Stretching Your U.S. Dollars in Europe

Posted by: SteveM - CRUISE VACATION WORLD - http://www.cruisevacationworld.com

Ask for a dollar in change and you'll get back 50 cents, maybe 75
cents.

Don't think that's fair?

Well, it really just depends on where you're making the exchange --
the United Kingdom or Europe -- because that's roughly what you'll get
in return for your U.S. dollar: less than half in the U.K. and
roughly three quarters in European countries using the Euro.

But before you totally cross off travel "across the pond," consider:
Cruise Holidays is reporting a 30.7% increase in cruise bookings for
Europe year-over-year. Adding credence, according to the U.S. Office
of Travel and Tourism Industries, over 3.4 million U.S. travelers
visited Europe from January through April of 2007. That's nearly
twice the number of U.S. travelers to Mexico (1.8 million) or the
Caribbean (1.8 million) in that same time span - and that's high
travel season for the latter two destinations!

Americans still go to Europe; but they're finding more cost-effective
means of going about their vacation. For millions, that cost-cutting
solution is found aboard a cruise ship.

Whether it's the Mediterranean or Baltic on a big ship, or cruising on
the Danube or Rhine aboard a smaller, more intimate river cruise, a
stateroom, dining and entertainment can be had all at one (U.S.
currency based) price. Factoring in transportation costs to some of
Europe's most highly sought destinations plus the option to combine
airfare and/or pre- or post-cruise accommodations into the total
price, your vacation will be hard to beat in both enjoyment and in
savings.

The cruise itself will save you money, but it's the purchases made
while in port where the exchange rate will be felt most. To minimize
the financial impact on shore-side transactions, do a little research
before you go. Check with your bank or credit card companies before
leaving home to see how they calculate currency exchange and what fees
may be applied to your land-based purchases. The best exchange rate
may be by using an ATM card rather than a credit card.

Even with the poor exchange rate, this year has been a banner year for
European cruising with more ships in the region than ever before, and
cruise lines are already planning for another strong season in 2008.