euro down to $1.40 (wow !)

I think the rate will still come down based on everything that is going on. Would not be afraid to put down a deposit, but personally, I would not ever book a tour that would not let you cancel. Most will not refund a deposit but you can still cancel. You can book with Ricks tours, pay your deposit and as long as the balance is paid 60 days before you leave, you are good to go. Most all tours have already published their 09 rates and those will not come down now. When they published those prices the rate was still in the $1.50 plus range. Lots of people will be going next year if the dollar keeps gaining value.

You CANNOT win at currency speculation. A few months everyone was posting --- Buy Euro now because they will be higher next year. Now we are saying wait, the Euro will go lower. And the Euro at $1.40 is not a WOW. Like thinking that $3/gallon is a WUW. When it gets to a $1, I will think that is a WOW.

This is not a huge shock, and it is worth remembering that just over a year ago the Euro was at 1.3-1.35. As Frank says, it's down significantly from its high but that doesn't mean it's low.

yes, compared to its low, it may not be too much of a WOW. but i was willing to pay $1.60, in fact, my budget was based on this. now that it is significantly lower, i could be saving as much as $1500.00. that's a WOW. my eye would really pop out if it goes down some more (ha ha).

A big HELLO to all the folks here just a few months ago who were saying to buy euros now at $1.55 - 57 to save some money for their summer trips. Just go to Europe and use a debit card at an ATM machine and don't stress out about the exchange rate. Happy travels.

This is the problem with having to make deposits. We are renting a villa and had to make a 500 euro deposit to hold it. We sent this through our bank and at that time $1000 USD actually translated to 611 euro. Now it would be about 650 Euro. Not a whole lot but when traveling every little bit helps.
I am glad though because my budget was based on 1.60 so I now feel like I can splurge a little at the markets in Provence!

OK< I refuse to even read this thread,, too damm painful to see it blaring 1.40 at me.

I had a 1.63 conversion last summer for my trip,, paid through the nose( BUT worth every penny) .. but really must my nose also be rubbed in it..

Does anyone else feel like stuffing their mattress with currency...LOL

I tend to agree with the "Master" Rick Steves. If you wait for the "right" value for the Euro, you'll miss some pretty awesome trips.

When the Euro was introduced, it was on PAR with the dollar, namely 1:1. Now it can take quite a bite out of your budget, even at 1:1.40. But it all comes down to whether travel is important and worth it to you. In the grand scheme of things does it matter that much if my hotel room at 99 Euros costs me $140 or $150? That extra $10 x 14 nights will cost me an extra $140. Is that worth giving up a trip of a lifetime? Granted everything else will also be more expensive. So find some other ways to save - eat at the restaurant at lunchtime (cheaper) than at suppertime. Pick up some bread and lunch meat and have a picnic and skip the restaurant. Which is more important, seeing the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Big Ben, Oktoberfest, the Sound of Music sites, Vienna, and the Bernese Oberland or a couple of hundred dollars?

Don't get me wrong. I'm a cheap son-of-a-gun. I save money where I can. But I don't have to have an expensive hotel to have a good time. After all, I only spend a few hours there sleeping anyway. But to deprive myself of the experience just because I can't go 1st class, that I won't do.

As Rick says, can you drive the old car another year? (My "new" car is 14 years old, the other is 20 years old.) Travel is more important to me. How important is it to you?

I, for one am thrilled. The dollar hasn't been worth this much since Oct. last year. It is lovely to get 700 € for a $1000, instead of only 610 €. One can buy quite a bit with that extra 90 €.