Tagged With "euro vs dollar"
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Re: Antarctica, part 3. Antarctica Rocks!
Hi Kirsten, Behind in my emails, but did want you to know that the last of your series on Celebrating Nature went live today. I want to personally thank you so very much for sharing your tremendous talents with our audience. I enjoyed reading -- and learned a lot -- from your posts and greatly enjoyed your wonderful photography! I'm sure many others did, too. If you have more material you'd like to post on TravelGumbo in the coming months, it would be our pleasure to host it. Hope you had a...
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Re: Belfast: An Uneasy City
Human conflicts always go deeper than face value. To make sense of each case it's necessary to "Follow the Dollar". Religious Freedom motivates the masses. Financing conflicts produces great wealth for the few.
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
England is only as big as Florida ! I haven't seen a Guide book that sub-divides us! Wales is full of Castles, Mountains and Lakes. Tourists often divide England between the North and South. The North is often cooler and wetter than further South. But your Dollar will go twice as far up here in the North! And we're much friendlier. Have a look at places you'd like to visit. York (the old one) will keep you busy for 2 days. Train or Bus from Liverpool. Or a day or two in Europe from Liverpool...
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Re: Whom did you say was flying this plane?
It just compromises passenger safety for extra profit ! It would make flights cheaper. But you and I wouldn't see the savings ! Airlines have shown they would squeeze you dry into a bucket for another Dollar ! Ooops ! Sorry, They already do that.
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Re: United's Award Chart: Premium Award Cost Goes UP
I think for premium travel,it makes sense. It has always surprised me that premium travel is so much cheaper from a frequent flier perspective (2:1) vs economy than when you actually buy the ticket. Just as a side note, aeroplan has recently reduced miles required on some of their reward charts as well.
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Re: United's Award Chart: Premium Award Cost Goes UP
John's point about the ratio between the two tiers is interesting (we looked at that a little in a forum post this week on value of miles). My guess--and it's just that--is that the same kind of yield-management used to set prices has taken a look at this and is carefully balancing loyalty vs. burn... I can't really compare East vs West availability personally; my school schedules have defined when I can travel well enough that I'm able to start hunting tickets 330 days out, when the...
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Re: Up, Up and Away: Airline miles cards with big bonuses
I have a Delta American Express Platinum card that has served us well. The fee is higher than the gold card, but we can check two bags free, priority boarding, and a free companion pass yearly. We fly two or three times a year and the value of the waived baggage fee and the companion pass far exceed the $150 annual fee. The card also accrues one mile for each dollar spent and lately has offered cash back incentives. For example: spend $15 at Panera's using the card and receive $5 credit on...
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Re: Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka
Sorry about the delay in responding - I have been on an Indian train for what seems like eternity! Yes, George, Sri Lanka is a good-value destination and it is changing fast. So now is a good time to go. As to Udawalawe vs. Yala, we prefer the former. Yala seems to be the one which everyone knows about, but we were a bit disappointed when we went (admittedly a long time ago).
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? #86
Here's a longer excerpt: "They perform a function, taking rainwater and snow melt and spouting it away so it doesn’t run down the face of a building, eroding walls and foundations. If it doesn’t spout water, it isn’t a gargoyle, it’s a grotesque." http://www.where-we-live.org/2...s-vs-grotesques.html
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Re: U.S. on track to record for overseas visitors
It's really amazing because the US dollar has done so well in 2014 compared to most currencies . I'm not surprised at all that Japanese tourists to the US decreased after the hit the Yen been taking, but i guess thats been more than made up in increased travel from travelers from Brazil,Mexico and China
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Re: Spain's booming tourism hits record numbers
Most countries would envy Spain this particular problem. Given how week other aspects of their economy are, I can't see the government putting a stop on this, despite the actions of some mayors. I'd suggest they look at diverting tourists to less traveled parts of the country. Spain is a large place and there are lots of places tourists hardly ever go.
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Re: Dismaland - the new 'post-apocalyptic' bemusement park in England
Mac can fill us in in better, but I remember reading that the ticket was only 3 pounds. Since Disney is over $100, it's a steal. I still think whether Disney can win or lose a lawsuit is not the question. It's whether Disney would get worse publicity going after them vs just leaving them alone. In 2010 , The Simpsons got a lot of credit for letting Banksy do their opening. Even though he poked fun at the Simpsons outsourcing and treatment of foreign workers
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Re: Traveling to Europe soon? It may pay to prepay...
I do think it's a good year to add Europe. And with cheap airfares available now for spring and summer all the more reason Another currency that has has dropped compared to the US dollar recently is the Canadian Dollar. http://www.theglobeandmail.com...air/article22446079/
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Re: Thinking Cuba? Tickets not so easy yet!
