UK pound against the Euro, how expensive is Spain?

After having shocked us all by falling to near parity in value with the euro, the pound is now maintaining a stronger position and is likely to regain more of its value in the year ahead. Quite understandably, though, many travellers from the Uk have been wondering about whether Spain is now an expensive place to have a holiday. We believe that, whilst not as cheap as it was two years ago, a holiday to Spain is still an economically viable option.

Where we are based in the Alpujarras, in the province of Granada, a three course meal including a drink (alcoholic or otherwise) can still be found for about 8 euros in virtually every village or town. A pizza large enough to feed two people costs 8 euros. A glass of wine or beer costs 1.50 euros and this often includes free tapas. A coffee costs 1 euro. A loaf of bread (the French stick variety) costs as little as 0.45 euros, fresh chicken breasts cost 4.20 euros per kg, and a litre of fresh milk is 0.80 euros. There is a wide selection of perfectly acceptable wine available for less than 3 euros a bottle, a litre bottle of gin is about 9 euros and a can of beer from a supermarket can cost as little as 0.25 euros. A 10 kg bag of freshly picked oranges ready for juicing costs just 4 euros. Petrol now costs about the same as it does in the UK. Accommodation is still comparatively cheap, as is car hire, and even in high season you can find excellent quality self catering holiday lets at Cortijo Opazo for 360 euros for two people for a week (320 per week in low season).

And of course there has always been so much more to Spain than just a cheap holiday destination.

So, we hope that in 2009 and beyond tourists from the UK will still choose Spain as a favourite holiday destination since it reamins a remarkable country with so many surprising delights to offer.