Spanish

Ibiza’s tourism minister has admitted that 20,000 fewer Brits visited the Balearic island during the high season this year compared to 2020, as protests against overtourism raged across Spain

Tens of thousands of Brits stayed away from Ibiza this summer, the island’s tourism minister has admitted.

Last summer, protests aimed at overtourism raged across key Spanish holiday destinations as locals declared that they’d had enough. They did so during a record-breaking year, with 94 million holidaymakers heading to Spain in 2024. According to the Spanish Ministry of Tourism, international travellers spent an estimated €126.3 billion in the country in 2024, a 16.1% increase on the year before.

As welcome as the cash likely is, the pressure such high volumes of visitors are having on housing, public infrastructure, and the way of life in Spain is simply not worth it for many. And last year, huge numbers decided to take to the streets to make their voices heard.

At the World Travel Market (WTM) in London this week, Ibiza’s Minister of Tourism, Jaume Bauza, addressed the potential impact of the protests on visitor numbers, and said that 20,000 fewer Brits had decided to visit the Balearic island during the high season this year compared to 2020.

Do you have a story to share? Email [email protected]

READ MORE: Ibiza at breaking point as tourism forces locals to leave in drovesREAD MORE: I ditched the UK for the ‘friendliest city in Europe’ once known for its grumpiness

However, the island’s tourism chiefs are hopeful they’ve just moved their breaks to October and November, when temperatures are less sizzling and the chances of protest disruption are lower. Flight capacity to the Balearics is up 8% this November compared to 2024, in anticipation of more shoulder-season travellers.

When asked if people were not travelling because they were worried about getting swept up in overtourism protests, Mr Bauza said through a translator: “The truth is, any decrease in the attendance from our main markets, such as the British market, is a reason to worry. However, this has been compensated for by the increase from the French, Swiss, and Italian markets. The increase is comparable to last season. Any decrease from our biggest markets is something we need to pay attention to. With regards to protests, we respect them, but they do not worry us.”

Ibiza has signalled a shift towards higher-end, higher-spending tourism over the past year. At the WTM, Mr. Bauza detailed plans to crack down on illegal holiday lets and to monitor the tourism industry’s impact on the island’s natural environment.

“I want the British who visit our islands who are, and will always be, warmly welcome, to be aware of and familiar with this transformation process, because I want them to be aware and participate in the changes we are undertaking,” the tourism boss said.

“Because it’s not about growing for growth’s sake, but of taking care of what we already have, of ensuring each visitor experiences the very best of our islands and that our residents feel the same pride.”

Pedro Homar, managing director of the Palma Tourism Board, said visitor numbers to the Majorcan capital remained strong this summer. He told the Mirror: “British tourism is the number one nationality for us in the city of Palma, it has been like that for the last five years and we want to continue like this. We really want to make sure that Palma gets more UK tourists, and they’re more than welcome.”

ONE of Spain‘s most popular airports with Brits is getting a multi-million pound upgrade in time for the next summer holidays.

Palma de Mallorca Airport is undergoing a massive modernisation project.

Costing €500million (£440million), one of the biggest upgrades is the new security area which has 44 check in lines.

It also has new state-of-the-art equipment so it means you can leave your electronics and liquids in your hand luggage.

Just make sure they are still under 100ml each as those rules are still in place.

Both Module A and Module D have been upgraded, with the former having a new retail area and walkways linking the terminals, as well as more departure gates.

FIGHT OR FLIGHT

Abandoned UK airport set to re-open in 2027 is hit by £193million blow

ALL CHANGE

TUI axes own flights to popular destinations from major UK airport

This also includes 40 new digital passport gates for departing passengers.

Other upcoming changes include upgraded check in counters to allow space for more passengers, as well as more baggage reclaim belts and security checkpoints.

And a new retail area with shops, bars and restaurants is in the works as well, which connects Modules A, B, C and D.

The works are expected to continue until the end of next year, although most of the tourist-facing upgrades will be finished before the summer season.

Aena’s vice-chairman Javier Marín said around 70 per cent of the project is currently complete.

Palma de Mallorca Airport welcomes more than 30million passengers a year, with a record 33.3million last year.

And new flights have launched to the airport this year, including from Glasgow Airport with British Airways and from Leeds with easyJet.

Earlier this year, Ryanair also revealed a huge £1.2billion investment in the airport, with 80 new routes this summer.

The EES system will also be rolled out at Palma Airport this month on November 19.

It’s not the only Spanish airport undergoing a major upgrade as part of a €13bn (£11.3bn) investment plan across the country.

This includes a £2.8billion upgrade for Barcelona Airport, one of Spain’s biggest.

And Malaga Airport’s £1.3billion renovation will see larger terminals and faster security.

Here’s the £1billion Spanish abandoned airport.

MY early summer holiday a distant memory, the Costa del Sol seemed just the ticket for some autumn sunshine.

Leaving behind rainy Blighty, I was soon lying by the pool in Spain lapping up the rays — and throughout our stay in the first week of October temperatures ranged from 26C to 28C.

We were in the Ramada Hotel and Suites resort near Fuengirola, next to the beach and just half an hour from both Malaga airport and party town Marbella.

It comprises beautiful self-catering apartments spread over five areas — and TEN pools.

The main pool is adjacent to the resort’s most popular cafe and bar, Zac’s, and has a lively vibe.

But I found the one closest to our apartment, in the Sierra Marina area of the resort, was an oasis of calm, with a lovely sea view and a quiet, respectful group of holidaymakers.

SUNNY TIMES

10 winter sun holidays for all budgets – with 7 nights from £193pp

COOL OFF

I’ve been to over 50 countries – here are my cheap winter sun hols with £11 hotels

Another bigger pool, served by a bar and restaurant, is on sister site the Wyndham Grand which shares its facilities, including a gym and spa, with the Ramada.

I indulged in an hour-long facial which was a wonderful way to kick off a relaxing holiday. My daughter enjoyed a circulation-boosting massage, and there were numerous other tempting treatments to try.

The massage with bamboo sticks, which sounded more painful than it was, came recommended by a fellow guest.

While there are plenty of places to eat out, I prefer a little independence on holiday and our apartment offered everything we needed to get the best of both worlds. As well as its two comfy bedrooms and bathrooms, there was a roomy lounge and kitchen, with dining table, cooker and large fridge.

But its finest feature, given the glorious weather, was the large balcony overlooking the Mediterranean — big enough for a table with six chairs, two comfy armchairs and a parasol, so we could enjoy casual lunches of fresh bread, meats and cheeses bought from the on-site store.

There were also plenty of options for eating out, from budget-friendly Zac’s to Restaurant El Tajo — not owned by the resort despite being on site, and serving authentic Spanish food including a lip-smacking paella which has to be ordered 24 hours in advance.

We particularly enjoyed the Wyndham site’s Safari restaurant which offers a huge array of gorgeous tapas — I thoroughly recommend the baked provolone cheese — as well as dishes to suit all tastes, from pasta to fish and steak.

There is also a lounge bar for late-night drinks, hosting singers most nights, as well as other live entertainment including the popular Flamenco night at the poolside bar.

The sprawling, hilly nature of the resort means a lot of walking — I easily hit my 10,000-step target every day.

But for those less able or willing to get about there is a handy road train you can hop on and off at various points across the complex.

Away from the resort, the town of Fuengirola is a 30-minute walk or €9 taxi ride and its pretty squares are teeming with bars and restaurants.

Perfect off-peak getaway

Half an hour away is also Puerto Banus, a stunning marina lined with designer stores and restaurants and packed with yachts worth millions.

It is a hangout for the glam Marbella crowd and well worth a visit — although prices here are sky high.

But I recommend leaving the main marina by taking the stairs to the coastal path, where restaurants line the clifftop and you can watch the spectacular sunset over the sea while enjoying a meal of locally caught fish and seafood.

The stunning old town of Marbella is a far cry from its infamously full-on beach clubs and nightlife

The stunning old town of Marbella is a far cry from its infamously full-on beach clubs and nightlife.

