Holidaying in Spain has become a pricier affair for British tourists, with many finding the cost of drinks in popular resorts like Magaluf in Majorca now almost double what it used to be. This dramatic increase has left some visitors reconsidering their holiday plans.
Bobby and Marie McQueen, a couple from Glasgow who recently returned to Magaluf for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, were among those shocked by the higher prices.
They told The Daily Mirror: “We won’t be back. It’s the last time we’re paying €10 (£8.59) for a gin and tonic and €12 (£10.30) for a large white wine. Plus the measures are a lot less. They used to fill the glass up three-quarters with the gin; now it’s less than half.”
The couple’s sentiments are echoed by Magaluf regular Veronica Horwood, 62, from Bristol.
She visited with a friend, Diane, and noticed the price hikes across the resort. “Places like the Piano Bar, which we love, are definitely more expensive than this time last year. Even just by a euro for a G&T – but it all adds up. I’ve been coming to Magaluf for 20 years. Only four years ago it would have been just €5 (£4.29) for a G&T. I think after Covid they hiked the prices everywhere you go,” Horwood explained.
Despite this, she noted that certain bars offer additional entertainment, saying, “But it’s a great bar and you can dance, so you are getting something for that drink.”
Tourists are seeing these price increases across various drinks. Popular cocktails like Mojitos and Sex on the Beach can cost up to €10, while a pint of lager is now priced at around €5.
One beachfront café owner mentioned ongoing pint price wars between neighbouring bars. A reporter from The Daily Mirror found the price of a large glass of Sauvignon Blanc varied from €4.75 to €12 in different locations.
These rising costs are also affecting businesses. Cathy Sinclair, owner of the Scottish bar and restaurant Sinky’s, said her business has felt the pinch.
She said: “Every penny counts and you’re not taking what you did years ago. People are not drinking as much. Businesses are struggling badly here. The cost of living here has gone up a lot.”
She explained that a significant expense is Spain’s employer-paid National Insurance contributions, costing her about €700 (£600) a year for a full-time worker.
The cost of other essentials, such as gas for beer taps, has also risen dramatically, with a canister jumping from €36 (£31) to €74 (£63.50) since the pandemic.
