How Expensive is Europe !!!!!!

[pugwash4x4]

hornetrider said:

playerone said:

We went to a place in Paris on the way back to the station. They wanted 16 euro for a pint of Heineken. Food wasnt too bad (not worse than London) but coffee or beer were comical prices.

I'm sorry, I don't actually believe that. Unless it was a gold plated lap dancing bar.

I'm off to Bruges this weekend, interested to see how it compares.

eek that's not giog to be cheap

we struggled to find ANTYHING reasonably priced food wise- think the cheapest meal we had in the evening was £50 food only.

went through money at an alarming rate

news reports seem to suggest that the Euro is being shorted on 3 month options, so we could seea big adjustment in our favour (which would be nice!)

[minimoog]

pugwash4x4 said:

news reports seem to suggest that the Euro is being shorted on 3 month options, so we could seea big adjustment in our favour (which would be nice!)

I hope they get a move on. I'm off to Cyprus in May (not my idea) and am dreading the expense.

Any idea what eating/drinking prices are like out there (north coast above Paphos)?

[Fourmotion]

I went to Lillehammer for my stag do a couple of weeks ago. The beer was about 80 NOK for 400ml, or 90 NOK for a shot. That's just over £8 and £9. The airport were charging 130 NOK. That would normally be an anomaly, as airports tend to rip you off, but when it's only £2 a pint in Heathrow, it kind of takes the piss.

But it's not just the booze that's expensive. I went into the supermarket in Lillehammer and bought a 500ml bottle of Fanta and a Dime bar. It cost 50 NOK. That's more than £5!

[Orb the Impaler]

Bruges two weeks ago in the Grande Place.

Cup of hot chocolate. €12

I st you not!

I'm also thinking about no summer holidays again - or if I do I will not be going anywhere near France (I do drive round Europe holidays). I also get the overwhelming feeling that the French are taking the piss. I can see a lot of places closing down, and that's not the recession that will have done this - it's greed.

I suppose that on the upside there will be a lot more of our tourist money being pumped into this country, which has got to be a good thing.

[hornetrider]

playerone said:

hornetrider said:

playerone said:

We went to a place in Paris on the way back to the station. They wanted 16 euro for a pint of Heineken. Food wasnt too bad (not worse than London) but coffee or beer were comical prices.

I'm sorry, I don't actually believe that. Unless it was a gold plated lap dancing bar.

I'm off to Bruges this weekend, interested to see how it compares.

Ok. I shall ensure I get documentary evidence next time for strangers on the internet.

andygo said:

Let us know how you get on - I fancy a trip there with my wife in April.

Will do, chap. Taking the Pork over on the Chunnel, quite looking forward to it even if it is only an hour from Calais!

pugwash4x4 said:

eek that's not giog to be cheap

we struggled to find ANTYHING reasonably priced food wise- think the cheapest meal we had in the evening was £50 food only.

went through money at an alarming rate

Balls.

pugwash4x4 said:

news reports seem to suggest that the Euro is being shorted on 3 month options, so we could seea big adjustment in our favour (which would be nice!)

Any chance of this happening this week?!

[hornetrider]

Orb the Impaler said:

Bruges two weeks ago in the Grande Place.

Cup of hot chocolate. €12

I st you not!

I've not been before - is the Grand Place the main square? That's not the price from street vendors, shirley?

[Mr E]

Our usual skiing/boarding group was at half strength this year. I suspect the cost had rather a lot to do with it.

[Orb the Impaler]

hornetrider said:

I've not been before - is the Grand Place the main square? That's not the price from street vendors, shirley?

It's the big, touristy square with loads of bars/restaurants and a Quick round it. Going there quite often I really should know better; it's an overpriced tourist trap.

They're going to take a kicking this year, big time. Most tourists there appear to be British, and if they aren't going then there will be places closing down.

My other worry is the North Sea ferries going bust, them I'll have to endure the horror of driving in the south of England to get to a ferry, something I very rarely do as I'd rather stab my own eyes out.

Mr E said:

Our usual skiing/boarding group was at half strength this year. I suspect the cost had rather a lot to do with it

We went to Baqueira in Spain (just north of Andorra) and (off the slopes) it was all quite reasonable. Snow was the best it has ever been (rather too much of it by the end of the week). Lunch (2 hour job!) was in a beautiful restaurant, full 3 course meal (good stuff too), coffee, bottle of water, bottle of wine (each!) for €16 which was a bargain in any currency. Made for an interesting skiing experience afterwards though Even there though it was very quiet - deserted slopes and we never ever queued for a lift.

Edited by Orb the Impaler on Tuesday 10th March 10:03

[bitwrx]

tamore said:

london is going to be crammed with euro and US tourists this summer. the tourist industry will be one of the only winners from this mess.

Agriculture.

[Bullett]

Just back from Tignes, not including the exchange rate I felt the french had pushed up the prices a lot. Obviously it hurts even more for us brits on virtually 1:1 but we are considering going outside europe next year.

I did think it was pretty quiet this year too.