Its narrow, picturesque cobblestone streets are lined with unique boutiques and jewellery stores and lead to the stunning Plaza de los Naranjos (Square of Oranges) which, good to its name, is lined with fruit trees as well as beautiful flowerbeds.

But closer to our resort, nestled in the mountains above Fuengirola, was the biggest treat of the holiday — the village of Mijas Pueblo.

One of the “white villages” typical of this southern Spanish region of Andalucia, it welcomes visitors into a main square overlooked by the beautiful town hall.

Behind the square are quaint narrow streets of white buildings, with picturesque blue flowerpots adding a splash of colour.

Brightly painted crockery and leather bags are sold in tiny stores and upstairs terraces in many of the eateries offer a view over the main square, mountains and sea.

Another highlight for me was the La Ermita de la Virgen de la Pena (Chapel of the Virgin of the Rock), a tiny but beautiful church carved into the natural stone of the mountain by friars in 1548.

RAPE PROBE

Police launch urgent manhunt after girl raped in park in broad daylight attack

‘EVERYTHING’S CHANGED’

Mrs Hinch opens up on losing her dad & dealing with shock diagnosis

Along with its warm weather, the Costa del Sol has an average of just 35 days of rain a year, most of which falls between November and January.

It’s also a golfer’s paradise, with 70 courses, and with year-round sun is the perfect off-peak getaway.

The Spanish city is a popular short break destination as well as being popular with groups who want to enjoy the lively atmosphere, but a new ban could see their parties cut short

A Spanish city which is a major tourist destination for Brits, including stag and hen parties, is introducing a brand new rule in an effort to curb antisocial behaviour linked to drinking.

Barcelona, which sees over 500,000 Brits visiting each year, has banned pub crawls citywide at all hours of the day. Previously, pub crawls were only banned in the area of Ciutat Vella and L’Eixample, which had restrictions between 7PM and 7AM.

On the official website for Barcelona City Council, a statement explained how it defines a pub crawl: “Pub crawling is a business that takes customers on organised drinking tours to a series of establishments that offer discounted alcoholic drinks.

“It typically involves quickly consuming one or more low-quality drinks before heading to the next stop.”

The statement went on to say: “This activity has been identified as a risk factor that causes disturbances in neighbourhoods, puts extra strain on public spaces and potentially leads to criminal behaviour or road safety violations.”

It also confirmed: “The new decree introduces a permanent ban that applies 24 hours a day, year-round, rather than being only seasonal. ” It stated that the new ban will be in place for four years. The change came into force yesterday (October 29).

Organisers who ignore the ban and plan an event could find themselves hit with fines of up to €3,000. While participants in an organised pub crawl wouldn’t face charges, authorities could potentially give them fines for public drinking or other disturbances, which range from €100 to €3,000.

The move is the latest in a long-line of measures brought in by authorities to ease the impact of tourism on Barcelona, and other Spanish destinations could follow suit.

In May, it was announced that Spain was cracking down on holiday rentals, with authorities ordering Airbnb to remove 65,000 properties from their website. Reasons such as lack of licence numbers and unclear ownership records were cited for the mass removal. Many of the delisted properties were in popular areas such as Barcelona and Malaga.

Demonstrations against overtourism have also taken place over the last couple of years, with hundreds of protesters taking to the streets of Barcelona waving banners with slogans such as “tourists go home”.

READ MORE: Europe’s little-known Christmas market with 86p mulled wines and £32 flights from the UKREAD MORE: Winter wonderland weekends: 5 holiday parks offering festive stays from just £39

A trade union in the Balearic Islands has even proposed a €15 a day tourist tax during high season to work as a “deterrent” for tourists. The union’s general secretary said: “”This is not an increase aimed at raising revenue, but rather a deterrent, so that the Balearic Islands send a clear message to the world that there’s no room for more people here during the high season.”

Some resorts have also dealt a blow to Brits who were hoping to enjoy copious amounts of booze. Those visiting certain areas of Majorca and Ibiza may find themselves limited to six drinks a day, even if they’ve paid for all-inclusive.

NEW rules have come into which will ban ALL pub crawls in a major Spanish city.

The classic activity popular with locals and tourists alike is now totally banned, whatever the time of day or night.

The ban on promoting, organising or running pub crawls has been extended to cover the entire area of Barcelona at all hours of the day, and comes into force on October 29, 2025.

The move aims to “ensure peaceful coexistence, safeguard residents’ right to rest and protect public health“.

The new rule, which also prohibits advertising related activities in any form, has been agreed following a public consultation.

A spokesman for Barcelona city council. “Pub crawling is a business that takes customers on organised drinking tours to a series of establishments that offer discounted alcoholic drinks.

YULE DO

Travel expert reveals cheap UK holiday parks with Xmas breaks from £9pp a night

SNOW WAY

All the best Xmas days out under £10 including FREE ice skating & Santa’s grotto

“It typically involves quickly consuming one or more low-quality drinks before heading to the next stop.

“This activity has been identified as a risk factor that causes disturbances in neighbourhoods, puts extra strain on public spaces and potentially leads to criminal behaviour or road safety violations.”

Organisers face fines ranging up to €3,000 (£2,641), while participants are exempt from fines, they could face them for other infractions like drinking in the streets or causing disruptions. 

Until now, pub crawls were only banned in the districts of Ciutat Vella, since 2012, and L’Eixample, since June 1, 2025.

The restrictions here were mainly focused on nighttime hours, from 7pm to 7am.

The new rules that have been introduced are for a permanent ban that applies 24 hours a day, all year-round, rather than being only seasonal.

This has been approved and will be in force for four years.

According to the city council, data provided by the police indicates that the ban on alcohol routes in Ciutat Vella and L’Eixample has worked.

They say it  has “contributed to significantly reducing the number of activities detected and has facilitated their prevention, thanks to the early detection of the offer through social networks”.

The city council says the ban has been well-received in the Ciutat Vella district, with only three fines issued last year, and authorities believe it will have a similar impact citywide.

Pub crawls have been hugely popular in Barcelona and have been widely promoted on the internet.

These have attracted hundreds of thousands of people every year and bringing in a huge income.

Most pub crawls lasted for at least six hours and others up to 24 hours, but now organisers have started to post “now unavailable” messages on their websites.

These aren’t the only rules that have been introduced, across Spain there are been lots of new sanctions put in place to stop bad behaviour.

New rules range from not wearing swimwear in towns or cities, to smoking bans, and monitoring noise complaints.

FOOTBALLER GONE

Football League star tragically dies aged just 42 after cancer battle

CHA-CHA-CHAOS

Strictly’s Amber Davies breaks silence after pro Nikita pictured kissing her

The next time you visit Spain, check out these tips by one man who visits at least 8 times a year and how to avoid the common tourist mistakes.

Plus, check out these 12 stunning and cheap destinations Spaniards love that Brits have never heard of.

ONE of the easiest ways to travel around Europe is by train – and a new vintage train in Spain will take you to some of the most popular cities.

The distance between Madrid to Seville is around 300 miles long, but if you’re onboard a retro luxury train, the travel is isn’t a chore at all.

Al Andalus will begin a seven-day route from southern Spain to the capital from spring 2026.

The train doesn’t just trundle straight through from one destination to the other either, as there are plenty of stops along the way.

Stops include Córdoba, Alcázar de San Juan, Mérida, Jerez and Aranjuez as well as visits to UNESCO sites and beach towns.

Another of the stops along the way is to Cádiz, a pretty port city in Andalusia.

TRIP OR TREAT

Bargain deals for half-term holidays from just £109pp with balmy 28C temps

HOT TROPICS

Cheapest tropical destinations you can fly to on budget airlines – from £68

There’s a huge cathedral and Roman amphitheatre next to the city’s promenade as well as La Caleta – one of the local beaches, and outdoor market, Mercado Central.

Sun Writer Hope Brotherton visited previously visited the city and you can find out more on what she thought about these attractions here.

The luxury and vintage train is the longest on the Spanish tracks and is 450 metres in length.

