24-08-2018, 11:15 AM
1
Sheer Madness!
Hi everyone. I have just put this post on the Travel thread but hope you won’t mind me mentioning it here as well.If anyone is going on a package holiday or a cruise to Majorca or Ibiza this or next year, there are a couple of really disappointing developments which you may not be aware of.
The first is that Spain hes DOUBLED their tourist tax! Tourists revolted in hotels and refused to pay because they were unaware of this huge increase. Travel agents kept this very quiet1
The second is that Majorca and Ibiza are about to enforce the banning of all free drinks in All-Inclusive package holidays! Those lovely teas, coffees, spirits, beers and soft drinks that you enjoyed on the terraces and outside bars at your hotels will be no more! Your drinks will still be free when accompanied by your meal inside the restaurant, but that is it! You will be paying for all other drinks.
Dear, oh dear. Seeing as travel agents here have changed all package holidays into All-Inclusive, I can see some redundancies in the pipeline, here and especially Spain who depend so much on tourism.
What do you think?
24-08-2018, 11:53 AM
4
Re: Sheer Madness!
Originally Posted by AnnieS
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I don't think it will stop people going to Spain. But it's only a taster of what Brexit will bring.
From what Im reading the islands have got sick of people going to their islands and spending the day drinking then doing daft things like falling off balconies
Im also reading that drinks will be available in the dining rooms FOC but after that, alcoholic drinks need to be paid for and served in glasses, not plastic. Tea and coffee is not being affected
Ive never been all inclusive so I don't know how these things work but Ive been half board where drinks with dinner were included and theres never been a problem with taking your coffee or drink outside to finish. Indeed most smokers did
24-08-2018, 01:12 PM
6
Re: Sheer Madness!
Annie, Annie, Annie!
Brexit was never mentioned as being the cause of this. Apparently, they are doubling the tax to pay for sewage works etc. Even Cruise ship passengers who have always been exempt from the tax will now have to pay, and they are not even staying there!I was reading that the Cruise companies are planning to boycott the Balearic Islands because of this.
I'm pleased for tourists if as you say, teas and coffees are not to be included in the ban, but I still think it is unfair because paying for all-inclusive costs a lot more than going half-board, but because the travel industry here have changed all package holidays into all-inclusive, surely they will now have to bring the prices down to compensate for what tourists will no longer get... unlimited free alcoholic drinks!!
Some of these hotels are situated at the end of the resorts where there is nowhere else to visit outside, they will be the first to be hurt because honestly, why would anyone want to stay with them to be captive to the prices they will now no doubt be charging at their bars when tourists may as well stay closer to the main resorts if they have lost the one perk that made all-inclusive so attractive?
The one and only time HWMO and I stayed all-inclusive, we only had to pay 20p more to be served Gordons Gin instead of the local gin. It was the same for all spirits, it was free local, 20p more for branded spirits.
Wouldn't you think that an EU country in dire financial straits and unbelievably high unemployment would be doing their best to ensure tourists return year after year? but no, they seem to be doing their best to keep tourists out of their islands. Blinkered thinking indeed.
24-08-2018, 01:16 PM
7
Re: Sheer Madness!
Originally Posted by AnnieS
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I don't think it will stop people going to Spain. But it's only a taster of what Brexit will bring.
24-08-2018, 02:02 PM
8
Re: Sheer Madness!
Originally Posted by shropshiregirl
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Annie, Annie, Annie! Brexit was never mentioned as being the cause of this..
Originally Posted by shropshiregirl
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Wouldn't you think that an EU country in dire financial straits and unbelievably high unemployment would be doing their best to ensure tourists return year after year? but no, they seem to be doing their best to keep tourists out of their islands. Blinkered thinking indeed.
I've never been to Benidorm in mainland Spain, but we have been to tenerife a few times and some parts of Costa Adeje have become like Blackpool by the med. You go up the coast a little and it's totally different and saturated with designer shops, filled with mainland European tourists. A few years ago we went to Cadiz and visited Seville and a couple of other towns. It was very much authentically Spanish. Also going to La Gomera island is a totally different experience from Tenerife. So perhaps they are planning to rebrand the whole Spanish holiday experience?
Hasn't Portugal managed to pull this off with its exclusive resorts and golf courses? Perhaps they are following the example there.
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