http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7031371.ece
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The proliferation of English bars and eateries in Spanish coastal resorts is eroding the country’s attraction as a holiday destination because Britons no longer consider it foreign enough.
Pubs with names such as Billy’s Bar or The Princess Di Bar — which tempt tourists with Premier League football and traditional pub grub — are putting off visitors who are looking for something more exotic.
The thought of travelling abroad only to spend your holiday bumping into neighbours is another reason that Britons are heading elsewhere, according to a survey by the online travel agent sunshine.co.uk.
Figures from the Spanish Tourism Institute showed that the number of British tourists who visited last year fell 15 per cent compared with 2008. Of 1,327 people questioned for the survey 59 per cent said that Spain was no longer foreign enough, although nearly a third — 32 per cent — enjoyed the sense of familiarity that British food and bars gave them. Resorts such as Benidorm on the Costa Blanca and Torremolinos, Fuengirola and Benalmadena on the Costa del Sol have traditionally tempted Britons with sun, sea and a taste of home.
Julia Fossi, 41, the co-owner of Fish and Chips Barcelona, an English restaurant, said that her clientele reflected the results of the survey. “We mostly get Spaniards in, or some local Brits. Not the tourists,” she said.
On the seafront in Fuengirola, Shirley Webb, of Bayside Diner — with lamb chops and Cumberland sausages on the menu — said: “The euro has meant people complain their pound does not go so far, but business has not gone down.”
The survey showed that the US was the most popular destination measured by the growth of bookings, with some British tourists attracted by the prospect of “meeting a celebrity”. Spain was relegated to the third most popular destination for Britons by the strength of the euro.
Oh, dear Lord, what could be more embarrassing than bumping into neighbors on holidays? :lol:
And some of the comments are hilarious too ...
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I avoid parts of Spain due to other British tourists.
I bet they wouldn't have that problem if, you know, they ventured beyond the coastal resorts. But maybe they'd be afraid of actually finding foreigners there. :ph34r:
The thing is Brits on holiday want guaranteed sun. While Torremolinos may be a hideous conglomeration of ugly concrete hotels and lobster red fatties it is hot. Fine by me, I much prefer Costa de Luz, Santandar and St Sebastian to stay relatively Brit free.
Quote from: The Larch on February 19, 2010, 08:15:49 AM
I bet they wouldn't have that problem if, you know, they ventured beyond the coastal resorts. But maybe they'd be afraid of actually finding foreigners there. :ph34r:
But then they would have to deal with you lispy spanish speakers! :o
Quote from: Alatriste on February 19, 2010, 08:10:40 AM
And some of the comments are hilarious too ...
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I avoid parts of Spain due to other British tourists.
A wise policy if I've ever heard one. :bowler:
Quote from: Gups on February 19, 2010, 08:30:25 AM
The thing is Brits on holiday want guaranteed sun. While Torremolinos may be a hideous conglomeration of ugly concrete hotels and lobster red fatties it is hot. Fine by me, I much prefer Costa de Luz, Santandar and St Sebastian to stay relatively Brit free.
Well, personally I wouldn't mind this kind of sun & beach tourism to dissappear. It has been one of the powerhouses behind the terrible housing bubble and a number of other malaises (construction boom, rampant and terribly unsustainable coastal development, making lots of coastal cities effectively single economy places, etc) we have been experiencing for a while.
They can always go to Cuba.
Quote from: katmai on February 19, 2010, 08:31:38 AM
Quote from: The Larch on February 19, 2010, 08:15:49 AM
I bet they wouldn't have that problem if, you know, they ventured beyond the coastal resorts. But maybe they'd be afraid of actually finding foreigners there. :ph34r:
But then they would have to deal with you lispy spanish speakers! :o
Well, they could (gasp, horrour) learn the language! :o
Darn furriners are ruining the country!! :mad:
Quote from: The Larch on February 19, 2010, 08:15:49 AM
I bet they wouldn't have that problem if, you know, they ventured beyond the coastal resorts. But maybe they'd be afraid of actually finding foreigners there. :ph34r:
The Mediterranean resorts are precisely the places in Spain that I haven't been to, far too many Brits there don't you know :D
Spain has a downmarket reputation in the British mind I think, little is known of the interior, the Pyrenees or the North-west. Which suits me fine when I get the chance to go there; but probably annoys the Spanish Tourist Office a lot.
