https://www.spainenglish.com/2023/06...isitors-april/

Good for the Spanish economy but bad for climate/pollution and the locals?

I was in Benidorm last week and it was heaving - price increases don't seem to have put people off

No surprise there and with the world population increasing it will continue for a while. Then people were desperate to get away after Covid, it was wetter than recent years in parts of Germany during winter and the Gernans are told to fly less. For French the easiest cheaper option and for the Americans Spain is now a cheaper version of California. It's been a blessing here and with more and more Irish complaining, they all head abroad. Literally had the beach for ourselves (apart from that guy and a family further down), water glorious and Americans prefer to go pub, they were packed😊.

Lloret del Mar around 1950.............

Probably more like this, the last few remaining fishing villages.

Today more like this, but only go before the season starts

Where is the first photo taken as it looks great.

That was along the Cami de Ronda above Palamos
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cala_s%27Alguer
The settlement dates back to the 16th century, and reflects how much of the Costa Brava would have looked before the arrival of tourism.

Thanks looks great I looked at that area a while back looking for inspiration for somewhere to visit. Roses looked quite nice. It's a long way from us we are very south not far from Málaga. One day we may make road trip up to that area. What time of year would be best, I don't like places to be too busy with people and doesn't have to be too hot but reasonable weather?

Costa Brava has a shorter season than Costa del Sol, roughly April to October. Spring can be pleasant but rain cannot be ruled out. Best weather-wise is in the summer, perhaps avoiding the crowded July/August, so June and September would be my choice. I would fly from Malaga to Barcelona (plenty of cheapish flights) and hire a car. There are some spectacular driving routes along the rugged coasts.

Great thanks for the information. Much appreciated

Roses is lovely and always stop on the way down. It's hard to say with weather these days and climate changing. Roses can be a bit cooler in winter due to wind and open bay, but we've been early March or end of October and still usually beach weather during day and jacket in evening. This year we were between Lloret and Roses 1st and 2nd week of March and temps between 16 and 26 more like 19/20 on average during day. Recorded temps this year
https://www.accuweather.com/en/es/ll...weather/304432
This was actually March most of the time.




October 22



The last one was around the corner from Roses early October.

Thank looks beautiful I will have to get my planning head on for next year. Thanks for taking the time to post photos and information much appreciated.

If you want to try a train instead of a plane, you can get from Malaga to Girona in under 8 hours if you start out at the right time. Checked with www.thetrainline.es because if you tried to research the same journey on Renfe's website there's the danger that it could quite possibly drive you mad.

Thanks I will have to put my planning head on for next year

Yes the RENFE website has always been a law unto itself!

In terms of climate/pollution all it's really doing is transferring the potential harm from one place to another.
At least once here holiday makers generally tend to stay in or around one locale making their contribution to local pollution minimal and almost wholly from the air travel or a long car journey.

Glad you put a ? after bad for the locals!