The idea of spending two nights in London on the way back from a dream trip to South Africa in 2006 seemed like a good one at the time.
    We could visit an elderly distant cousin, do some Christmas shopping, catch a musical in the West End and relax a bit after a physically demanding 20 days.
    While I enjoyed some aspects of our short layover, the sticker shock of visiting London almost ruined the experience. Traveling with my daughter and son-in-law, that short stay in London cost almost as much as out-of-pocket expenses for 20 days in South Africa.
    We had booked rooms at the Hilton Docklands on the outskirts of London. Our room was clean and nice - and cost $225 if you reserved it this summer - though nothing special.
    The problem was that, with all our gear from Africa, the only way of reaching the hotel from Heathrow Airport was by taxi. At rush hour on a rainy morning, that cost $190. The hotel would have sent a cab out for $50, plus tip, and that is what we did on the return trip. Unfortunately, we didn't know that.
    We decided to see a matinee of "The Lion King" to experience London theater in the West End. Having just been to Africa and seen some of the fictional animals in the flesh, it seemed to make sense. Getting good seats wasn't a problem, but they weren't cheap. Checking current prices, it would be $137 per person. The show was great, but
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that's still quite an investment.
    Then it was off to Harrod's, one of the great department stores in the world. I did some Christmas shopping, largely because there were some unusual toys and London-oriented souvenirs. We needed a bite to eat, so we stopped at a snack bar inside Harrod's and ordered a bottle of wine, a small cheese plate and some fruit. The cost was almost $90.
    We tried to save a few dollars by riding public transportation and eating at pubs. Still, the sticker shock of nearly every purchase gave us pause.
    Like many Americans, I would like to go back to Europe sometime. I've never been to Norway, Denmark or Sweden, all of which seem intriguing. Tuscany, Switzerland and Austria sound fun.
    But looking at exchange rates makes me think that it will be many years before I attempt such a trip. And then it might be on a cruise ship, which isn't an ideal way to see Europe, but is one way to control costs somewhat.
    Right now, the exchange rate between a dollar and the British pound is almost $2 to one pound. The Euro exchange rate is even worse. I hear rumors of $9 for a can of Coke in Paris.
    Curious, I checked out the price of going to London in early June for a week. With airfare, an economy car rental and a small hotel room, the cost for two would have been $3,747. That does not include meals, entertainment, shopping or museum admissions.
    For someone who loves to travel, such prices are discouraging and even more of an incentive to explore the U.S. for the next few years until the dollar gets a little stronger.
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    * TOM WHARTON can be contacted at wharton@sltrib.com. His phone number is 801-257-8909. Send comments about this story to livingeditor@sltrib.com.