I've found the simple, tried-and-tested solution to overtourism
The water pistols are back. On Sunday a wave of co-ordinated anti-mass tourism protests took place across southern Europe, from Lisbon to Venice via Palma de Mallorca. The Barcelona marches saw several hundred turn out. Flares were thrown into hotel lobbies. A hostel was taped off like a crime scene. Tourist or not, if you happened to be sitting at a café terrace in the Spanish city's Gothic Quarter that day, you had a high chance of getting spritzed.
It's hard to argue with the demonstrators' points. Tourism, particularly the proliferation of short-term lets such as Airbnbs, is pushing up rents, exacerbating the housing crisis and forcing locals out of their own neighbourhoods. It is also changing the character of some of Europe's most magnificent cities. Historic restaurants and family-owned businesses are vanishing; in their place emerge yet more gaudy fast-food chains, bubble tea shops and vape stores. If that's your vibe, you may as well spend the weekend walking up and down Oxford Street.
Much needs to change, clearly, but the emphasis hasn't always been in the right place. Mitigation tactics appear to come in one of two forms: either a) curbing visitor numbers through headline-making policies such as tourist taxes, limiting cruise ship arrivals or even a complete ban on short-term rentals, which Barcelona plans to enforce from 2028; or b) suggesting travellers try 'destination dupe' alternatives instead (Catalan neighbour Girona is the go-to when it comes to Barca-alikes, which I'm sure they love there). But I'm not convinced tourists are going to stop wanting to visit these cities in significant numbers. They are popular for a reason — the art! The architecture! The mini beers and salty snacks! — and shouting or graffitiing 'go home' or 'go elsewhere' is unlikely to work.
So here is my proposal: send them to the suburbs. One city that is trying to pre-empt and stave off overtourism is the small but increasingly popular Ghent, whose tourist board is promoting what it calls 'spreading' — trying to distribute visitors throughout the city rather than having them concentrated in the historic centre. As anyone who's visited Ghent will know, it's a good 40-minute walk from the main train station to the city's central attractions, so it would make complete sense that more visitors stay overnight throughout this vast urban stretch instead of just the medieval core, which is what most tourists do (especially considering the city's impressive cycling infrastructure). The scheme is encouraging tourists to spend more time in less visited areas such as Dampoort, and wants more hotels to open city-wide.
• 16 of the world's most underrated cities
To take the example of an already overtouristed city, I can vouch for staying beyond Paris's Boulevard Périphérique. The suburb of Pantin, where I lived for six months (mainly because of the low rent), has all the edge of other northeastern areas within the ring road (the star turns being a host of canalside bars, dance theatre the Centre National de la Danse and the charming independent cinema Ciné 104). But you also get the sense of staying somewhere a lot more authentically French. Who needs the Pompidou Centre when you've got a massive E.Leclerc hypermarché on your doorstep?
For some cities, such as Barcelona, where tourism has reached such excessive levels that even the suburbs are sick of visitors, this might not be appropriate. But I have a back-up solution: commute. Faced with absurd hotel and Airbnb rates over Valentine's Day, I gave this a go in comparably overrun Amsterdam. We ended up in someone's garage in a seaside town called Zandvoort. The daily 20-minute train ride through a national park and Haarlem was gorgeous, and in the evenings we felt like the only Brits in town, doing our bit for the local economy at a time of year when it sees little custom. Similarly, this weekend, I'm off to a hotel in the mountains outside Alicante in Spain, and plan to pop into the city for tapas and a museum visit or two. I won't take it personally if they spritz me.
