More countries in Europe are creating tourist taxes and amending VRBO and AIRBNB regulations in an effort to fend off tourists who are flocking to see famous and historic places.
I live on the sea and it’s a nightmare with tourists. It has started already and I am not looking forward to the summer. Parties non stop, rubbish and broken glass everywhere to say the least. It’s a circus.
Interesting thoughts which make a lot of sense. Warning: last Summer in Athens, I heard on several occasions American visitors who had arrived only to find that their Airbnb did not exist, so do be careful. Athens is a really interesting city to visit, but you might like to think about either earlier or later - April/May or September October. It is rammed the rest of the time . Also it is really hot in high Summer.
Thank you, I look forward to coming to Lisbon soon. Darn, it looks like a rainy week next week?? We live in a tourist area in B.C. 🇨🇦 and I hear you. Same thing here exactly.
It does look like you are in for a rainy week. Love BC! Spent time in and around Vancouver (White Rock, Surrey, Langley), and then Kamloops and Kelowna. Love it there.
I think it’s important to point out that when you visit another country (speaking to Americans) you need to respect you host country. That means learn and practice saying please and thank you in the local language. Do not sail through with a sense of entitlement because you paid for the experience. It’s not Disneyland it’s someone’s home. A little humility goes a long way.
I can relate. When I choose a place to go, I really hate places with a lot of tourists. I would hate to live in one of them. Imagine growing up in a charming town and than lots of people coming and taking all that charm away
These days, I go where the tourists don't go. I finished my bucket list of museums and major cities befoe "over tourism" became a thing. Social media tends to drive tourists to the same places. I actually saw an Instagram shoot while watching Art Vision (a Yotuber who walks around Paris). He happened to settle at a table across from a cafe when four women and a photographer showed up. (I don't know where they went off-screen to change their outfits!) And, Art Vision again, I saw an enormous crowd of tourists around Le Consulat, moving through like a sluggish school of fish, and nobody looked happy. Tourism has become a deal with the devil and I'm happy to see that cities are making an attempt to get control of the mess.
We come to Europe for 4-5 weeks at a time twice a year is our goal. We now head for second or third tier tourist areas to avoid the crowds. Other that a two day stint in an overcrowded Florence we have stuck to that plan. Currently we are in Martina Franca Puglia in our fourth week in Italy.
We've been in Spain and Portugal for the last 3 months, and have only been met with respect and friendliness. I suspect that has quite a bit to do with being in the winter when the crowds are not so large. In the Algarve, the place we were staying might have had one out of ten places occupied. I love the "winter" temperatures here, and it has been a wonderful trip. I can understand resentment toward huge numbers of tourists though. It happens where I live in Alaska, and we breathe a sigh of relief when summer is over and they all fly away.
There are many more tourists today b/c the airlines have their own credit cards which accumulate points and travel package deals. So they make it more affordable for peoplle to travel.
I had the opportunity to travel to Europe and many other places in the past 35 years. Now, I feel that there are way too many tourists everywhere so I totally avoid travelling during the summer months. Fortunately, I live in a city where life is very good during the summer, there are many different things to do and visit.
I grew up in Newport RI a sleepy boating and beach town in the 70s and 80s. We always had a love hate relationship with tourists and the bumper to bumper traffic they brought. In the 90s and early 2000s there was a shift and many homes were bought for vacation and summer rentals. Now the town is just about dead during 8-9 months out of the year. Not just sleepy 😴. Gone are the families, closed are the elementary and high schools. Some bought and remodeled into apartments/condos. I do see a trend for older empty nesters and digital nomads just slow traveling around the world 🌎 during a city's off or shoulder seasons 🤔 Making it more affordable and enjoyable to see these places as well as many new places. In fact I went from let's migrate to Portugal 🇵🇹 to why deal with taxes, bureaucracy, residency permits etc, when slow traveling saves me money 💰, taxes, time, etc. Do you see an increase of expats in Portugal relocating once their NHR benefits expire? 🤔 What would change in your life if you relocated to say Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia? Pros/ cons? Would love to see a video on these topics. Hint hint 😏 😉 🤔🌞
Air BnB has gotten expensive and almost all instances a ridiculous cleaning fee is levied.. Isn't cleaning supposed to be a standard procedure as a part of a rental?. Hotels don't charge you a cleaning fee. BnB hosts expect you to keep the place as moved in or else they write a bad review. So why then the cleaning fee?. Air BnB takes typically a 15% cut as a service fee. So by adding a separate cleaning fee, the hosts avoid the 15% cut on cleaning. Regard;less the cleaning fee should be Eliminated.
