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US summer travelers snubbing Europe

May 06, 2008 | Online Travel

Summer bookings for countries where the euro is used - such as Spain, France and Italy - are 15% lower than last year, while bookings are up 16% for Eastern European countries that don't use the euro, reports Travelocity.

Currency exchange rates across the 21-country European Union are prompting international travelers to look elsewhere this summer.

“More people are traveling internationally, but where they’re going is different,” says Amy Ziff of Travelocity, the online travel agency.

Summer bookings for countries where the euro is used  such as Spain, France and Italy  are 15% lower than last year, while bookings are up 16% for Eastern European countries that don’t use the euro, she says.

American Express’s international travel bookings for this summer so far are ahead of last year, with significant growth in China, South America, Hong Kong, Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia, says Mona Hamouly, spokeswoman for American Express Travel.

Get the full story at USATODAY.com

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