Australia's Dollar At All Time High Against U.S. Dollar

Yahoo! News:

SYDNEY (AFP) -- German backpackers Christian Morbe and Kathrin Veith were prepared for their stay in Australia to be expensive, but the skyrocketing Australian dollar is catching tourists like them by surprise.

"Five dollars for a bottle of water at the airport," exclaims 20-year-old Veith. "That's pretty heavy."

The Aussie, as the currency is known, has jumped almost 20 percent against the US dollar since June to post-financial crisis highs -- stunning foreign visitors who were expecting more value from the greenback.

Read the whole story: Yahoo! News

Comments

[tombollocks]

01:43 PM on 09/30/2010

It seems to me, there would be no shock to a traveler if they do their research. I always have a fixed budget (including emergency cash), check the currency rate exchange every few days, and believe it or not, I even look at a countries grocery store ads online, not to mention restaurants with online menus. This gives me an idea on what I will spend on necessities, and what I can spend on gifts. That is my preliminary investigation. If everything is suitable to my budget, then I continue planning. If not, I keep dreaming and look elsewhere.

[SwingingFromCenter]

02:14 AM on 09/30/2010

I remember growing up, we always heard you seppos come as tourists and gripe about how much it cost to even get to the country, how much things cost compared to America, etc.

It always amazed me that you guys would be willing to spend thousands of dollars just to set foot on the land, and expect some sort of great shopping rate once you got here.  Think about it:  If it costs a fortune to get YOUR fa.t rear end onto the soil, imagine the shipping costs associated with getting your goods there, too.

[Tperl]

08:13 AM on 09/30/2010

Well guess how much your exports will cost now! Muahahaha...watch our price supports for grain leave your commodities sitting on the docks!

[GSR]

12:32 AM on 10/03/2010

Indeed. There are no US films being shot here because of the exchange rate. I would like the Australian dollar no higher than 87 cents US.

[maveet]

06:54 PM on 09/29/2010

Be prepared for un-subsidized gasoline prices, too. $5+ per gallon, or, as it's priced at the pump, not less than $1.25/liter (liter nearly=quart).

Great food, people, beaches, entertainment, outback, flora and fauna. Pretty money, as seen in the photo. Come, Enjoy. :-)

[HighDesertBob]

06:19 PM on 09/29/2010

If the value of an Australian Dollar becomes equal to an American Dollar, then your dollar will go just as far there as it does here. The only difference being the COST of products there will be more than they are here on the mainland, but likely about the same as Hawaii. So if you can afford a trip to Hawaii, then Australia should be no problem.
Plus, they have kangaroos. And crocodiles, and all kinds of other critters that bite,
G-Day, mate!

[Ramkshrestha]

05:11 PM on 09/29/2010

Then what American's reaction could be when they visit UK - the most expensive country in the world?

[lenuk]

06:03 AM on 09/30/2010

"... UK - the most expensive country in the world..."

I don't think so -- try visiting our Scandinavian neighbours ......

[SouthJerseySteve]

05:02 PM on 09/29/2010

Could the remote location and cost of freight and shipping have anything to do with this? I travel to Hawaii, knowing it's more expensive for goods and services because it's remote islands 3000 miles from the U.S. Mainland.

[wishfulslinking]

03:50 PM on 09/29/2010

I was there for 6-7 weeks last year. I found it quite a bargain using US dollars.

[KIVPossum]

04:57 PM on 09/29/2010

Last year. The $ is dropping.

In May the $ was worth 12.80 Moldavian lei. Today it is 11.88.

[castleblanca]

03:37 PM on 09/29/2010

The same is true for Australia's neighbor, New Zealand.

I was there 18 months ago, and since then the New Zealand dollar has appreciated 40% against the USD.

[Slim45]

03:18 PM on 09/29/2010

Same as the Swiss franc. Was I in for a surprise when I arrived at Geneva's airport and paid the equivalent of US$10 for what essentially was a continental breakfast! The rest of the trip was no better. No meal, not even Chinese was less than US$20. Even a McDonald's value meal was US$13. Whew! We are in trouble if we want to travel. I was thinking of Australia. Hmmm...dunno.

[uncc49er]

12:57 PM on 10/01/2010

well, we are not in trouble. The weaker US dollar is helping US exports and brings tourists to America. Meanwhile it is better for Americans to travel with in the US. It might take a while, but we will come back stronger than before.