It’s made up of 14 carriages, which accommodate a total of 64 people – there are two restaurant cars, a kitchen car, a bar car, playroom car, seven bed cars, as well as one for crew, and another for machinery.

Onboard are four lounges based on the 1920s which serve traditional Andalusian dishes and drinks.

Breakfast is served daily in the Alhambra and Gibralfaro restaurants where passengers can enjoy both an a la carte and buffet meal.

The Grand Class Room is the smaller of the room options and is fitted with two single beds.

It has a wardrobe, safe, luggage compartment, minibar, air con and a private bathroom with a shower.

It’s not just for sleeping in either, during the day, the cabin can be transformed into a living room.

The beds fold into armchairs and guests can sit to watch the views from the window.

A Grand Class Room for two people is €13,200 (£11,456), or for one individual is €11,200 (£9,722).

Meanwhile, the Deluxe Suite Room is larger at 89 square foot with a large double bed.

It comes with all the amenities that the Grande Class Room has, and the private bathroom has a hydromassage shower.

The day bed turns into a comfortable sofa and each of the suites has 24-hour room service.

For a Deluxe Suite Room, it’s €15,800 (£13,715) for two people, or €13,800 (£11,978) for an individual.

JAB HACK

I’ve lost 6st in six months on Mounjaro & ‘cured’ the horrible side effect

CASH BOOST

Clever tools to help you find lost cash in time for Xmas – you could get £3,141

Here are the list of stops along the new route from Seville to Madrid…

Day One – Seville – Cordoba

Day Two – Córdoba – Cádiz – Jerez

Day Three – Jerez – Zafra

Day Four – Zafra – Cáceres – Mérida

Day Five – Mérida – Alcázar de San Juan

Day Six – Alcázar de San Juan – Toledo – Aranjuez

Day Seven – Aranjuez – Madrid

Here’s more on where to visit in Spain by one writer who goes there every month.

Plus, a new overnight sleeper train to connect 100 European cities with private cabins and panoramic views.

This city is considered a ‘hidden gem’ as it gets fewer tourists than hotspots such as Barcelona or Malaga, but it could be the perfect combination city and beach break for autumn

Ryanair have launched a new direct flight from London Stansted to a Spanish city that has been dubbed ‘underrated’ and a ‘hidden gem’.

The budget airline will now operate a London to Murcia flight four times a week, with the journey taking just under three hours. Murcia, which is set in Spain’s southeast, just over an hour from Alicante, is a lesser-known region, but once you step off the plane you can choose to explore the city or head to the nearby coast.

The timing of the new route is perfect for those who are already a little sick of the autumn weather. This week, Murcia has seen highs of 31C, while in November it can hit up to 21C. While it’s not the hottest destination in December and January, with highs of 18C and 17C respectively during the day, it tends to be mild and have low rainfall. However, it’s worth packing cosy pyjamas, as it can get cold at night.

The city of Murcia is packed with things to do, and it’s a must for history buffs, having been settled by the Romans and the Moors. Visit Murcia Cathedral, an ornate, Gothic cathedral that dominates the skyline, or the Santa Clara Museum which was once a Muslim palace, that became a Monastery in the 14th-century.

You’ll also find a wide variety of museums, such as the Museo Arqueológico de Murcia, which is full of treasures, and the Salzillo Museum, dedicated to the locally born sculptor Francisco Salzillo, who made dramatic religious artworks.

Murcia also has amazing shopping. The huge Centro Comercial Nueva Condomina has lots of big Spanish and European brands from Bershka to Zara, while Centro De Artesania De Murcia is full of handcrafted and artisanal items that make great gifts. It’s no wonder Murcia was dubbed ‘underrated’ by National Geographic.

Just over 20 minutes from the airport is the port city of Cartagena, famed for its Roman Amphitheatre. It’s also packed with historic sights such as the Roman Forum Museum and the Punic wall dating back to the 3rd century BC.

Cartagena is also perfect for a beach break. Visit Cala Cortina, an unspoilt beach surrounded by rugged cliffs. It has soft sands, and because it’s set in a bay, the waters are calm for swimming.

Another beach destination close to Murcia is La Manga, just over half an hour from the airport. This unique spot sits on a strip that’s 13 miles long, but only 100 metres wide, with a lagoon on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other. This means you’ll never struggle for a place on the long sandy beach, and pretty much all hotel rooms have either a sea or lagoon view. There’s also a large marina with lots of restaurants and boat hire if you want to take to the water.

Whether you’re planning a city break, or want to hit the beach, it’s worth considering Murcia instead of one of the bigger, more touristy Spanish cities. Despite its numerous historic attractions and close proximity to amazing beaches, Murcia only received 1.16 million visitors last year, compared to 26 million who chose Barcelona. But tourist numbers are on the rise, so plan your visit before it gets discovered by the crowds.

Book it

There are direct flights to Murcia from several UK airports available this October from £15.

SPAIN is usually just a short flight from the UK, but there’s one city further afield and is actually closer to Morocco than the Spanish mainland.

The small coastal city has plenty of historical sites, beaches and a mythically-inspired building.

The city is called Ceuta, and doesn’t tend attract Brits, instead visitors tend to be Spanish and Moroccan thanks to where it sits in North Africa.

But there’s plenty to see, including one popular attraction called House of the Dragons, aka Casa de los Dragones, which sits on the corner of Kings Square.

Construction on the building started in 1897 and was completed in 1905, it got its name thanks to the four bronze dragon statues on the roof.

The original dragons were removed in 1925 and lost, but four new dragons were later added in 2006, these are made of resin and fiberglass – they weigh less than 200kg each.

YULE DO

Travel expert reveals cheap UK holiday parks with Xmas breaks from £9pp a night

CHRIMBO WIN

Enter these travel comps before Xmas to win £2k holidays, ski trips & spa stays

One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: “Stunning architecture and well kept with dragons on the roof……… Straight out of Game of Thrones or Harry Potter!!!”.

There’s a similar building in the town of Valencia, which is called the Building of the Dragons.

The Valencia house incorporates dragons too, but more subtly.

Despite its proximity to Morocco, the official currency in Ceuta is the Euro, as it’s a Spanish city.

Visitors can expect to pay about €2.50 to €3 (£2.62) for a local beer and around €15 (£13.08) per person for a “menu del día” – which is a set Spanish menu.

Ceuta has beaches like Playa del Chorrillo, which is close to the Strait of Gibraltar and has pretty scenic views.

The city has cobbled streets, historic buildings, and cultural landmarks like Royal Walls of Ceuta, also called Murallas Reales de Ceuta, a historic fort dating back to 962 AD.

Another popular site is the Ceuta Cathedral, a yellow-and-white cathedral overlooking Plaza de África.

As Ceuta is in North Africa, it’s convenient to explore Morocco too.

About an hour away by car is the seaside city of Tangier city is at the very tip of Morocco and on a clear day, you can even see Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar.

Tangier has been a major trade centre for thousands of years thanks to its location and busy port.

Visitors can learn about its interesting history with a guided tour, and wander through Kasbah, the walled part of the city full of tiny streets and alleys.

Kasbah has been used for Hollywood movies including James Bond and the Bourne film series.

For more on a trip to Morocco, check out the other cities with souks and where to find golden beaches.

For Brits, the best way to visit Ceuta is to fly to a Spanish mainland airport like Malaga or Algeciras, then take a car or bus to Algeciras port, and finally a ferry to Ceuta.

STRICTLY NEWBIES

All the stars in line to replace Tess and Claudia on Strictly

TUM HELP

The 30g diet hack that ‘PREVENTS deadly bowel cancer’… as cases surge in under-50s

Across the water is Gibraltar and one woman who’s from there reveals the best bars, and the one Brit item shops won’t sell.

Someone who visits Spain at least 8 times a year reveals how to avoid the common tourist mistakes that cost you money.

A union secretary said they wanted to send the message that “there’s no room for more people here during the high season” and that the tax was intended as a deterrent for potential visitors

Brits planning a break in the Balearic Islands next summer have been warned they could face a tourist tax hike.

