Category: Uncategorized

A Mallorca Solution For The Winter Fuel Allowance

I have never voted in the UK elections as I’ve been away for so long. Whilst here in Mallorca, we can vote in the local elections, but not in the national elections. Which to me doesn’t make sense, as I’m a resident and taxpayer. Now I’m not one to talk politics but this week I’m going to attempt, well in a roundabout way. I know I need to have a good long word with myself, and believe me I will after this.

The good thing about a democracy is that everyone can have an opinion, you will either agree with it or disagree with it, but at least it leads to a healthy debate.

Every now and again, Governments will release a policy or a decision that really riles up the electorate. Remember the poll tax, the Iraqi war or here in Mallorca the Tourist Tax? The current Labour government has come up with a policy that has caused a lot of controversy. I am of course talking about the winter fuel allowance. Introduced in 1997 by the then-chancellor, Gordon Brown, the winter fuel payment was intended to help older people with their heating costs during the colder months. Paid annually in autumn, it is £200 or £300, depending on age, and had always been universal, paid to everyone, irrespective of income or wealth.

But in a speech in the House of Commons in July, Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, announced that from now on the payment would be given only to older people who received pension credit, meaning only the very poorest pensioners. This is expected to reduce the number who get the money from more than 11 million to about 1.5 million.

I remember my Mum used to receive it and was grateful for the extra money during the winter and enabled her to heat her property for longer than she would normally do. 

I arrived in Mallorca in 1990 and back then the winters were just as busy as the summers. One of the main reasons for this was that pensioners would come away for months on end during the winter to get away from the cold weather in the UK. I worked winters here in Mallorca, The Algarve and Gran Canaria, and you’d get rooming lists of pensioner couples and singles, and it was very popular at the time. They had dedicated brochures in those days such as Golden Circle, Golden Days and Leisurely Days and whilst the tour operators still offer this, it doesn’t seem to be something that they push as much as they used to. 

Saga is the one of the main dedicated companies in this market and having done my research I’ve discovered I am actually eligible to go on one of their holidays! 

It got me thinking that why doesn’t the UK government approach the Tour Operators and ask if they would be willing to look at providing cheaper holidays for pensioners? Are you mad? I hear you ask. Well, maybe, but they do have a system like that here in Spain. 

The Imserso scheme is a social scheme that’s primary objective is to offer affordable holidays to the elderly residents of Spain. It is hoped that by subsidising trips for pensioners, their health and quality of life will improve whilst their dependence on others will decrease. As well as benefiting pensioners, the scheme will also benefit the wider community by incentivising economic activity and increasing employment within the tourism sector during the quieter winter months. Something Mallorca is crying out for. 

The Imserso scheme is only intended for Spanish residents, but here’s something I didn’t know. If you are an ex-pat who permanently resides in Spain, then you can take part in the programme provided you meet any of the following criteria:

  • A person who is retired and part of the Spanish public pension system.
  • A person who receives a widow’s or widower’s pension and is aged 55 or older.
  • A person who receives unemployment benefits or subsidies and is aged 60 or older.
  • A holder or beneficiary of Spain’s Social Security System, aged 65 or older 

Mallorca would in my opinion be a perfect destination as it’s only 2 hours from the UK and although the winter temperatures aren’t like the summer. They are certainly warmer than the UK. I’m sure it would be popular amongst pensioners and as I said above it would create employment here. Benidorm does it, so why can’t we? 

Maybe it’s something that could be discussed at the World Travel Market in London in November? Just a thought, now I’m off to have that word with myself and study that Saga brochure. 

Dare to Dream?

A few weeks ago, Real Mallorca started their season with a creditable 1-1 draw with Real Madrid. At the time, I wrote, “There’s always a sense of excitement and nervousness when a new football season starts. How will your team play, where will they finish the season, and will they win a trophy? These are three of the most important questions in most fans minds.” Now having been a Mallorca fan for many years, my expectations, to be honest, weren’t that high. Last season we finished 15th in the league, but we had made the Copa del Rey final, losing on penalties to Atlético Bilbao. More importantly, we had replaced our very cautious and defensive coach Javier Aguirre with a fairly unknown one in Jagoba Arrasate. He was in charge at Osasuna for six years, and they had become a solid mid-table team and two years ago finished in 7th place. What Arrasate was known for was encouraging youth team players to push for first team places, and he wasn’t afraid to throw them in. 