hard to blame locals, & i'm glad you don't! taking a NEED (housing) off the market & using it as a part-time WANT for tourism, just isn't a sustainable plan. the worst offenders are "rental arbitrage", where they rent lower priced apartments & put them up as vacation rental... but really, turning any existing dwelling has a ripple effect that increases prices up & down the market. even if minor increase, "minor" is a much higher burden on low-income earners, as a percentage of their income/expenses. as for attractions, i'm not sure it's going to subside or get any less crowded naturally. there are only so many attractions in the world, but population continues to explode.
I haven't felt this at all, but I can't find anyone who wants to work for us! We just got back from Lison and both agreed...Never driving there again! Lots of traffic and people...Public transportation from now on!! We did see way more tourists and prices have definitely gone up! Summer in Lisbon is a no go for me!! I stay home in my cool azulejos tiled house!!!😉Going back to Cali in April so that should be nice and then relax and work on the house!! We have a beautiful view and home so this is our vacation!!😜
Amending the VRBO and AIRBNB regulations is also a tool being used to increase long term rental supply and time will tell if that works. I checked into booking an AIRBNB we rented in Braga in January 2023 and it was nearly double the cost for January 2024 so the demand is certainly strong and that was for a non-peak time of year.
Airbnb has a pernicious effect in local areas. garbage dumped on streets, noise problems, wild parties ending with the police attending etc. We live in areas where our homes are no longer homes because a bunch of people with no manners overrun our areas. The behaviour is not the same as in hotels, who spend money on disposing with garbage etc and who observe what their visitors are doing. In Central London we are astonished at the enormous quantities of grubby visitors who look as if they haven't bought new clothes for centuries. It doesn't enrich our culture
Behavior is a lot of the issue. Even other travelers have increasingly had it with drunk, loud backpackers, out of control tech bros, or middle aged louts. Both locals and other tourists should be putting pressure on people to be adults and good guests.
Are you finding any potential reduction in the number of tourists, in the upcoming high season, due to the saber rattling by NATO against Russia? Is the threat of war in Europe having any effect?
Not at the moment. So many countries in Europe are stating record levels of flights, accommodations, bookings at attractions. It does not seem to be impacting travel to Europe at all.
As with higher education and unpaid internships, only the rich will be able to afford to see the world. Americans, falling further into isolation, won't be improved by this.
I wish I knew this before I planned my upcoming visit to Spain. I would take my tourism elsewhere since we’re unwelcome. The locals are the ones jacking up prices, not tourists. Why aren’t they mad at their own citizens?! I still feel like cancelling. If I could get all of my money back I would.
the economy and inflation causes price rises. Why did you choose to go to Spain? Are you interested in their culture? Or do you just want cheap sun? Things have changed since the pandemic. Wage levels have risen. This is a complex mix but no, the world is not just an individual's playground. Of course tourism can bring benefits to locals, but if the balance is lost whereby local people feel overrun, of course it causes problems.
More countries in Europe are creating tourist taxes and amending VRBO and AIRBNB regulations in an effort to fend off tourists who are flocking to see famous and historic places.
I live on the sea and it’s a nightmare with tourists. It has started already and I am not looking forward to the summer. Parties non stop, rubbish and broken glass everywhere to say the least. It’s a circus.