Mac. Cuba has already changed since my first visit 15 years ago. Buses and cars are everywhere now thanks to those intrepid Chinese salesmen. Living standards are rising rapidly thanks to the tourist dollar. Fields of Sugar Cane are now rare. Castro has decided that Cuba's future lies in tourism. Bicycles prevail in most Towns and a horse and buggy are common. When I first went to Cuba it was painfully poor. It's like going back in time to a 3rd world country. But with safety and very civil,...
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Re: Dollar Strength Making World Travel Cheaper for Americans
Of course there is a corollary to this story. While a strong dollar may be good for American travelers going abroad, it's bad for American businesses. Foreign travelers will have to pay proportionately more to travel to the USA, and will be looking to go elsewhere where their Euros and pounds and ruppees will go farther. Less visitors, less revenues, less jobs, less good for the USA economy.
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Re: Brits make exit plans in Greek crisis
I have a feeling things will get very unpleasant in Greece in the next few weeks. I hope I'm wrong, but I think it might be best to travel elsewhere in the coming months while the Greeks deal with their political and economic future.
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Re: Do Airlines offer the Best Loyalty Rewards Programs?
Agreed, especially if you are clever enough to find a great back door to use your points the way you like. I think the point of the video was that your hotel gives you a lot more for the money you spend there than airlines do. I use a generic rewards card in Canada that builds up a dollar amount of bonus. I buy the hotel, flight, car rental I want and the money is returned to me. That way it's simple and easy.
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Re: Museum find: GE's 'missing' electric car
Much further to go, of course, but even in a highway driving situation (and a city/highway mix), hybrids are generally cheaper to run than their gas-only counterparts. That's Camry vs Camry hybrid, for example, not Corolla vs Prius.
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Re: Exploring the Baltic Coast. 1) Poland
Thank you for this. Poland really is wonderful and the people are some of the most generous in the world. I spent some time there in the 1980's, and at that time a tourist, could live on a dollar a day, although the government forced tourists to exchange more. Even though it was so cheap for me, my Polish friends insisted on paying and life there for them was expensive.
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Re: Guide to Greek Holidays, Summer 2015-style
That's all good information, PHeymont, thanks. No one knows how the Greek people will react to this, but there is a possibility of riots and demonstrations. Perhaps violence -- there is no way of predicting. The crisis will have a major impact on the Greek quality of life. I've heard some estimates that if Greece makes a new currency, it will have only a fraction of the buying power of the Euro, perhaps 25 cents on the Euro. That will obviously not be at all well received but its much too...
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Re: Survey: U.S. is 2016's top vacation destination
I'm a little surprised that there's so much interest in the USA given the relative strength of the US dollar currently. But it is regarded as a fairly safe place to go and airfares are cheap now, so that may be the driving force behind this.
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Re: Weaker 'loonie' good and bad news for Canada travel
With the fall especially of oil prices (and other natural resources, which Canada is a major producer of), the loonie has indeed fallen compared to the US dollar but kept its relative value with most other currencies, including the pound and Euro. It seems despite a reasonably healthy economic profile, including until recently an almost balanced federal budget and low debt-to-GDP ratio, the value of the Canadian dollar is pegged to its natural resource valuation. With the pullback in the...
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Re: Have you a reservation, sir? Thailand considers selling tickets to country!
I think this idea will backfire. A dollar or so a day fee will not discourage anyone from visiting as a sex tourist. A $16 fee might discourage some from even visiting the kingdom. So the sex tourists will likely still fly in for their weekend jaunts. Good serious tourists, say young backpackers on a budget, might be offended by the extra fee and bypass Thailand for one of its neighbors.
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Re: Managing Your Money on the Road
This is a great compehensive post. Time to try and cash the money order that you've been holding! LOL
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Re: Wandering in Prague
A wonderful piece! I'm always struck by the contrast of Prague now vs when I spent time there in the late 1980's.
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Re: Delta: Cheap inflight WiFi for Smartphones
It seems to me the smart thing for all the airlines to do would be to offer free wifi for any device, any flight, any distance. Southwest has stood out from the crowd by continuing to offer a free checked bag when others haven't and have gained loyalty as a result. May it continue. I understand that baggage fees have added a huge amount to the bottom lines but brand loyalty is worth a lot too. By giving away a $2 item and thereby correcting the notion, to a certain degree, that airlines mean...
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More Frequent Flier changes in the air
The world of award travel and elite perks continues to shake and shift. Delta, which like United, has switched for next year to awarding flight miles based not on distance but on price paid for ticket—a move that hurts many frequent...
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Dollar Strength Making World Travel Cheaper for Americans
A stronger US Dollar has reduced costs for Americans in much of Europe,Japan,India, Australia and many more places. The Euro on Monday was at it's lowest against the Dollar since 2006. Read More:...
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Traveling to Europe soon? It may pay to prepay...
If you're traveling to Europe in the next few months and can be reasonably sure of your plans, this may be a good time to prepay some of your expenses such as rent, car rental (especially since most agencies offer a prepay discount). the reason? The...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, February 14, 2015: Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto
It's hard for non-Canadians to understand just how beloved ice hockey is in Canada. Do you think football is popular in the USA? Soccer in Ireland? Cricket in India? Well, hockey is comparatively bigger than that in...