What are your favourite city suburbs to stay in? Let us know in the comments
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The Sun
32 minutes ago
- The Sun
Urgent warning to millions of holidaymakers to do quick check to avoid being hit with a shock bill
MILLIONS of tourists are being warned to make a quick check before they go on holiday this year. Most of us will want to use our phones while abroad to keep in touch with loved ones, post on social media or find our way around a new city. But doing so could see you hit with a shock bill. Before Brexit you could use your data plan in Europe for free. But since Britain left the European Union many mobile phone providers have started to introduce charges to use your phone while on holiday. If your mobile phone contract does not include data roaming then you could be charged up to £6 per GB of data you use, according to price comparison website Uswitch. This could mean you find a big bill on your doorstep when you get home. But there is a quick check you can do to stop this from happening. Setting a roaming spending cap before you start using your data while abroad can help you avoid unexpected bills, recommends Ernest Doku, Uswitch mobiles expert. A data roaming spending cap allows you to limit how much you can use your phone outside of your normal plan. You can restrict how much you spend on roaming, picture messages and texts, which can stop you racking up extra charges. Most mobile phone providers give you this option, though in some cases you will need to set it up yourself. Avoid these common holiday booking mistakes for a stress-free vacation Some providers also set their own default cap, so you will need to check how yours works before you jet off. Ernest Doku explains: 'Many networks will apply additional charges if you go over your allowance or if you don't have roaming included, so setting up a spending cap ahead of your trip is a great way to avoid these.' You may need to set a spending cap even if you pay for a roaming bundle that allows you to use your phone while abroad. This is because most bundles will give you less data to use while away than your normal contract does. How to avoid roaming charges Simrat Sharma, a mobiles expert at Uswitch, said switching to an eSIM - short for embedded SIM - can be cheaper than using international roaming. 'eSIMs make it easier to change networks," she said. "So for example, if you're abroad you can quickly connect to the local network to pay local rates - without having to add or swap a physical local SIM card for your device. "This means travel eSIMs are almost always cheaper than using international roaming, as users are effectively tapping into the same network plans as locals. If you're regularly switching numbers or travelling to different locations, you'll be able to keep them all safely in digital format rather than carrying around a number of small cards. 'The software can easily be accessed via your device's app store and uploaded to your phone in a few quick steps." Even if your plan includes data roaming, you may also be able to use less internet on holiday. How do spending caps work? Once you have a spending cap in place you cannot spend more than the set limit. This means that if your cap is set at £50 a month then you will not be able to spend more than this sum on data roaming while you are abroad. You will usually get a notification when you are close to your limit, so you know that you need to reduce your data roaming. Once you reach your spending cap you will not be able to use your phone to search the internet, post on social media or use messaging apps. The level your spending cap is set at varies depending on your provider. For example, at BT Mobile the default data roaming cap is £35 a month but you can increase this limit if you choose. In comparison, Sky has a data roaming spend cap of £45 per month per SIM card. It is set automatically and resets every month. Three mobile also has a worldwide data roaming limit of £45 per SIM. How do I set one up? You can usually set up a cap via your provider's website or app. To register for a cap online you will need to log into your account and visit the spending cap tab. You can then choose your own spending cap and save it to your contract. Some providers will also let you set up a cap via text. For example, EE customers can text SPEND CAP to 150 to get one. It may take a few weeks to come into force, so you should check your contract now before you jet off on holiday. You can make changes to your spending cap and increase or decrease it later on. These changes may also take time to feed through. Ernest Doku said: 'If in doubt, contact your provider to talk about roaming caps and what your current deal will allow you to use, as well as how much this will cost.' Which mobile phone companies will let me use my phone for free? Several mobile phone companies will let you use your phone abroad for free. Asda Mobile will let you roam for free in 46 European countries. 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Times
3 hours ago
- Times
22 best things to do in the Algarve
