Angle: “Everything is expensive”, US travelers scream at strong dollar | Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK/LONDON (Archyde.com) – British electrician Geoff Skipper, 50, and university administrator Valerie, 47, traveled to San Francisco earlier this month for a number of weeks. What I’ve seen for some time now was the unhelpful sight of the pound/dollar continuing to fall in a straight line.

British electrician Jeff Skipper and university administrator Valerie traveled to San Francisco this month, but they’ve been seeing the pound/dollar for weeks. It was an inescapable sight that prices continued to fall in a straight line. A photo of a tourist in New York. Photo taken in November 2021 (2022 REUTERS/Carlo Allegri)

As a result of the depreciation of the pound, they were forced to cut back on some plans, although they had planned to indulge in some luxury in already expensive San Francisco.

“The number one topic since we’ve been here has been the exchange rate,” Skipper said. “Everything is very expensive. We stopped eating and drinking in the store and bought food at the fresh food store because it’s not worth the price at all when converted to pounds. It’s really expensive,” she screamed. was

All foreign tourists to the United States, including the two, are suffering from the strong dollar. Britons, in particular, have been hit even harder by the plunge in the pound. The pound/dollar hit a new low of $1.0327 on Friday, down 20% for the year.

British retired communications engineer Colin Taylor, who also visited San Francisco with his wife, said, “Now $1 is £1 and we’re in big trouble. Breakfast costs £50. UK. We could have gotten away with £20-25, which is a huge price increase for us.”

It’s not just the pound, of course, but the euro, the yen and many other currencies have fallen against the dollar. The dollar index against six major currencies hit a 20-year high on Thursday.

Jose Albado (48), a certified public accountant who traveled from Argentina to New York with his wife and two daughters, said, “We are in a cheap restaurant. We also went to the Disney store, but we didn’t buy anything. No, I just go through it and leave.”

Still, foreign leisure travelers to the U.S. will spend $87 billion this year on a inflation-adjusted basis as coronavirus-related travel restrictions are lifted, according to forecasts released by the American Travel Association in June. It falls short of 2019’s $145 billion, but surpasses 2020’s and last year’s $33 billion.

And some foreign tourists won’t let the strong dollar rob them of their fun. App designer Gilles Nolorguet (48), who came to the United States from Paris, said, “We have to enjoy New York by all means.”

In contrast, Americans who travel abroad with dollars in their pockets are more likely to spend their money.

In July, when the dollar and the euro were parity for the first time in 20 years, American tourists “bombed out” on expensive items in Paris and enjoyed a variety of “hospitality” at bargain prices in London’s West End. was

Americans are spending 11% more on domestic and international travel this year than they did in 2019, according to consumer survey data compiled by the Association of Travel Advisors.

“I feel like I’m using it for money,” said Armstrong, 26, who visited London from California and was interviewed in Trafalgar Square.

In Bali, Indonesia, Johnny Follin, 39, from Los Angeles, was happy that the strong dollar allowed him to enjoy more delicious food, drinks and massage services than he otherwise would have.

The dollar has gained about 7% against the Indonesian rupiah this year.

(Reporters by Noel Randewich, John McCrank, Alun John)

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