My husband and I are going back to London for three weeks to see family in October...exchange rate is basically two to one! All I can say is thank god we don't have to pay for accomodation, but it is still going to be very pricey!! Last check it was .523615
Posts: 1372 | Location: Seattle - next is Isla Mujeres,MX in December, then its Paris in March, then hopefully England! | Registered: 02 May 2005
We spent May in England and, yes, the exchange rate is a killer. Prices for eating out are high. BUT you can save money on other things in England. Vacation rentals are not expensive. You can find a 2bed/1bath cottage in the countryside for $600/week - and it will be a good cottage. Car rental prices are lower and you don't have to purchase insurance - your AMEX card covers you (but always check with your credit card to be sure).
To save money when eating in restaurants, have lunch at a tea room (they usually are not open for dinner). Have dinner at an Indian restaurant. "Nice" restaurants and pubs with good quality food for dinner can be expensive, but the food is outstanding these days. And of course staying in vacation rentals lets you do some of your own cooking, that saves a lot of money.
On our trip we limited the number of meals we ate out - had most of our dinners at the vacation rental, tea rooms for lunch.
Gas is also expensive, but if you do the Slow Travel Concentric Circles approach, you don't do that much driving in a day.
Chris will be back this week after spending a week in London and a week in the Cotswolds, and Kim leaves tomorrow for a week in London - so we will see what they have to say about prices!
and Kim leaves tomorrow for a week in London - so we will see what they have to say about prices!
Yeah, but luckily Kim's mommy is going otherwise right now Kim would be having a heart attack over the prices
I keep looking at the restaurant prices and thinkng they're not so bad but then I have to remind myself to almost double them. On the flip side, the last time I was in London, in 1983, the exchange was $1.75 to the pound - so it really hasn't changed that much in 24 years.
and Kim leaves tomorrow for a week in London - so we will see what they have to say about prices!
Yeah, but luckily Kim's mommy is going otherwise right now Kim would be having a heart attack over the prices
I keep looking at the restaurant prices and thinkng they're not so bad but then I have to remind myself to almost double them. On the flip side, the last time I was in London, in 1983, the exchange was $1.75 to the pound - so it really hasn't changed that much in 24 years.
You are right of course, 1983 was when my husband and I moved to the States. The next time we got back was two years later and if I recall it was the best exchange rate ever, like one dollar to one pound or very close, them days are gone...
Posts: 1372 | Location: Seattle - next is Isla Mujeres,MX in December, then its Paris in March, then hopefully England! | Registered: 02 May 2005
What I find funny, in a heart clutching type of way, is that even if you go with "Pauline's England Currency Converter" - pretend 1 pound equals 1 dollar - things still seem expensive!!!!
At least you know you won't be bringing many things home. Although, I got some table napkins at Liberty that were a good price and great quality!!
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