When I went to Europe last summer, I spent about 5 days in one of those Spanish beach towns (Puerto Banus). Normally, I wouldn't have bothered, given that I already leave in Florida, but my accommodations were basically free. Anyways, I felt like I was in mini-England- tons of Brits everywhere. One day, I was wearing a t-shirt with a shamrock and a leprachuan. On the way to the beach, I walked by a bunch of drunk twenty-something English women. When they saw my shirt, they started yelling profanities at me for some reason. :lol:
Quote from: stjaba on February 19, 2010, 09:34:42 AM
When I went to Europe last summer, I spent about 5 days in one of those Spanish beach towns (Puerto Banus). Normally, I wouldn't have bothered, given that I already leave in Florida, but my accommodations were basically free. Anyways, I felt like I was in mini-England- tons of Brits everywhere. One day, I was wearing a t-shirt with a shamrock and a leprachuan. On the way to the beach, I walked by a bunch of drunk twenty-something English women. When they saw my shirt, they started yelling profanities at me for some reason. :lol:
They hate the Irish.
Quote from: stjaba on February 19, 2010, 09:34:42 AM
When I went to Europe last summer, I spent about 5 days in one of those Spanish beach towns (Puerto Banus). Normally, I wouldn't have bothered, given that I already leave in Florida, but my accommodations were basically free. Anyways, I felt like I was in mini-England- tons of Brits everywhere. One day, I was wearing a t-shirt with a shamrock and a leprachuan. On the way to the beach, I walked by a bunch of drunk twenty-something English women. When they saw my shirt, they started yelling profanities at me for some reason. :lol:
:D
That sounds kind of hott though! :cool: Or maybe dangerous...
Quote from: stjaba on February 19, 2010, 09:34:42 AMthey started yelling profanities at me for some reason. :lol:
That's their mating call
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I avoid parts of Spain due to other British tourists.
I don't like meeting German tourists, either.
:rolleyes: You guys are so provincisal.
Quote from: Gups on February 19, 2010, 08:30:25 AM
The thing is Brits on holiday want guaranteed sun. While Torremolinos may be a hideous conglomeration of ugly concrete hotels and lobster red fatties it is hot. Fine by me, I much prefer Costa de Luz, Santandar and St Sebastian to stay relatively Brit free.
Torremolines has better gay bars. However, I prefer the Canaries - the sun shines longer there.
If you're after a lot of sunshine, you need to come to the Yukon in June. :)
Quote from: Barrister on February 21, 2010, 05:24:31 AM
If you're after a lot of sunshine, you need to come to the Yukon in June. :)
Does it include lots of semi-naked gay men?
Quote from: Martinus on February 21, 2010, 05:30:53 AM
Quote from: Barrister on February 21, 2010, 05:24:31 AM
If you're after a lot of sunshine, you need to come to the Yukon in June. :)
Does it include lots of semi-naked gay men?
Anchorage does around 3rd week of June.
Quote from: Barrister on February 21, 2010, 05:24:31 AM
If you're after a lot of sunshine, you need to come to the Yukon in June. :)
Already have lots of sun in June thanks. No need to travel.
This is very odd to me.
I thought the typical summer holiday person liked that it was like home but hotter and cheaper.
But that being said I do notice a increasing tendancy for Bulgaria and the like these days on account of them being much cheaper.
Quote from: Alatriste on February 19, 2010, 08:10:40 AM
Oh, dear Lord, what could be more embarrassing than bumping into neighbors on holidays? :lol:
:lol:
That ALWAYS used to happen to me.
When you think about it though it makes sense- the local airport only flies to certain destinations, everyone goes off to Majorca, there's two main resorts there (or whatever). So though you are at the other side of Europe technically you're in a place very connected to home.
I hate British tourists, to the point where I pretend not to speak English when I come across my compatriots abroad.
Quote from: Martinus on February 21, 2010, 05:30:53 AM
Quote from: Barrister on February 21, 2010, 05:24:31 AM
If you're after a lot of sunshine, you need to come to the Yukon in June. :)
Does it include lots of semi-naked gay men?
It's a place larger then Poland with 30,000 people. There aren't lots of naked anyone.
Quote from: Warspite on February 21, 2010, 11:02:06 AM
I hate British tourists, to the point where I pretend not to speak English when I come across my compatriots abroad.
Same. Especially on family holidays and holidays with friends.
Quote from: Warspite on February 21, 2010, 11:02:06 AM
I hate British tourists, to the point where I pretend not to speak English when I come across my compatriots abroad.
It is pretty easy to hate Brits, I agree. I prefer to hate them in the UK, though, where they are more concentrated, and there it is fun to hate them to the point where I pretend
they cannot speak English. :smarty:
Quote from: Warspite on February 21, 2010, 11:02:06 AM
I hate British tourists, to the point where I pretend not to speak English when I come across my compatriots abroad.
British tourist can easily be spotted in any place with a modicum of sun light, by their characteristic pasty-and-lobster-red hue.