It really needs no introduction as a sun-drenched holiday destination; Brits have been flocking to the Golden Coast since the Sixties. Surfers, golfers and clubbers can all find their version of Portuguese paradise here, while waterparks and sandy coves keep families entertained. You could easily stick to the shore your whole trip, exploring its iconic limestone rock formations — all soaring arches and scalloped bays — via clifftop footpaths or boat trips. Visitors who venture beyond its seaside resorts, however, will find Algarve has hidden depths and quieter corners. Roam Moorish fortresses and Roman ruins, cool off in woodland waterfalls or watch flamingos strutting through salt pans. Find inspiration with our list of the best things to do in the Algarve. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue Tourists aren't the only migrating species in the Algarve — birds flock to the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa's marshes, salt pans, mudflats, freshwater lagoons and barrier islands. The 60km-long reserve stretching east from Faro is home to resident and visiting species of waders, gulls and waterfowl, and even a population of flamingos. Short walking trails run from the Marim Centre of Environmental Education and from the beach of Quinta do Lago. For the full experience take a boat trip heading out to some of the islands, including the deserted Isla Barreta. • Discover our full guide to Portugal Even if you're staying in the more gentle eastern Algarve, a day trip veering west to see the waves get bigger, the winds stronger and the landscape wilder is a must. Visit the bustling port town of Lagos, where whitewashed houses with colourful woodwork line the patterned pavements and you'll find some of the best beaches in the Algarve. The village of Sagres has a pretty fishing harbour and is overlooked by an imposing sea fort on the nearby headland. Cabo de Sao Vicente, meanwhile, has a lighthouse and stirring views. Many visitors go no closer to Faro than the airport — and they're missing a trick. The city has an attractive historical centre, with cobbled passageways lit by cast iron street lamps and circled by city walls. Don't miss the ornate Arco de Vila gate, rebuilt after an earthquake in 1755, the charming 13th-century cathedral and the Igreja do Carmo. Beneath this glorious church lies something a little more macabre: Capela dos Ossos, a chapel lined with human skulls and bones. A deep underwater canyon off the shore of Portimao drives nutrient-rich seas to the surface and attracts pod after pod of dolphins. Keep your eyes peeled for friendly fins on a dolphin-watching boat trip; there are loads and the odds are definitely in your favour. Both common and bottlenose dolphins swim off the coast of the Ria Formosa's barrier islands and, if you're lucky, you might also catch a glimpse of sea turtles, sunfish, sharks or a minke whale. The rolling Serra de Monchique range provides a stark contrast to the Algarve's beaches. Hiking trails penetrate the woodland of the lower slopes, and one goes all the way to the top of the highest peak — the Foia Trail to the summit of Foia, at an altitude of 902m, is around 7km long. Pair a climb with a visit to Monchique itself, a sedate but attractive market town noted for its handicrafts, and neighbouring Caldas de Monchique, which has been famous since Roman times for its healing alkaline waters. Sitting on the banks of the Gilao River in the tranquil east of the region, Tavira is arguably prettiest of all the towns in the Algarve. It's designed for ambling and people-watching, with a central plaza lined with cafés, whitewashed houses decorated with colour-popping azulejos, and an arching medieval bridge (somewhat confusingly known as the Roman bridge). The highlight is the ruined Castelo, partially destroyed in the earthquake of 1755. Views stretch over the town's terracotta-tiled roofs and churches to the sea, and the battlements shelter a shady garden blooming with jacaranda, oleander and bougainvillea. The crenelated cliffs of Ponta da Piedade rise high above the crystal-clear sea outside Lagos and, to do these intricate rock formations and caves justice, you need to view them from the clifftop and the water. Tours by boat, kayak or stand-up paddleboard provide the best angles on the sea stacks and caverns, and to fully appreciate the scale of the promontory you should also amble along the cliffs — sticking carefully to the path. Views are particularly stirring at sunset. While the wine industry here is yet to reach the heady heights of the Douro or the vinho verde-producing Minho, investments over the past decade have resulted in some high-quality wines from 30 producers, many of which have cellar doors offering tastings. Booking an organised tour is a no-brainer, leaving you free to drink as much as you like. Some itineraries include lunch, and others feature a visit to a Medronho distillery to try the local firewater too. With mountain ranges, sea-battered cliffs and wildlife-packed wetlands, the Algarve has a lot to offer hikers of all levels. There are well-signposted short walks, such as the 3km amble along the Alvor boardwalk, where you can spot birds and native flora. For a full day hike try the Percurso dos Sete Vales Suspensos, which winds through seven valleys with dramatic coastal views over around five hours. Tour operators offer walking holidays along the Algarve's long distance trails — the Rota Vicentina snakes up the west coast, and the Via Algarviana stretches all the way from Sagres in the west to Alcoutim on the Spanish border. It's taken 20 million years, but the sea has done a spectacular job of redesigning the Algarve's coastline. Waves and weather have eroded the limestone, creating a series of caves and stacks in shades of terracotta and caramel. The most dramatic cavern is at Benagil, a soaring space with its own indoor beach, two yawning mouths facing the sea and a round skylight, like a natural version of the Roman Pantheon's oculus. Boat tours run from a range of resorts, but for a more personal experience book a guided kayak tour. • Best affordable hotels in the Algarve• Best all-inclusive hotels in the Algarve Loulé is a traditional Algarve town, with a Moorish indoor market, a small castle and numerous churches — yet something more surprising hides beneath the surface. The Mina Sal-Gema rock salt mine reaches 230m underground, and after riding down in an open cage lift, take a two-hour guided tour through the walkways and corridors of the still-active mine to bone up on historical and current production processes, and see geological formations that are 230 million years old. Children must be six or over to visit. Portugal's biggest and most famous waves are found further north than the Algarve, but the sunny south has plenty to recommend it as a surf destination. Waves here are much more manageable