Energy tourists in Spain: High heating costs make winter holidays attractive

 

Toast to the sun, the sea... and the money saved. The seaside resort of Benidorm in eastern Spain is a popular destination for Europeans looking to extend their summer. But recently you can also escape the high gas and electricity bills at home here.

A Dutch tourist enthuses: "It's cheaper here than in the Netherlands. It's much colder there, you have to turn on the heating. And that costs money. You have to be crazy to stay in the Netherlands. Here you can use the savings you've made for having a blast."

Spanish tourism sector benefits

The region's tourism sector benefits from the unplanned guests. A night in a hotel outside of the season sometimes costs just fifty euros. Holiday apartments are also booked much more frequently than usual.

Daniel Elman, who rents out holiday apartments on MyFlats, explains: "Most tenants come from Northern Europe. Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany. It's clear why: all of these people would otherwise have to pay a lot of money to heat their houses. That is different here in the south."

Thanks to its low dependence on Russian gas, the EU has approved the so-called "Iberian Exception", which secures lower gas prices for Spain.

However, tourists do not only save on energy prices: groceries and restaurant visits are often cheaper in Spain in comparison. A two-bedroom apartment including water, electricity and internet connection is available for around 650 euros in the winter season.

Not only hotels and holiday apartments enjoy great popularity, especially outside of the season: An unusual large number of Europeans also decide to buy an apartment or house in Spain this year.

In order to find out how much can actually be saved by spending the winter in Spain, the Dutch comparison portal Pricewise made a calculation. A senior couple would spend 5,200 euros with rent, additional costs, restaurant visits and travel expenses for four winter months in Spain. In Belgium, the sum would come to around 6,200 euros. Accordingly, around 1,000 euros could be saved; but only if the rent and other running costs at home would be eliminated.

The bottom line is that a winter in southern Europe remains primarily an option for those who can afford it.