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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Anyone else stalking the Euro?
Lately, I have been semi-stalking the value of the Euro vs. the US dollar. Right now, the exchange rate is looking pretty good. In fact, it's better than when I put deposits down on accommodations last fall. 
I've been trying to look at predications to see what economists think is going to happen later this year, and they do seem to be expected it to stay lower. *fingers crossed* I have toyed around with the idea of trying to pay the balance of our accommodations up front just to take advantage of a good exchange rate.
Re: Anyone else stalking the Euro?
Yep; certainly! We have only booked out flights at this point but I'm hoping it will stay at this rate or drop before our trip.
Blog Sale
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Book through a site like hotels.com, and you'll prepay your hotel reservations in US Dollars at the time of booking. You also don't pay any exchange fees (depending on what card you travel with, you may be subject to up to 3% in exchange fees, which add up).
I just finalized and booked our 5-week Europe trip today. I booked a bunch of the hotels over the weekend but just bought airfare. I've booked as many as I can through hotels.com (assuming they were the best rate I could find), because the cancellation policy is usually easy. If the Euro drops significantly and the rates go down, I'll re-book and cancel my hotels. I'm fine paying it up front to know that the amount I pay is what I'll pay. Just double-check to see what the hotel's cancellation policy is if you book with them (most are cancel either 1 day before or 2-3 days before). HTH.
I've been watching it since May 2008 when it was 1E=$1.55! I know because I have the spreadsheet pinned to my board at work.
I, too, paid more in deposits during the fall- I am excited to see where it is in April just because I used a conversion rate of 1E=$1.50 when putting together my budget spreadsheet so I'm hoping to come in under budget because of that over-estimation.
An American Girl's Travels
Kimberly- unfortunately we are booking apts for our trip; however, anything we can prepray in full; we're trying to do!
Blog Sale
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On average the past 4-6wks has been the best I've seen it in the bulk of my 3yrs here. The bad news, prices are going up, so while I'm all for the btr X-rate, at least in IT, gas and customer goods keep going up, up, and away.
I'm surprised your bank is offering such a bad exchange rate - we usually get a really good one when we withdraw from an ATM in Europe.
Also, see if you can't get a credit card that doesn't charge a transaction fee - they usually give you great rates. I know our AmEx Platinum doesn't charge a transaction fee, and I think there's a Chase card as well that doesn't charge... you can use your CC for so much now that it makes sense not to pay 3% to the bank!
I am a major currency stalker. This fall, it was stalking the Euro and the Pound. Right now, it's the Australian Dollar!
Good to know that they are predicting it to stay low. I have been over in Europe when it's been horribly high! I think if you have the money now and the rate is good, go ahead and pay! It's one less thing to worry about. If and when the AUD gets closer to the USD, I'll be paying off my wedding/honeymoon.
Our wedding on Wilson Island!
Count me among the currency stalkers!
Mom and I are off to Paris this April and I am hoping for a serious dip in the euro that month! $1.10 please!!!
Ditto regarding booking apartments. My fingers are crossed that the rates stay low.