for beginners than the giants found off the central coast, and they're reliable too — with a southern and a western coast to choose from you'll always find somewhere with good conditions. There's a higher concentration of surf schools towards the west; head here if you want to do a longer course rather than a one-off lesson. If there are any water sports you've been itching to try, the Algarve is the place to do it. Jet boats, jet skis, stand-up paddleboards and kayaks can be hired at water sports centres all along the coast, and water skiing and wakeboarding sessions are available. A couple of bigger outfits in Albufeira and Vilamoura also offer flyboarding — don boots fitted with high pressured water jets and be prepared to be thrusted up to 20m into the air. Or have a go at coasteering — a combination of cliff jumping, swimming and climbing. • Best hotels in Albufeira• Best villas in Vilamoura There's nothing like a waterpark to add extra thrills to your holiday. Aquashow features one of the tallest freefall slides in Europe with a huge watercoaster alongside a wave pool, splash park and lazy river. Slide and Splash has a tube which plunges you into pitch darkness, a Disco River ride with music and lighting effects and a Jacuzzi for mum and dad. Visit Aqualand for flying carpets, a surf pool and an extensive area for littler ones. One of the staple dishes of Algarve cuisine is the cataplana; the name signifies both the stew itself and the clam-shaped copper pot it is heated in. The shape and the conductivity of the metal forms a sort of slow pressure cooker that's perfect for seafood and fish, sometimes combined with meat — there's a classic version with pork and clams. Learn to rustle up your own at a cooking class, heading to Faro market to buy ingredients, before rolling up your sleeves for a hands-on lesson and tucking into a lunch to test your efforts. As the Guadiana River winds through the plains of southern Portugal and prepares to discharge into the Gulf of Cadiz, it creates areas of marshland and salt pans, where high-quality sea salt has been produced for hundreds of years. Now, in the nature reserve just outside Castro Marim, outdoor wellness centre Spa Salino lets you apply salt mud — which contains 80 different minerals — to your skin before floating weightlessly in the bath-warm water, dubbed locally 'the Portuguese Dead Sea'. Espargosa Monte de Baixo & Art hotel is a ten-minute drive from Spa Salino. The Algarve's golf courses rival any in the world. The most prestigious is Monte Rei, a challenging Jack Nicklaus-designed par 72 where each hole can't be seen from the next and it feels as though you have the whole thing to yourself. Keep an eye out for the 16th hole on the Val de Lobo Royal Course — it features a 218m carry between two clifftops to reach the green from the championship tee. Quinta do Lago is a golf-focused resort, with three courses and a Paul McGinley Golf Academy offering lessons for adults and kids. Limitezero, the world's only cross-border zip line, can be found in the Algarve, dangling high over the Guadiana River between Sanlucar de Guadiana in Spain and Alcoutim in Portugal. You'll zoom along the 720m route at speeds of around 50mph, and will even travel through time as Spain is an hour ahead of Portugal. Brave it and keep your eyes open the whole time: you'll forget about your jelly legs, but not the views. Riders must be over 14; anyone too young or too scared to zip-line can climb up to the 14th-century castle above the town. You'll see sardines on most menus in the Algarve — often served grilled and accompanied by a salad and new potatoes. To locals they're more than a mere ingredient. They've been fished off the coast since Roman times, and canning and exporting sardines became the most significant industry in the region from the mid-19th century. Housed in a former cannery, the Museu de Portimao first traces the Algarve's ancient history, and interactively explains the sardine industry using original machines. It's surprisingly fascinating and will leave you with a new-found respect for your lunch. The Algarve's coolest art exhibition lies 12 metres beneath the Atlantic, a mile off Albufeira harbour. Portuguese artist Alexandre Farto aka Vhils (who is a former Banksy collaborator) created the sunken sculptures out of scrap metal from defunct power stations. Now, in their watery new home, they'll become an artificial reef ecosystem colonised by marine life, as well as providing certified divers with a novel art-viewing experience. Keen to take the plunge? Book a visit to EDP Art Reef with a licensed local tour company, such as Easydivers or Algarve Charters. This region has its own breed of sheep, Churra Algarvia, and they're a distinctive looking lot: twisting horizontal horns, coarse fleeces, panda-like eye markings. A handful of enterprising farms (and the luxurious Viceroy at Ombria Algarve hotel) now invite tourists to walk in a local shepherd's shoes for a few hours, learn basic sheepdog commands and get an insight into rural life. In the hills of Serra do Caldeirão, Portugal Farm Experience and Algarve Food Experiences do the same with cheeky Algarvian goats, with experienced goatherds leading a morning hike, picnic and artisanal cheesemaking class. We've given you a range of options that don't mention the beaches. But if you do fancy them then here are some tips so you know exactly which golden sand stretches to swoon over. Spoiler: there are more than 100 to choose from, so hire a car if you can. Praia da Marinha and its arching rock formations often steal the limelight, while Praia da Falesia's already apricot cliffs glow an intense red at sunset. Then there's family-favourite Praia da Ingrina, with a small, sheltered cove where kids can splash in the shallows. You'll find fewer crowds on the west coast, and the horseshoe beach at Odeceixe is extraordinary, with a calm river lagoon on one side and Atlantic surf on the other. • Best beaches in the Algarve• Best villas in the Algarve Additional reporting by Imogen Lepere and Estella Shardlow
