Make the Most of Your Money In Pricey Europe

The abysmal state of the dollar in Europe has prompted some travelers to rethink their vacation itineraries. But if you still have your heart set on a European vacation, here are a few ways to economize:

1.   Travel in the off-season. Airfares and hotel rates are much more affordable during the winter or in “shoulder” seasons like early spring and late fall than they are at the height of summer. Another advantage:  smaller crowds. Click “shoulder season” for more information.
   

1.   Think small.  Stay in a family-owned pension or B&B instead of a big hotel. You can save big bucks, and you’ll have a much more personal experience (and the shared bath won’t kill you).
   

1.   Stay in hotels that include breakfast in the room rate and fill up on that. Have picnic-type food at lunchtime (pick up bread and cheese at a local market or takeout) and reward yourself with dinner out.
   

1. Visit  bargain-centric Eastern European countries that aren’t on the euro yet, such as Croatia, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic. They’re less overrun with tourists, but just as packed with culture and great, natural beauty.
   

1.   Consider a sea or river cruise, where you can lock in the cost when you book and not have to worry about rising hotel and food prices.
   

Source: St. Petersburg Times February 18, 2008

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Will You Be Safe Abroad? Web Site Clears Things Up

When traveling abroad, it’s always smart to check the U.S. State Department’s Web site for updates on safety and security in the country you’re visiting. But the department’s classifications for travel warnings and alerts has always been a bit confusing. What’s a  “Consular Information Sheet,” anyway, and how does it differ from a “public announcement? Now the department has made the system easier to understand:

1. General reports on current conditions in all countries (formerly called Consular Information Sheets) are now called Country Specific Information.
   

1. Reports about conditions that are expected to be short-lived are now called Travel Alerts (formerly Public Announcements).
   

1. Travel Warnings are still Travel Warnings — basically, “don’t go.”
   

For more, go to travel.state.gov.