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Original poster

Is anybody avoiding booking holidays to Spain due to the demonstrations?

237 replies

SmileLady · 22/07/2024 12:31

I added this on holidays board but no responses yet...

Just wanted some advice. I have only been to Spain 3 times in my 46 years. Times 1 &2 were educational trips when I was a student. But last year as a family we went to Mallorca for the first time in October and really enjoyed it. We stayed in a hotel, rented a car and did loads of day trips. The weather was terrible but we made the most of it.

We are a family of 7 (2 adult children, 3 younger kids, and us, of course). However, we are being put off by the demonstrations. We thought this time, we could maybe fly into Madrid, spend a few days in a B&B seeing the sites, and maybe get a train to Valencia and stay somewhere for a few days. Older children may not come straight with us, depending on work/sports.

However, DH now says we should respect the Spanish and not go if they don't want tourists.

Just to clarify, our ethnic origin is a very popular tourist island in the Med, and DH and I grew up working in the tourist industry, as did both our families. So I have seen the effect of limited tourism on the economy of an area.

Anyway, am I mad to still plan this trip?

OP posts:
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Eixample · 22/07/2024 13:10

I live in Spain. The media are blowing up a very small limited event because it’s interesting viewing. It doesn’t bear any resemblance to what you are likely to encounter during your trip. (And which airport staff in any country are polite and delightful? The staff at Gatwick are mostly rude no matter which passport you have, for example.)
Of course it’s fine if people prefer other destinations, too.

spirit20 · 22/07/2024 13:02

SmileLady · 22/07/2024 12:57

I didn't realise it was an anti-British sentiment; I thought it was all tourists.
We would be travelling on our EU passports. But I don't want to go somewhere and feel uncomfortable as we will obviously be spending 1000's as a family of 7.

We relied on tourists when I was growing up, and we always looked forward to the season opening. My mum and dad always made the tourists feel welcome and they often rebooked and came again. We had a small B&B.

I think you're right, it's against all tourists, not against the British specifically. Many of the signs that you see in the clips from the protests are written in German and aimed at German tourists.

Original poster
SmileLady · 22/07/2024 13:01

Catza · 22/07/2024 12:40

You are likely to sill be treated well in towns, les so in the airport. Especially when leaving, which I found almost funny...
We planned a trip to Barcelona ages ago and I am still going, although I am not very excited about it after the horrid way we've been treated in a Spanish airport in Spring. Will probably be my last trip to Spain for a while as I don't want to go where I am not welcome.

What happened in the airport?

I don't want any hassle as my youngest child is my niece whom I have custody of, and it's hard enough with all the paperwork as our names are all different.

OP posts:
FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · 22/07/2024 12:59

We've got a trip to Madrid booked and I'm still very much looking forward to it.

Original poster
SmileLady · 22/07/2024 12:57

I didn't realise it was an anti-British sentiment; I thought it was all tourists.
We would be travelling on our EU passports. But I don't want to go somewhere and feel uncomfortable as we will obviously be spending 1000's as a family of 7.

We relied on tourists when I was growing up, and we always looked forward to the season opening. My mum and dad always made the tourists feel welcome and they often rebooked and came again. We had a small B&B.

OP posts:
spirit20 · 22/07/2024 12:56

I wouldn't go. Partly because I don't want to go where I'm not wanted and partly because I'm not willing to give my money to a system that doesn't want me. I do understand where the locals are coming from however as so many areas have become unlivable for the locals due to tourism.

I'm a language teacher at a secondary school who had organised yearly trips to Barcelona or Valencia, but won't be organising them next year either as would be scared of having the kids caught up in an incident like where the locals started spraying tourists in Barcelona with water pistols.

Sloelydoesit · 22/07/2024 12:52

I am in Gran Canaria at the moment. All the locals are very welcoming - and yes, they rely on the business.
However we are in an area where everyone stays in hotels. I should imagine they suffer more in places where homes are used as Air BnB

DinnaeFashYersel · 22/07/2024 12:47

We are avoiding Spain this year for this reason.

Been to the Canaries and Balearics a number of times but wont go again until this is resolved.

ILoveMyCaravan · 22/07/2024 12:47

I go to my place in Spain several times a year. Not encountered any anti British feeling whatsoever.

GrandMarnierChocolate · 22/07/2024 12:43

I've already booked Costa brava for August but am sort of dreading it now. Might be last time we go to Spain

Catza · 22/07/2024 12:40

You are likely to sill be treated well in towns, les so in the airport. Especially when leaving, which I found almost funny...
We planned a trip to Barcelona ages ago and I am still going, although I am not very excited about it after the horrid way we've been treated in a Spanish airport in Spring. Will probably be my last trip to Spain for a while as I don't want to go where I am not welcome.

diktat · 22/07/2024 12:33

YANBU. A colleague just came back from Valencia, said it was lovely.

I think they're protesting the conditions more (low pay, zero hour contracts, lack of job security) rather than the tourists themselves.

I would till go.

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