Brits face new £17 visa-waiver charge to travel to Europe next year – more than DOUBLE previous costs
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Brits could be asked to pay twice as much to visit EU countries
Credit: EPA
The new charges could come into effect as early as 2026 and are expected to raise as much as £1.7 billion (€2 billion) in revenues.
Part of the eye-watering sum raised by the charges will pay for operating costs.
The
It comes after the EU published plans for a £1.7 trillion (€2 trillion) budget for 2028-34.
Read more in Travel
Alongside the new
The fees are known as the European Travel Information and Authorisation scheme (ETIA).
The ETIAs were originally £6 (€7), agreed in 2018, but the
This would come in the form of an adjusted ETIA fee.
Most read in News Travel
The proposed EITA would see Brits charged £17 (€20) per application when
It will become law unless EU member states and the European parliament raise objections to the proposal in the next two months.
How to experience six European destinations for less than £500
It would apply to nationals of countries across the globe including Japan, Brazil, Canada and the United States.
Paying the
Brits hoping for a holiday in Europe would have to pay the fee from 2026.
Any Brits currently living in the
Children and people over the age of 70 when they applied for a
Brits were previously able to
British passport holders can currently stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without needing to get a visa.
Longer stays require visas or
Holiday packing tips
Jemma Solomon, aka The Label Lady has got 5 packing tips to help you get organised for your next holiday.
1. Write a list
Think about all the essentials you need to take with you; suncream, medicine, a few games for the kids, beach towels, and write everything in one list, which you can tick off as you add it to your suitcase.
Or for complete ease, try Google's AI app - Gemini - which will create a list for you and help you not over pack.
2. Involve your kids
Jemma said: 'My girls are getting older, they're 11 and nine, and they enjoy helping to pack. So I send them a list, and say 'this is what you need' and they follow the list.
'And then I give them a rucksack each - and say to them 'you can have whatever you want in there as long as it's not liquid', and they can take that on the plane. And that's their 'home away from home' items.'
3. Try a hack or two
She said: "I think they all work, but for different reasons - and you've just got to pick the right one for your trip.
"Rolling your clothes is really good to stop your clothes from getting creases. And if you're trying to get a lot of items into your case, it's a space saver.
'Packing cubes are great - for example, I'm going on holiday with my three kids and we're all using the same suitcase for our clothes.
"These handy compartments let you separate your clothes, toiletries and tech into designated cubes, maximising luggage space by keeping your items compressed and neatly stacked.
"I love taking them abroad with the family and it means my kids can easily take charge of their own items once we've arrived."
4. Decant beauty products
Do you really need to take full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner with you? The beauty industry has evolved so much, you can now buy shampoo bars or sheets - which are much lighter and smaller.
Or, if you'll be popping to the shops when you're abroad, consider buying some items when you arrive.
5. Get organised before you come home
Jemma said: 'When you repack on holiday [before coming home], the trick is to separate clean from dirty clothes.
'Also pack it in some form of order - so lights, darks, colours for items that need washing, or if you wash your clothes by person in the household, piles for each person.
"Then you can put it straight into the washing machine. Do it straight away, don't leave it."
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The Irish Sun
28 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
The Spanish party town with 87p shots that's ‘better than Benidorm' & BEGGING Brits to return after anti-tourist demos
IT'S midnight and Boozers Fest Bar is packed to the rafters with a host of 18 to twentysomethings, all jostling to play a wild new drinking game. This Dutch-run party bar charges £17.50 to take part in 'Snappy', where ten shots are placed around a crocodile toy for punters to down if its mouth shuts when they press its teeth. 18 One party bar charges £17.50 to take part in 'Snappy', where ten shots are placed around a crocodile toy for punters to down if its mouth shuts when they press its teeth Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Teens point to a drinks sign showing unbelievably cheap booze outside a bar in Lloret de Mar Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 With its 100-plus bars and clubs, Lloret de Mar was once branded the 'party capital of Spain' Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Four youngsters on a night out in Lloret de Mar Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Pub owners and party organisers here are pleading with high-spending Brits to return Credit: Darren Fletcher As they drink, the crowd whoops and hollers and the room, no doubt, starts to spin. Kim, 21, falls foul of the snap, and tells me: 'It's like being a kid again, but with an extra hit. 