The CCOO, a major trade union on the Spanish islands, have proposed hiking the current tourist tax to €15 a day (approximately £13.08). This would affect Brits visiting holiday hotspots such as Majorca, Ibiza, and Menorca. The proposed tax would apply for stays during July and August, the busiest months on the Mediterranean islands.

The Balearic Islands already have a tourist tax in place, which is between €0.5 and €4 a day (approximately £0.44 and £3.49). The amount of tax paid depends on whether tourists visit during the peak or low season, and the type of accommodation they stay in.

Children under 16 are exempt from paying the current tourist tax, and there’s a 50% discount for longer stays, which is applied after the eighth night. According to the government of the islands, this tax is used for purposes such as sustainable tourism initiatives and preserving cultural heritage.

The proposed increase would mean a seven night break in peak season would see each adult charged approximately £91.52 in tourist taxes.

READ MORE: UK village ‘frozen in time’ with car-free roads where people return year after yearREAD MORE: UK city ‘everyone laughs at’ named one of the best places in the world

The CCOO made clear that the higher tax being proposed wasn’t for the benefit of the islands, but rather to keep people away. According to Majorca Daily News, General Secretary José Luis García said: “This is not an increase aimed at raising revenue, but rather a deterrent, so that the Balearic Islands send a clear message to the world that there’s no room for more people here during the high season.”

He added: “To reduce summer overcrowding, it’s not enough to curb demand; we must also act on supply.”

The news outlet also reported that the CCOO is asking the government to put a hold on new tourist accommodation places, aiming to cut visitor numbers but attract higher-value tourists. Due to the housing crisis in the Balearics, they also want the island declared a “stressed area” and for 40,000 public housing properties to be created.

The move is the latest in a long line of proposals aimed at reducing the pressure of tourism on the popular Balearic Islands. Over the summer, Majorca was named the most unwelcoming spot for British tourists in Europe, with anti-tourism protests cited among the reasons for the dubious honour.

Summer 2024 and 2025 were marked with protests across the islands, but especially in Majorca, where protestors occupied beaches while waving anti-tourist banners. A number of Mirror readers revealed they’d be ditching Spain due to the protests and what they dubbed “anti-British sentiment”.

Speaking to the Mirror over the summer, Kevin Durkin who visited various Spanish destinations over 30 years said: “Over the last few years, the anti-British sentiment has just grown. Some bar owners have put up signs telling the British to keep away and some hotel owners don’t want us either.

“I do not need Spain, they can keep their latest charges and hatred of the British. I will not be back, neither will my friends or family. Adios.”

While Linda Munro revealed that overcrowding at border control at the airport had made her summer trip to Majorca stressful: “My husband and I got through the scanners, no problem. However, the rest of the family had to queue for an hour and a half.

“On the way back, it was worse, as people were worried they might miss their flights home. Our family just made it on time. They all said they wouldn’t be back abroad anytime soon.”

Have a story you want to share? Email us at [email protected].

A woman recently visited a popular Spanish holiday spot but was left gutted by the experience. According to her, it was “smelly and awful”, and left her rather disappointed

There’s nothing like the feeling of having a break away, and exploring somewhere new, but one woman was recently left disappointed after her Spanish getaway, even though people have previously claimed to have found “hidden gems” near the area. The woman recently documented her experience in a candid TikTok video after visiting the popular holiday spot.

According to her, people advised her to visit the area, but she was left underwhelmed. The vlogger, known as girl_in_barcelona, ventured to Alicante, in Spain, to explore somewhere different and new, but she said it was nothing other than “smelly” and “awful”, and she didn’t understand what all the fuss was about.

Even though she thought the port was nice, and admitted there are some “cute” plazas, she said it was a “disappointment.” Though she confessed the coast around Alicante is “beautiful”,” she just couldn’t get over what the city looked like.

Since she shared the video, it’s been viewed thousands of times, and hundreds of people have commented. They were quick to share their thoughts on the matter.

One agreed, writing: “Hated Alicante. Never again. Waste of money.” Another replied: “I live here and, yes, Alicante is worse each year.”

A third made a joke, adding: “It’s awful there. The whole coast from Barcelona down and around Magaluf is awful. Best stay at home and let us who live here just suffer. We’ll be brave though and not complain.”

Meanwhile, a fourth was quick to praise the city, saying: “Alicante is so beautiful. Any city has horrible parts.” Someone else also chimed in with: “Alicante is beautiful. Every city has ugly places.”

If you’ve never been to Alicante before, it’s a very popular tourist destination. It draws in millions of visitors annually due to its beaches, historical sites like Santa Barbara Castle and vibrant nightlife.

As well as this, it’s a major gateway to the Costa Blanca region and is also popular with international property buyers. Even though the video implies the city is a little run-down, not everyone thinks this is the case.

While some areas may show signs of underdevelopment or older architecture, its city centre, especially the Old Town, is normally vibrant and visually appealing. Here you’ll find well-maintained promenades and tourist areas.

The city offers both historic charm and modern amenities, though opinions vary on its overall vibrancy. This was made clear in comments posted underneath the video following the content creator’s trip in September.

Based on the comments, it’s clear everyone has different views when it comes to visiting the holiday spot. When someone told the woman she must have worked “hard” to create such a negative video, she replied: “Not at all. I would have made a video to show how beautiful it was, if it was the case.”

She also noted that everyone has different opnions, and this was reflected in the comments too. One person said: “You’re joking, I loved it there. You can find badness anywhere.”

Someone else also chimed in with: “Why are people so upset about this video? Some people like it, some others not, and that’s it. We can’t all like the same things.”

WHEN Brits think of Costa Blanca, the places that come to mind are probably rowdy Benidorm and busy Alicante.

But one woman revealed to Sun Travel that the “jewel” of that coastline is actually the small town of Moraira.

It has all the best bits of Spain like white-washed houses with terracotta tiles, sandy beaches with bright blue waters, and a little harbour filled with boats and yachts.

While lots of holidaymakers like to mix up the places they visit each year, the Sun’s Jade Dadalica and her family have been returning to the town of Moraira, several times a year since 2021.

Jade explained: “My family and I go one or twice a year for around two weeks. We went on holiday to Jávea which is a nearby town and went for a day trip to Moraira, which we actually preferred.

“We booked a villa there the following year and have been going back ever since. A lot of the Spanish go on their holidays there, and you only get a few Brits, it’s not rowdy at all.

YULE DO

Travel expert reveals cheap UK holiday parks with Xmas breaks from £9pp a night

CHRIMBO WIN

Enter these travel comps before Xmas to win £2k holidays, ski trips & spa stays

“We love it, if I won the lottery, the first thing I would do is buy a place there.”

While Moraira might not have everything that a busy city does, the laidback town still has plenty to offer.

Jade added: “It’s got loads of restaurants, bars, shops, ice cream parlours, and Ale-Hop of course. There’s a market once a week too, that sells everything from clothes and souvenirs to fruit and veg, a lot of locals go and it’s always really busy.

“One of my favourite places to eat is what my family call the ‘windy bar’, but it’s actually called El Cafeti de la Mar. From there you can see the sea and the castle and we love it. We go so much that the owners know who we are.

“It’s always popular with locals, especially in the mornings because they go for breakfast there. But lunch and dinner are amazing too.”

On its menu, El Cafeti de la Mar serves up simple breakfast croissants, bagels, crepes, and Huevos Benedict.

There’s plenty of tapas to choose from, as well as mains in the evenings from salads, to fish dishes, burgers, ribs and steak.

Another of Jade’s favourites is a spot literally called The Secret Bar where you can sip on classic cocktails like margaritas and blueberry daiquiris.

Other places that Jade recommended are La Malquerida, a Mexican restaurant and The Ribs Bar, which has speciality dishes of ribs, steaks and kebabs.

Once you’ve filled your stomach, why not stretch out on the beach for an afternoon siesta – and Moraira has a few playas to choose from.

The main beach in Moraira is Playa de l’Ampolla but when Jade is on holiday, she goes around the corner to Playa del Portet.

