Price rises

Unlike in the UK where the vast majority of beaches are open to the public all year round and there is a culture of bringing picnics and wind‑breakers from home, renting loungers and parasols is a normal part of heading to the beach in Italy.

Italian beaches are unusually empty this summer as high prices drive sunseekers away.

Citizens of the boot‑shaped country appear to be snubbing beaches amid claims they are rebelling against the high prices charged by kiosk and sun‑bed owners.

Unlike in the UK where the vast majority of beaches are open to the public all year round and there is a culture of bringing picnics and wind‑breakers from home, renting loungers and parasols is a normal part of heading to the beach in Italy. This comes after plans to stop influencers from flooding the Dolomites badly backfired.

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This year however, there has been a big slump in visitors to private stretches of beaches, the Guardian reports. In July, there was a 25% fall in beach‑goers, compared to the same month last year. The problem is particularly acute during the week, when the throngs of the weekend are increasingly replaced by empty stretches of sand. What’s particularly worrying for business owners is that those who are going are spending less.

Fabrizio Licordari, the president of Assobalneari Italia, said the problem is to do with the decreased spending power of Italians generally. “Even with two salaries, many families struggle to reach the end of the month. In such circumstances, it’s natural that the first expenses to be cut are those for leisure, entertainment and holidays,” he told Ansa news agency.

The price of hiring a sun‑lounger is a serious point of contention in Italy, in part due to sudden sharp increases. The cost has risen 17% in four years, according to the latest figures from the consumer group Altroconsumo. Those heading for a spot of relaxation in Lazio will end up spending at least €30 (£26) a day for two sunbeds and an umbrella. If you head for the more up‑market areas, such as parts of Puglia, you’ll end up splashing out three times that much.

According Si Viaggia, the title of most expensive beach in Italy in August goes to Alassio, in the north of the country. There, to enjoy the sea with a beach umbrella and two sun loungers positioned in the front rows, you have to fork out an average cost of €340 per week.

Alessandro Gassmann, a famous actor in Italy, has started a debate at the cost of Italian beaches by posting a photo of a row of deserted sun‑beds. “I read that the season is not going well. Maybe it’s because the prices are exaggerated and the country’s economic situation is forcing Italians to choose free beaches? Lower the prices and maybe things will get better,” Allessandro wrote in the caption.

Consumers association Codacons has argued that going to beach resorts had become “a drain” on people’s finances, suggesting that those profiting from renting beach furniture were “shedding crocodile tears” when they complained of rising costs.

Italy has been named as the cheapest place to live for British expats, according to a recent study – here are the other countries that made the list

A study has pinpointed the most affordable havens for British expats – crowning Italy as the best bet. 2022 witnessed a staggering 3.6 million Brits heading to Italy’s shores, seeking the Bella Vita beyond well-trodden cities like Rome, Milan or Venice. Lesser-frequented gems such as Rimini, Naples and Capri also offer magnificent experiences away from the usual tourist trail.

The research, conducted by YourOverseasHome, assessed the living costs in seven nations, with comparison to the UK. Despite a handful of Italian locales boasting steep prices, Italy emerged as the overall winner for cost-effective long-term residence.

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YourOverseasHome said: “Despite there being a few cities and towns that have reputations for being expensive destinations, Italy is by far the cheapest place to live long term when you’re not spending like a traveller.”

Moreover, they stated: “This is despite the fact that energy costs more in Italy.” The report also touched upon the considerable variation of living expenses across different regions, reports the Express.

Yet, for those settled in typical Italian towns or villages, avoiding major tourist hotspots, the country is seen as the most affordable choice according to previous coverage by The Express.

While energy costs may be steeper in Italy, groceries are generally far more affordable than in the UK. Products such as fish, chocolate, and gin cost over twice as much in the UK compared to Italy, although lettuce was found to be cheapest in the UK.

Housing expenses in Italy could also result in savings for Brits, with decorating materials and domestic cleaning services being less expensive than in the UK. Electrical goods, including televisions and Amazon Alexa Echo Docks, were also discovered to be cheaper in Italy.

Moreover, Brits could savour a cappuccino in an Italian café for just £1 on average, a stark contrast to the £3.20 typically charged in the UK.

And let’s not overlook Italy’s recent €1 home scheme. This initiative could enable travellers to purchase a home in the stunning region of Sicily, aimed at attracting expats to the area.

However, participants in the scheme had to adhere to certain rules, including that the property must be renovated within a specific timeframe and that the home can only be utilised for residential or tourism purposes.

Once refurbished, the homes available could command prices of up to €30,000 (approximately £25,000). Meanwhile, if you’re a foodie who enjoys dining out, you’ll be thrilled to learn that eating out in Spain is a steal, with a three-course meal averaging at just £13.

In terms of dental care, Spain again offers the best value, with appointments costing roughly £21.50, a significant difference from Germany’s hefty £50 fee.

Entertainment seekers in the UK might find themselves forking out more compared to other European nations, with cinema tickets costing a pretty penny.

In contrast, certain products are cheaper in Britain; take paracetamol as an example, which costs almost a tenfold more in Italy. As for petrol prices, Greece is experiencing a hike where 50 litres of unleaded fuel reach an eye-watering £86, topping the UK’s substantial £81.

Portugal offers a bit of financial ease to British expats, with the cost of the same amount of petrol hovering at about £78. Christopher Nye, Senior Editor at YourOverseasHome.com, shared his insights: “We know that thousands of Britons are considering moving abroad, more so than ever! UK natives are looking to jump ship to avoid high energy costs and never-ending price rises.