Interesting thoughts which make a lot of sense. Warning: last Summer in Athens, I heard on several occasions American visitors who had arrived only to find that their Airbnb did not exist, so do be careful. Athens is a really interesting city to visit, but you might like to think about either earlier or later - April/May or September October. It is rammed the rest of the time . Also it is really hot in high Summer.
Thank you, I look forward to coming to Lisbon soon. Darn, it looks like a rainy week next week?? We live in a tourist area in B.C. 🇨🇦 and I hear you. Same thing here exactly.
It does look like you are in for a rainy week. Love BC! Spent time in and around Vancouver (White Rock, Surrey, Langley), and then Kamloops and Kelowna. Love it there.
I think it’s important to point out that when you visit another country (speaking to Americans) you need to respect you host country. That means learn and practice saying please and thank you in the local language. Do not sail through with a sense of entitlement because you paid for the experience. It’s not Disneyland it’s someone’s home. A little humility goes a long way.
I can relate. When I choose a place to go, I really hate places with a lot of tourists. I would hate to live in one of them. Imagine growing up in a charming town and than lots of people coming and taking all that charm away
I was in Lisbon on Monday early March and there was a huge line to take that famous tram line up the hill. I can't imagine it when it gets busy! 😮
We just moved to Vaduz. Very nice. Quiet too.
These days, I go where the tourists don't go. I finished my bucket list of museums and major cities befoe "over tourism" became a thing. Social media tends to drive tourists to the same places. I actually saw an Instagram shoot while watching Art Vision (a Yotuber who walks around Paris). He happened to settle at a table across from a cafe when four women and a photographer showed up. (I don't know where they went off-screen to change their outfits!) And, Art Vision again, I saw an enormous crowd of tourists around Le Consulat, moving through like a sluggish school of fish, and nobody looked happy. Tourism has become a deal with the devil and I'm happy to see that cities are making an attempt to get control of the mess.
I don't use AirB&B and support the local hotels when I travel. My way to support the locals.
Live long and prosper!
We come to Europe for 4-5 weeks at a time twice a year is our goal. We now head for second or third tier tourist areas to avoid the crowds. Other that a two day stint in an overcrowded Florence we have stuck to that plan. Currently we are in Martina Franca Puglia in our fourth week in Italy.
We've been in Spain and Portugal for the last 3 months, and have only been met with respect and friendliness. I suspect that has quite a bit to do with being in the winter when the crowds are not so large. In the Algarve, the place we were staying might have had one out of ten places occupied. I love the "winter" temperatures here, and it has been a wonderful trip. I can understand resentment toward huge numbers of tourists though. It happens where I live in Alaska, and we breathe a sigh of relief when summer is over and they all fly away.
We went to Evora today, I was surprised at the numbers of tourists around.
There are many more tourists today b/c the airlines have their own credit cards which accumulate points and travel package deals. So they make it more affordable for peoplle to travel.
I had the opportunity to travel to Europe and many other places in the past 35 years. Now, I feel that there are way too many tourists everywhere so I totally avoid travelling during the summer months. Fortunately, I live in a city where life is very good during the summer, there are many different things to do and visit.
I grew up in Newport RI a sleepy boating and beach town in the 70s and 80s. We always had a love hate relationship with tourists and the bumper to bumper traffic they brought.
In the 90s and early 2000s there was a shift and many homes were bought for vacation and summer rentals.
Now the town is just about dead during 8-9 months out of the year. Not just sleepy 😴. Gone are the families, closed are the elementary and high schools. Some bought and remodeled into apartments/condos.
I do see a trend for older empty nesters and digital nomads just slow traveling around the world 🌎 during a city's off or shoulder seasons 🤔
Making it more affordable and enjoyable to see these places as well as many new places.
In fact I went from let's migrate to Portugal 🇵🇹 to why deal with taxes, bureaucracy, residency permits etc, when slow traveling saves me money 💰, taxes, time, etc.