Jade said: “The main beach is sandy and is always quite busy because it’s the one the locals use. We go to one on the other side, Playa del Portet, it’s a little less known, so we go out there and hire paddleboards.”

If you want to venture out of the town, then it’s an easy vantage point to take daytrips too.

Jade told us: “From Moraira, you can get to a town called Calp, which isn’t far at all. There are also some waterfalls, called Fonts de l’Algar, which are under an hour’s drive away.

“You have to buy tickets, but these are €8 (£6.95) during the summer, and €6 (£5.21) during off peak, for the whole day. You can go swimming, or climb up the waterfalls, it’s a great place for pictures.

“Of course, Moraira is close to Benidorm, which is funny because it really doesn’t feel like it. We drive down that way to go to the waterpark called Aqualandia for a family day out.”

If you think that it’s too late in the year to take a break to the Moraira to get good weather, you’d be wrong.

In October, it still has highs of 19C and next week during half-term, you can get flights to Alicante, which is the closest airport, for as little as £14.

Ryanair offers one-way direct flights from London Stansted, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham for under £15.

Although if you do book for half-term hoping to visit Aqualandia, it has closed for the season and will reopen in May 2026.

Jade told us: “I went to Moraira in late September and the weather was still really warm. You can still go on the beach, I even got sunburnt. We always go in September and June which are quieter because it’s out of school holiday time.

“It’s not like other places across Spain which close when the tourists leave either. My dad was speaking to owners of the local bars and they’re open all year round.”

FOOLED FOR LOVE

Dating app conman robbed me of £90k… it could happen to anyone

HOUSE THAT

Five home improvements you can get for FREE to help cut £2,000 off energy bills

Plus, here’s a tiny Spanish town that’s actually in the middle of France that you can visit for the day.

And for anyone wanting to make a permanent move to Spain, here’s another coastline where you can still buy property for a bargain price.

Former MLB player Jesús Montero, who was once referred to by New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman as “the best player I’ve traded,” died Sunday from injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident earlier this month. He was 35.

The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League reported Montero’s passing on social media, referring to the power-hitting catcher, designated hitter and first baseman as someone with “a powerful bat, an unforgettable presence, a heart that loved this game.”

“Thank you for every at-bat, every home run, every day you proudly defended our colors,” the league wrote in Spanish on Instagram. “Rest in peace, Jesús. Your legacy lives on in every fan who ever celebrated with you.”

In addition to six seasons with the Venezuelan league, Montero played five major league seasons, one with the Yankees and four with the Seattle Mariners. Both teams, as well as MLB, mourned Montero with posts on X.

Born in Guacara, Venezuela, Montero was 16 when he was signed by the Yankees as an international free agent in 2006. He worked his way through the minor leagues, twice appearing in the All-Star Futures game, and made his MLB debut late in the 2011 season. In 61 at-bats over 18 games that September, Montero had a batting average of .328 and OPS of .996 with four home runs and 12 RBIs.

That offseason, Montero was traded to Seattle as part of a blockbuster package deal that sent pitcher Michael Pineda to New York.

“He may very well be the best player I’ve traded,” Cashman told reporters at the time. “He’s that good. He’s a middle-of-the-lineup type bat.”

Montero played 208 games for the Mariners, hitting 24 home runs with 92 RBIs. His time with the organization was marred by struggles with his weight and a 50-game performance-enhancing drug ban in 2013, as he was among several players disciplined by MLB for their relationship to Biogenesis of America.

In 2016, Montero played in the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system and received another 50-game suspension following the season after testing positive for banned stimulant dimethylbutylamine. He played part of the 2017 season in the Baltimore Orioles minor league system, then spent several more years playing baseball in Mexico and Venezuela before retiring in 2021.

Montero reportedly crashed his motorcycle into a truck Oct. 4 and had been hospitalized in critical condition since then. Authorities said he was unable to recover from multiple injuries.

Taneth Gimenez — Montero’s ex-wife and mother of their two children, Loren and Jesús — has posted several tributes to her former husband on her Instagram Story since his passing.

“May the Lord receive you in your glory,” she wrote in Spanish on one post. “Thank you for giving me the greatest gift I have, my children.”

She added in another, also in Spanish: “I keep the good times tattooed on my soul.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

ON Spain’s Costa del Sol, the city of Malaga is rich in heritage with a buzzing social scene.

It also offers a winning combination of a city and beach break rolled into one, meaning you can blend shopping and sight-seeing with downtime and relaxation.

Here we pick Malaga’s highlights.

WHY SHOULD I GO?

THE weather in Malaga is unlikely to disappoint, at any time of the year.

Right now temperatures are ideal — sunshine in the mid-20s — which is perfect for relaxing with a book by the pool or on the beach, as well as pounding the city streets without getting too hot and bothered.

Even if you’re not one for lying in the sun, a few days can easily be spent exploring the city’s excellent shopping scene or its old town with Roman ruins and Renaissance architecture flanking the streets.

WAIL OF A TIME

I drove Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands

TEMPTED?

Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

The city centre is also just 15 minutes from the airport by car, which makes it an ideal destination for a short break.

STREETS MADE FOR WALKING?

MALAGA is the sixth largest city in Spain, and fairly sprawling.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t explore it easily on foot.

It does depend on where you’re staying as to whether you’ll want to grab a taxi to the city centre, though.

All of the city’s main landmarks, including the cathedral, Alcazaba fortress-palace and Roman Theatre, are within a few minutes’ stroll of each other.

ANYTHING FOR BUCKET LIST?

HIKE up to the top of Gibralfaro Castle for fantastic views over the port and city.

This fort was built in the 14th century to house troops and protect the Alcazaba.

Standard entry is seven euros, which allows you to walk the perimeter of the fort via its tall walls as well as visit the small on-site museum.

Be sure to wear comfy shoes as the winding path visitors must climb to reach the castle from the town is pretty steep, and smooth paving means it’s easy to lose your footing.

If you do struggle with hills, you can grab a bus to the top.

For equally impressive views, a walk around the adjacent Alcazaba is not to be missed (standard entry is ten euros).

This stunning building is a marvel of medieval architecture.

Malaga is the birthplace of artist Pablo Picasso and it would be remiss not to visit the Picasso Museum, which showcases some of his famous works.

WHERE SHOULD I EAT?

ALMOST all tastes are catered for on the beachfront, but seafood should be the order of the day here.

Make sure you have at least one serving of pil-pil prawns, which features on most menus here.

I loved Majumi Beach Club, which has a relaxed vibe and dishes up some excellent local grub.

Try the sardines, which are grilled on an outdoor fire. The tomato salad with anchovies is also a hit with visitors.

For a nice evening meal, Los Marangos in the old town serves top paella, tapas and other authentic dishes from the region.

FANCY A DRINK?

PICASSO Bar Tapas has a really buzzy atmosphere.

As the name suggests, you can enjoy tipples such as fruit-loaded sangria alongside tapas-style nibbles.

Or if you’re looking for more of a party vibe, there are plenty of late-night venues in Torremolinos including Irish bars and karaoke venues.

I preferred to take advantage of the Cosmos Sky Bar at my hotel — Hotel Costa Malaga — which poured me freshly shaken cocktails while I soaked up the excellent views from the rooftop.

WHERE SHOULD I STAY?

HOTEL Costa Malaga is very affordable at around £50 a night.

It is best suited to adults rather than families with young children, due to its lack of kids’ facilities.

And that is a big sellling point as it means the hotel attracts a laidback crowd who come for the balmy weather and good food.

Rooms are modern, with the ocean visible from many of the balconies.

FASHION FALLOUT

‘Diva’ Molly-Mae cuts filming of docuseries before explosive backstage row

‘DESPAIR’

My Paige, 24, died after using nasal tanning sprays… 1st deadly sign shocked us

As well as a reasonable-sized pool, there’s a gym area and on-site buffet and breakfast restaurant.

The best part is that the beach is just a ten-minute walk away, where you can spend the day flopped on a lounger in one of the many beach clubs — or have a go at one of the watersports on offer.

