[Idyllchat] Affording Italy, Another Perspective

[Bob Bestor]

True, the increase in the franc alone has 
required Untours to pay its apartment suppliers 
an additional 30.7% in 2008 vs. 1999. But that 
doesn't include any contractural increases that 
may have been negotiated with landlords, or rate 
increases due to simple inflation over a 10-year 
period. If the franc were exactly the same as 10 
years ago we would still be paying more for hotel 
rooms and apartments in Switzerland. Prices have 
gone up. For example, the cheapest room at the 
Krone Hotel in Sarnen in 2001 (I don't have info 
from 1999) was CHF 110. Seven years later in '08, 
that same room is CH 145. Couple the price 
increase with currency fluctuation and the 
difference to the U.S. traveler is a whopping 
85%...110x.61= $67 and 145x.856=$124.

In addition, Untours operational costs - both at 
home and abroad - have surely risen substantially 
in the past 10 years, a reality that simply has 
to be reflected in their prices. Thus a 44.7% 
increase in their product price over 10 years is 
not a surprise. A two-week trip to Switzerland 
for the summer of '08, independent of Untours, 
that includes accommodations, roundtrip air, and 
rail passes, will, of course, be less than the 
$2639 that Untours charges, but one doesn't get 
the pre-trip and in-country support, plus the 
assurance of quality accommodations, that comes 
with an Untour.

Frankly, I'm amazed at their prices.

Bob Bestor


>We too always look for ways to save and always 
>like to analyze all the numbers to see what is 
>actually happening.  We kept our Idyll catalogs 
>and invoices each year since our first trip to 
>Switzerland in 1999.  If we look at the Swiss 
>Heartland trip here is what we found for a two 
>week stay.
>
>
>
>Inclusive 
>
>1999  $1,824     2008  $2,639     44.7% Increase
>
>Ground only     
>
>1999  $797       2008  $1,399     75.5% Increase
>
>Air (Diff)
>
>1999  $1,027     2008  $1,240    20.7% Increase
>
>Swiss Franc    
>
>1999  $0.655     Present $0.856    30.7% Increase
>
>
>
>Currency exchange rates represent the summer 
>average for 1999 and the present rate of 
>exchange for comparison.  We love traveling with 
>Idyll but these disproportionate increases did 
>get our attention.  This was the only 
>destination comparison we made
>
>.
>
>Bob
>
>
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