Not looking Good.

[Graham Knight]

https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news ... -year/amp/

[Bee]

Benidorm is very badly hit and hotels that opened have now closed again due to no UK visitors. Is it time for Benidorm to rethink its model which is so dependent on customers from one country or is that even possible? Can they ever replace the UK market? Next year will see it face the new Brexit regulations and unless there is some kind of favoured travel status are they likely to recoup sufficient numbers. On the flip side will people be so starved of a summer sun holiday that it just might be a bumper year on the Costa Blanca.

Bee

[Rosiemac]

Hello Bee,
I enjoy reading your posts and indeed others too!
Your remark about people coming to Spain for the sun is generally the case but this year, the weather at home and over in England has been very good indeed. I’ve never seen so many suntanned people around who haven’t been abroad. We spent a week on the coast and I have Never seen so many people out and about and enjoying themselves. Locals tell me that all the 65” TVs have been sold out for holiday homes and the sales of mobile homes is also staggering. People realise that they might not get away if this virus continues to haunt them so looking for an alternative. We might as well have been tourists ourselves! We went off sightseeing everyday and had the time of our lives. My daughter and her husband and family took the ferry to Scotland yesterday and have broken their journey enroute and will get back to London tomorrow. They had a wonderful time.my 6 year old grandson told me he had had a great holiday but would like to go to Spain next time! So, Spain still holds something enticing and will survive.
I hope you are enjoying yourselves and hope your grandchildren are with you as usual.
All the best,
Rosemary.

[Bee]

Good to hear you are all good Rosemary and enjoying your staycation. We escaped to Spain but the downside is the quarantine on return. Still I am glad we went. La Mata beach was great other than no loungers or beach huts. All marked out with the ropes and well patrolled. Sundays seemed to be busiest day on the beach. Went to the Italian Restaurant next door to Matute. It was very quiet. Urshi - the owner- said business is horrendous. I really feel for them as they had thought the UK market was about to pick up and then suddenly it was all over. The night market and funfair had a decent few people walking about but nothing like normal. Perhaps August will be a better month for them. I am sure anybody from Spain who has a holiday home in Torrevieja will flock there in August. Torrevieja is not as badly hit as Benidorm as they don't depend on the tour operators. Back to the rain and wind for another year. It is a terrible summer and I would say there will be a mass exodus next year. Here's to 2021.

Bee

[Rosiemac]

I sort of envy you getting to Spain as I really miss it. Over the years it has become part of our lives and both my husband and I love being there.we are still booked for September but unsure what we will do. Back in Castlerock again. The London family are now back there and we have the caravan back to ourselves, Windows all cleaned and finger marks removed, sand vacuumed and everything back to normal. We are very lucky to be able to come here as it is a beautiful place.
Have a safe trip home. Consider your quarantine as an excuse to put most of your summer clothes away and get all the winter woollies out in readiness for the change in weather. I cannot believe that we will be back in our autumn clothes in 4/5 weeks time. A ghastly thought.
Whereabouts in La !Mata is the restaurant you mentioned? I assume it is in la Mata itself. Have you eaten at Snapps and Ketchup or Bayside in Torrelamata ? The first mentioned is excellent and the second very good. We also love La Boca in Los Locas amongst others. Yes, I certainly miss the balmy nights, sitting outside enjoying fine fare with a glass of wine in my hand! Soon,I hope.
Rosemary.

[Retire1day]

easyJet just cancelled my brothers flight to Alicante in September, he has given up now, 3rd cancelled flight. Owning a bar or business in Spain is a difficult task without covid 19, the amount of people I see giving up all the time is very high.