Does cost affect your travel destinations?

lrjohnson · #1 (**permalink**) 10-04-2006, 01:36 PM

When you travel internationally or within your country, how much of an affect does the exchange rate/prices have on your decision?

People sometimes wonder why I choose destinations like Bosnia, Croatia, Poland, Hungary. Well, they are intersting, fascinating places. And, they are cheaper than other fascinating places. I am sure Paris and Venice are incredible, but I'd be hard pressed to find $13 rooms and $1 cappucinos.

When you travel, is it already in the realm of splurge so price is not too much of a concern? Or is the choice of destination made with reagrd to how strong the dollar (or your currency) is in the destination country?

pearlieq · #2 (**permalink**) 10-04-2006, 02:55 PM

I don't usually take exchange rate or comprative cost of living into account when planning travel.

I choose where I want to go and pay what it costs. I do what I can to keep costs down, but don't intentionally choose inexpensive destinations for most of my trips.

Gruntina · #3 (**permalink**) 10-04-2006, 03:51 PM

I tend to want to go to the countries following the Deaf Olympics and the World Federation for the Deaf. The Deaf Olympics is every 4 years in different countries and I believe the WDD is more often. The reasons for this, I would have no problem keeping cost down when I would meet deaf people from other countries. We have an instant bond when we meet. Its part of the deaf culture. Often this lead to place to stay and free tour guides. Best of its entire all in the language I communicate. I probably get a lot more out of it this way then to venture somewhere else on my own with my communication limits. Also, If you were to see me on the street, you would have no idea I was deaf... because I do not wear hearing device that everyone can see, I do not sign in public when I am not with other deaf people, my voice is very clear and understandable and hence do not have that "deaf voice" (This was due to 15 years of speech therapies). When one try to speak to me but I do not see that person speak to me, I would not notice unless that person was in front of me. They tend to think I am rude or stuck-up when I do not respond. This is something I can not avoid as I do not have eyes around my head. I can not imagine what kind of a problem that would be in another country.

I do know some profound deaf people that do not speak go to many countries on their own and have no problems since gestures is something they depend on other than Sign Language. I am not saying deaf people can not do this because they can. I on the other hand like things to be a little easier for me as I can be a wuss sometimes.

kealina · #4 (**permalink**) 10-04-2006, 04:30 PM

When you travel internationally or within your country, how much of an affect does the exchange rate/prices have on your decision?

i don't know that it has an affect on where we go... it might have an effect on when we go or how long we go for... what and how much we buy and what we spend on...

People sometimes wonder why I choose destinations like Bosnia, Croatia, Poland, Hungary. Well, they are intersting, fascinating places. And, they are cheaper than other fascinating places. I am sure Paris and Venice are incredible, but I'd be hard pressed to find $13 rooms and $1 cappucinos.

lol, welcome to Vietnam... we went there two years ago and had a blast... it's a fascinating place with a lot of culture and tons of fun to explore...the airfare was the most expensive thing at around $1,000 for each of us.... we spend less than $500 for 2 hotel rooms our entire trip... we were there for 5 weeks and we did quite a bit of shopping (for x-mas and for us), got some clothing tailor made, etc, etc and still didn't spend more than $1,000 including food... gotta love those 50 cent expresso and $1 french bread sandwiches... yummy...
i love it when the price exchange is that favorable because money goes so far and it's kind of fun to splurge as a change of pace...
we got haircuts for $1 each, partway thru we went to a hotel and got a 1/2 hr massage for $10, and right before we came home we went to a salon and for $12 we both got pedicures/manicures, facial and our hair washed... it was great...

When you travel, is it already in the realm of splurge so price is not too much of a concern? Or is the choice of destination made with reagrd to how strong the dollar (or your currency) is in the destination country?

same as the first answer above for the most part... for us, price is usually something we at least take into account... we might decide to spend anyway but that's after weighing how much it's worth to us...

disneysteve · #5 (**permalink**) 10-04-2006, 04:40 PM

We've managed to find affordable options almost everywhere we have traveled. So I don't think cost is a big factor when we pick our destination, but it is definitely a factor in planning the details of the trip - where to stay, where to eat, what sites to visit, etc.

sakigt · #6 (**permalink**) 10-05-2006, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disneysteve

We've managed to find affordable options almost everywhere we have traveled. So I don't think cost is a big factor when we pick our destination, but it is definitely a factor in planning the details of the trip - where to stay, where to eat, what sites to visit, etc.

Thats how it is for me as well.

The other thing is budgeting appropriately. Remember to add in all the details and you woont be forced to pull out your credit card if you go over your budget.

shelbylovesmelby · #7 (**permalink**) 10-07-2006, 09:15 AM

Never traveled internationally & dh is terrified of flying. It's great if you can do such things.

T_I_N_A20 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-07-2006, 01:49 PM

No, I'll find cheaper method to go to the place I want or save up for it... Like my London trip, I'm planning to live and work there for three or four months and try to travel to all the places. Maybe I'll live in another city after two months... I have three years to decide anyways.

Ima saver · #9 (**permalink**) 10-07-2006, 03:02 PM

No, but when I took a lot of cruises, I booked real early and saved up for it!

LuxLiving · #10 (**permalink**) 10-08-2006, 10:42 AM

Yes and no.

YES-the last couple of years retirement has been a bigger looming priority so we've still traveled as often as ever but have been using my timeshare to go to places that we can drive to in either one days time or with just one overnight motel stay going and coming, rather than flying. Last time we flew anywhere it was right at $3000.00 for four of us to go soooooo....for now we still travel just closer to terrafirma and home!

...and...

NO - If I want to go someplace bad enough I hoard me'pennies and MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Next year may be a bigger expense as we are coming up on a major anniversary and I'd like to take a cruise or take him to either Hawaii or Israel as he's never been. Have to decide which soon and pin down some details and start sticking back the moolah to create the reality I desire!

PriceLimbo · #11 (**permalink**) 10-10-2006, 09:49 PM

Luckily I grew up in the military, so traveling was a very common thing for my family and me. And having lived in Europe for a few years I can say that we chose our vacations based on how much we were going to pay! Of course, sometimes we had to learn the hard way by just going to a country. Vienna and France definately were not cheap, but Bosnia was having some ethical troubles at the time we were there. So, decisions weren't always based on money.

I've never been to Hawaii, and I hear that it gets expensive there too, even though it is a state. But I'd like to go! So, I'd agree with many of the comments made, save up for where you'd like to go! But, don't look over third world countries either. Nicaragua was dirt cheap! And I had a blast!

Besides, how many people can say they've been to places like Tibet? vs. Paris?