The Spanish Fly - Travels in Spain

British tourists are abandoning Spain and holidaying elsewhere, some tour operators warn.

The United Kingdom has been the main country of origin of tourists visiting Spain for decades. All year round, people from the British Isles have been coming to Spain and her islands in search of warmer temperatures.

However, according to some tour operators, this is changing.

What’s the story?

TUI, one of Europe's largest tour operators, argues that the British are starting to forsake Spain as their main destination, and have already found other places to go.

“More people go to Egypt in winter instead of to the Canary Islands," says Sébastien Ebel, director general of the TUI Group. For many tourists affordability is crucial, and Ebel notes that more and more travellers are operating on a budget.

"We also quite often see new customers who have less income but still want to travel and have a budget of €1,000 or £800 per holiday. If they don't see it in Spain, they look for alternatives and find them," he says.

With rising costs, capacity issues, and protests against mass tourism in Spain, places like Egypt and Tunisia are becoming attractive to those who want to save on their winter sun holiday.

"There is a shift taking place, especially in the family segment, towards more economical destinations," Ebel added.

EasyJet Holidays has also seen an increase in demand for less frequented destinations, such as Egypt and Morocco. Its chief executive, Garry Wilson, attributes this trend to significant improvements in hotels and infrastructure, making previously neglected areas much more attractive to international visitors.

Conclusions?

So, will this mean that popular holiday destinations in Spain will be quieter?

Will you be able to rent a sunbed if there are fewer British holidaymakers?

Will there be less drunkenness and bad behaviour in The Balearics and The Canary Islands?

Will we residents be able to move around more easily in cities like Madrid, Barcelona, San Sebastián, Granada, Sevilla and Málaga? 

 [Photo: Trip Advisor]

And in popular towns and villages like Ronda, Arcos de la Frontera, Estepona, Grazalema, Gaucín, Setenil de las Bodegas, Zahara de la Sierra, Nerja and Salobreña? And that’s just Andalucía!

We shall see …..

Puente Nuevo, Ronda [Photo: EWN]

© The Spanish Fly

Photos and Images:

Euro Weekly News

How to Buy in Spain

Reuters

Trip Advisor

Wikipedia

Tags:

20minutos, Andalucía, Arcos de la Frontera, Balearics, Barcelona, British holidaymakers, British tourists are abandoning Spain, Canary Islands, drunkenness, EasyJet Holidays,  Egypt, Estepona, Garry Wilson, Gaucin, Granada, Grazalema, Madrid, Málaga, Morocco, Nerja, Puente Nuevo, Ronda, Salobreña, San Sebastián, Sébastien Ebel, Setenil de las Bodegas, Sevilla, Spanish Fly, tour operators, Travel Guru, TUI, Tunisia, Zahara de la Sierra,

Why not spend the winter in the beautiful Serrania de Ronda?

You can do your work whenever it suits, and enjoy the mountains, the valleys, the caves, the scenery and the coasts, as well as stunning Ronda and the wide variety of pueblos blancos in the area.

Casa Real, Montejaque

Available from 1 January 2025 as a fully equipped space for digital nomads.

STOP PRESS! CASA REAL, MONTEJAQUE, has had a makeover. It has got bigger and is now available as a DIGI-HOUSE.

Casa Real in Montejaque (Málaga) now sleeps six plus an infant. It has also been reconfigured into a DIGI-HOUSE, fully equipped for DIGITAL NOMADS.

The owners have turned the large Burgundy Room into a family room with two single beds, space for a cot and a designated office area.

The Ochre Room is similar, with two single beds and an office area.

The Green Room offers a double bed, wardobe, and a dressing table.

With its open-plan lounge, dining room and kitchen; two modern bathrooms; shady internal patio and roof terrace with views, this is the ideal spot for one (or two) digital nomads to spend the winter and spring in this beautiful pueblo blanco.

Each workspace with its own private bathroom is in a separate part of this large house. The living areas, ie lounge, dining room and kitchen are shared, as is the internal patio and the large roof terrace.

The house benefits from fast fibre-glass WiFi.

