[Idyllchat] Italy '08

[MICHAEL CONCORDIA]

Lynanne,
  I have been to Venice several times. I have been to Italy 11 times, 8 years in a row  with our family.One year I took 16 people with me. We usually visit my ancestors' town on the Adriatic.
and then some other area. We never miss Rome, at least for a few days.
I traveled the Mediterranean from Spain,France, Greece, Turkey, Africa and so on. My first trip was in 1959. I know many nooks and crannies. No matter how you slice it, no matter who's fault it is that the dollar stinks, the bottom line is that it is more costly to us Americans to travel to Europe these days. You can blame it on anyone or anything, the result is the same.
So for me I'll probably stay stateside for awhile. I usually have my reservations set up by now for the following  summer's stay , not this year.
If a terrific deal comes up I might grab it, but not the large group that usually comes with me.
Have a great day,
Mike C. 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Lynanne Guynn 
  To: MICHAEL CONCORDIA 
  Cc: idyllchat at lists.untours.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 9:01 PM
  Subject: Re: [Idyllchat] Italy '08


  Yes, the dollar is really bad.  But I've been to Venice eight times now, and started collecting those watches with different colored bands and fancy milliflori flowers around the face on my first visit. Back then I had set my limit at 12 to 15 euros each.  This past summer I  found the watches were still mostly 12 to 15 euros.  

  I've also noticed that the bars and veggie stands haven't raised their prices.  Still can get a Spritz for 2.50 euros, cappuchini for 2.50 euros, and a trametzini (little sandwich) for 1.60 euros.  The street markets each week still have the same prices as 4-7 years ago.  The little neighborhood tratoria still have the same prices as before.

  You said:  "...the working Italians are reaping no benefits from the pricy Euro."  It's not a pricy Euro, it's the bad American dollar.  The Euro is still good!!

  Once you get to Italy with your Euros (that you've already converted from dollars in the states), you'll not need to worry about the bad dollar.  Go and enjoy, and chalk it up to another great vacation experience :-))

  If you haven't yet been to Venice, I urge you to go next year.  There are many options for an economical stay there.  Just don't go to the upscale restaurants (try neighborhood places), or stay at expensive hotels (if not with Untours) and expensive tourist shopping districts.

  Lynanne
  Visit my Blog at www.lynanneg.blogspot.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  From: MICHAEL CONCORDIA
  Sent: Monday, October 22, 2007 9:23 PM
  To: idyllchat at lists.untours.com
  Subject: [Idyllchat] Italy '08


  Does anyone have any ideas how to get around the inflated Euro, or the 
  deflated dollar, however you prefer to look at it.
  I don't think I'm doing Italy next year ,or in the near future ,because of 
  the basically 30%+ "tax".
  Our family has been going for the past 8 years but this last trip ,in '07, 
  was an eye opener.
  I guess we are heading back to the pre 1950's when only the wealthy traveled 
  overseas.
  What a shame. The sad thing is that the working Italians are reaping no 
  benefits from the pricy Euro.
  Mike C. 

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