After the Madrid game, things got a little worse for Mallorca, an encouraging away win at Leganés was followed by two losses and a draw. So after 5 games they had 5 points. 

At that time of the Madrid game I had commented on how well the American owners had done in improving the stadium, its facilities and the atmosphere. I was hoping that all that hard work would also transfer onto the pitch. But it wasn’t happening. It looked like Arrasate was searching for his best 11 as he was constantly changing the team, even the goalkeepers. What he was doing though was giving the youngsters a chance. Marc Domenech who 2 years ago was playing with my son Jacob at San Francisco in Palma, was one of the first and encouragingly more are now coming through. Whilst this was all welcome, points on the board were what Mallorca was missing, and it was looking like it was going to be another relegation battle. However, in the space of three games, they have all of a sudden woken up. A battling 1-0 home win against Real Sociedad has been followed by what can only be described as two amazing 1-2 away wins against Real Betis and Valladolid. Bearing in mind that they only won two away games in the whole of last season, and already they have three this season. As they had played Valladolid on the Friday night it meant that for at least 24 hours they were lying in a Champions League place, with Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona above them. That did change over the weekend, and now they lie in sixth place. Today they play another away game at Espanyol, so let’s hope they can continue this run of good form. It’s a great start and has the fans dreaming of Europe next season but let’s not get too excited we are only 8 games into a 38 game season. 

Health Matters

One of the traits most men have is that we won’t admit that we’re ill, It’s something that we tend to shy away from. Why visit a doctor to tell you you’re not well when a couple of pills will suffice, or you ride out the problem. I’m in this camp, or let’s say I was in this camp. 

Since the pandemic, I took the decision to make sure I do a yearly MOT, as I’m getting to the age where unfortunately things don’t work as well as they did. I say yearly, but that doesn’t include the regular visits I now do to the dentist and chiropodist. I didn’t visit the dentist for over 30 years, mainly because of a bad experience I had when I was a kid. A few years ago a friend of mine, a dentist in the UK, asked me to go to his practice and he promised he would be as gentle as he could. One thing about his practice that I loved was he had a TV screen in the ceiling so as you laid back you could watch the TV. Meaning, I concentrated more on Sky Sports News than I did on the work that he was doing. Luckily though there wasn’t anything majorly wrong with my teeth, which he found amazing after 30 years, and so my reluctance to go to the dentist was cured. I now go regularly to Howard Forge at the Santa Ponsa Dental Practice in Santa Ponsa. Who is without doubt one of the best on the island. 

I also regularly visit the Clinica de Pie (Chiropodist) in Santa Ponsa. Pedro Ortega was recommended to me by quite a few people and I would recommend him to any of you out there. One thing I am behind with is my eyes and yes I know, should have gone to Specsavers! That’s on my list. 

Back to my yearly MOT, which I did privately through Juaneda. I have no problem with the national health system here in Spain, by the way. I still use them, but having a private insurance is peace of mind for the whole family and if I’m paying for it, I might as well use it. Marisa the doctor in Palma Nova is an absolute star and says it how it is. I did the whole works both in Palma Nova and the clinic in Palma. There’s not a test known to man which I didn’t do. One of the tests I did showed that I’d got a hernia, and it needed to be operated on. So the week before last I was in Juaneda preparing for the operation. I have to say the treatment and care I received was second to none and within 24 hours I was home. I’m now in my second week of recovery, and it’s taking longer than I thought. But I’m glad I did what I did. I urge any of you out there who like me didn’t like to visit the doctors to do so. I know it’s not easy, as I’ve been there, but sometimes you owe it to your family and friends to make sure you’re in good health. 

The National Anthem Debate

I’m a little bit late to the party, talking about whether the England football manager should sing the national anthem. For me, it’s a matter of choice and if I’m honest I don’t care if you belt it out or remain silent, I just want to see us win a trophy! 