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Tourists are trickling into Afghanistan and the Taliban government is eager to welcome them
By plane, motorbike, camper van and even on bicycles, tourists are beginning to discover Afghanistan, with solo travelers and tour groups gradually venturing into a country that until recently was wracked by war. And the country's Taliban government, which seized power more than three years ago but has yet to be formally recognized by any other nation, is more than happy to welcome them. 'The Afghan people are warm and welcoming and wish to host tourists from other countries and engage with them,' Deputy Minister of Tourism Qudratullah Jamal told The Associated Press in an early June interview. 'Tourism brings many benefits to a country. We have considered those benefits and aim for our nation to take full advantage of them.' A potentially lucrative industry Tourism is a vital, multi-billion-dollar industry for many countries. Afghanistan's isolation on the international stage, largely because of the Taliban's restrictions on women and girls, has left much of its 41 million people mired in poverty. As it struggles to attract foreign investment, the lucrative potential of tourism is far from lost on the government. 'We are currently earning a considerable amount of revenue from this industry, and we are hopeful it will grow even more in the future,' Jamal said, noting money spent by visitors can reach more layers of society than revenue from other industries. 'We are optimistic this sector will evolve into a large economy, bringing significant benefits. It plays an important role in strengthening our national economy.' Trickle rather than a flood Tourist visas are quick and easy to obtain and flights from major transit hubs such as Dubai and Istanbul operate several times a week. The government has even set up a training institute for men — and it is only for men — seeking jobs in the hospitality and tourism sector. While visitor numbers are still very much a trickle rather than a flood, they are increasing. Nearly 9,000 foreign tourists visited Afghanistan last year, while nearly 3,000 people visited in the first three months of this year, Jamal said. Four decades of near-continuous conflict kept nearly all vacationers away from this landlocked country of towering mountains, deep gorges and millennia of history. The Taliban's takeover from a U.S.-backed government in August 2021 stunned the world and sent thousands of Afghans fleeing. But with the insurgency over, the bloodshed from frequent bombings and suicide attacks all but ended too. Attacks still occur, however. An Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan remains active and gunmen killed six people, including three Spanish tourists, in a May 2024 attack in Bamiyan, one of the country's main tourist attractions where centuries-old giant Buddhas carved into the cliffs were blown up by the Taliban in 2001. While Western countries still advise against travel to Afghanistan, a drop in violence from the two decades of U.S.-led military presence is indisputable, as the government is keen to point out. 'Afghanistan has gone through many years of war and hardship. Now, we want tourists to come and see the true traditions and customs of Afghans, to understand Afghan life, creativity and resilience,' Jamal said, noting there was 'comprehensive security across Afghanistan.' An ethical dilemma Critics question the ethics of foreigners visiting Afghanistan for pleasure when its government discriminates so heavily against half the country's population. Education beyond primary school level is banned for girls and women and few professions are open to them. Women cannot enter parks, gardens or gyms. Beauty salons are forbidden. Authorities dictate how women dress and have demanded they cover their faces in public, a decree still flouted by many, particularly in Kabul. Some visitors say they contemplated the ethics, but ultimately wanted to see the situation for themselves. French-Peruvian Illary Gomez said she and her British partner, James Liddiard, debated for about a year whether to drive through Afghanistan as part of their U.K.-to-Japan camper van journey. 'Some things didn't feel morally right,' she said. But once here, they said they found a warm, hospitable and welcoming people and beautiful landscapes. They didn't feel their presence was any form of support for the Taliban. By traveling, 'you put money in the hands of the people, not the government,' Liddiard said. Building bridges The treatment of women is particularly sensitive for government officials. Jamal declined to comment on the subject beyond saying male and female visitors were welcome. 'Those who respect our laws and traditions have already come and can continue to come,' he said. While most restrictions are strictly enforced on Afghan women, they are far more relaxed for foreigners. Although they must still wear a headscarf in public, foreign women are more likely to gain entry into some restricted areas such as parks and are rarely asked to cover their faces in public. Opening the country to foreign visitors was also a way of building bridges, Jamal said. 'It is a great way to promote interaction between the people of different countries. It helps build international relations and is also beneficial for trade,' he told the AP. 'When foreigners come here, Afghans also learn a lot from them. In addition to expanding commerce, tourism also helps foster mutual understanding, cultural exchange and strengthens talents as people learn from one another.' A foreign traveler seeing the country with his own eyes 'creates closeness, builds connections and fosters trust among people,' Jamal said. 'They will respect each other's culture and the distance between peoples will diminish. 'So this is not just economic development; it also brings spiritual and political benefits,' he said.
