EUR 100 Cost USD $141.80 on Sept. 27, 2007

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

When we were in the US, about 2 years ago the exchange rate was about $1.70 to the £ - it is now $2.10ish. When we were in Canada 4 years ago the Canadian dollar was at approx 2.20 to the £, that is now nearer 1.97.
That means that in 2 years the greenback has declined by 20% and in 4 years the Canadian dollar has strengthened by about 10%.

[tim Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tim]

I have a big trip planned for the family in Summer 2008 for London and Italy. I have watched the exchange rates continue to get worse for the dollar and decided to lock in the costs of the hotels. So, yesterday, I exchanged about $2700 USD into euros and pounds. Now, at least I know what my hotel rooms will cost. This gives me peace of mind as another major expense is now locked in. Hopefully, the rates will get better by summer time, but who knows. Tim

[timesfive Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timesfive]

we are thinking of getting some pounds and euros while we have such a good exchange. will have to keep an eye on it. will make travelling much more affordable for us. And the ease of knowing you have the money.

[larry_WM Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close larry_WM]

At least things is this part of Europe are still reasonable. My utility bill here is a lot less than it would be in the US.

How come? I thought the gas price is more expensive in Europe.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

How come? I thought the gas price is more expensive in Europe.

When I spoke of utility bills, I mean electricity, water, sewer, natural gas, garbage pickup, phone, and internet, which combined have not topped $100 a month this Fall, and I live in a 3BR house. Of course, in the dead of winter, I might pay $200 a month, but that would still beat what I paid in the states.

As to gasolene, I don't have a car since I have a driver on my staff for business related trips and traveling between the house and office. Living in the center of the city I don't need a car to go most places I want to go for personal needs. From the posted prices at gas stations, however, it is about US$1.10 per liter here today, and I'm not sure of the metric/English conversion to price per gallon.

What kills the price of gas in most of western Europe is the taxes, but they vary from country to country. I remember the dramatic difference in gas prices due to different taxes in driving into Andorra from France. I squeezed every drop of gas I could into my tank before returning to France. I also remember the cover of a major German newsmagazine one week I was there. It showed the chairman of the Green Party, who had just advocated raising gas taxes, holding a gas pump nozzle to his head like it was a pistol with which he was about to commit suicide.

At some borders from west to east Europe, the difference is dramatic, too. Driving from the Czech Republic into Austria, I once waited until almost at the border to top off my tank with much cheaper Czech gas, but had to wait in line a good twenty minutes for all of the cars with Austrian plates and often extra cans to fill up with gas in addition to their tanks.