If you didn’t know the current interim England manager is Lee Carsley, who was born in Birmingham, but by default he’s actually Irish and qualified for the Republic of Ireland through his grandmother, who was from Dunmanway, County Cork. He played 40,games for them in total between 1997 and 2008. So all this pile on about he should be singing our anthem or be fired is totally over the top and let’s face it, he’s not actually English. Was it questioned when Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson or Italian Fabio Cabello didn’t sing it whilst in charge of England? Probably not.

In times of triumph and trouble, on royal or state occasions and on the sporting pitch, these anthems lay bare the beating hearts of a nation, united in song. But If you really want to hear an anthem sung the best, then I suggest you go to an international rugby match. 

It made me think of compiling a top 10 of the World’s best anthems. I’ve gone for the most passionate ones, and in true chart style I’ll do it in reverse order. 

Spain: I have to include the country I have lived in for the past 34 years. Although interestingly, “La Marcha Real” is one of only 4 national anthems that doesn’t have any words.

Australia: What I like about their anthem is that from the first two lines, “Australians all, let us rejoice, for we are young and free.” It sounds upbeat and modern and continues on that theme all the way through.

New Zealand: Like Australia this a modern sounding anthem and what I like about it is, it is sung in both Māori and in English. Showing the heritage of the country. If you are at a New Zealand All Blacks rugby game, you’ll also be treated to their traditional “Haka” after the anthem. 

Ireland: They have two anthems, ‘Ireland’s Call’ and “Amhrán na bhFiann” (Soldier’s Song). Their decision to sing two different anthems is a result of the historic divisions in the nation. It is good to see though a united Ireland playing sport together. 

Scotland: It’s an unofficial anthem, but a powerful tune that commemorates the victory of the Scots after Robert the Bruce defeated England’s Edward II at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Normally at the rugby, a lone piper will play the first verse and the crowd are left to sing the second verse on their own.

England: Surely being English, our anthem should be my number one? Whilst I do find it uplifting, it’s a little slow for my liking. I think, like all the other home nations, England should have its own anthem. “Jerusalem” for instance, a hymn that we had at our wedding, would be perfect. 

Italy: You’d be hard pushed to find a more passionate anthem. The lyrics were written by Goffredo Mameli in September 1847, but it was not until 2017 that the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies approved a bill to confirm the “Canto degli Italiani” an official hymn of the Italian Republic.

USA: The Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem of the United States.

To celebrate their victory over British forces during the War of 1812, U.S. soldiers raised a large American flag at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 14, 1814. When we took Pirates to Miami in 2006/7 one of the things we did was raise the American flag on the galleon at the end of the show, whilst playing the national anthem. It was always a great ending. I don’t think I’ve seen this anthem sung any better than when Whitney Houston did it in 1991 at the Super Bowl. 

France: “La Marseillaise” is bold, catchy and revolutionary in every sense of the word as it was created during the French Revolution. I think the French just shade the Italians in their passion for their anthem. 

Wales: “Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau” is my number one choice. Even as an Englishman, you can’t help but be moved by this anthem. Especially when it is sung at the national stadium and Wales are playing England at Rugby. The crowd along with the Welsh choir create an unbelievable sound that still makes my hairs stand on end. 

No matter which country they belong to, national anthems are all sung with fervent passion and patriotism. It’s your choice whether you sing them or not.

Please note, I have started a weekly podcast with my good friend Martin Makepeace. It is called “Talking Balearics”. I have been in Mallorca for 34 years and Martin in Ibiza for 33 years, so between us, we have a good knowledge of current affairs across the islands. You can listen on all the normal podcast platforms, and we welcome your input and feedback. 

Richie is the MD at Pirates, the island’s number one night out featuring Adventure, Reloaded and Gringos. Subscribe to receive his blogs at http://www.dadtaximallorca.com

Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi, or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com

The Murky World Of Dynamic Pricing

Dynamic pricing”, seems to be the latest buzz phrase. All because of the sale of Oasis tickets these past couple of weeks. But it’s been around for many years.

Going back in history, we can see dynamic pricing where merchants would haggle overprices based on demand, supply, and even geopolitical conditions! Fast-forward to today’s digital era, where dynamic pricing has become smarter and more sophisticated, thanks to technology and data science.

