Scottish holidaymakers in Spain to be hit by £164 ‘nightly’ charge

If you’re planning a summer getaway to Spain, you might want to rethink your budget. A recent report has indicated that Spanish holidays are now ‘more expensive than ever’, with prices in restaurants and hotels – even the cost of a pint – having risen since last year, according to the latest figures.

Statistics from Spain’s National Statistics Institute for May reveal that restaurants and hotels have hiked their prices by an average of 5.2 per cent since 2023, while food costs have seen a 4.4 per cent increase over the same period. The price of tourist packages has shot up by a staggering 17.7 per cent compared to last year, with hotel prices specifically seeing a 9.4 per cent rise.

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Since 2019, the cost of a hotel stay in Spain has rocketed by 36.5 per cent, while the price of a beer has increased by 27.8 per cent. Travellers can expect to pay 27.7 per cent more for apartment rentals than they did five years ago, and dining out at a restaurant will now set you back by more than 20 per cent.

Spanish news outlet Murcia Today reports that tourist accommodations in Spain’s popular beach resorts are predicted to hike rates by an average of 7.3 per cent this upcoming summer season. This equates to a nightly rate of 195 euros (or £164), up from 182 euros (£154).

The cost of a Spanish holiday this year will fluctuate greatly depending on the region, with the Balearic Islands, Galicia and Castilla-La Mancha witnessing the sharpest price increases since 2019 at over 27 per cent. Meanwhile, price surges in Navarra and Asturias remain below the national average, reports Birmingham Live.

When it comes to accommodation prices, Murcia and the Balearics have seen the most significant increases, while provinces in the Basque Country, Valencian Community and Madrid also exceed the 30 per cent average.

The sharp rise in prices has been attributed to a surge in international travel, as well as inflation. Predictions suggest that tourist numbers will continue to grow this summer, with the number of available flights from the UK to Spain increasing by 8 per cent.

Protests have erupted in parts of Spain where locals are fed up with tourist overcrowding and the subsequent rising rent prices. Over the weekend, police in Majorca intervened to prevent demonstrators from blocking tourists from accessing the island’s beaches amid escalating tensions.