great price in the market building in the main square and they have pretzel vendors on each corner that sell huge pretzels with for like about 5 cents. It gives you a good idea of an eastern block city trying to come into the new century. And even tho' I was sick on this trip I trouped on, got some great medicine at the pharmacy.
Praque is another city that will be on the euro after 2009 so would take advantage of that, I am hopefully going there again next year around the Christmas Markets, a nice city to wander around and see the sights and also the Jewish Quarter. We found it was reasonable as far as cost. When you drive frm the airport to the old town you will see the old eastern block
type housing. This is a good 2-4 day trip depending on what you do.
I have also heard that that you get a better deal on your dollar if you do the conversion in Europe then you would if you purchased Euros in the States. My Visa doesn't charge me a conversion fee but my Debit card does so, so we try not to use the debit card to often.
I agree with the Venice comment, they overcharge you it seems on everything and you have to watch what they charge you with and if they add items that you did not order, I love Venice anyway. And I agree with eating where you can stand up as it is cheaper then if they seat you at a table. The metro and bus transports are always cheap to ride.

[travelnut]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20080331/ap_tr_ge/travel_by_the_book_budget_europe

this was just posted on Yahoo travel news

[travelnut]

here is some news, I got off the internet today
Eastern Europe
The dollar may be weak in countries tied to the euro, but it’s still very strong in many of the Eastern European nations. Places like Poland, Slovenia, Croatia and Turkey can be very reasonable and they make a great alternative to some of the more crowded and expensive destinations in Western Europe.

“The dollar is pretty strong throughout most of Eastern Europe and countries that aren’t tied to the euro” says Saglie. “These places are targeting the Western traveler right now and they’re great because there’s a great mix of old culture with emerging modernity.”

Lytle says that places like Prague in the Czech Republic have established themselves as popular tourist destinations. Now, other Eastern European cities are vying to be considered “the next Prague,” so they’re offering great rates to attract new visitors.

[RichardNika]

Nitpicky, perhaps, but I should note that Slovenia is now a Euro country.

[Host Bonjour]

I'm afraid I have never encountered the stand up vs. sit down difference. Perhaps because in most of the countries I visit I usually start speaking another language (even in Germany or Switzerland or someplace else) either way they don't think I am American and they think I am European, which I am because I have dual EU/USA citizenship. And I do speak two other languages fluently and I trying to add phrases of Spanish and Russian (basic so far) to the foundations of what I already have down.

Nevertheless, I think it must be a) a fluke that I never got charged anything extra from the menu for standing up or sitting down or b) I went to different places???? I cannot account for what the differences might be. As for lunch, sometimes I do the European thing I see which I first thought was odd and that is too walk along eating a sandwich made in a store and carry along a bottle of water (and maybe a small bottle of water and some cheese in my day pack for after I finish eating) and sometimes, if the breakfast is free and included in my room rate, well, I just LOAD UP on breakfast and fill myself and then, perhaps just grab a snack during the day and prepare for my next meal to be a sit down prix fixe dinner somewhere that I like and has a nice menu on display for the evening.

But I honestly, honestly in several, many, many trips to a lot of European countries, have ever paid more to sit than stand. I don't know why, but I check the bill just to make sure whether the gratuitie is included or not so I know whether or not I wanted to tip or tip extra etc. But a service charge, I've not seen. At least not yet.

As for the Rick Steve's Hotel Recommendations, I know he is very well known in the travel realm, but when I was in Rome and speaking to the couple next to me, they were VERY, VERY, VERY disappiointed in his recommendation in Rome and were leaving the hotel after the first night of the stay. They thought it would be very fine based on Mr. Steve's books and travel TV shows but sometimes the opposite happens. One must read very carefully what the list of amenities that ARE included and the ones that AREN'T included in their room stay. One must also always be wary of the 2**. I have been in some and they were almost worthy of another star; then there are some where you wonder just how they even got the 2nd star. Mr. Steve's has been doing what he does for quite some time and he usually "travels alone" when he is doing his show. He let is loose one time that when he went to Venice with his wife and children, they stayed in one of Venice's 4 or 5 star (whichever is highest there) right on the Grand Canal. So you see, he is trying to help you get to Europe despite the costs but in the process he has built an empire that has enabled him to stay in the best hotels in the world. He does his low budget traveling for when he is filming for his show and suggests all sorts of alternatives for making do with the limits of the hotel rooms and making up for it elsewhere in your travel budget. For example, more money to do this/that etc. But I keep hearing that couple in Rome, and others before them, who were displeased, and I don't know that I would EVER follow one of his hotel recommendations if my traveling life depended upon it. I know I could find something else and do just as well. His key to success is and has always been to aim to the traveler that has never really traveled and drawing them out of their shells and getting them out of the house, onto and airplane and into some dinky hotel or better yet, signed up on one of his pre-packaged tours. Hook, line and sinker - SOLD!!