Ticketmaster brought in dynamic pricing in 2018 after seeing its success in other markets. The basics are, to adjust prices in real-time to reflect market demand. Several reasons that Ticketmaster stated for the reasons behind “dynamic pricing” include the supply and demand aspect for certain tickets, with the idea that those tickets should be adjusted to reflect the “higher demand” for certain concerts. 

Ticketmaster also pointed out that the move was to combat the secondary ticket market, where popular events would sell out only to have those tickets appear on websites such as Viagogo or StubHub for an inflated price. The idea was that the money for an increased cost of a ticket would return to the artists rather than to those who bulk bought tickets to resell elsewhere. So despite Oasis releasing a tweet saying,

“Please note, Oasis Live ‘25 tickets can only be resold at face value via @TicketmasterUK and @Twickets! Tickets appearing on other secondary ticketing sites are either counterfeit or will be cancelled by the promoters.” 

They are in fact to blame for the rise in prices. For artists and promoters, dynamic pricing is a way to maximise earnings from ticket sales. Like I said above, adjusting prices to match demand, they can generate more revenue than they would with a fixed pricing model, especially for in-demand events. In ‘high-demand situations, the profit margins on tickets can be significantly increased, benefiting both the artists promoters and the ticket suppliers. Let’s face it, an Oasis reunion after 15 years was never going to be a low demand event, was it? 

Quite the opposite. Which I’m sure the promoter, the ticket sellers and the band knew anyway. And although it looks harsh on the outside, all are businesses that work for profit and if we were in the same situation we would probably do the same. Or would we? Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran refused to add a dynamic pricing model to their world tour ticket sales. I’m led to believe they increased their prices on the tickets to gain profit that way. Ticket sales and prices would also be reflected in the venues the artists were playing in, but when you’re talking Oasis, Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran these are massive stadium events. Meaning whatever, either model is going to make money if priced correctly. 

The most lucrative world concert tour to date is estimated to be Swift’s Eras tour, which has grossed more than $1bn from 60 shows. This is followed by Coldplay, who made $945m over 153 shows between 2022 and 2024. Elton John, a perennial tourer, made $939m from 330 shows in his farewell extravaganza that ran from 2018 to 2023. Ed Sheeran comes in at number 4 at $776m and U2 make up the top 5, grossing $736m.

Eye watering numbers, whichever model of pricing you choose. 

One thing that I think has gone under the radar is that there are three promoters for the Oasis reunion tour, all with links to one company. That company is Live Nation, the US multinational which just happens to own Ticketmaster, the ticket supplier for the tour. Not only this but if you do manage to get to a gig, Live Nation have links to merchandise companies, security companies and even some of the actual venues. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to work out what’s going on here. Over in the US, the Justice Department, along with 30 state and district attorneys general, have filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Ticketmaster LLC (Live Nation-Ticketmaster) for monopolisation and other unlawful conduct that thwarts competition in markets across the live entertainment industry. The lawsuit, which includes a request for structural relief, seeks to restore competition in the live concert industry, provide better choices at lower prices for fans, and open venue doors for working musicians and other performance artists. 

All it took was the outrage of a few hundred thousand gig goers to bring to the attention of the UK government a problem that millions of travellers have faced ever since the invention of the dynamic pricing algorithm. 

For instance, if I want to fly one way from Mallorca to Gatwick on Thursday 31st of October, a popular time for people to leave the island. At the moment, it can cost anywhere between €200 and as high as €400. That’s without any baggage etc. But if I leave it another week, it will cost €67.49.

Looking at the UK, if I want to book the cheapest lodge at Woburn Center Parcs UK for 4 nights between December 23rd and December 27th it will cost £1,699.00. That same lodge from the 6th of January to the 10th of January is £399.00!

