a trip to Europe used to be pretty cheap.
in 2001 10 day rental, air, food & lodging set me back about 2 grand.
2003 it was about 2200, 2004 it it might have been 2600.
of course in 2001 the Euro was about $0.85, in 2003 it was around par, and 2004 maybe $1.10 (IIRC).
now of course it's $1.45 and not going the other way anytime soon. of course the price of gas has also shot up in Europe, and no deals to be had on airfare.
I would suggest the numbers need to be massaged a bit more.
oh, and no need for track time with the Alps to play on