Most Independent Travelers like us can come here, and share our info with each other and mention our favorite hotels or our strategies for finding hotels, our favorite guide books that contain accurate, truthful listings about hotels where there won't be any disappointments. Some of my favorite and reliable travel guides are: Frommers (including his budget guides), Eyewitness Guides, Rough Guides, Lonely Planet and the occassional travel essay serves as a great travel guide too! Check out Paul Theroux for some great, exciting travel writing covering most of the globe!!

Regarding fees on credit cards, I was under the impression that credit cards charged not only transaction fees, but they also charged fees for the foreign currency conversion rates. So I don't know that there is a difference between a debit card and a credit card since most debit cards have a Master Card or Visa logo on the card and most machines reading the card will process the card as credit anyway. Unless one's back offers special priveleges to certain customers of a particular level, there are lots of fees for using the credit card and ATM card overseas. The best thing to do is either bring dollars and go into a bank once you arrive overseas and convert them to Euros when you arrive (all the money) and hope you've guessed right on your spending or, if you've got banking connections with someone in the USA, ask them to try and get you your Euros here and they will not incur the secondary service charge that is normally passed on to the customer. The employee will get the better exchange rate and not have to pay the service charge that would normally be passed on to a customer. If you end up coming home with some Euros you can do one of a few things; spend them in the duty free in the airport before departure on last minute souvenirs; spend them in the plane on duty free on last minute souvenirs, or bring them home and offer to exchange them with someone who you know might be going to Europe soon, OR FINALLY, tuck them away, as I have, for whenever the time comes that I am taking my next European trip!! The Euros that I presently have are worth a lot more money because I only paid about .80 cents for them, contrary to what they are now going for, which is probably almost double what I paid.

However, from what it sounds like from folks returning from Europe, it seems that merchants are atune to what is going on in the financial world and are making fair prices (welfare lunches, lol) for meals and certain other things for the suddenly un-rich Americans who might be coming over to visit their country. They know it's costing us more to be there and are adjusting CERTAIN prices to an approachable level, from what is coming in from the "frontlines" at least it seems to be!! Let's hope so for this summer's upcoming travel season!! Especially for our backpacker groups and budget travelers!! Everyone used to have to mind their P's & Q's which I can only imagine stood for Pence and Quid - now we many have to switch it to D'd & E's (Forget about Ps & Qs the British Pound is out of the limits!!) so we can come home with leftover dollars or Euros. Either that or everyone must take their holidays in Canada from now on.

Here's to everyone trying to enjoy a trip with their MONEY!

[Kristain77]

Europe is huge of history, from its world famous monuments to centruies-orld architecture and glorious arts museums. Thats why this region is one of the popular tourist destination in the world. There are number of airlines available thats provides direct flights to locations in Europe, but those that provide the most flights are American Airlines and U.S. Airways. Thats why flight is a better option for Traveling to Europe.

[airportparking]

Nice post...Greatly appreciated!!!

[warrigal]

Try arranging travel with Australian Dollars, everying is double the price, with the UKP and the EURO, not to mention the extra taxes being taken by Australia on travelers.

Hard
I'am trying to plan a trip to Europe, travel by Motor home Hire France and Germany

[MediumDog]

As mentioned above if you are looking for a cheap European holiday stay central/east. Avoid the UK, Scandinavia, France and Greece too. Germany is reasonably well priced - if you shop in the supermarkets rather than going out to eat.

I've heard rumour that if you get a pre-paid credit card then you can avoid be charged through the nose at atms but I'm not too sure about that.

One way of getting a cheap meal in Italy (was a student there for a year) is to go to a bar that does aperitivi in the evenings. They put out a variety of food, the quality of the spread depends on the bar, for their customers. So all you need to do is buy a drink and you can eat to your hearts content...I wouldn't do this in the same place on successive nights though, they probably wouldn't appreciate that too much!