'We love it here — fun and alcohol, what more could you want?' So far, so typical of a Spanish holiday for British youngsters, many on their first sunshine break without mum and dad cramping their style. But while this bar is bursting, the same cannot be said for other venues in the Spanish resort town of With 100-plus bars and clubs, it was once branded the country's 'party capital' but now many of the venues sit partially empty or closed — an unwelcome result of the nationwide As a result, the pub owners and party organisers here are pleading with high-spending Brits to return. Currently, the town is besieged by Dutch and German tours of under age teens, who barely spend any money and demand that prices stay low or they won't come. Drinks prices on this section of the Locals are now yearning for its early-Noughties heyday when it was a Club 18-30 destination for Brits. Anti-tourist protesters blast holidaymakers with water guns & block hotels Local shop owner Mohan, 45, told The Sun: 'Without tourists there would be nothing here in Lloret de Mar. "We love English tourists here because they spend the most. 'Yes, some get a bit drunk and loud, but that's not the end of the world. 'The protests in 'We want tourists to know they are welcome. I've lived in Lloret since 1999 and everyone here wants more Brits — Without tourists there would be nothing here in Lloret de Mar. We love English tourists here because they spend the most Mohan, Local shop owner Last year 18.4million of us headed to Spain, contributing £20billion to the country's economy, according to the Spanish Ministry of Tourism. But over-tourism has been blamed for inflating Lloret is not immune to the housing concerns of places such as Ibiza and Tenerife, but instead of Officials have responded by cracking down on unlicensed accommodation, which last week saw cops raid 23 illegal tourist flats and slap the owners with fines of up to £20,000. Restaurant Pinocchio owner Claudio La Face, 37, explained: 'Unlicensed holiday flats are a problem because people are concerned about renting to locals as if there is a problem, such as not paying rent, there is little they can do. "On top of that, many prefer to rent to tourists because they can make a lot of money, despite the risk of big fines.' 'Better than Benidorm' 18 Young tourists in I Heart Lloret de Mar shirts head for a night out in the party town Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Protesters hold up signs in Barcelona in June claiming tourism is killing the city Credit: Getty 18 British teens Lucy and Gemma, both 18, are loving the nightlife in Lloret Credit: Darren Fletcher Italian Claudio, who has lived in Lloret for 12 years, said he struggles to understand the anti- tourist protests happening in other parts of Spain. 'It has affected our numbers here, especially this year,' he said. 'But we need tourists in Lloret, we love them. Most of Spain needs tourists too, so protesting against them doesn't help anyone. "Tourists should come to Lloret for the good weather, the beautiful beaches, and amazing food options. Plus there are lots of cultural places around here to visit, such as One of the biggest draws to the town is its party district, home to one of the world's best clubs, Tropics. The main strip, Avenue Just Marles Vilarrodona, is full of venues that can hold thousands of revellers, and the winding side streets boast a seemingly unending array of cocktail bars offering outrageous drinking games. Don't Let The Duck Out sees players put on a swim cap and snorkelling goggles to try to grab a bottle of alcohol from a large water bowl. Essentially it's boozy apple bobbing. British teens Lucy and Gemma, both 18, are loving the nightlife in Lloret. Lucy said: 'My sister recommended it, and it's crazy here. We have no regrets booking it. It's fun.' Other Brits out on the lash include Dan Clark and Ollie Bott, both 20, from Stoke, who booked the resort after spotting it on the Jet2 website. For a random find, we've got no regrets. We're on night one, and it's already shaping up to be better than Zante. A lot of bars are giving us drinks for half price because we're British, which is cool Ollie Bott They've flown out with six mates, who they have managed to lose by the time they bump into The Sun. Ollie said: 'For a random find, we've got no regrets. We're on night one, and it's already shaping up to be better than Zante. A lot of bars are giving us drinks for half price because we're British, which is cool.' Newlyweds Rachel, 37, and Phillip, 41, from Leeds, are here for their honeymoon. 'It wasn't quite what we expected for our honeymoon, but we love how lively it is,' courier Phillip said. 'I'd certainly come back here with the lads, or let my sons have their first drinking holiday here as it feels really safe. There's nice food and the booze is cheap. 'Plus everyone here has been really friendly compared to other holidays we've been on.' Couple Paul Willmot and Janette Machin, both 57, from Bridlington, Yorks, reckon it could even start to rival Brit favourite Benidorm. Janette said: 'It's been really great so far. It has potential and reminds me of Beni and Sunny Beach before they got super-popular. We didn't let the 18 Newlyweds Rachel, 37, and Phillip, 41, from Leeds, admitted the resort wasn't quite what they were expecting Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Dan Clark and Ollie Bott, both 20, from Stoke, booked the resort after spotting it on the Jet2 website Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Crowds of youngsters head to the party strip while a bus promotes the popular Tropics nightclub Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 One of the resort's beaches is near empty with locals fear is due to Spanish protests deterring tourists Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Local businessman Igor Peyman is keen to see more British holidaymakers pitch up in Lloret Credit: Darren Fletcher Standing in doorways and draped over pavements are revellers debating which bar to move to next. Some are being shepherded by tour operators. 