[hornetrider]

Orb the Impaler said:

hornetrider said:

I've not been before - is the Grand Place the main square? That's not the price from street vendors, shirley?

It's the big, touristy square with loads of bars/restaurants and a Quick round it. Going there quite often I really should know better; it's an overpriced tourist trap.

Ah, cheers. If you've got any recommendations I'd willingly hear them - drop me a PM if you can spare a minute or two?

Thanks!

[anonymous-user]

Verbier, last time I went in the beginning of the season, isn't that bad. It was about CHF7.00 for a large beer. Depends on exchange rate though. I earn in Swiss Francs, so makes little or no difference, but £ are cheap right now.

With regard to the OP, I completely agree. The Europeans are taking the piss.

I now take a packed lunch when I go skiing because the first time I skiid in France this season was equivalent to rape.

€35 for the following:

2 x small portion of tartiflette
1 x Orange
1 x bottle of evian
1 x portion of chips.

"C'est trent cinq euros S.V.P"

Ouch.

Sandwiches, crisps, chocolate and fruit with drink bought from supermarket is about CHF6.00. Much better.

shalmaneser said:

I'm going to Verbier in a couple of weeks. £7 pints here I come...

Think I'll be avoiding the apre ski....

[ukwill]

jodypress said:

ukwill said:

raharley said:

Europe is really no more expensive than most of the UK. London prices are comparable to Paris, I'd imagine. Southern France, in the holiday hotspots, is like Devon/Cornwall. In the rural areas it's very reasonable to most things - beer, shopping, gifts, days out etc etc. My parents go there a lot and holiday on a budget all the time..

Paris is currently the most expensive City in the world, outside Japan (Tokyo and Osaka are 1st/2nd).

Southern France priced like Devon/Cornwall?


FWIW, London is 27th (down from 8th 6mths ago)

not sure where you're getting your figures from but Moscow is the world's most expensive city just one of many googled links and has been for the last couple of years. London is still in the top 5 AFAIK. After living in Moscow for 4 months, I can well believe it, first time I've ever heard anyone tell me that they thought London was cheap

My data comes from The Economist Intelligence Unit (http://wcol.eiu.com/asp/wcol_WCOLHome.asp)

Here's the current list (brackets indicate position 6mths ago):
1. Tokyo (6) 2. Osaka (8) 3. Paris (2) 4. Copenhagen (3) 5. Oslo (1) 6. Zurich (7) 7. Frankfurt (4) 7. Helsinki (4) 9. Geneva (12) 10. Singapore (15) 11. Hong Kong (28) 12. Vienna (10) 13. Dublin (11) 14. Brussels (12) 14. Milan (12) 16. Munich (16) 17. Berlin (17) 18. Barcelona (19) 18. Noumea, New Caledonia (20) 20. Madrid (20) 21. Caracas (35) 21. Lyon (24) 23. New York (39) 23. Chicago (39) 23. Los Angeles (39) 23. Hamburg (26) 27. London (8) 27. Amsterdam (27)

Bloomberg ran it yesterday
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&am...

[paul.deitch]

You guys must be all really rich! I can't imagine paying those prices. Have you tried learning a bit of the local lingo and asking where you can get a reasonably priced beer and some good local atmosphere?

[raharley]

paul.deitch said:

You guys must be all really rich! I can't imagine paying those prices. Have you tried learning a bit of the local lingo and asking where you can get a reasonably priced beer and some good local atmosphere?

Going to Europe and learning the language? don't be stupid.. everyone speaks English.

[Colonial]

raharley said:

paul.deitch said:

You guys must be all really rich! I can't imagine paying those prices. Have you tried learning a bit of the local lingo and asking where you can get a reasonably priced beer and some good local atmosphere?

Going to Europe and learning the language? don't be stupid.. everyone speaks English.

Especially is you speak slowly and shout it

[tamore]

bitwrx said:

tamore said:

london is going to be crammed with euro and US tourists this summer. the tourist industry will be one of the only winners from this mess.

Agriculture.

not much of that in london mate. i suppose we could grow a few spuds in buck house gardens again like the early 40s.

[Colonial]

tamore said:

bitwrx said:

tamore said:

london is going to be crammed with euro and US tourists this summer. the tourist industry will be one of the only winners from this mess.

Agriculture.

not much of that in london mate. i suppose we could grow a few spuds in buck house gardens again like the early 40s.

I dunno. I stayed in a backpackers where the shower could have doubled as a rice paddy

[Carreauchompeur]

playerone said:

We went to a place in Paris on the way back to the station. They wanted 16 euro for a pint of Heineken. Food wasnt too bad (not worse than London) but coffee or beer were comical prices.

15 quid?

[ipitythefool]

Trommel said:

playerone said:

We went to a place in Paris on the way back to the station. They wanted 16 euro for a pint of Heineken.

Yes, €10 for 500ml of cooking lager seems to be the norm in Paris at the moment. Well done Gordon.

The man is a nightmare but how on earth is he responsible for Parisian beer prices?