
My holiday horizons have shrunk — but it's not the kids' fault
If you were to ask me to name my favourite newly discovered place on earth of the past half-decade, I could answer without a second's hesitation. It would be Casa Tino, a simple but spectacular fish restaurant with chairs and tables set right on top of the black volcanic sand of Playa Quemada, a half-forgotten fishing village on Lanzarote, that's very hard to find.
Lanzarote is cooler than you might think if you go to the right places, but I don't. Matthew Parris went there a long time ago and looked down into a cave of blind albino crabs, watching shafts of celestial sunlight illuminate their path without their knowing, prompting him to ponder his own Messiah complex.
I keep meaning to go and have
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Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
'Totally unfair': Airbnb fights back over protests
A leading Airbnb executive has said it is 'totally unfair' to blame the firm for 'over-tourism' in Europe. Theo Yedinsky, vice-president for public policy at the American company, has accused regulators and residents of 'scapegoating' the app. The US giant, which allows jetsetters to book short-term home rentals, has been accused of causing overcrowding in holiday hotspots. But Yedinsky instead pointed the finger at hotels. Tourist levels have angered those living in major European cities, who complain that Airbnb has pushed up rents and reduced the permanent housing on offer for residents. It has even led to protests by locals in Barcelona, Amsterdam, Malaga and Santorini. Yedinsky told the Financial Times: 'We end up getting a lot of the blame, especially in city centres. The reality is overtourism is really driven by the hotels.' In Barcelona, where officials have ordered nearly 66,000 properties to be wiped from the app, Yedinsky told the newspaper the mayor should 'look at hotels' and 'build more housing'. 'They are scapegoating Airbnb. They are attacking a fraction of the problem and then wondering why it's not getting better,' he said. The app claims it helps local communities as it supports families who want to let their property to make ends meet, as well as boosting tourism to areas outside of main cities. But it has garnered many critics. Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez earlier this year said 'there are too many Airbnbs and not enough homes'. Although most holidaymakers stay in hotels compared to short-term rentals, critics are concerned with the rapid growth of these properties. Visitors stayed in short lets for 715m nights compared to 1.9bn staying in hotels, according to data from the European Union. Apps such as Airbnb – founded in 2008 by Brian Chesky, Nathan Blecharczyk and Joe Gebbia – were effectively banned in New York in 2023. Closer to home, residents in tourist destinations incluyding Devon and Cornwall have complained that more landlords are letting properties to holidaymakers while locals struggle to find affordable homes. Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall Ben Maguire earlier this month claimed 'too many local families are being priced out while homes sit empty or churned through weekly rentals'.


Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Hotel Review: Bahia Del Duque, Tenerife
Set on the Costa Adeje, the lively and scenic southern coast of Tenerife, Bahia Del Duque is a sprawling five-star hotel with five swimming pools, ten restaurants, an impressive state-of-the-art spa and direct access to a white sandy beach. Rooms and facilities At over 100,000m², this is a large resort and it feels like a mini village with its turreted buildings, lush gardens, courtyards, restaurants and pools. There are 346 rooms and 40 more private villas, many with a sea view. As such, there's a wide offering of accommodation, with the most expensive option being Las Villas, which deliver more privacy and more modern luxurious design. Our room was in the main hotel and was comfortable, clean and well appointed with TV, minibar, balcony and a generous bathroom. The terracotta floor nodded to Spanish style and the bathroom goodies were Molton Brown. There is a lot on offer here. Think tennis, paddle and squash courts, Pitch and Putt and nightly entertainment in the main square. Spa facilities Here is a real surprise: this traditional resort houses an incredibly impressive cutting-edge spa. Designed by industry legend Susan Harmsworth, it has an outdoor thalassotherapy pool surrounded by sun loungers — a calm oasis offering a serene alternative to the hotel's pools. Treatment rooms are luxurious and spacious, and the standard of therapists is very high. It also houses a fitness centre, reformer Pilates studio, a beauty salon for hair services and mani/pedis. Food and drink With thirteen bars and lounges and ten restaurants (Nub is Michelin-starred), there's a lot of choice. Choosing the half-board option is a great money-saver, but does limit you to certain restaurants, and it's worth knowing that some dishes on the menu carry a surcharge. We ate at The Brasserie Terrace and had a great Chateaubriand (which had a surcharge of around 9 euros a head). Another night we ate good Italian-style food at La Trattoria. The Alisios Market Food was our least favourite option. Breakfast is a real triumph. Providing hundreds of guests with good service is no mean feat, but friendly, helpful staff make it a pleasurable experience. They are constantly replenishing, tidying and serving, which means you aren't waiting too long. And there really are options to suit everyone — from healthy to indulgent. There's also a children's club and a teen area. Highlights The hotel is right on the seafront and you can walk for miles in either direction, with plenty of bars and cafés to refresh in. It's also only twenty minutes from the airport. What to do nearby Apart from the buzzy beach, there is the Plaza Del Duque shopping centre which has a host of designer labels. Or book a whale- or dolphin-spotting boat trip. We also went to Zambra Sky Bar at the nearby GF Victoria Hotel, where the panoramic views make it a great spot for sundowners. Best for? Families, those wanting an easy 'fly and flop' break with guaranteed sunshine, couples wanting a romantic break.