“But if you’re moving under the assumption that you’ll be getting more for your money, you could very well be jumping from the frying pan into the fire, as prices have shot up across the eurozone too.”

Post-Brexit, Germany has emerged as the country with the highest living costs following the UK, with Spain and France also appearing relatively expensive.

Brits heading to the likes of Spain, Egypt and Portugal for their summer holidays could find they’re paying pay hundreds of pounds more this year

Families have seen some holiday prices to top hotspots rocket by nearly quarter this summer, research has revealed.

The jump means travellers looking forward to their break abroad risk having to shell out hundreds of pounds more than last year.

Analysis by the website TravelSupermarket for the BBC revealed big price rises in a host of destinations popular with Brits. The data compared all-inclusive seven-night family breaks departing this August with a year ago.

Prices to Cyprus have leapt 23%, from an average £950 per person to £1,166. The cost of a week away to Egypt has soared by a fifth – almost £200 each – from £980 to £1,176. Jetting to top getaway Spain has risen by 9%, or from £835 to £913 And a typical week away to Portugal will cost £972 per person this summer, against £936 last year.

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For those looking further afield, the analysis found the United Arab Emirates has seen the steepest price rise overall. A week away now costs an average £1,525 per person, up 26% – or £300 – from £1,210 per person in 2024.

Chris Webber, head of deals at TravelSupermarket, said: “Like most things, family summer holidays have become more expensive over the past 12 months — and our data backs that up. We’ve seen price rises of between 4% and 26% across popular destinations like Spain, Greece, Turkey, the UAE and Portugal. These increases are likely tied to rising fuel prices driving up flight costs, along with hotel expenses rising due to energy costs – which in turn pushes up food and drink costs for all-inclusive packages.”

It is not all bad, with some destinations actually cheaper this year. For instance, a week in Italy will cost an average £1,128 per person this summer, or £137 less than a year ago. Tunisia is also around £30 better value, at an average £763.

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And while accommodation and flights may have risen, other holiday costs have come down.

Research published last month by the Post Office found Brits planning foreign holidays will be quids in thanks to the pound’s strength. Sterling has shot up against a host of currencies – in some cases, by a lot. For instance, the pound’s 30% rise against the Turkish lira in the past year means holidaymakers jetting there will have £116 more to spend for every £500.

In many cases, car rental prices have also fallen. A study by iCarhireinsurance.com last month revealed that the average cost of a week’s car hire this summer is £369, 43% lower than the 2022 high of £652, but still 19% more than in 2019 (£310).

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James and Georgina Nair, both 78, have been coming to Tenerife for 30 years, usually twice a year. But, since they became pensioners, they have made just the one annual trip

A Liverpool couple who have been regular visitors to Tenerife for three decades are now cutting back on their trips due to soaring costs.

James and Georgina Nair, both 78, from West Derby, Liverpool, cherish Tenerife as a “special” place and are planning to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary there next year. The pair, James, a retired engineer, and Georgina, a former seamstress, have enjoyed the Spanish island’s charms for 30 years, typically visiting twice annually. However, since retiring, they’ve reduced their visits to once a year.

“We’d be lost without a holiday like this,” but noted that the area has undergone changes, not all of which they appreciate. Complaining about rising prices, Mr Nair told the Express: “Everywhere you go now, everything’s double the price.”

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Georgina raised the increased cost of a gin and tonic, now around €7.50 (£6.30), lamenting the switch from draft to bottled mixers, which incurs extra charges. Her husband reminisced about the wider availability of Carling beer in the past, noting that while local beers are often cheaper, he remains loyal to his preferred British brand.

Despite these gripes, the Nairs acknowledge that Tenerife has seen improvements, with many bars having “changed hands” and “modernised”. Georgina concluded with affection for the island: “I love it here. The different hotels, different character.”

She reminisced about how they often visited a local pub over the years, which has since changed its character.

Recent months have seen protesters flooding the streets of Tenerife and the Canary Islands, voicing their concerns over the impact of over-tourism. When The Express quizzed the retirees on their views, James expressed his disapproval: “Personally, I don’t like what they’re doing. Ordinary tourists like me and my wife, we give more to the economy.”

He continued, highlighting the irony of the situation: “We’ve only come for a holiday. They’ve shot themselves in the foot. Many people are employed in hotels – they’d be out of work. They’re going after their own people.” He also noted that during the pandemic, Tenerife’s tourist hotspots “suffered a lot”.

Georgina chimed in with her perspective: “It’s a special place, we know the area very well. We can understand where they come from. But we help them.”

The rising price of a break in many popular Spanish destinations has given some Brits cause to pause before booking a holiday in recent years. As has the rise of protests aimed at overtourism issues.

“Spain has been at the forefront of locals’ overtourism protests – perhaps 100,000 massed across the Canaries last weekend – and cruise limits are in place in Barcelona and Palma. This is not just about cruise passengers, though. There are wider issues of mass beach and city tourism in Spain and beyond and the impact it can have on a community,” the Mirror’s travel editor Nigel Thompson recently wrote on the topic.

“That said, we should not forget the huge amount of valuable income tourism can generate. Billions poured into economies and hundreds of thousands of jobs are not to be ignored, just as the grievances of locals in destinations are not to be ignored either. A very tricky issue to balance out.”