worrying times in pp

[Belladonna]

LOL! No pressure then! .. and likewise I'm sure.

Just a quick comparison. Hubby has just had a coffee and pain au raison in Leicester Square London, and it came to £7.90. He knows where he would rather have had breakfast and probably cheaper for coffee and cake too!

 

[Belladonna]

I'm going to throw something else into the mix here. Stay with me.

The Olympic Games is a couple of years away. The local area is gearing up to accommodate all the razzamatazz and thousands of tourists it will bring over. This cost is supposed to be backed by the government. The government/council puts part of the costs onto local business under the guise of "improvements and drawing in more customers". The businesses as yet have no more customers but are paying higher costs. Where do they get their extra money from? Up go the prices!

Remember when we used to arrive at Palma Airport when it was not much more than a shack? Remember when it used to take nearly 2 hours to travel through the lovely villages - Santa Maria, Consell etc - where they had no pavements? Remember how many floods there were in PP? When Ca Vostra was in its original state it was often flooded out. Remember when you turned the taps on and nothing came out and the electricity was even worse than it is now?

Well, now look at the airport, even starting to build for USA planes! 1 hour later on the fast new motorway and your at PP. Palm trees lining the pavements. New drains to help with high tides. Etc etc.

Where has this extra money come from? Yes, obviously the councils and government, and yes, they have put the rents, rates etc up to claw some of it back from the locals. And yes, THATS why we are paying more! Simples!

Now, personally I wasn't worried about driving longer and I could have done without the road - but thats a previous 100 posts last year! But they are all here and thats that. We are paying the price for progress.

But I still feel some of them rip us off!!

 

[Rab]

I think people are missing the OP's original point. Most of the posters on here rightly love PP and are happy to miss/ignore/excuse some of the not so great points about it but its the first-timers to PP that the post was aimed at.

Will they be happy to pay over the odds for a bottle of wine in some places in relation to other resorts/countries? Will they be happy to pay over the odds for a bed on the beach in comparison to other resorts/countries? Will they be happy paying 15 euros in a taxi from the water park in Alcudia back to PP?

There was a recent article in TOTN about all-inclusive hotels in Alcudia and how it was affecting the trade in local bars/restarants. The hoteliers argument was that they would do whatever they have to do to protect theirselves and that the bars/restaurants sprung up on the back of the hotels. Who can blame them? Who can blame the average British family with 2/3 children going to an all-inclusive hotel and forfeiting the pleasure of the upmarket restaurants? Certainly not me. Im not so sure if I would recommend PP to friends of ours who perhaps would have to work to a tight budget when they got to PP. Eating out isnt cheap but nor with the price of essentials is eating in.

 

[danm]

I'm a relative newbie to PP, i was there in May of this year and am about to book again for the same time next year.

Both myself and my wife like to eat good food and by reputation that is one of the reasons we chose PP and why we will return next year. Our 18 month old also seems to have the taste....all she would eat was aioli and olives!

The local providers can't impact the exchange rate so when making comparisons it's not fair to do so in GBP.

IMO it is all down to choice. I know that PP is expensive. I also know that i'd rather holiday in Iraq rather than somewhere like Magaluf and therefore know at the outset i am making the expensive choice.

When deciding which restaurant i know i can go to Brisa Marina and have the lovely whitebait as part of the MDD for €15 or can go round the corner to los Zaroles and pay more than that just for Suckling pig. Other places offer something in between.

When i compare this to food prices in London or most places in the UK for that matter, OF A SIMILAR STANDARD, i think PP stacks up very well. You can't eat a 3 course meal in a harvester for the equiv of a MDD let alone somewhere of the same quality. €100 for a meal for 2 in Los Zorales is about right for the quality of food and service.
Generally i paid, for a ribeye,about €15-€20. Nearly double that in Gaucho Grill, 4 times that for the new Palms steak house in London. Quality not that much different.

I just returned from Turkey and paid £120 for a return taxi transfer for a journey of 50 mins so on a par with PP.

The reason so many of you (and i include myself in this) like PP so much is because you have been spoiled for so long....and i mean that in a good way. The food generally is fantastic and the choice second to none. Couple that with the sun and the general ambience and friendliness of the resort it is one of THE european destinations.

When i look at the holiday I had, and hopefully the one i will take next year; in terms of the whole package, i think its value for money.