I’ve written many times before that it’s time for the UK Government to change their taking children out of school during term time policy. Which would allow Tour Operators, airlines and hotels to drop their prices. Absenteeism is at record levels, according to Department for Education data, with nearly 400,000 penalty notices issued in the 2022-2023 academic year. So what does the Government do? Increases the fines! It’s so blinkered it’s ridiculous. I’ve said this a thousand times, seeing new countries, experiencing new cultures, hearing new languages and tasting different cuisines should be part of a child’s education in my opinion. And it should be in the hands of the parents and teachers to decide if a child could take some time away, not a Government Minister. And I would hope that would enable the Tour Operators, airlines and hotels to price more accordingly, and also it just might solve the so-called tourist overcrowding problems we are seeing around the world. 

Sorry to keep going on about this, but isn’t it obvious?

Richie is the MD at Pirates, the island’s number one night out featuring Adventure, Reloaded and Gringos. Subscribe to receive his blogs at http://www.dadtaximallorca.com

Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi, or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com

School’s Back From Summer

This week, social media in the UK was full of the obligatory back to school photos. Over here in Mallorca, despite breaking up in the middle of June, the majority of schools go back next Wednesday. There’s not a Mum and Dad I know that can’t wait for that. In my opinion, three months off is without doubt far too long for kids to be out of school. Yes you read that right, 3 months, 12 weeks or 84 days! One of the excuses I heard once was that as the schools are so old they don’t have air conditioning, and therefore it’s uncomfortable for children. Which I get, but why do some schools then re-open to do summer schools and charge you for the privilege? Some will say it gives parents an opportunity to spend quality time with their kids, but a high percentage of those parents work in our biggest industry, tourism, and it’s the height of season. 

In the UK the fining system has been increased by the Government, when you take children out of school, particularly for a holiday. 

This is the information from the Government education hub.

“In the majority of cases, schools and local authorities will try and provide support to help you improve your child’s attendance first, but if this isn’t effective or the absence is for unauthorised term time holiday, parents may face paying a fine. 

It’s the responsibility of the local authority to decide when to issue fines to parents, meaning the process varies from council to council. 

However, under the national rules, all schools are required to consider a fine when a child has missed 10 or more sessions (5 days) for unauthorised reasons. 

From August 2024, the fine for school absences across the country will be £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days. This rate is in line with inflation and is the first increase since 2012. 

In the case of repeated fines, if a parent receives a second fine for the same child within any three-year period, this will be charged at the higher rate of £160.”

Back in March, I wrote the following,

“In 1990 when I first arrived in Mallorca, families used to visit the island every month. So you wouldn’t see a major difference whether the children were on holiday from school or not. This changed however in 2012 when the coalition government of the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats brought in a law that only allowed children to go on holiday in the official school holidays. The Minister was Michael Gove (remember him?). He said at the time “It is wrong for parents to take children out of school during term time to take advantage of cheaper holidays and there should be a call for action to stop holiday companies cashing in by ramping up prices during the school holidays.” He added, “that the holiday industry should look at itself in the mirror and ask whether it was doing enough to help its customers.”

Well that didn’t work, did it. Tour operators, airlines, hotels, in fact pretty much everybody involved in the tourist industry still puts their prices up in school holidays. Why? Because of the increased demand, created by Government policy. I know as I book my holidays at Christmas both in the UK and abroad.” For instance, if I want to book the cheapest lodge at Woburn Center Parcs UK for 4 nights between December 23rd and December 27th it will cost £1,699.00. That same lodge from the 6th of January to the 10th of January is £399.00!

With all the headlines around Ticketmaster putting their prices up for Oasis tickets because of increased demand, ask yourself, what is the difference? For me, it’s double standards from the Government. Seeing new countries, experiencing new cultures, hearing new languages and tasting different cuisines should be part of a child’s education in my opinion. And it should be in the hands of the parents and teachers to decide if a child could take some time away, not a Government Minister.

I would be interested to know if the Tour Operators, airlines and hotels would prefer to go back to the old system of letting children go on holiday when their parents wish them to, and then they will be able to price accordingly? And it might just help the claimed “over tourism” both here and around the World.

I welcome your thoughts.

