Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Flip

Original poster

Anyone been to Spain recently - hearing horror stories about cost of food now £ is so weak!!

19 replies

oldlady40 · 19/04/2009 19:22

Hello - I am in process of booking holiday - Mar Menor/Los Alcazares (any comments welcome) - but this thread is really to gain some advice from recent travellers to Spain. Some mums at school went to Spain for the 1st week of easter hols and have come back in shock at the cost of the food in shops and eating out (due to the £1/Euro rate). Are they being drama queens or do we (a) need to budget for a huge amount for food or (b) eat beans whilst in Spain!! All comments welcome

OP posts:

foxinsocks · 19/04/2009 19:28

well we were recently in France and were horrified by the cost of eating out. Like think 1.5 to 2 times the cost here easily (but we were in a very touristy area which would be a bit expensive anyway).

Original poster

oldlady40 · 19/04/2009 19:38

That is a bit of a worry. We like to do a mix of some self catering but eating out as well - after all it is a holiday!!. I just don't want to feel I am throwing loads of money on food and having to scrimp on other things. Maybe I should be looking out of the eurozone - but really wanted a short flight and hot weather but not too hot for children!! Maybe the £ will spring back to life by August - LOL !!!

OP posts:

Ivykaty44 · 19/04/2009 19:57

We arrived back today from Sapin and france - Iflew to barcelona at the start of the holiday and meet my dad who has been in portugal since the 1 jan in a motorhome.

We were in barcelona for a couple of nights and - yes everything has got more expensive not only is the £ weak but spain and france are suffering from inflation and the cost in the supermarket and eating out has risen.

So for the english it is a double whammy when away.

We shopped and eat in the campervan and eat pork rather than chicken - at the price of chicken in france and pork was half the price.

We had a meal out last night and it was the only meal out we had.

We were seeing menu of the day in france and for omlette and chips with a salad thy wanted 13 euro.... that was at rockmadour which is touristy but not that touristy!

Original poster

oldlady40 · 20/04/2009 12:02

thanks for the info. Maybe we should look further afield. only problem is our children don't do too well in really really hot weather and although I love Greece/Turkey etc I think it could just be too hot for them. I need to make a decision soon!!

OP posts:

geordieminx · 20/04/2009 12:06

We went to Lanzarote last year and even then everything was ££££... we were eating in nice places, but it was only dp ds (1) and I, we worked out that we were spending £70+ a day on lunch and dinner

This year we have decided to go all inclusive, to Tenerife at the end of this month, it hasnt cost us a huge amount more but hopefully it means that we wont need to take £1000+ in spending money.

geordieminx · 20/04/2009 12:07

Have you thought about somewhere like Croatia or Bulgaria?

OhYouBadBadKitten · 20/04/2009 12:09

Or how about the Channel Islands? (never been there though)

NervousNutty · 20/04/2009 12:09

Oh no, this is bad news. I am going to Salou at the end of may with 3dc and my mum.

Last time (sept) it was costing us about 60 euros for 2 adults meals, 3 childrens meals& drinks, plus a bottle of wine.

Do you think it will be alot more than that now ?

FlorenceAndtheWashingMachine · 20/04/2009 12:18

The Channel Islands could work as OYBK suggested. My grandfather lived at St Brelades beach in Jersey and I loved going there as a child. It is a beautiful island and you feel like you are abroad as the French influence is very strong. If you are going in August the weather should be good - I distinctly remember getting terrible sun stroke in Jersey!

Fimbo · 20/04/2009 12:22

We went to Menorca last May and found it really really expensive to eat out then. Even in the "cheaper" places it was still working out at about £50 per night for 4 of us.

Hersetta · 20/04/2009 12:35

I know the mar menor area quite well as my Mum lives there and I went over last at the end of Feb plus I also went to the costa del sol at the end of March. I thought it was still relatively cheap - compared to London prices. We were getting a main course each and a bottle of wine for between 21-24 euros a night whatever choice of meal we decided to order (not steak etc). Beer renaged from 1.50 to 2.50 euros and house wine ranges from 4.50 to 8 euros a bottle.

Los Alcazares is very nice - very Spanish and not at all touristy (no english bars etc) so brush up on a few Spainish phrases to help you get by and stock up for lunch etc at the supermarket. Lots of lovely fresh bread, tomatoes and pate which are all incredibly cheap. Decent wine can be found in the supermarket for around 1.25 a bottle.

Original poster

oldlady40 · 20/04/2009 15:02

Thanks for all your comments.

Hersetta -your local knowledge is really useful. I am looking at a couple of apartments and working out flights. We really like to feel as though we are in a different country so the fact that it isn't too British is great. I need to get organised. I think I will stop worrying abou the cost of food - we can always share a loaf of bread and some chocolate - lifes esseentials

OP posts:

Ivykaty44 · 20/04/2009 17:03

Portugal is still cheaper than france and Spain - also the further east you go along the algarve the cheaper it gets. A coffee and a brandy is still just under £2 - whereas France just the coffee was £2.60!

Original poster

oldlady40 · 20/04/2009 23:24

Thats interesting about Portugal. I went there about 20 years ago!! - but I always presume it is more expensive. Worth a thought, atlthough I think I am sold on Los Alcazares now I have heard Hersetta opinion on it

OP posts:

drivinmecrazy · 20/04/2009 23:35

Just got back from visiting Mum in Mazarron, just along the coast. Didn't eat out as much as we normally would, about same as UK for a meal, but you can't put a price on the weather. Am due out in July and think Euro definately should rise a little.
Nothing beats the fresh produce. Bought kilo of fresh uncooked king prawns for under six euros (about £14 here for similar size) Can't put a price on cooking them with garlic and butter and eating them under the stars

Hersetta · 21/04/2009 08:47

I agree with drivinmecrazy - if you can buy an odd meal or two from the supermarkets -and los Alcazares has two big ones (a very large mercadonna and an el arbol) then you can eat (and drink) very, very cheaply - and I also second the prawns, they are fantastic.

Mazzaron is lovely too - i'd say much more touristy than loz al cazares (it has an english bar and restaurant for example) but the beach and promanade is lovely.

The beach in Los alcazares is lovely and spotlessly cleaned daily. The water on the mar menor is shallow and very warm at that time of year - it was like a warm bath last July.

Are you planning on hiring a car so you can explore and get around a bit?

Hersetta · 21/04/2009 08:48

and by the way cofee and a brand yis always between 2 and 2.5 euros.

Original poster

oldlady40 · 21/04/2009 09:34

Hersetta - I am getting on with decided on apartment and flights today!! The warm water, the sunshine, the coffee with brandy - I can't wait - I no longer care about the currency!! I am sure the prawns are great too but I am allergic so that wouldn't be such a good idea. thanks for all your handy tips. We will be looking at hiring a car so we can explore as well as having some lazy days on the beach. thanks again

OP posts:

drivinmecrazy · 21/04/2009 09:41

Hersetta, couldn't agree more about Puerto Mazarron. We stay in a little village away from the hustle and bustle and use Spanish bars and cafes which are much cheaper than the (more than one) English eateries. Beaches are fantastic where we are, and even in July/August are relatively empty. It is becoming harder to discover 'real' Spain, but it is there if you look.
Hiring a car is a must, we keep a car over there as it is the only way to get to the truly natural beaches and coves.
Roll on July when we will be there for the whole summer holidays, minus DH who has to stay and work

Flip