In the current climate i think its inevitable that some places will not see out the winter and it's a shame, but from a purely selfish point of view between that or the resort turning into just another Majorcan resort then i go for survival of the fittest.

An over abundance of English Breakfasts and football shirts would kill it for me, and (without meaning to sound snobish.... although probably failing badly) the higher prices probably help to keep this at bay. That said, i still don't want to get ripped off. Compared to other parts of the island i probably am. Compared to the UK, probably not.....i make my choice and i pay the price.

 

[sws97sdg]

Agree with everything you say Danm

 

[Rachel23]

I also agree with Wrightstuff this year i too went over with washing up materials, tea, coffee, cereal, sun creams etc my other half thought id lost the plot but was soon glad of all my bits n pieces ... but to be honest i do exactly the same when we go to his families place in southern ireland. This is simply because it is cheaper at the moment to buy in stirling ... and pp cant be faulted for the r.o.e.

 

[WRIGHTSTUFF]

Thanks Rachel I don't feel quite so sad now, my list of things to take keeps getting bigger. Like I said earlier I would like to put all of my money into PP but when we save all year to give our boys a quality holiday rather than a cheap package, you need all the help you can get.

 

[mwc]

Some great points made, we to found basic things expensive & even supermarket shopping the same or more expensive than home. As for the restaraunts, yes some do take the mick a bit with prices, though I think at the better know places which we have been year after year the value & quality is still there. I for one would not be put of coming, as there is just something about the place that I & the family love.

 

[pollensafan]

I don't go back to PP until August 2010 with my husband and 5 boys. I think everyone is just trying to be smarter with their money. I like CD buy all sun cream in UK, in fact have already taken advantage of bargains and have 10 bottles put away. I also intend to take breakfast cereal for the kids, marmite, my own dish wash tabs etc. Was even thinking about taking a few tins of beans as mad as that is. All just to save money. I'd love to give my money into the PP economy but who wants to pay way over the top for essentials. And I've already got a notebook going with good value for money bars and shops written down so i don't forget, And that is thanks to all of you guys...

Hi Ws, I had to do a double take when i read you had put ten bottles away. I was hoping you meant wine!!!!!!!

 

[eleanor]

Yesterday, 18:51
maggie27
Under Moderation

Dont bother with Balaixa
Quote:
Originally Posted by mncollyer
Has anybody any details about these apartments we are coming over in September for 2 weeks

Cheers Mark
We booked Balaixa - 2nd floor with parking. We were offered 1st floor with NO parking. The first floor flat smelt bad with damp, the patio doors did not close, and we had a load of ants. We only stayed one night as there was no alternative. We then had to pay 300 eus to "a company" to move to another aprtment further out of PP.

Please forgive me for copying a post from yesterday on another thread from Maggie27 but this is just another example of a negative experience of holidaying in Pollensa. The only acceptable thing here is the ants as they have a mind of their own and pop up everywhere! On a serious note - this was someone's holiday and this person has gone home with negative thoughts of Pollensa due to a slapdash holiday company. This effects us all.

 

[BonysLad]

I'm going to throw something else into the mix here. Stay with me.

Well, now look at the airport, even starting to build for USA planes! 1 hour later on the fast new motorway and your at PP. Palm trees lining the pavements. New drains to help with high tides. Etc etc.

Where has this extra money come from? Yes, obviously the councils and government, and yes, they have put the rents, rates etc up to claw some of it back from the locals. And yes, THATS why we are paying more! Simples!

Bella,

Actually most of this money has come from the EEC and not from the locals , which us Brits have been contributing towards for many years. Take the new road at the back of town, the locals were demanding that the money be spent on more important items like water supply , drainage and sewerage. Clear answer from the local council that it was EEC money and it had to be spent on the road at the back of town. Looks fabulous, dual carriageway
(totally unecessary IMO) , great roundabouts , lighting and tree lined carriageways.

You'll get your chance with Dave Cameron next year, when he asks for the Lisbon Treaty to be ratified by the British public. Just watch Sterling plummet when that happens !!!!

In the meantime, let's do din dins at Stay ???

BonysLad

 

[Disorderly]

I'm saddened to read Animagic's post about such bad behaviour in August. We have become used to enjoying two weeks in June/July for some years but in '10 will be coming in school holidays for the first time in years. I do hope that this isn't what we have to look forward to!