Literally, one minute from the square (if that) this tastefully restored 19th Century village house is well-priced.

Well located near the village square in Montejaque, Casa Real is traditional in style, with two modern bathrooms and kitchen.

It currently sleeps six adults, plus one child by agreement.

Montejaque is a pretty pueblo blanco in the Grazalema Natural Park, and just 20 minutes’ drive from Ronda.

We live nearby so are on hand to meet you on arrival, to orientate you and to be available throughout your stay for any queries or to solve any problems. Between us we speak English, Spanish, German and French.

Because we renovated it ourselves to be a second home, Casa Real, Montejaque is a cut above your average rental. The house offers comfortable living throughout. It is well furnished with lots of personal items belonging to us.

Officially registered with the authorities as a vivienda rural, Casa Real, Montejaque has to meet strict standards of comfort and safety and is regularly inspected.

Nº: VTAR/MA/03565

As a result of the pandemic, the house is also subject to a set of Covid-19 protocols, which are strictly adhered to.

In addition, the house is thoroughly cleaned between lets by our faithful cleaners, Luisa and/or Yaisha.

We provide disinfectant gels as well as soap in both bathrooms and in the kitchen/living area.

You can stay and work in Casa Real, Montejaque confident that you are staying in one of the cleanest places in town.

There is free WiFi, a Bluetooth speaker, a CD player/radio and a DVD player and a television in the lounge and two of the bedrooms.

Casa Real, Montejaque has been imaginatively designed to retain many traditional features but with modern bathrooms and kitchen.

The house allows guests to get the best out of the surrounding area and the wonderful climate.

The large L-shaped lounge, dining room and kitchen retain many original features. This leads into the hallway which in turn leads to the patio, the downstairs bathroom, the laundry room, and the stairs to the first floor and The Ochre Room and office space number 1.

Up the main stairs is a large bedroom, named The Burgundy Room, with two single beds, a built-in wardrobe, a dressing table, office space number 2, and a wall-mounted flat-screen TV. There is room for a cot/child’s bed.

The third bedroom, The Green Room, has a standard double bed, 2 bedside tables, dressing table and a wardrobe.

All beds have brand-new mattresses.

There is a second bathroom and stairs leading to the roof terrace.

The roof terrace affords a 360° view of this most beautiful of the pueblos blancos of the Serranía de Ronda, as well as the emblematic mountains Hacho and Tavizna and the surrounding valley and olive and citrus groves.

The roof terrace has been extended to three times its former size. There are six comfortable reclining chairs, a large table, a sunbed and two sun umbrellas and, also, a built-in barbecue.

The traditional patio downstairs is completely private and perfect for shady al fresco dining. There is a table, six chairs and a sun umbrella, as well as a lovely, scented jasmine.

As a self-catering house, you’ll find everything you need for a perfect working environment.

The kitchen is fully equipped with a large fridge/freezer, electric hob and oven, kettle, coffee maker and microwave oven. It is fully stocked with oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, herbs and spices, coffee, tea, infusions, sugar, etc.

The two modern bathrooms are brand new.

The upstairs bathroom has a WC, bidet, washbasin, vanity unit and a full bath with shower over.

The downstairs bathroom is a wet room with WC, bidet, washbasin and a walk-in rainfall shower.

There is a separate laundry room with a brand-new washing machine and traditional Spanish pila or sink.

Linen and towels are all included to make your stay more complete.

House rules:
Check-in time is from 3 pm and check-out is 10 am.
Smoking is not allowed, except on the roof terrace.
Free on-street parking is available throughout the village, as well as two municipal car parks (also free).
Pets are not allowed at the property.
Strictly no parties allowed.

There is also a selection of board games, playing cards and jigsaw puzzles for you to enjoy.

Cleaning before and after your stay is included in the price. Extra cleaning and fresh bedding and towels can be provided for a nominal charge of €50.

Prices include electricity, water, gas, pellets and final clean.

*Extra cleaning and fresh bed linen and towels are available on request for an extra charge of €50 per time. Otherwise, you can take care of your own laundry.

Payment is by transfer to our Spanish bank account, or monthly in cash. Details will be provided when you make a booking.