RYANAIR has launched its winter 2025 schedule for a popular Spanish destination – and it means more flights from the UK.

The budget airline has announced its winter schedule for Alicante, with 79 routes in total including 10 new destinations.

Alicante is known for having pretty beaches with clear waters and a famous nightlife scene.

And new flights to Alicante will include from Cardiff in Wales as well as Aberdeen in Scotland.

Three flights a week will operate from each airport to Alicante.

And extra flights will be added from Edinburgh to Scotland, a route already in place.

Read more on travel inspo

SUN SWAP

I’ve visited Florida 50 times… my holiday costs less than a European all-inclusive

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

As a result of the additions, Ryanair‘s winter capacity in Alicante will rise by 12 per cent.

However, the additions come as Ryanair has scrapped around two million seats to Spain in the past months.

Last month, the airline said that they would be cancelling all of their flights to Tenerife North, Vigo and Santiago.

Ryanair currently has two aircraft based at Santiago de Compostela and when Sun Travel looked at Ryanair’s booking platform, it found that the last flight to the destination before operations cease, departs on March 27, 2026.

For Tenerife North, no flights appear on the booking platform and all Ryanair flights to Vigo will stop in January 2026.

Both of the airline’s bases at Valladolid and Jerez will remain closed as well.

Just last week O’Leary also confirmed that a further 1.2million seats would be axed to Spain next summer, yet the airports that will be impacted have not been revealed yet.

The flurry of cancellations come as the airline disagrees with current airport tariffs in Spain.

AENA, which owns and operates 46 airports across Spain, recently announced that airport charges would increase by 6.5 per cent at the start of 2026, marking the highest rise in a decade.

The charges are for airlines’ use of airports and services at them, such as using terminals, runways, security and baggage handling.

Last week, O’Leary said: “AENA and its major shareholder, the Spanish Govt, continue to harm regional traffic growth, tourism and jobs in Spain through high airport fees and unjustified price increases.

“AENA should be lowering airport fees at underused Regional airports, but instead they plan to increase them by seven per cent, the highest fee increase for over a decade.

“The Spanish Govt has failed to stimulate Regional tourism and jobs, as it continues to protect the Aena Monopoly’s high fee operations.

“We regret that these fee increases make Regional Spanish airports uncompetitive, and this is why Ryanair is switching 1.2m more seats away from Regional airports in Spain in S2026, to some of Spain’s bigger airports, but mainly to lower-cost competitor airports in Italy, Morocco, Croatia, Sweden, and Hungary.”

It is believed that AENA is implementing the increased tariffs to fund investments in its airports.

This includes Malaga Airport, which is set to undergo a £1.3billion multi-year expansion project which will include making the terminals larger and security more efficient.

Barcelona Airport is also due to get a major upgrade.

If plans are approved, AENA will invest £2.8billion into expanding the airport, with the operator hoping to reach a runway capacity of 90 flights per hour.

Both projects form part of the DORA III plan – a £11.3billion investment plan for the next five years.

OMAZE-ING

I went from council flat to winning £4m house… But this is why I’m selling up

BOTTOMS UP

Wetherspoons reveals opening dates of 5 new pubs starting next week

In other Spanish flight news, another airline is launching new flight routes from UK to five top Spanish destinations including ‘Europe’s best city’.

Plus, Jet2’s new flights will connect the UK to two Spanish beach cities.

Marco Penge held his nerve in a play-off to defeat fellow Englishman Daniel Brown and take the Spanish Open title in Madrid.

Penge held a four-shot lead over nearest challenger Joel Girrbach going into the final round, while he was five shots better off than Brown.

However, he only had a one-shot advantage going to the 18th on Sunday after his lead was trimmed.

After Penge made par to finish with a one-over 72 for his final round at the Club de Campo, Brown sank a birdie putt for a 67 which forced a play-off as both finished on 15 under.

At the first time of asking in the sudden-death play-off, Penge birdied the 18th with an eight-foot putt to secure a third European Tour title of the season.

Penge’s victory in Spain also means he has automatically qualified for the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale next year.

“It was a strange day for me,” said Penge, who carded 66, 67 and 64 in his first three rounds.

“I had it in my head that the golfing gods were kind of against me in a way. Dan and Joel played great, they were holing putts and putting the pressure on me.

“I just couldn’t get it in the hole. It felt like I was really up against it, but I felt like I managed myself really well.”

Penge was given a three-month ban in December 2024 for placing bets on multiple events, with one month suspended for a year.

He has resumed his career in fine fashion and said: “I think tee to green I played solid and it was just a matter of the putts – I think I used them all yesterday, but holing that one [on the play-off hole] was worth the wait.”

Switzerland’s Girrbach finished with a 69 as he ended up in third place on 14 under.

Three-time champion Jon Rahm carded a closing 65, which included seven birdies and a bogey, as the Spaniard finished tied for ninth at his home Open.

Oct. 11 (UPI) — A hidden breeding facility in Spain was found to contain the remains of 250 animals and 171 live animals that were endangered and recovered to receive veterinary care.

The illicit breeding facility was located in the back of a warehouse in Meson do Vento in Ordes, Spain, the Spanish Civil Guard announced Saturday.

The warehouse manager has been detained and faces charges for alleged animal abuse, professional intrusion in the field of veterinary medicine and illegal possession of protected species.

Most of the deceased animals were dogs and birds, including Chihuahuas, and some of the animals found living fed on the remains in the absence of food.

Many were in “different stages of decomposition, some even mummified,” the Civil Force said, as reported by CBS News.

Exotic birds, dwarf horses, chinchillas, chickens and ducks were among those found living, as well as dogs.

The kennels and cages housing the animals were covered in excrement, which contributed to the dangers faced by the remaining animals.

Civil Guard officers also found a large supply of expired medicines and other veterinary materials that lacked prescriptions.

Spanish authorities have discovered several animal trafficking rings this year, including one in which two men had more than 150 exotic species kept and an unlicensed pet store in Nules.

Officers also broke up an online ring based in the Balearic Islands that trafficked large cats, including pumas, lynx and white tigers.

The site of the latest illicit pet breeding facility was located in northwestern Spain and about 350 miles north of Lisbon.

Watching comedians perform under the thumb of a government that is actively attacking swaths of its population is nothing new for Angelo Colina.

The 31-year-old joke teller was born and raised in the Venezuelan city of Maracaibo as the South American country faced continuous political turmoil under the prolonged presidencies of Hugo Chavez and Nicolás Maduro, among other economic, humanitarian and democratic challenges — such as hyperinflation, increased rates of starvation and decreased access to adequate healthcare services.

Colina — who carved a lane in the Americas as a Spanish-language comedian and has garnered millions of views across social media due to his whip-smart jokes and playful crowd work — left his home country at 21 and began pursuing a comedy career after moving to the neighboring Colombia.

It was the audacity of Venezuelan acts — like Nacho Redondo, Led Varela, Erika de la Vega and Luis Chataing, who spoke out against oppressive government rule — that inspired Colina and informed his worldview.

“As someone who grew up watching [them] perform and doing jokes about the government in Venezuela while they still could, that was my example,” Colina told The Times. “They really fought censorship as long as they could.”

As a self-described “double immigrant,” first to Colombia and subsequently Salt Lake City, the New York-based comedian said he felt as though he’s already lived four lives — all of which have helped shape his comic eye and sharpened his observational skills.

The current political climate, the continued artistic acceptance of Latino art in the U.S. and the ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids throughout the country were at the top of mind as Colina spoke with The Times ahead of his Oct. 11 performance at the Hollywood Improv.

This interview has been edited and shortened for clarity.

What has it been like doing comedy shows for a Spanish-speaking crowd in the time of ICE raids?

I start my shows by saying, “We’re doing comedy. You guys are not noticing, but we’re doing comedy in Spanish. In the United States in 2025. This is the closest to punk that we’ve ever been.” And people start laughing about it, because [federal officials] backed up by the law to say that if you speak Spanish, then they can ask about your current immigration status. And it’s like, all right, let’s speak Spanish. We’re not doing anything wrong. We’re just celebrating our culture in every show we do.

