There is a lot of American English being heard spoken in the streets of Paris. Are Americans grinning and bearing it and biting the Euro bullet?
What are you going during the currency rate storm??
Dollar Weakness
One can't be surprised: On today's CNN website:
France is seeing a similar trend. About 12 percent fewer Americans visited the country in January and February of this year versus the same period in 2007, said Christine de Gouvion Saint-Cyr, a top official at the Paris Office of Tourism and Trade.
"In 2008 we are being very cautious and attentive, because at any time the impact can take effect," Saint-Cyr said.
U.S. travelers have gone to France less often since June 2007, and Americans could lose their status as the most frequent travelers to that nation, Saint-Cyr said.
"If you traveled a lot in the years from, say, 1996 to 2005 or so, you were constantly aware of your dollars' buying power and the economic advantage you had almost everywhere as an American," said Tom Bissell, an American writer visiting Paris. "Today, you feel like a pauper from some tiny, impoverished banana republic. You find yourself literally laughing out loud in restaurants to keep from bursting into tears."
Back in the U.S., some travelers have no choice but to cut back." Are you doing the same?
France is seeing a similar trend. About 12 percent fewer Americans visited the country in January and February of this year versus the same period in 2007, said Christine de Gouvion Saint-Cyr, a top official at the Paris Office of Tourism and Trade.
"In 2008 we are being very cautious and attentive, because at any time the impact can take effect," Saint-Cyr said.
U.S. travelers have gone to France less often since June 2007, and Americans could lose their status as the most frequent travelers to that nation, Saint-Cyr said.
"If you traveled a lot in the years from, say, 1996 to 2005 or so, you were constantly aware of your dollars' buying power and the economic advantage you had almost everywhere as an American," said Tom Bissell, an American writer visiting Paris. "Today, you feel like a pauper from some tiny, impoverished banana republic. You find yourself literally laughing out loud in restaurants to keep from bursting into tears."
Back in the U.S., some travelers have no choice but to cut back." Are you doing the same?
Chuck:
Please click here to see the BEST fares ANYWHERE~It's less expensive to go to London and Paris than it's (almost) to stay home. As for the price differential, more flights are going to London currently from the US.
http://www.autoeurope.com/showspecial.cfm?...ff=bonjourparis
Please click here to see the BEST fares ANYWHERE~It's less expensive to go to London and Paris than it's (almost) to stay home. As for the price differential, more flights are going to London currently from the US.
http://www.autoeurope.com/showspecial.cfm?...ff=bonjourparis
The fares are not bad at all. Interestingly these are round trip fares ands not one-way fares on a round trip purchase. I just wonder why the considerable difference between the fares to London and Paris?
BP Chuck
BP Chuck
To save money and come to Paris or London -- AutoEurope's airfare sale has been extended until Jan. 15th.
http://www.autoeurope.com/showspecial.cfm?...ff=bonjourparis
Please look at the new fares!
http://www.autoeurope.com/showspecial.cfm?...ff=bonjourparis
Please look at the new fares!
Al, I honestly don't hold either country at "fault" for the issues on our trip. It was a case of "&*% happens". But, IT DID leave a bad taste in my mouth that I'm sure will wane with time. It' a case of "This too shall pass.." I feel sure.
In the meantime, I would like to try other countries. I love Paris, that will NEVER CHANGE, but it's time to cast my net a little farther. I've only been to England and Germany besides France. So, I would like to see some other parts of the world as well. I know they won't be Paris, but I'm hoping they will have their own, individual appeal.
Karen,
I really am hoping the dollar will rebound over the coming months. Who knows, if we are lucky, we may get a new president next year who has some tact with the EU thus giving them some faith in the US. Ya' just never know!
I will try waiting it out. I've got a lot of other issues on my plate and traveling is not in my foreseeable future anyway.
Diane
In the meantime, I would like to try other countries. I love Paris, that will NEVER CHANGE, but it's time to cast my net a little farther. I've only been to England and Germany besides France. So, I would like to see some other parts of the world as well. I know they won't be Paris, but I'm hoping they will have their own, individual appeal.
Karen,
I really am hoping the dollar will rebound over the coming months. Who knows, if we are lucky, we may get a new president next year who has some tact with the EU thus giving them some faith in the US. Ya' just never know!
I will try waiting it out. I've got a lot of other issues on my plate and traveling is not in my foreseeable future anyway.Diane
Diane......Just wondering, on your last disenchanting trip England was totally unfriendly and uninviting after barely more than a day......and the what seemed love of your life Paris appears to have just beat out London in appeal, wouldn't you feel you just weren't in the mood, or something like that?( I'd put a couple of smilies here but I don't know which one does what....)
QUOTE
once the dollar begins to improve against the Euro.
Diane:
Economists are not predicting any immediate (lasting) improvement of the strength of the dollar. NOT THAT PREDICTIONS are always correct.
Will you come to the EU anyway? Sorry, it won't be France....and do wish you'd give it another chance. However, I do like Italy and Spain too. It's simply not France.
The dollar's weakness has given me pause about traveling to any of the EU nations until it improves somewhat. A friend and I would very much like to go to Italy (Tuscany) next spring, but I've told her I would like to wait to see if the dollar begins to make improvements before I commit totally.
To be honest, my last trip to Paris was not the best European trip I've had (no real fault of France, I should add) so I'm a little gun shy about France right now. I'm sure that will improve over time, but I think my next trip will be to Italy or Spain once the dollar begins to improve against the Euro.
Diane
To be honest, my last trip to Paris was not the best European trip I've had (no real fault of France, I should add) so I'm a little gun shy about France right now. I'm sure that will improve over time, but I think my next trip will be to Italy or Spain once the dollar begins to improve against the Euro.
Diane
Thanks a lot, Karen. I saw those fares already. I think I actually went as far as getting an estimate from them. It is just that I am not ready to commit myself at this point as I am in the midst of making some plans with a friend possibly to go to Spain in May.
Mara
Mara
Mara:
You should immediately access:
http://www.autoeurope.com/showspecial.cfm?...ff=bonjourparis
If you book by the 15th, (tomorrow) you can snag a fare that's never been as low. We're hoping that AutoEurope will extend the offer but it's doubtful.
You should immediately access:
http://www.autoeurope.com/showspecial.cfm?...ff=bonjourparis
If you book by the 15th, (tomorrow) you can snag a fare that's never been as low. We're hoping that AutoEurope will extend the offer but it's doubtful.
I feel that I have gotten better exchange rates in other years so I think of it as "you win some, you lose some." I will make a trip when I get a nice low fare which in a way makes up for the current exchange rate.
Mara
Mara
Not for me, since I come to Paris often, I hedged on the prospects of a weaker dollar by setting up a bank account in Paris and by obtaining a credit card from American Express/Air France, which is then paid by the bank account. Nevertheless, even if I had not done this, it would still not matter.
Is the weakness of the dollar causing you to postpone your France travel plans?