Richie is the MD at Pirates, the island’s number one night out featuring Adventure, Reloaded and Gringos. Subscribe to receive his blogs at http://www.dadtaximallorca.com

Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi, or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com

Are They Touring?….Definitely, Will it Last?….Maybe

When I was on the radio and played a song by Oasis, I always said that they were the one band I would love to see get back together. There didn’t seem to be any hope as both of the brothers had carved out their own individual careers and neither seemed humble enough to pick up the phone and talk to each other.  That has just all changed, as they announced this week that after 15 years apart they are getting back together. 

Those of us that have been in Mallorca a few years will remember Oasis played on the island in 2002 at the old cricket pitch in Magaluf. It was part of the Isladencanta Festival and around 15,000 people turned up. Unfortunately, we had a show that night in Pirates, but I remember us going onto the roof to listen to some of it as it was not far away from us. 

I’ve had the good fortune to meet and interview two of the drummers in the band over the years. Who just happen to be brothers, like Noel and Liam. This was an interview I did with Alan in 2018.

Always a pleasure to chat with a music legend. Last Sunday at Pirates, I met and chatted to Alan White, who was the drummer with Oasis from 1995-2004. I’ve met him a few times before as he has a home here on the island. He was part of arguably their best album “What’s the Story Morning Glory” including “Wonderwall” “Roll With it” and he’s the drummer in the pool on the “Don’t look back in anger” video. In Oasis, he was known by the phrase “Alan White – He’s alright”. White was also entrusted with the job of being Liam Gallagher’s ‘official’ drinking partner, and was also said to be his best friend in the band. Together, the pair were known as ‘Bert and Ernie’, named after the Sesame Street-characters. We had a good catch up, and I had to ask whether they would ever get back together. He said he doubted it as while Liam wanted to, Noel just isn’t interested. He did say though that if it did ever happen the brothers individually have said that Alan would be on drums, Paul “Bonehead” Arthur’s on keyboards and guitar and Paul “Guigsy” McGuigan on bass. I, for one, would buy a ticket. 

Alan’s brother Steve is also a drumming legend, who played with Paul Weller and the Style Council. In fact Steve was the youngest musician to play at Live Aid in 1985 when he was just 20. He also found himself in 2001 filling in for his younger brother Alan in the hot seat for Oasis on the band’s American tour with the Black Crowes. 

I said earlier that both the Gallagher’s have carved out their own music careers. My favourite Liam track is “Wall of glass” and my favourite track from Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds is “Pretty Boy”. Also, Noel is brilliant at talking football on Talksport and Liam is hilarious on Twitter. 

If I had to choose my top three Oasis songs, they would be.

  1. Don’t look back in anger
  2. Champagne Supernova
  3. Live Forever

At the time of writing, we don’t know who the support act is going to be. Any suggestions would be welcome. 

I hope the prices of tickets are reasonable enough for the real fans to be able to go. Will it be worth going to? Definitely, will they last the whole tour? Maybe!

Richie is the MD at Pirates, the island’s number one night out featuring Adventure, Reloaded and Gringos. Subscribe to receive his blogs at http://www.dadtaximallorca.com

Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi, or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com

Mallorca in Dream World

There’s always a sense of excitement and nervousness when a new football season starts. How will your team play, where will they finish the season and will they win a trophy, are three of the most important questions in most fans minds. There was the same anticipation for me and my two boys as we made our way to the Estadi Son Moix last Sunday, to see Real Mallorca’s first game of the season. Just the small matter of Real Madrid as our first opponents. Yes that Real Madrid who were La Liga Champions, Champions League winners and just last week they had won the UEFA Super Cup. And to top it all off, they had just signed arguably the greatest player in the World right now Kilian Mbappe. 

A trip to the stadium is no longer a chore, apart from the parking of course! But the American owners have totally transformed the club from top to bottom. It is now a pleasure to turn up early outside and have a couple of alcoholic beers. I say that because alcohol is banned inside the stadium, unless you’re with the garlic prawns brigade. That has now been enhanced with the opening of the Mallorca Sports Bar, which luckily enough for us is under the stand where we sit.  They had big screens showing live games from La Liga, the Bundesliga and the Chelsea v Manchester City game from the Premier League.