'A little rowdy' Back on the main street are Disco Londoner and Touch Down Sports bar, both owned by Marcus Faraji. He told The Sun: 'Ninety per cent of the industry here is based around tourism, even if it's not directly. 'More needs to be done to educate locals that their livelihoods and comforts come from tourists being welcome here. This is getting lost because many people are so worried about the housing issues. 'The drinking tourism we get upsets some, and they complain that people don't come here to visit cultural places, but the truth is we don't have the infrastructure for that. "Many of the tourists that come here are in groups organised by tour operators, who take up bulk bookings at hotels. English people are my favourite tourists because they spend so much. They can be a bit difficult, like fighting each other, but they come with a budget to spend and will spend it all Igor Peyman 'It means we have to keep drinks cheap, because if we raise our prices they threaten to not come. 'But some of the people they bring are as young as 16, so we won't serve them anyway, and they don't have a lot of money to spend, which harms the economy. 'English people don't travel in the same way. We would like more of them because they spend a huge amount on both restaurants and on alcohol.' Bars caught serving booze to someone under age risk a fine of £2,600 for each case — and the drinker can be handed a £850 fine. Local businessman Igor Peyman, 54, is also keen to see more British holidaymakers pitch up in Lloret. He said: 'English people are my favourite tourists because they spend so much. 'They can be a bit difficult, like fighting each other, but they come with a budget to spend and will spend it all. There is so much for people to enjoy here so we hope they aren't put off by the protests in other parts of Spain.' 'Spanish Blackpool' But not everyone is a fan of Lloret. Holidaymaker Amanda, from Stratford-upon-Avon, She added: 'You do have to look for the nicer places to go as the centre is very young and aimed at a younger crowd.' Her pal Michele agreed, but added: 'Everyone has been really friendly, and you don't get hassled to go to restaurants or shops. Parts of the town are quite dated and need investment.' We want people who won't pee or poo in the street. We have plenty of public restrooms and bars where people can use the toilets Tattoo shop worker Jose Tattoo shop worker Jose, 30, is keen for Lloret to only welcome tourists who will be respectful. He said: 'We want people who won't pee or poo in the street. We have plenty of public restrooms and bars where people can use the toilets. 'Tourists who want to have fun but appreciate we live here are always welcome, even if they're a little rowdy. 'Lloret is a poor town, and most of us have to earn our living for the year in the space of six weeks. "We love tourists and we always want them to come here.' 18 One less impressed visitor dubbed the town Spain's Blackpool Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Budget boozers sell cocktails and shots for 1 euro Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Josh, 30, and Saffron, 27, from Hull enjoyed the cheap drinks at the bars Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Sun reporter Thea Jacobs takes part in one of the outrageous drinking games Credit: Darren Fletcher 18 Thea samples the local cocktails Credit: Darren Fletcher What is overtourism? Overtourism is where a destination experiences a volume of tourists that exceeds its manageable capacity. The term is often used to describe the negative consequences of mass tourism, which includes overcrowding and environmental issues. As a result, popular destinations have become less enjoyable for both visitors and locals. Local communities, in particular, bear the brunt, facing rising costs and a depletion of resources. In response, national and local governments have started to implement measures to reduce overtourism. These include: Safeguarding historical and heritage sites Promoting off-peak travel Tourism caps and regulations Promoting lesser-known destinations
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Warning for Irish holidaymakers as new ‘tourists go home' protest erupts at sunshine spot after ‘adjust plans' alert
AROUND 1,000 people have taken to the streets in a new march in Alicante amid ongoing anti-tourism protests. Protestors held up banners in English with messages including: "We serve you beers but can't pay the rent" and "I'm a neighbour, not an extra at your theme park". Advertisement 4 A massive anti-tourism protest has took place in Alicante Credit: Reuters 4 Protesters took to the streets in hundreds to demand an end of 'mass tourism' Credit: Reuters 4 It follows similar marches in Spanish hotspots like Barcelona and the Canary Islands Credit: Reuters Another furious message read: "We're not your photo backdrop, this is our home." One local who took to the streets of the east coast The start point for Friday evening's protest was Alicante's oldest bookshop called 80 Mundos. The bookshop is now facing having to abandon the building it is in because the owners have sold it to a Advertisement READ MORE IN TRAVEL Jordi Arnes, a spokesman for the protest organisers, said: 'The example of 80 Mundos highlights a problem that has been going on for some time. 