Do you like the idea of being a little punk?

I think it just became that; it was more organic. I wasn’t thinking that I’m part of a larger movement that started by other people of doing comedy in Spanish, which has always been and it’s certainly been a cool thing to me, but now it’s counterculture for sure. But I don’t need to invite people to my show because it’s counterculture, that’s not the reason why I want to sell. People have been freely celebrating being Latino for years already and I don’t think there’s any way to stop it, honestly.

Have you felt a change in your audience at all in recent months?

Unfortunately, I have. I do, however, have to give a shout-out to all the non-Latinos coming to the shows. They are coming because they want to see a form of Latinidad in its own rhythm and they are in love with our culture and they come and they support it.

I see the hesitance to come to shows a lot more with people that used to come with their parents. A lot of people born in the States, but with immigrants parents, used to come to my shows. My shows have always been a place where people finally can do something with their parents. Normally, they don’t find a lot of activities where they can share something like that. So their parents are now the ones that are faster on the joke and they are the ones that are catching up. It’s always been part of my whole demographic.

That’s the shift I’ve been seeing. A lot of people have reached out to me and said, “I would love to go to your show, but I don’t think it’s a good idea right now.” I got a lot of Venezuelans coming to my shows and saying, “This is the last show I’m going to in the States. I’m leaving next week. I got a deportation letter.” I got screenshots of it and they’re saying they’ll see me in Colombia or Argentina. It’s been pretty emotional. Honestly, this might be the first time I actually get emotional talking about it, but it’s hurt a bit.

It must be nice for the audience to have that time at your show to be who they are, but are you addressing the craziness of everything in your act?

I’m not pretending that’s not happening out there. Comedy gave me the opportunity to become a resident in the United States. I got my visa because of the people coming to my shows. It would be disgraceful for me not to talk about what’s happening or not to at least try to be of help, even if it’s by making people laugh.

Has it been difficult navigating the U.S. comedy scene as a fully Spanish act?

I would say dealing with the industry can be tougher sometimes because of the lack of awareness of how powerful Latino crowds can be. Luckily, it’s changing a bit because of musicians like Bad Bunny and Karol. Everything artists like them have done has made people organizing shows say, “Hmm, let’s see. Maybe I won’t give the Spanish act a Tuesday night slot. Let me try them on a Thursday or Friday night or a Sunday.” And then they see the room packed and people spending money, just having a great time.

I complained a lot about the industry last year and now I’m in a phase where I just want to do this for my people for as long as I can. I’m just enjoying being able to perform.

How has it been seeing Latinos in the U.S. further embrace Spanish-language content?

It’s not only Latinos; people from all backgrounds are interested in our culture. In L.A., a lot of Latinos that were born here didn’t have the chance to learn Spanish or practice it as much, but they love the culture. You also see a lot of people that are non-Latino at my show because they’re interested in Spanish.

It’s like music. There’s no merengue in English because there’s no need for merengue in English. If you are a non-Spanish speaker and you like the rhythm, you’re gonna come to the music. And that’s happening at my show and I’m learning how to navigate it. Sometimes I see people making faces and you don’t hear the laugh coming back at you. Then the show ends and everyone’s DMing me and then they’re signing at the very end of the DM because white people love doing that.

Though the new animated feature “Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires” bears the name of one the most emblematic American superheroes, its creation was entirely a Mexican affair.

The action-packed saga reimagines the caped crusader as a young Aztec man named Yohualli, whose father is killed when conquistador Hernan Cortes arrives on the coast of what we know today as the state of Veracruz. By the time Cortes and his troops reach the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, the brave Yohualli has become a fierce warrior protected by the bat deity known as Tzinacan (an actual Aztec god that fits perfectly within this fictional narrative).

Produced by Mexico City-based animated outfit Ánima Estudios, a company at the forefront of the medium in the country for over two decades, “Aztec Batman” emerged as an attempt to expand Ánima’s relationship with Warner Bros. Ánima previously produced two CG-animated films based on “Top Cat,” the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon owned by Warner.

Released Sept. 18 on HBO Max, “Aztec Batman” was initially conceived as a miniseries, and eventually took the more concise form of a film. And while it’s a work meant to entertain, the creators hope that it also ignites new curiosity in younger audiences, particularly those in Mexico and of Mexican descent elsewhere, to learn more about Indigenous peoples.

“The movie seeks to generate pride because part of our roots as Mexicans are Indigenous cultures,” Ánima co-founder José C. Garcia de Letona said in Spanish during a recent video interview. “For many of us, the other part comes from the Spanish. We’re not passing judgment because we are a consequence of what happened, but rather giving a slightly more respectful place to the Aztecs and all Indigenous cultures.”

Why focus on the Aztecs out of the numerous civilizations that existed in the territory that now constitutes Mexico? “Because they were the ones who confronted the Spanish. As the name suggests, it was a clash of empires,” Garcia de Letona adds.

“The victors usually decide who the good guys and the bad guys were when they write their version of the story, but they always omit or diminish the other side. And this is an opportunity to tell this chapter of history from a perspective that isn’t often told,” explains director Juan Meza-Leon, a native of Ensenada, in the Mexican state of Baja California Norte, who has worked in the U.S. animation industry since the mid-2000s. While Meza-Leon has a story credit, Ernie Altbacker, a veteran in the world of DC Comics, wrote the screenplay.

Key to the aesthetic and historical authenticity of “Aztec Batman” was the knowledge that Alejandro Díaz Barriga, one of the most prominent historians of Aztec culture, shared with the production.

“Alejandro accompanied us from the script stage to the character design up to the final cut of the film,” explains Garcia de Letona. Díaz Barriga’s contributions included details on how clothing differed depending on the person’s social class, and letting the production know that the Aztecs didn’t have chairs, tables or doors in their daily lives.

The armor for this Batman took inspiration from Aztec eagle warriors and jaguar warriors, and integrated elements referencing the god Tzinacan. For example, the Batman insignia in the film is at once recognizable as an Aztec design, while also instantly identifiable as the superhero’s logo. “We wanted the designs to have that pre-Columbian quality, but at the same time to look appropriate for what they are: comic book characters,” says Meza-Leon.

The animation team behind “Aztec Batman” consisted mostly of Mexican talent with a few other artists in Brazil and Peru. “Many of us in Latin America, myself included, never imagined being part of a Batman project, and that excited us all infinitely,” says Garcia de Letona.

From the onset, Warner insisted “Aztec Batman” should be produced in Spanish first, and then dubbed into English. The Spanish cast includes actors Horacio Garcia Rojas and Omar Chaparro, while the English version features Mexican American actors Jay Hernandez and Raymond Cruz. U.S.-based Mexican filmmaker Jorge Gutierrez (“The Book of Life”) voices Yohualli’s father, Toltecatzin, in both versions.

Whether you watch with the original Spanish track or the English dub, the dialogue is laced with phrases and words in the Nahuatl language, the native tongue of the Aztecs. “Once the story was finalized, we collaborated with a Mexican writer named Alfredo Mendoza, who helped us incorporate the Nahuatl language to differentiate between the different empires since they both speak Spanish in the film,” said Meza-Leon.

Batman’s classic villains are also transformed into characters that exist organically within the Aztec context. The Joker, for example, becomes Yoka, a shaman and right-hand man to emperor Moctezuma who can communicate with the gods. Catwoman appears here as a jaguar warrior, since there were no domestic cats at that point in history in the Americas. Some creative liberties were taken — the Aztec wouldn’t allow women to become trained fighters. The dubious Cortes becomes Two-Face, while Poison Ivy appears as an enigmatic goddess.

“The idea wasn’t to make a copy of the characters, but to capture their essence, so you could say, ‘That’s the Joker,’ ‘That’s Two-Face,’ ‘That’s Catwoman,’ although we never called them by those names,” says Meza-Leon. “We also never call him Batman; it’s Tzinacan or Bat Warrior, but the spirit of the character is there.”