Do you see an increase of expats in Portugal relocating once their NHR benefits expire? 🤔
What would change in your life if you relocated to say Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia? Pros/ cons?
Would love to see a video on these topics. Hint hint 😏 😉 🤔🌞
Lisbon and Porto are nuts in summer
Airbnb hasn't been a great help to locals anywhere, including the US.
Air BnB has gotten expensive and almost all instances a ridiculous cleaning fee is levied.. Isn't cleaning supposed to be a standard procedure as a part of a rental?. Hotels don't charge you a cleaning fee. BnB hosts expect you to keep the place as moved in or else they write a bad review. So why then the cleaning fee?. Air BnB takes typically a 15% cut as a service fee. So by adding a separate cleaning fee, the hosts avoid the 15% cut on cleaning. Regard;less the cleaning fee should be Eliminated.
hard to blame locals, & i'm glad you don't!
taking a NEED (housing) off the market & using it as a part-time WANT for tourism, just isn't a sustainable plan. the worst offenders are "rental arbitrage", where they rent lower priced apartments & put them up as vacation rental... but really, turning any existing dwelling has a ripple effect that increases prices up & down the market. even if minor increase, "minor" is a much higher burden on low-income earners, as a percentage of their income/expenses.
as for attractions, i'm not sure it's going to subside or get any less crowded naturally. there are only so many attractions in the world, but population continues to explode.
I haven't felt this at all, but I can't find anyone who wants to work for us! We just got back from Lison and both agreed...Never driving there again! Lots of traffic and people...Public transportation from now on!! We did see way more tourists and prices have definitely gone up! Summer in Lisbon is a no go for me!! I stay home in my cool azulejos tiled house!!!😉Going back to Cali in April so that should be nice and then relax and work on the house!! We have a beautiful view and home so this is our vacation!!😜
Amending the VRBO and AIRBNB regulations is also a tool being used to increase long term rental supply and time will tell if that works. I checked into booking an AIRBNB we rented in Braga in January 2023 and it was nearly double the cost for January 2024 so the demand is certainly strong and that was for a non-peak time of year.
Airbnb has a pernicious effect in local areas. garbage dumped on streets, noise problems, wild parties ending with the police attending etc. We live in areas where our homes are no longer homes because a bunch of people with no manners overrun our areas. The behaviour is not the same as in hotels, who spend money on disposing with garbage etc and who observe what their visitors are doing. In Central London we are astonished at the enormous quantities of grubby visitors who look as if they haven't bought new clothes for centuries. It doesn't enrich our culture
Behavior is a lot of the issue. Even other travelers have increasingly had it with drunk, loud backpackers, out of control tech bros, or middle aged louts. Both locals and other tourists should be putting pressure on people to be adults and good guests.
Good points.
Are you finding any potential reduction in the number of tourists, in the upcoming high season, due to the saber rattling by NATO against Russia? Is the threat of war in Europe having any effect?
Not at the moment. So many countries in Europe are stating record levels of flights, accommodations, bookings at attractions. It does not seem to be impacting travel to Europe at all.
I know people who travel and the proxy war does not seem to be affecting them,
Japan is doing the same.
they want tourist money but dont want tourist. Tell the government to build more housing...
As with higher education and unpaid internships, only the rich will be able to afford to see the world. Americans, falling further into isolation, won't be improved by this.
I wish I knew this before I planned my upcoming visit to Spain. I would take my tourism elsewhere since we’re unwelcome. The locals are the ones jacking up prices, not tourists. Why aren’t they mad at their own citizens?! I still feel like cancelling. If I could get all of my money back I would.
the economy and inflation causes price rises. Why did you choose to go to Spain? Are you interested in their culture? Or do you just want cheap sun? Things have changed since the pandemic. Wage levels have risen. This is a complex mix but no, the world is not just an individual's playground. Of course tourism can bring benefits to locals, but if the balance is lost whereby local people feel overrun, of course it causes problems.