Telegraph
9 hours ago
- Telegraph
Airbnb blames hotels for ‘overtourism' in Europe
Airbnb has blamed the hotel industry for ' overtourism ' in Europe, after regional governments launched crackdowns on holiday rentals. Theo Yedinsky, the Airbnb vice president for public policy, hit back at criticism from furious residents and regulators that the company is causing overcrowding in holiday hotspots. He claimed the rentals group was the victim of 'scapegoating' by local authorities, like in Spain, where large anti-tourism protests have become commonplace. Mr Yedinksy said it was the hotel industry that was driving overtourism, rather than Airbnb rentals. 'We end up getting a lot of the blame, especially in city centres, but the reality is overtourism is really driven by hotels. It is totally unfair,' Mr Yedinsky told the Financial Times. Airbnb and other short-term lettings like have been criticised for turning cities into places where locals can no longer afford to live because apartments are rented to tourists. In Venice, for instance, with an acute lack of affordable public housing, many families have moved to the mainland where rents are cheaper. Anti-tourism demonstrations have been commonplace in Europe in recent years, with about 10,000 people marching in Palma, Majorca last May against overtourism. Similar protests have occurred in Barcelona, Santa Cruz and the Canary Islands. This weekend is set to see another huge wave of anti-tourism protests all over Spain, with marches set to take place in Barcelona, Majorca, Granada, Ibiza and Minorca, as well as in Lisbon and Venice. These protests have seen angry locals spraying tourists with water guns and congregating on the street, with as many as 20,000 coming out to express anger at councils and local governments' management of mass tourism. In response, the Spanish government called for the removal of nearly 66,000 Airbnb properties across six regions of the country in May, claiming they breach regulations for tourist accommodation. Airbnb listings have been partly blamed for swallowing up the housing stock in cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. Barcelona aims to eliminate 10,000 of its short term lets by the end of 2028. 'I think the mayor of Barcelona needs to look at the construction of hotels, he needs to look at hotels in general . . . and they need to build more housing,' Mr Yedinksy said in response. 'They are scapegoating Airbnb. They are attacking a fraction of the problem and then wondering why it's not getting better,' he added. Spain received 94 million tourists in 2024, and Airbnb reported 500,000 listings in Spain in 2021 alone. Locals report that these huge levels of tourism have perpetuated housing crises, making it harder to buy and rent in cities like Barcelona and Lisbon. Councils have responded with increased regulations and city-planning schemes, with Barcelona recently announcing €30 million to revamp the tourist hotspot area of Ciutat Vella to improve services for locals such as housing and cultural spaces. Experts say that although hotels are still the most popular choice for tourists, Airbnb brings tourism to residential areas of cities, which can cause more discontent due to noise and over-crowded services usually reserved for locals. Studies on the effects of increased Airbnb lettings concluded that the rise in the short-term letting listed online have effects similar to gentrification, by increasing the value of neighbourhoods. Airbnb income was $2.65 billion in 2024, a massive 44% drop from 2023, reflecting the possible effect of tighter regulations and renters' anger with the company. Additionally, the company took a massive hit during the pandemic, with bookings down 85% at Covid-19's peak. However, Mr Yedinsky seems optimistic about the future, saying, 'this company will continue to be successful'. The company is reportedly aiming for 1 billion guests by 2028.