Since the project was originally developed as a series, Meza-Leon has already developed a larger world. If this first chapter succeeds with audiences, an “Aztec Batman” sequel is feasible. The film is currently playing in Mexican cinemas and streaming globally. “I hope it is successful enough for us to continue exploring this alternative version of the conquest of Mexico, because there are still many ideas left,” says Meza-Leon.

Frauds stars Jodie Whittaker and Suranne Jones as two confidence tricksters

A fresh ITV drama is scheduled to debut tonight (Sunday 5th October), which is certain to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

Six-episode series Frauds focuses on two expert con artists named Sam and Bert, portrayed by Jodie Whittaker and Suranne Jones. Suranne also co-created the programme and worked as an executive producer.

The duo are brought back together following their separation during a gruelling ten-year prison term. Bert secures release on compassionate grounds due to a cancer diagnosis, yet she has no intention of taking it easy during her remaining weeks. Rather, she’s determined to execute one last job that will demonstrate her capabilities.

Bert and Sam quickly set out on the most daring of art robberies, assembling a crew of exceptionally talented misfits to assist them in plotting the crime.

“Whilst the team must overcome numerous challenges before they can pull off the heist, it’s the power struggle between Bert and Sam that threatens to derail their plans and destroy them both,” the synopsis concludes, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Alongside Suranne and Jodie, the programme also stars Talisa Garcia as Miss Take, Elizabeth Berrington as Jackie Diamond, and Karan Gill as Bilal Anwar.

The ensemble is rounded out by Thais Martin as Caitlin, Javier Taboada as Blas, Christian Cooke as Deegs, Lee Boardman as Craig, Kate Fleetwood as Celine, Nansi Nsue as Amaya, and Abdul Salis as Mateo.

Where was Frauds filmed?

Frauds was shot in Tenerife earlier this year, highlighting the island’s breathtaking remote terrain and glistening coastline.

Speaking at a recent press event, the show’s co-creator Anne-Marie O’Connor revealed: “The setting of Spain [felt] like a character. How arid it is, how unforgiving it is once you’re outside of the city. And as Brits, we all know Spain, we all know a version of Spain… Once you get outside of that world, you’re back in a very sort of arid landscape.”

Executive producer Katie Kelly chimed in: “We always knew that’s where it would be set, but shooting in Tenerife offered us everything we needed and more. In a small area you can have a sort of Costa del Sol beachside strip full of clubs (with everything from drag clubs to a magician’s show), and then suddenly you can find yourself in what looks like an old Spanish town or up in lush, verdant mountains.

“In developing the show we were also quite influenced by Westerns and in that part of the world you’ve also got these desert landscapes which are vast and feel epic and dry and bring a really interesting flavour and tone to the show.”

Sam’s secluded cottage was located in a quaint northern town named La Laguna.

“It was amazing, but it rained a lot. Didn’t matter – it was stunning. It is literally gonna be in my top five places in life, I loved it so much,” Jodie Whittaker shared.

“I’ve been to the south like as a kid on family holidays and never really realised how much we’re missing out by not heading up north. You know Santa Cruz is a brilliant little city too. That’s a great thing about this job – you get to live in these incredible places for a little window in your life.”

In the series, Bert decides that she wants to steal a famous painting from the Reina Sofía museum in Madrid, where filming actually took place.

“I remember Anne-Marie and I were just walking around the Reina Sofía in the middle of the night, and it was just closed for us,” lead director Giulia Gandini recalled.

She then joked: “And we were just wandering around thinking, ‘Yeah, we could really steal something right now. We could pull this off.'”

Anne-Marie added: “Also, as well, it’s that thing of like, you know, sometimes if you just ask you get. I mean, I wasn’t responsible for asking, but it was like, ‘They said yeah’. And I was like, ‘Alright then. You know we’re nicking a painting out of here, don’t you?'”

As well as making good use of Spain’s stunning landscapes, the team also cast several Spanish actors that “understood the acting and directing style” of the UK-created series.

Frauds will premiere on Sunday 5th October at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX

Is there a better inkblot test for America right now than reaction to Bad Bunny being the halftime act for Super Bowl LX?

Soon after his name was announced, social media exploded into meritocracy debates as if the National Football League’s decisions are culturally motivated and not commercially. Taylor Swift is the most streamed artist in Spotify history. Bad Bunny is No. 2. For a domestic sports league trying to grow its popularity globally, the rationale seems clear.

And yet because he is a Puerto Rican who sings in Spanish, conservative talking heads must project outrage and offer listeners nonsensical objections.

“It’s so shameful they’ve decided to pick somebody who seems to hate America so much to represent them at the halftime show,” Corey Lewandowski, a longtime confidant of President Trump who currently advises the Department of Homeland Security, told conservative podcast host Benny Johnson. “We should be trying to be inclusive, not exclusive. There are plenty of great bands and entertainment people who could be playing at that show that would be bringing people together and not separating them.”

Suggesting Bad Bunny hates America is an interesting take given Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917. The three-time Grammy winner also has four No. 1 albums on the very American Billboard pop charts and has already performed during halftime at the Super Bowl back in 2020 with Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. The Federal Communications Commission received more than 1,300 complaints about the show that year with the vast majority being from parents complaining about the stripper pole and twerking of the women, not Bad Bunny’s alleged hate of America.

I don’t know if Lewandowski and Johnson knew any of that before they started talking, but I get the feeling it wouldn’t have mattered anyway. Once Lewandowski suggested ICE was going to be at the Super Bowl — an event that had an average resale ticket price of $8,600 in 2024 — it was clear their conversation wasn’t about solving the immigration problem.

It was clear they didn’t know much about the history of halftime acts either.

In 2006, a Super Bowl held in the heart of Detroit — the birthplace of Motown — rolled out the Rolling Stones, who are from London. In 2010, a Super Bowl in Miami — home of salsa and Afro-Cuban jazz — gave us the Who … who are also from England. In 2002, months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, U2 — a band from Dublin, Ireland — did the show. There is a decades-long precedent for non-Americans to headline the Super Bowl. Though, again, quick geography lesson: Puerto Rico is part of the United States and Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens.

Detractors like Lewandowski and Johnson want to make English being Bad Bunny’s second language an indictment of his patriotism, as if growing up speaking English is a criterion for citizenship. It isn’t and never has been. Perhaps instead of using their platform to stir fear at a time when calm is needed, the two could see next February’s show as an opportunity to grow. Because honestly, it is so counterproductive to allow influential voices to gaslight the country into forgetting the milestones it’s already crossed. “La Bamba” by Los Lobos was sung in Spanish and hit No. 1 nearly 40 years ago. The only English in the K-pop hit “Gangnam Style” is “hey, sexy lady,” and that song made PSY an international sensation.

Instead of making people fear Spanish at the Super Bowl, maybe encourage them to spend this NFL season learning something beyond “gracias.“ Because in this world, there are people who choose to speak in English and there are people who have no other choice. Only one of those scenarios feels like freedom to me.

That was the topic of discussion in the summer of 2008 after then-Sen. Barack Obama said this at a campaign stop in Georgia: “Understand this, instead of worrying about whether immigrants can learn English — they’ll learn English — you need to make sure your child can speak Spanish. You should be thinking about how can your child become bilingual.”

At the time many conservatives — such as Tucker Carlson and Lou Dobbs — used those comments not as a prompt to debate the merits of Obama’s remarks regarding U.S. education but as a weapon to attack him. They accused him of being divisive — when years ago Nelson Mandela said when you talk to someone “in his own language, that goes to his heart.” In fact, Dobbs said “instead of diversity, he’s talking about factionalism.” Nonsense that sounds a lot like the echoes we hear from Lewandowski and Johnson today.

It’s not just a question of if our children should be bilingual; it’s also about being curious about the world we live in. This NFL season has already featured games in Ireland and Brazil. Mexico City is an annual event. The league is in it for the bag. And eventually there will be a team based overseas where Spanish is heard, visiting teams carry passports and Bad Bunny is no stranger.

YouTube: @LZGrandersonShow