Since we frequently post prices/costs in both Dollars and Euros, the current exchange rate should be mentioned.
Currently on February 14th, 2008 the exchange rate is
1 Dollar to .69 Euros
or
1 Euro to 1.46 Dollars
*** Update March 6th, 2008***
1 dollar to .66 Euros
1 Euro to 1.52 U.S. dollars
This sucks About a 4% decrease in value of dollar in just under 1 month.
*** Update March 19th, 2008***
1 dollar to .63 Euros
1 Euro = 1.5787 U.S. dollars
***Update March 26th, 2008***
1 dollar to .6496 Euros
1 Euro = 1.5393 U.S. dollars
Via Google search of Euro to Dollar
Since the US is on the verge of recession and an ongoing subprime mortgage meltdown. US interest rates are very low... so it feels like everyday the Dollar is dropping compared to the Euro. For us this means Europe gets more and more expensive.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Wednesday February 13th, Meeting Minutes
This was a particularly frustrating meeting....
First we booked an overnight train from Paris to Milan via Rail Europe . The ticket costs 165 total for all 3 of us (This includes a 30 dollar lost train ticket insurance, 18 dollar shipping and includes the rail pass holder discount). From Milan we will take day trains arriving in Rome around 11am.
Train Information
April 2nd
From Paris to Milan
2nd Class; 3 youth
Paris Bercy to Milano Centrale, Couchette T6
Next we found we found out that trains only run from Milan to Barcelona on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Our original plan was to leave Venice to Milan on Tuesday, April 8th around 12pm and catch the overnight train that night to Barcelona (We had already booked hotels for this itinerary).
Luckily for us Ryan Air has a "Pay Only Taxes" special.
While flying directly from Venice was an option, the "Pay Only Taxes'" special only applied to a 9pm flight arriving in Girona (80km from Barcelona) at 11pm. Since we would still be an hour away from Barcelona we decided not to chance this trip so late in the night. (We know that people in Spain eat dinner and go out much later... but we still felt uncomfortable with this time table)
So instead we will fly from Milan. Our flight costs 75 Euros total for all 3 of us including the checked bag costs for three people and a fee for using a credit card to pay. Ryan air requires you to pay 4.5 Euros (4.5 Euros if checked in baggage reserved on line, 6.50 Euros if done at airport) for first three bags checked (combined weight of 15Kg or 33lbs)... unfortunately it costs 7.50 Euros for each additional kg over that 15kg.... so we have to be careful not to check in more than 15kg.
Flight Itinerary
From Milan Bergamo (BGY) to Girona(GRO)
Tuesday April 8th, 2008 Flight
Depart: 4:25pm
Arrive: 5:50
Girona airport is about 80km (50 miles) from Barcelona... theres a Barcelona bus (Website in Spanish) that we'll take to the estacion de Nord in Barcelona (costs about 12 Euros).
Since we are no longer taking an overnight train from Venice to Barcelona (via Milan) we have to book another nights hotel. The hotel we already booked for Barcelona did not have room for this night so we had to book a room at another hotel.
Hotel
Medium Abalon Hotel Barcelona
Tuesday April 8th
Travesera de Gracia 380-384,
Barcelona, 08025
Phone: 34934500460
Tuesday April 8th Price: 99 Eur
Triple room for 3 people. Each room of the hotel is equipped with air conditioning, a private bath with shower, TV with cable/satellite, internet access, a safety deposit box and more.
From our earlier agenda its clear that we only accomplished two of our topics and will need another meeting in the near future to cover the other topics.
-Poon
First we booked an overnight train from Paris to Milan via Rail Europe . The ticket costs 165 total for all 3 of us (This includes a 30 dollar lost train ticket insurance, 18 dollar shipping and includes the rail pass holder discount). From Milan we will take day trains arriving in Rome around 11am.
Train Information
April 2nd
From Paris to Milan
2nd Class; 3 youth
Paris Bercy to Milano Centrale, Couchette T6
Next we found we found out that trains only run from Milan to Barcelona on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Our original plan was to leave Venice to Milan on Tuesday, April 8th around 12pm and catch the overnight train that night to Barcelona (We had already booked hotels for this itinerary).
Luckily for us Ryan Air has a "Pay Only Taxes" special.
While flying directly from Venice was an option, the "Pay Only Taxes'" special only applied to a 9pm flight arriving in Girona (80km from Barcelona) at 11pm. Since we would still be an hour away from Barcelona we decided not to chance this trip so late in the night. (We know that people in Spain eat dinner and go out much later... but we still felt uncomfortable with this time table)
So instead we will fly from Milan. Our flight costs 75 Euros total for all 3 of us including the checked bag costs for three people and a fee for using a credit card to pay. Ryan air requires you to pay 4.5 Euros (4.5 Euros if checked in baggage reserved on line, 6.50 Euros if done at airport) for first three bags checked (combined weight of 15Kg or 33lbs)... unfortunately it costs 7.50 Euros for each additional kg over that 15kg.... so we have to be careful not to check in more than 15kg.
Flight Itinerary
From Milan Bergamo (BGY) to Girona(GRO)
Tuesday April 8th, 2008 Flight
Depart: 4:25pm
Arrive: 5:50
Girona airport is about 80km (50 miles) from Barcelona... theres a Barcelona bus (Website in Spanish) that we'll take to the estacion de Nord in Barcelona (costs about 12 Euros).
Since we are no longer taking an overnight train from Venice to Barcelona (via Milan) we have to book another nights hotel. The hotel we already booked for Barcelona did not have room for this night so we had to book a room at another hotel.
Hotel
Medium Abalon Hotel Barcelona
Tuesday April 8th
Travesera de Gracia 380-384,
Barcelona, 08025
Phone: 34934500460
Tuesday April 8th Price: 99 Eur
Triple room for 3 people. Each room of the hotel is equipped with air conditioning, a private bath with shower, TV with cable/satellite, internet access, a safety deposit box and more.
From our earlier agenda its clear that we only accomplished two of our topics and will need another meeting in the near future to cover the other topics.
-Poon
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