[Idyllchat] Affording Italy, Another Perspective

[pandjking at sbcglobal.net]

Re: [Idyllchat] Affording Italy, Another PerspectiveI agree with Bob.  No travel is cheap today and the weak US dollar makes it even more expensive.  But, as Janet said yesterday on Idyllchat, how can you put a price on the value of the experience of learning about another culture and country firsthand?
    Jane and I have been traveling with Untours regularly since 1991, I believe.  This year we departed from our usual travel plans, and took a Viking River Cruise in Russia from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
    Even with a half-price promotional deal on our airfare, the 12-day cruise cost us way more than a 2-week Untour, and we had a whole lot less enjoyment out of the trip because we isolated in a group of all English-speaking travelers and crew.
    In my opinion, of our 15 or 16 trips to Europe, the Untours trips have been by far the most interesting and the best value.
    Next summer, we're going to the Swiss Heartland (Meiringen -- our 4th trip there) with our kids and grandkids, 10 of us in all.
It will be expensive, sure, but how can you put a price on the experience?  You can't.  It is priceless.
    Enjoy your travels.  Strike the best deal you can, then relax and forget about what it costs.
    Some very wise person once said, "No man ever said on his deathbed, 'I should have spent more time in the office.'"  I'll bet nobody also ever said on his deathbed, "I sure wish I had that $8,000 back instead of taking that wonderful trip to ___________ (Italy, Spain, Germany, Switzerland.  You fill in the blank.)
    A clever sign in back of the airline counter said, "Why not fly First Class?  Your heirs will."
    Enjoy life now, folks.  We only get one chance to do it right.  Make the most of it.
    Phil King
    Spring Lake, MI
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bob Bestor 
  To: idyllchat at lists.untours.com 
  Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2007 1:42 PM
  Subject: Re: [Idyllchat] Affording Italy, Another Perspective


  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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