Where to start?

[SteveHall]

In Spain, it's the Brits who try to do the ripping off and NOT the Spanish!

Bars here too have two prices, Brit bars try to charge Brit prices, aren't welcoming to Spanish as many have no Spanish-speakers .........and then wonder why they are empty.

Spanish bars charge Spanish prices, all are welcome ................... and seem to survive.

[XTreme]

In my experience, the Spaniards don't hate Brits!

They're very accepting and will take you for what you are.

However, if you come to Spain with an attitude of superiority and make no attempt to integrate or embrace their culture and language, then you will be outside looking in.

So in effect you create the scenario of "them" and "us" by the way you conduct yourself.

[jojo]

The general situation in Spain is poor. Theres a thread on here at the moment about unemployment in the Malaga region picking up, if you read thro, you'll see opinions on that!!! And yes, its the Brits that tend to be the ones to watch out for, they seem to do the "ripping off"

Spain hasnt escaped the credit crunch. As for how the Spanish are towards the Brits, well in the main we all bump along together. I'm sure it varies from region to region, person to person, I have heard people say that some of the older spanish feel the brits came along and made property prices soar which stopped the younger spanish affording property?? But I think thats a rare opinion, Spain has benefited hugely from the tourist industry and joining the EU and most Spanish appreciate that! I have heard that some unemployed Spanish are annoyed that the Brits are over here and taking their jobs, but I think thats an exaggeration, in fact its been like that to a greater degree in the UK

As for prices in bars etc, well on the coast and in the tourist resorts, things are more expensive than inland and out of the way places, thats the same in the UK tho! I've certainly not been aware of separate pricing per nationality?? My local bar is a scruffy "spit and sawdust" type place, very spanish, with great character and is really cheap and friendly, I dont think I'm charged more than anyone else?? If I go to Torremolinos, Benalmadena port, plaza mayor centre..., then its expensive, probably about the same as the UK, altho due to the tourist slump and the heavy competition, there are a few places that are offering promotions ie, buy one get one free, free drinks with food etc

So no, it doesnt sound quite like Cyprus, however Spain is a big country and maybe its like that in other regions!

Jo xxx

[SteveHall]

To precis: I am sure you will be fine if you get yourself a web-site, a donkey and avoid Plaza Mayor .... unless you can scrounge a coffee from Jojo!

[XTreme]

Originally Posted by SteveHall

To precis: I am sure you will be fine if you get yourself a web-site, a donkey and avoid Plaza Mayor .... unless you can scrounge a coffee from Jojo!

The Man is on the money again!

Just goes to show that the old saying "You can't break wind in Spain without Steve Hall getting a sniff of it" is as true today as it ever was!

[SteveHall]

Mmm, you have this way with words, XTreme. SADLY!!

[Caz.I]

Originally Posted by SteveHall

In Spain, it's the Brits who try to do the ripping off and NOT the Spanish!

Bars here too have two prices, Brit bars try to charge Brit prices, aren't welcoming to Spanish as many have no Spanish-speakers .........and then wonder why they are empty.

Spanish bars charge Spanish prices, all are welcome ................... and seem to survive.

Glad to see you are back, Steve.
But, am not totally agreed with you. I totally agree with what you said about a lot of Brit bars (and businesses) but I dont think the "all Spanish are good, all Brits bad "argument is any more true than the "all Spanish bad all Brits good" argument.
From what I can gather, there are, or at least used to be, some bars where there are separate prices for Brits, I have been told this by Spanish and South American workers in these bars, so I dont think its false. I think they tend to be in tourist areas on the coast. I have had experience of people trying to rip me off because they had assumed I was a tourist (I definitely did not have a superior attitude), and tried to invent new prices on the bill, and some have a tendency to think Brits are definitely wealthier, so are therefore fair game. (Mind you, I suppose some business people would think this is just good business sense!)
But there definitely is resentment from some people about Brits, and immigrants in general, sometimes justified, sometimes not. As above, I think this is more on the CDS, than in rural Spain.
On the other hand I have had other extremely positive experiences too - was amazed the other week when the ticket collector at Malaga train station, after querying why I had mistakenly bought one for my 4 year old son, insisted on giving me the money back when it didnt even occur to me to ask for it. Or the concern shown to me by a passer-by in Ronda, when I was stuck for transport in the midday heat with my son, and all the taxis were on a siesta!
So I think we should put things in perspective. Wherever you go, and whoever you deal with, sometimes there will be people who try to rip you off , or resent you for being foreign, but its not the sole domain of any one nationality, either here or in the UK.

[SteveHall]

I agree 100% and, yes, it was an over-generalisation on my part. That said, none of my favourite bars in Fuengirola/Los Boliches are expat owned. All are Spanish owned/run. The three bars that I have personally blacklisted are ALL expat bars (two Brit, one Swedish)

The only thing that irritated me a bit a few weeks ago was when I was served a coffee in a cup and not a glass. When I questioned it, the barman said, " I always serve foreignerers in cups". Mmmm.....I guess I'll take a positive slant that he was trying to be helpful

If that's all I have to moan about I guess I am not Jojo or the proud owner of a Man City season ticket!!

Life is sweet. Jojo back tomorrow, Real Madrid buying their next league title, Arsenal/Man City without a point between them and XTreme going to be kept awake all night! Life is so sweet!

[Caz.I]

Originally Posted by SteveHall

I agree 100% and, yes, it was an over-generalisation on my part. That said, none of my favourite bars in Fuengirola/Los Boliches are expat owned. All are Spanish owned/run. The three bars that I have personally blacklisted are ALL expat bars (two Brit, one Swedish)

The only thing that irritated me a bit a few weeks ago was when I was served a coffee in a cup and not a glass. When I questioned it, the barman said, " I always serve foreignerers in cups". Mmmm.....I guess I'll take a positive slant that he was trying to be helpful

If that's all I have to moan about I guess I am not Jojo or the proud owner of a Man City season ticket!!

Life is sweet. Jojo back tomorrow, Real Madrid buying their next league title, Arsenal/Man City without a point between them and XTreme going to be kept awake all night! Life is so sweet!

Yes, I dont usually frequent the expat bars either, mainly because the majority I dont find that welcoming either and I dont really want to socialise exclusively with Brits. Plus I sometimes feel there is a kind of atmosphere which I dont feel comfortable with. The Spanish ones I usually do feel more comfortable in.
The coffee in a cup prejudice I have noticed a lot too, (when they try to cater for the Brit contingent) so now I usually ask for a glass when ordering. Though last time I did when my dad was here, he was given a glass too which was definitely not to his liking at all (being a typical foreigner).
BTW, why will XTreme be kept awake all night, or is it better not to ask?

[owdoggy]

Er.........I know I'm just an ordinary geordie joe and deep, meaningful thinking isn't one of my strongest points but don't you think we're taking this business a wee bit too far? A cup?, a glass?.......god preserve us, who cares!

Personally they could serve mine in a bucket & I wouldn't mind as long as it tasted good....... which over here it usually does.



Doggy (flak jacket at the ready)