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Ecuador Spends 3.8 Million for a Super Bowl Ad
Ecuador becomes the first foreign country to have a tourism commercial on during the Super Bowl.The Ecuadorian Ambassador Nathalie Cely states that if Ecuador gets just a one percentage increase in American travelers, it will pay for the...
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Booking.com Changes as Travelers Change : Interview With Stuart Frisby
One of the biggest stories in travel over the last 20 years has been the growth of accommodation website, Booking.com. It was founded by a computer scientist, Geert-Jan Bruinsma in 1996 and is based in Amsterdam. Priceline bought Booking.com in 2005...
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Google vs. Uber? With no one in driver's seat?
Wait for it...Google is on the verge, apparently, of offering a ride-share app that would compete with Uber (a company it previously invested in). In the long run, Google hopes to pair it up with its longstanding driverless car research, which company...
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U.S. bad weather, strong dollar = big bonus for Mexico tourism
A north-of-the-border 1-2-3 combination of severe weather, cheaper gas and a strong dollar have meant a booming tourist season south of the border, as Mexico is seeing more U.S. tourists than usual, with more money than recently to spend. ...
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Ryanair's exchange rate: Ireland's revenge on Brits?
Ryanair, the Dublin-based discount airline that seems to divide the world into fans and haters, has attracted the attention of a columnist at the Telegraph (UK) for apparently charging British passengers more than those paying in Euros and other...
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Euro Keeps Dropping.Is Parity With US Dollar Next?
The Euro reached a 12 year low today vs the US Dollar at $1.0850 . It was as high as $1.40 just last May. Spring breaks and Summer trips to Europe for Americans will be much cheaper. Read More:...
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Making Lemonade, cont.: US $ and Norway cruises
The stronger U.S. dollar versus European currencies (see previous Gumbo news items on the Euro) changes the picture a bit for U.S. travelers to the most expensive countries, and Norway's Hurtigruten Voyages, which operates cruise ships along Norway's...
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Delta's Cutting International Seats. Will United and American Follow?
Delta is cutting seats for their international routes next winter by 3 percent. A strong dollar and regions that are feeling the decline in oil prices are the markets mainly affected. Service to Africa, Brazil ,India,Japan and the Middle East are...
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Visiting Cuba pt 2. + more cars !
EXPLORING CUBA (Missed pt 1 ?..... http://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/visiting-cuba ) Getting about in Cuba varies dramatically. In the populated areas they have regular buses. Out in the countryside you'll have to take a taxi or go on an...
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Disneyland Shanghai Delays Opening
It was announced by Disney's CEO that the 5.5 billion dollar Disneyland Shanghai will now open Spring of 2016. It was scheduled to open late 2015. Disneyland Shanghai is a joint venture between the Chinese State owned Shanghai...
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Visiting Cuba.
After 50 years of strained relations between Cuba and the US it looks likely that travel will soon be possible again. I've been visiting Cuba - for over 15 years - from the UK. - I'm British. I spend some time living in the US...
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Museums of Buffalo and Corning, New York
At the end of Jonathan L's recent trip along the Erie Canal, he found time to take in a selection of upstate museums, and he shares them here.
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September 14, 2017: Cars Land, Disney California Adventure Park
Inspired by the Disney·Pixar franchise "Cars", Disney brings Radiator Springs to life in "Cars Land" at Disney California Adventure Park.
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Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage (Part 1)
Lisa Day presents the first in a two part series on hiking and experience the Kumano Koda, a pilgrimage trail in Japan.
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Australia's cruise market booming
Australia is experiencing a strong growth in its domestic cruise market, with short cruises gaining in popularity.
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Eastern Europe Rail Odyssey: Zagreb to Veliko Tărnovo
Wilbur's train journeys around Eastern Europe continue, this week with stops in Zagreb, Split, Sarajevo, Belgrade, Sofia, and Veliko Tărnovo
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Motorhomes: A Rising Trend That You Must Know
We have all seen it in many movies, in different towns and maybe some neighbors. Motorhomes have been there blinking at us, trying to convince us they are the best option. Imagine, living in a place and at the same time living in every place. Your house goes with you; it does not matter where you are you will feel like home. RV's, recreational vehicles, were designed as the name says for recreational purposes, a trip to the mountain with the benefits and comfort of being still at home.
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Mar. 8, 2017: Rachel the Piggy Bank at Pike Place Market
A giant piggy bank that serves as a mascot for the famed Pike Place Market in Seattle, Rachel gets her day in these photos by Samantha
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Moraine Lake Rockpile Trail -- Banff National Park's best Short Hike
If you like hikes that aren't too strenuous and filled with gorgeous views, this one should be on your bucket list.
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Fear and Loving It: New roller coasters coming
New roller coasters to debut next year with twisting, turning, floating, dropping and scaring to spare for those who love them.