Holidaymakers heading to Spain this summer might need to increase their spending budgets after a report suggested that Spanish holidays are ‘more expensive than ever’. The prices in restaurants and hotels – and even the cost of a pint – have jumped since last year, according to recent figures.
Data from Spain’s National Statistics Institute for May shows that restaurants and hotels have increased their prices by an average 5.2% since 2023, while food rose by 4.4% in the same period. The cost of tourist packages soared by a whopping 17.7% compared to last year, while hotel prices specifically are up by 9.4%.
Since 2019, the cost of a hotel stay in Spain has skyrocketed by 36.5%, while the cost of a beer is now 27.8% dearer. Travellers can expect to pay 27.7% more to hire an apartment than they did five years ago and a meal out at a restaurant has gone up by more than 20%.
Read more: Travel warning issued to UK tourists flying from Manchester Airport
According to Spanish news site Murcia Today, tourist accommodations in Spain’s popular beach resorts are expected to increase rates by an average 7.3% this summer season. That works out at a nightly rate of 195 euros (or £164) – up from 182 euros (£154).
The cost of a holiday in Spain this year will vary significantly depending on the region, with the Balearic Islands, Galicia and Castilla-La Mancha experiencing the steepest price rises since 2019 at more than 27%. Meanwhile, cost hikes in Navarra and Asturias sit below the national average.
When it comes to accommodation prices, Murcia and the Balearics have increased the most, while provinces in the Basque Country, Valencian Community and Madrid also exceed the 30% average.
The sharp jump in prices has been linked to a boom in international travel, as well as inflation. Forecasts indicate that tourist numbers will continue to grow this summer, with the number of available flights from the UK to Spain rising by 8%.
Protests have broken out in parts of Spain where locals have grown tired of tourist overcrowding and the resulting rising rent prices. Over the weekend, police in Majorca stepped in to stop demonstrators from blocking tourists from accessing the island’s beaches amid rising tensions.
Planning your next trip abroad? Travel Republic has deals on package holidays to the likes of Spain from as little as £155pp. If you’re looking to upgrade your luggage for your next break, luxury suitcase brand Antler has received over 800 five-star reviews on its best-selling Clifton Cabin Bag, which is the perfect size for Jet2 and TUI flights, and also fits the size requirements for a ‘large’ cabin bag for Ryanair and EasyJet.