European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 13, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse Dollar s steady climb Means better bargains currency British Pound German Mark French franc italian lira Swiss franc greek drachma turkish lira Spanish peseta austrian Schilling dutch Guilder danish Krone norwegian Krone april 1988 1.85 1,68 s.714 1,249.50 1.39s 134.20 1,234.60111.1s11.81 1.89 b.43 6.2s april 1989 1.69 6.395 1,387,45 -1.6496 1sb.ss 2,007.8117.30 j 13.34 2.1 7.34 6.83 gain10 percenti12.5 percent 11.9 percent 11 percent 1b percent 18 percent 83 percent5.s percent 12 percent .12 percent 14 percent 9 percent in la of Ito b0h pour in in ism int Vicale of to Fob Roeum Haifa at buy of Pound Etter whig to of go neb Dod Tot yeah Dollar v. By Norm Zeigler travel outdoor writer the Dollar s improved position on the work currency Markels makes travel in Europe .1 far better bargain for american this year than it was Las year. Since mid april of in the Greenback has rude gains Ana Insl every european currency. Some of these Rains have been substantial. In Rel lion to the greek drachma and the Swiss , Thi Dollaris Worth 10 percent Mote than n year ago. It is up 1 percent Agni ill the Weil German Mark and 12 percent against like French franc. In Britain Marrit in travellers will gel 10 percent Mure Fiir ii in dollars irian .1 your ago. In fact the Dollar in hi1 isl t2 i Orillis has Al least 10 percent Iiga inst most j lip plan currencies the Dollar s Pii Rilk 1 climb in Crew Chi incl soil kind Rijmes in countries Alop ill grids of the i i hum Ici Lurnis of Coil to Kravek is. is Onu of the nio5l capt i Sive in Europe Crusce is ,1 Iii Gram in ill civil Gories. White Itiba doll or s twins Hiiva no Beeti Mirly t Noui hid push i 1o hip Liuying i in Jill of 1985, when $1 bout Elk 3.5 Marks or i Bull 10 Funch francs Thuy do travelling in Europe far More affordable ind in i rat live for americans whal hops i his in practical Lerna Tor example a double Rooni for one night in i he two Star hotel a Mizia now coils $iq.21i 54,Sim lire. At the Enchant Hie in mid april 1588, inc Price would have been s 41.61. A double with break Tel Al the. I Roe blur hotel Weinhaus Happ in Grinj Iruk aug Leta is $52.b7 700 schillings per no rat a ins year s Exchange me in would have cos $59.27. Al the athenaeum intercontinental in Athens Greece a double few for 1157.67 25,000 drachmas a night. At last year s Exchange rate in would have been s1h6.29. The last example should be looked Al in. The proper perspective and Nal Laken As indicative of prices in the greek capital. The fact is that Athens probably has More super cheap Beds than any other City in Europe. The Price Range for the cheapest dormitory bed in d and a class holds is Belv Veen 300 and Soo drachmas $1.90 to $3.16 per night. These facilities of course Are strictly for the Backpack set. In general Here is a wider Range of lodging possibilities in Europe in the .united.stales, some 6f.lheso.arc Holt is pensions guesthouses inns mulits youth hostels dormitories and private rooms. The number arid variety of choices moan there is something 10 fit every Pockel Boosi facilities Range from the most Ihu youth Hostel in Florence Italy with bilk rooms and communal showers and toilets to the height of luxury the hotel Bay Rischer Hof in Kinilau West Germany with Lakeside rooms priv acc til Shower toilet Hidel and even Racks. A word of caution is advisable accommodations know what you Are getting before you Check in. It is perfectly acceptable to ask the desk clerk to show you the room where he intends for you to spend the neg he a High Price does nol guarantee the Best facilities and there is usually n Good reason fora bargain Price of the Ottom does not have bathroom facilities you should find where they whether they Are clean and in the Winter Check out the neighbourhood Loo. If the hotel is in the red Light District in Amsterdam Netherlands chances Are you Are not going to get a very restful night s sleep because of the noise on the Street. The savings on food because of the gain in the Exchange rate Are Similt to those on hotel roams. A $31 meal 200 francs at the Clos Erie Des Libs in Paris would have Cost $35 Al last year s Exchange rates. The Steak and salad special plus two soft drinks at Streckers hamburger restaurant n Copenhagen Denmark now Cost $b.6s 63.50 Krone last april the same meal would have been $9.07. Cost conscious tourists should heed a few Basic rules when looking for Good values on meals Many restaurants in Europe Post menus and prices outside their entrances this makes it easy to shop around. Even the most expensive cities have some moderately priced . A Good Rule of thumb is to in the big name hotels and close to Nijor tourist Atli actions self service restaurants and conc lerias in Many cities offer Good value and the Chance you Are getting is you order. In a tidily Florence and Venice both excellent self service places. In it so Germany Many department stores have . Another option throughout i Europe is the Siri Tsirle Kiosk where you can have a stand up Wal for a few dollars. Al most Ger ruin train , a Wurst hard roil and Beer Cost less than 7 Marks about $3.72. In the Flea Market area of aliens pita bread and Gros sandwiches and a specially. Accompanying this article is a Charl comparing the Dollar conversion Rales against some european currencies year and this year. A word of clarification inc figures do nol Lake i Fulon into account. The inflation Rale varies l y country with West Germany having Ono of the lowest around 1 Purcell last year. This is negligible but the Case is coif fat it. In Turkey. Although the gained 63 percent against the turkish lira in the last 12 months the country s Rale of annual inflation is approaching 80 percent thus the gain in the Exchange Rale has been Mare than wiped out by Price hikes. However like Greece the country is still a travel bargain. So firs m Igaina april 13, 1989
