For The Love Of Port

50% of the participants on this year's Harvest Tour are from CA. We just had another last minute addition, this one from the LA area. I guess it could be worse, they could've been from NY!

Dan

I'll pm you, but late August or September sounds fine to me. I work late most weekdays, so Friday or Saturday nights are best. Look forwward to meeting you!

Jay

PM sent

Jay

Really good news: The Euro has hit the low point in the past 4 months or so ... 1.524

Roy Hersh wrote:Really good news: The Euro has hit the low point in the past 4 months or so ... 1.524

Excellent. That means you guys will have some money left by the time you hit the UK in early October for some serious drinking

Now if only the Pound will start taking a nose dive :help:

Andy Velebil wrote:Now if only the Pound will start taking a nose dive :help:

It's not too bad - I was only getting $1.92 to the £GBP last week

Ouch! :devil:

While the Euro and GBP weaken slightly the Euro is now down to $1.46 and the pound is at $1.87 ... a fine week for uncle Sam!

Here is a question worth asking your bank before your trip.

On my recent trip to the USA I principally used a Debit Card funded directly out of my current account (I think you guys would call that a checking account?). I also took a wad of cash which I purchased from Travellex, who were offering the best exchange rate I could find at $1.83 to the £1.

When I returned home I found that the transactions processed from my Debit Card attracted a rate of $1.92 to the £1 - 5% better than the cash exchange rate. (and an overall saving equivalent to a bottle of Fonseca 1966 )

I put a few things on a Credit Card but have not had a statement back yet so don't know where this site in the spectrum.

For those who either planned to bring a significant amount of cash or plan to spend a significant amount of money on the trip it might be worth a couple of phone calls to work out which method is going to save you money.

Derek

PS: You are probably all scratching your heads wondering why I didn't know all this before. The fact is, I didn't, because I've never given any thought to it and suspect others may be aking the same approach as I have previously.

I did some checking already and everyone has said to use my ATM card at the bank machines in the airport or in town as they give a much better exchange rate than getting cash exchanged before I leave. So I am going to try that this trip and see how it goes. The only draw back is the daily withdrawl limit, but there are so many ATM/bank machines around these days that shouldn't be a problem. The trick is to maximize savings, take out as much $$ as possible at one time instead of lots of smaller amounts everyday.

I know my credit card company gives me a very good exchange rate also and I only get charged a 1% international fee for using it. So that too is still cheaper than exchanging money here first.

Roy Hersh wrote:50% of the participants on this year's Harvest Tour are from CA. We just had another last minute addition, this one from the LA area. I guess it could be worse, they could've been from NY!

Clearly CA must be the best place to live then! As Dr. Dre says, welcome to the wild wild west!

Jay

Jay Powers wrote:
Clearly CA must be the best place to live then! As Dr. Dre says, welcome to the wild wild west!

Jay

OHH YEAH!!!!

Each day I'm getting more and more excited about the upcoming trip. Got some travel cloths this weekend and a new carry-on. Got my empty 12-pack shipper already to go

Jay

Me too, I am ready to head back to what is quickly becoming my home away from home. I've got just about everything I need...which is only a 12 pack shipper

If I wasn't heading to the UK and then NY for Port & Madeira festivities after the Tour (one can never have enough Port & Madeira, I always say) I'd bring along a 2nd shipper! But too many airports to deal with that, besides there is always December.

Roy, I was thinking about the same thing. Then that thought went bye-bye real quick when I realized I'd have to schlep all that around the UK after

We are just a few days away till the fun begins...I hope you are all ready to to to to to and to have devilish fun :devil:

We can't wait! Getting on the plane for the first leg of the trip bright and early tomorrow morning.

We look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday in Porto!

Dan,
You two have a safe trip over there. I can't wait to meet some new faces and see some old ones again. Let the fun begin