agoreira

We were thinking of going to Spain last month but health problems knocked that on the head. However, thinking about it this month so have been looking at various areas, including Ronda area, an area we have stayed in many, many times and have enjoyed. I have been looking for a few days there, in hotels we have stayed in previously and some other decent hotels. So far I have looked at about eight places and every one is coming up as no availability, fully booked. Have also looked at another favoured area, and that is much the same, no room at the the inn! Looks like they they are trying to tell us something! Also been looking at flights, does anyone fly during the day anymore? From the few airports I have to choose from, I need to be there at 0400-0600 or arrive in Spain at around 23.00-24.00. Perhaps I'll stay home, much less hassle!

Lynn R

Going out to buy a newspaper yesterday morning, we could hardly navigate our way through the crowds of people, all dressed up to the nines, coming out of the churches and making their way back to their Chelsea tractors, Mercs, BMWs, Audis etc. as the comuniones season is in full swing. The bars and restaurants seemed to be doing well out of it as many families were hosting their celebraciones there. And this isn't seen as an affluent area. Yes there is a crisis, but it certainly isn't affecting everybody, not by a long chalk.

steviedeluxe

It could be that a lot of people are taking their holidays earlier, rather than later when we have the Euro 12 in Poland and Ukraine, and the Olympics in London?
No idea if this is uncommon, but the flights I took to Bilbao and back the other week were almost full. I put this down to efficient marketing by Easyjet, but it may be the tourist sector isn't doing so badly (or more people may be working/commuting abroad, which could be another possibility).
Edit it seems that tourist numbers to Andalucia so far this year are up, but only by a small margin (0.5%). So why are the hotels overbooked? Perhaps the poor-performing ones have closed?
http://www.europapress.es/economia/n...504125714.html

Dick Dasterdly

Little doubt there's still plenty of money about amongst the wise and successful Spanish, who long ago started stuffing their mattresses with bin-ladins ready for any eventuality such as the present one.

The ones suffering are mainly those who have been confined to living from hand to mouth, day by day.

Domino

I am sure you will find room at the Granada inns,

as to flight times, the cheap airlines have the monopoly on the early/late flight times as they are cheaper.
but ISTR saying this is a problem months ago, but no one listened.
early/late flight times mean problems getting to/from the airport, relying on relatives or hire car awaiting you.

agoreira

Agree, I've said the same before, for some people some everyday things have become cheaper. Loads of deals about, half price meals, 2 for 1 etc, we recently had two nights in a lovely hotel, £140 a night, two nights with breakfast, £99. The crisis hasn't affected us, we're lucky we're mortgage free, OK moneywise, it's often the younger one's that have mortgages and suddenly find themselves out of work that are suffering.

agoreira

Committing themselves to huge mortgages in many cases. Once the mortgages rates start increasing, as they surely will, I fear there will be a lot failing to meet their mortgage repayments. Anyway, time all the rates went up, my savings are making bugger all!

jackytoo

Coastal hotels have been well down on bookings. Said on TV semana santa was dire with bookings at around 60%. Last weeks may day puente was only 50% occupancy. I think that Agoreira is probably looking for something more specialist and they can be popular. Many rural hotels have closed down according to Sur.

steviedeluxe

Can you give a link to your assertions? It's just that this news report states Andalucia tourist figures so far are actually up compared with last year. Of course it depends where they stay, and if indeed hotels have closed down, then it puts pressure on the remaining places.

http://www.europapress.es/economia/n...504125714.html

steviedeluxe

It's worrying if hotel numbers can't cope with current numbers - the new runway at Malaga is due to open this summer which will double the airport's capacity! (although as mentioned above, there are probably plenty of hotel rooms still in coastal areas)

http://www.surinenglish.com/20120428...204282059.html

jackytoo

Am on grandsons MacBook and can't figure how to add a link. Just to prove I am not lying you can google "ocupacion de hoteles semana santa, andalucia" lots if info' there!

Lynn R

[QUOTE=Dick Dasterdly;10046112]Little doubt there's still plenty of money about amongst the wise and successful Spanish, who long ago started stuffing their mattresses with bin-ladins ready for any eventuality such as the present one.

QUOTE]

Absolutely - and it's bitterly ironic that they are the ones who have contributed in no small part to causing the crisis by taking most of their income in cash and avoiding if not downright evading paying as much tax as they possibly could. They will number amongst them the developers, lawyers and local politicians who were responsible for the illegal homes crisis as well.

No wonder voters in other European countries are rejecting austerity measures, when the only people who appear to be suffering at all are those who can least afford it.

I have no problem with people being successful in life and becoming better off, provided they do it honestly and contribute what they are supposed to.

jackytoo

Just to point out...occupacion Thur to Sat 76.4% 7 points less than 2011 (2011 was dire too, traditionally ocupacion was almost 100%). Palm Sunday and Sabado Santo 65.99%. Also 7points down on 2011. Of course they blamed the rain but it almost always rain at semana santa!

Manufactoring industry is down 10.7% too in March...don't ask me for a link

agoreira

Most of them are places we've stayed before, nice places, so I know they haven't closed down or gone out of business, just being successful, I guess. As has been said, there's a certain bunch of people totally unaffected by the crisis, that still have money to stay in these places, I would think it's the cheaper end, the bucket and spade end of the market that is suffering. That's not meant to sound elitist, that's not me, but it's logical that those that have the least will be the one's struggling the most during this crisis. Although some good hotels have certainly closed.

jackytoo

It varies i think. The marbella Club hotel, used by the rich and famous (so they claim!) has had a particularly bad time. Usually lots of rich northern spanish there. Most of the hotels that have closed on the CDS have been 5*. The people on benefits who visit on cheap packages won't have been affected...they are probably the only ones who have had a payrise this year

Some friends have recently been to Turkey and they said it was full of Germans.