Europe Is Cheaper

[Kenomac]

Europe Just Got a Lot Cheaper.

With our cruising season in the Med just four weeks away, I just checked the currency exchange rate. One Euro= $1.06 US dollars= Awesome!

Last summer the exchange rate was One Euro=$1.38 USD. Italy is now cheaper than the Caribbean and about the same as the USA. Spain is much cheaper.


I should have waited to fill up the fuel tank.

[MarkJ]

I would have loved to get to Europe this year!
Enjoy your extra cruising kitty.

[Neeltje]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Europe Just Got a Lot Cheaper.

With our cruising season in the Med just four weeks away, I just checked the currency exchange rate. One Euro= $1.06 US dollars= Awesome!

Last summer the exchange rate was One Euro=$1.38 USD. Italy is now cheaper than the Caribbean and about the same as the USA. Spain is much cheaper.


I should have waited to fill up the fuel tank.

Maybe, maybe not. Last I heard, diesel was still at about $8.00/gal. in France, a little cheaper in Spain & Italy, but nowhere near as cheap as it is here in the States.

The Euro was initially "designed" for a dollar equivalent of 1.10 per. or thereabouts. That it hit a high of over $1.56 was a total fluke, basically due to the American recession preempting the European one, but I wouldn't bank on seeing it drop to a buck any time soon.

Jacques

[Celestialsailor]

I would imagine that Greece is becoming really cheap.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

I would imagine that Greece is becoming really cheap.

I suspect prices will rise in Greece , if they start to actually collect taxes.

I was there recently , I would say it hasn't got any cheaper. , poorer yes, cheaper no.

Dave


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Neeltje

Maybe, maybe not. Last I heard, diesel was still at about $8.00/gal. in France, a little cheaper in Spain & Italy, but nowhere near as cheap as it is here in the States.

The Euro was initially "designed" for a dollar equivalent of 1.10 per. or thereabouts. That it hit a high of over $1.56 was a total fluke, basically due to the American recession preempting the European one, but I wouldn't bank on seeing it drop to a buck any time soon.

Jacques

We just got back from Italy, and fuel was running about $6/gal. It never will be as cheap as in the states as the bulk of that is taxes and the underlying oil is roughly the same price everywhere.

The Euro wasn't really "designed" to be equivalent. They started it at around 1.00 for simplicity but it was always allowed to float relative to the dollar.

Barring major world events, I would be surprised if we don't hit parity in the next 2-3 months. How much below and for how long is more nebulous but I doubt we will be seeing 1.40 anything in the near future.

We are looking seriously at EU boats right now. Figure we can't lose. If the Euro stays low, cruising the EU is cheap. If the Euro does jump back up to 1.40 range, we should be able to sell in Euros at a profit.