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

[SmileLady]

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?

Of course not, tourism brings in essential money and improves our own foods and services. Also I’m a tourist myself, currently in another Spanish town, and travel is one of my biggest passions!

I think on the whole, a small locally owned hotel is probably more beneficial to the residents than airbnbs yes. Eg, an old mansion on the river has been converted to a 4* hotel with about 30 rooms, another has been converted to three luxury apartments which have been bought by foreigners who stay a few weeks per year. They pay council tax but that’s it. The city benefits more from the hotel guests paying tourist tax and using local services all year round, as well as the jobs generated there.

An Airbnb like where you are staying or my neighbours spare room benefits the individual host and doesn’t impact the city residents. But a habit of refusing to rent year round to a family does impact residents. They have to rent outside the city. City schools are closing. The minority language is endangered. The average age in the famous gastronomic societies is above retirement age for the first time.

The anger isn’t with the tourists themselves who are very welcome, it’s with the government for failing to address loopholes and provide realistic housing, and even small solutions like sorting out summer traffic. In our case we’ve gone from a no-go zone (ETA and terrorism) to a very fashionable destination very quickly and there hasn’t been planning for it so it’s run unchecked.

That small locally owned hotel could be rented by locals all year around. I think you're being contradictory, and pedantic. Where I am staying is no different.

Sure… a local family could stay in one hotel
room…

I think you need to focus on big chains, and not scrutinise privately owned bnbs, there isn't space for anywhere near 30 rooms. I really feel you are making an issue, out of a none issue. You could argue the 30 room hotel is taking the space of afew affordable apartments for local families that can live there all year around. It is getting ridiculous.

How? It isn’t as though a listed mansion is ever going be converted into affordable flats for locals when there’s either a hotel chain or luxury real estate company willing to pay more. Hotels also have to get permission from the ayuntamiento, noise laws, taxes etc…

There is no problem with a few BnBs, it is when there are so many that locals don’t have enough housing and the other impacts. Landlords who used to rent privately to people now make loads renting short term.

The sticker, by the way, is a play on the “apartamento turística” stickers that air bnb owners put up. It says “a family used to live here.” Please don't say it isn’t an issue when it clearly is impacting thousands of families (as is reported across Spain, Europe, Cornwall…)

I’m avoiding Spain because of the mosquitoes.

You don't need to lecture me, I'm not staying in a big hotel, or air bnb chain, nor do I advocate them. Hopefully the information you have provided can be taken on board by those that do on this thread. I'll leave it to the opinion of others at this point. Oh and I'm very pleased with the accommodation my family have selected, it works really well for my ND child (first holiday abroad), such a lovely quiet village, and no other people we have to pass within the safe confines of our accommodation, not forced to restaurants every single night, when it gets too overwhelming.
Anything we spend will be in local businesses, and restaurants (if dc isn't sensory overloaded at the given time, or it'll be me cooking).

Really? Went to Basque coast in Spring, everyone was lovely.

We’ve just got back from 3 weeks in Valencia, and experienced nothing but friendliness from locals. Granted we stayed with family so we weren’t using air bnb etc, but the people we encountered in restaurants/shops/the airport etc wouldn’t have known that.
Treat people with respect and they usually do the same back.

It's understandable to be upset when feeling unwelcome in a foreign country. When a destination's residents express frustration or hostility, it can certainly diminish the enjoyment of visiting. If a significant portion of the population does not want tourists, this could lead to unpleasant experiences, such as aggression or unkind treatment.

Boycotting such destinations could send a strong message. Financially, tourism is a significant industry, and a decline in visitors can have serious economic repercussions. By choosing to spend your money elsewhere, you not only protect yourself from negative experiences but also make a statement that respect and hospitality are key components of travel.

There are many places in the world where visitors are warmly welcomed and where tourism is a celebrated part of the local culture. Choosing to support these destinations instead can be a way of ensuring that your travel experiences are positive while also contributing to the economies of communities that value and appreciate tourists.

Here are some affordable sunny beach resorts in Europe outside of Spain:

1. *Algarve, Portugal*: Known for its stunning beaches, the Algarve offers a variety of budget-friendly accommodations and beautiful coastlines.

1. *Albanian Riviera, Albania*: This hidden gem has crystal-clear waters and unspoiled beaches. Towns like Saranda and Ksamil are particularly affordable.

1. *Budva, Montenegro*: Budva is a charming town on the Adriatic coast with plenty of budget options and beautiful beaches.

1. *Golden Sands, Bulgaria*: Located on the Black Sea, Golden Sands is famous for its wide beaches and affordable resorts.

1. *Paphos, Cyprus*: Paphos offers a mix of history and beautiful beaches, with many budget accommodations available.

1. *Sunny Beach, Bulgaria*: A lively resort with plenty of affordable hotels and a long stretch of sandy beach.

1. *Sicily, Italy*: Sicily has beautiful beaches and a rich cultural history, with many cost-effective options for accommodation.

1. *Parga, Greece*: Parga is a picturesque town with stunning beaches and affordable stays, making it a great alternative to more crowded Greek islands.

1. *Rimini, Italy*: A popular beach destination on the Adriatic coast, Rimini offers both lively nightlife and family-friendly beaches at reasonable prices.

10. Hvar, Croatia: Although Croatia can be pricier, Hvar has budget-friendly options, especially outside the peak season, with beautiful beaches and a vibrant atmosphere.

I think you may have a vested interest in this 😉

No problems here. We've just spent 3 weeks in Lanzarote. Everyone was fine, supermarket staff, the general public, taxi drivers, even airport security. DP is funny though he'll talk to everybody.