'The fact that someone can buy a building regardless of who is living there and whatever the circumstances, even if it is a landmark, forces us to take a stand.' Another said: 'We organised a first protest around this time last year when we took to the streets against touristifcation to denounce the lack of affordable housing and the expulsion of both families and businesses from neighbourhoods.' A female Advertisement Most read in News Travel 'Alicante right now is not the city we want or the city we deserve.' People taking part in yesterday's event, which kicked off at 8pm, marched behind a large banner stating; "Alicante is not for sale." Anti-tourist protesters blast holidaymakers with water guns & block hotels It was the third In a manifesto read out at the end of yesterday's street march, a group member said: 'The closure of the bookshop 80 Mundos to make way for tourist apartments has been the straw that has broken the camel's back when it comes to upsetting the people of this city. Advertisement 'It's undeniable that tourism increasingly brings with it more disadvantages than benefits. 'The number of tourists coming here doesn't stop growing and for the people who live here, it becomes more and more difficult to do so in a dignified way.' Islands like Majorca and Tenerife as well as cities like On June 15 thousands took to the streets of the Majorcan capital Palma hours after activists armed with water pistols targeted holidaymakers in the Catalan capital. Advertisement The move came amid a day of co-ordinated action across southern The protest in Palma took place a day after a sightseeing bus was held up there by organisers Menys Turisme Mes Vida, which in English translates as Less Tourism More Life. Around 100 noisy activists banging drums surrounded upmarket eatery Cappuccino Borne next to a Police moved in to ease tension as the demonstrators held up cardboard posters reading: 'As You Come I Have To Go.' Advertisement The protestors also chanted: "The Streets Will Always Be Ours, Go Home" in English. They also chanted: "No Balconing" in a reference to the young tourists who have traditionally been blamed by islanders for the dangerous practice of jumping from Magaluf 'BE PREPARED TO ADJUST TRAVEL PLANS' The Balearics Islands Government vice-president Antoni Costa said afterwards their behaviour had been 'unacceptable.' Government officials said 8,000 people took part in the Majorca street march but organisers put the number at 30,000. Advertisement It comes after Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs has A spokesperson said: "Public gatherings and demonstrations can at times take place with little or no warning. "We recommend that you stay clear of demonstrations and follow the advice of the local authorities. "Protests may cause disruption to transport and other services. Be prepared to adjust your travel plans at short notice if necessary, and allow yourself extra time for your journey. Advertisement "You should also check for travel updates or transport delays before and during your trip to Spain." 4 Protesters waved signs demanding that tourists leave the city Credit: Getty Images
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Drivers stuck in huge queues as ‘Saturday scramble' begins with 3million drivers to hit the roads today
THOUSANDS of drivers have been caught in mammoth queues todayas Brits rush off on holiday. A staggering 3 million drivers are 5 Massive queues have built up at the Port of Dover Credit: PA 5 Even lorries have been seen queuing to get onto ferries Credit: PA 5 On Thursday, the queues became so big that people waited outside of their cars Credit: Gary Stone The first weekend after the end of the school term is one of the busiest times to be a driver. Millions of people make journeys on that hectic weekend, with that first Friday being nicknamed 'Frantic Friday' because of the road chaos caused by the huge number of trips. However, this holiday weekend is expected to be even busier with a staggering 2.7 million people Today, that number is expected to skyrocket to 3 million in what the RAC has described as a "Saturday scramble". Read More on Travel News The huge surge in the number of drivers had led to massive queues across the country, not least at the Thousands of Brits are stuck at the transport terminal, in mammoth queues which can be seen stretching into the distance. Even rows of lorries can be seen waiting to check-in at the terminals, as the queues continue to build. The chaos at the Most read in Motors On Thursday, the queues became so big that drivers exited their cars and waited by the side of the road - despite warnings that this was unsafe. Doug Bannister, chief executive at the Port of Dover, has previously said that the organisation has been 'preparing for a busy summer'. Vehicles pile up at Dover for Bank Holiday weekend getaways He said: 'We know how vital it is to keep things moving, not just for holidaymakers but for our local community too. 'That's why we've boosted staff levels, strengthened traffic management, added welfare facilities and introduced AI-powered forecasting - all to minimise disruption and ensure both residents and travellers have the best possible experience during this busy season.' The Port is expecting a massive number of users over the weekend, with the estimated number of drivers expected to be as high as 40,000. Over the next six weeks, the Port of Dover expects 270,000 drivers. As one of the most popular ways of reaching The busy port has Previously only able to accommodate ships with a maximum length of 320m, it can now allow boats of up to 350m to moor at Dover. 5 Thousands of people are still waiting at Dover Credit: PA 5 The queues have been causing disruption all week Credit: Gary Stone