I think you are so right, Danm (and not a snob at all), that to some extent pricing drives away "unwelcome" elements, but it would be unfair to suggest that people on low budgets who come to PP are more likely to cause these problems. To be honest, I think that the type of establishments a resort offers has a more profound effect upon the type of visitor it attracts.

I've just come back from a week in a small (just like PP used to be) fishing village in Cyprus. Not a Tex Mex in sight. No Burger King. No Irish bars. No "Greasy Joe's" English Breakfasts. Just wonderful, locally owned, family run restaurants serving local food, beautifully cooked and served by happy smiling locals. Not expensive....2 X G&T, starter, main, bottle of wine, coffees, complimentary pastries and brandy....cost for two? Typically less than 50 Euros.

Guess what? Wonderful, well behaved visitors and not a football shirt in sight.

So, I have a strong inclination to feel that if a resort focusses upon the local and the traditional, and avoids "kiss me quick", it will feel alien to the very people who have been highlighted here as noisy and troublesome. After all, there are plenty of other Mallorcan resorts where they will feel completely comfortable.

PP should concentrate upon being what PP has always been - good value, but traditional and authentic. Know your audience! PP, over recent years, has been sending out mixed signals by the type of establishments that have appeared, and may well suffer in the long run as a result.

I may well be wrong.......but hopefully it will stimulate the debate, though!!

Duncan

 

[Belladonna]

Ok, hands up, I did know about EEC money helping the island in general, but surely its added on to or supported by local government money, so in principle perhaps my point still stands? Did someone not say somewhere that the rents had been increased in a restaurant locally by the council? I'm not getting on a soap box here, just offering suggestions other than out and out greed.

Hubby and I thank you very much for your generous offer which we would love to take you up on LOL!

 

[BonysLad]

Bella,

You may well be right but, in my understanding, most of these infrastructure projects are from " ring fenced " EEC funding money. Can you believe the dear old PP residents were actually marching in the streets re the ring road spending when the water tasted like the " Dead Sea " , and the drains overflowed ( my god , you should have seen the rain here this week in Mallorca !!!! ) ???

Don't believe we discussed paying in my invitation ????

LOL

BonysLad

Oh by the way, Reads were voted the fourth best hotel for wine in Europe last week according to the Bulletin , if only you hadn't have had that extra glass you would have got up to shut the shutter whilst hubby slept !!

 

[Belladonna]

BL, Only the best for me! It's their fault then - perhaps they can pay the dentist bill!

Can't really go any further with the local council and the money situation then can I? So I'll bow out on that point.

(I was sure I read between the lines re your invitation though - joke BL!! end of off topic)

 

[med777]

so... we have a funded lovely (not really needed) ring road and roundabouts, making sure passing thru PP is avoided at all costs while the locals/holidaymakers have the square, a sad barren place in need of serious TLC..
(On our local village committee... anyone who says the 'G' word (grant) in any form is fined £10 (any mention of council/lottery/ eec and it is bound with regs unless u want a poets fair or drama class ! )

Has anyone got any idea why PP cant have stalls on the front anymore? Alcudia had them while we were there in late aug/sept and I think that had been for the entire month of Aug.

Miriam

 

[Belladonna]

You're absolutely right, I had forgotten about that, and didn't it bring a huge buzz the the port too! But perhaps its because it was a particular fiesta time for them and regulated, whereas the PP ones are just general and tend to be a cover for other activities which needed to be stopped at all costs.

 

[Smiddy]

Sad timesfor PP

The stalls on the front were always intersesting, unfortunately this also attracted the guys selling flashing light hats, 10 min guarentee watches etc, down the rocky road to "kiss me quick hats".

On the subject of prices, be careful what you wish for, my son is just back from Bulgaria, a so called cheap destination, unbranded spirits were cheap but coke, mixtures etc cost more than the spirit, ending up costing more than 6 E.

 

[Gommar Goffer]

I for one did not like the tacky stalls on the front, I don't mind the occasional artist or jeweller but nothing flashing, please.

I cannot remember who mentioned the all inclusive hotels, sorry, but the hotels' arguments that they created the resorts and the need for more restaurants and bars does not wash with me.

PP used to have a handful of hotels but the restaurants and bars were already there and not many fewer than now!!

GG

 

[debz1]

Been chatting to my hairdresser today who's just back from Barcelona...well actually Sitges which is about an hour away. He said 2 umbrellas and a shade on the beach cost 20 € Makes the 11€ that they charge in PP quite good value!