Last week I read that the most expensive pie-and-a-pint combo in the Premier League this season is at West Ham United’s London Stadium. It will set you back a total of £11.30 for both on a match day. Well Mallorca will certainly give them a run for their money. A burger and a caña(half a lager) will set you back €12.50 or €15.50 if you want a pint! Now I have to say the burger was actually pretty good but not €9.50 pretty good. The club need to make sure they don’t price their fan base away from the game. They have a lot of great corporate opportunities but never lose sight of the real fans who turn up week in and week out. 

Back to the game and let’s remember that Mallorca finished in 15th place last season, just the 55 points behind Real Madrid. So expectations weren’t that high especially when you’re facing a front line of Mbappe, Vinicius and Rodrygo, with Bellingham, Tchouameni and Valverde just behind. Last year Madrid’s spending cap was €727.50 million compared to Mallorca’s €61 million and their newly refurbished stadium holds just over 80,000 and our newly refurbished stadium hold just over 23,000. You can’t compare them. But at the end of the day it’s 11 v 11 and that means anything can happen. Which as it turned out it did. Madrid scored first in the 13th minute and it looked like it could be a cricket score. But to Mallorca’s credit they battled back into the game and in my opinion were the better team in the second half. They equalised in the 53rd minute with a goal from Muriqi and could have won right at the end when Mallorca born Antonio Sanchez had a golden opportunity in front of goal but skied his shot higher than the Tramuntana mountains. A point was more than we could have dreamed of and hopefully that’s the sign of things to come. Under new coach Jagoba Arrasate, we seem to be more on the front foot and I like the look of the squad and what he’s doing with it. 

Today at 16.00, Mallorca play Osasuna away. This is significant game in may ways. Our coach Arrasate has joined from Osasuna after six successful years and guiding them to a best placed 7th. Osasuna have replaced him with Mallorca’s former coach Vincente Moreno, who guided us to two successive promotions. There’s also Ante Budimir, a former Real Mallorca player, who downed tools and refused to play for the team unless he got a transfer. Mallorca only won away twice last season so it’s important to try and get something from this game. Note that Mallorca play their next home game on Tuesday August 27th at 19.00. I’m saving up for the burger and pint combo! 

Richie is the MD at Pirates, the island’s number one night out featuring Adventure, Reloaded and Gringos. Subscribe to receive his blogs at http://www.dadtaximallorca.com

Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi, or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com

Revamping The Tourist Tax

A couple of weeks ago, I talked about the anti-tourism protesters and their demands on the Balearic Government. Whilst I don’t agree with most of their demands, there were a couple I thought were fair. One in particular that I thought needed looking into more was the tourist tax. 

This was introduced in 2016, and we were told that Its aim was to fund projects encouraging a sustainable, responsible and high-quality tourism model, particularly projects that boost the preservation of the environment (nature, country life, agriculture and sea life), off-season tourism, historical sites and cultural heritage, research and development. 

At the time I have to be honest and say I had my doubts, not in the principle of it but exactly where and how the money was going to be spent. The first year, the hoteliers absorbed the costs themselves, thinking it would be so unpopular that the Government would remove it. Whilst it was unpopular, the Government refused to withdraw it, and it kept going. 

Now, you need a degree to understand how the tourist tax works here in Mallorca. As I’m not that academically blessed, I will do my best. 

People staying at luxury hotels will be charged €4, those at a mid-range hotels/accommodation €3, all cruise passengers and people staying in cheaper hotels, apartments and rented villas will be charged a minimum of €2 and guests of modest hostels will pay €1. 

During the low season (between 1st November and 30th April of the following year) the tax will be discounted by 75%. In addition, after nine days of any stay, the rate will also be cut by 50%. Children under the age of 16 are exempt from paying the tax.

I would scrap all of the above. Firstly, surely everyone should pay the same regardless of their accommodation? Why should the time of the year be discounted? I would keep the same level all year round. Should the amount of time you spend here be discounted? I would get rid of the 50% discount after nine days. And surely children are part of the sustainability problem as much as the adults? I would charge all children under 16. 

Now, let’s remember that we are not the only destination that has a tourist tax. According to Condé Nast Traveller the countries that currently have a charge are, Austria, Belgium, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Caribbean Islands, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Portugal, Netherlands, Switzerland, Slovenia, Spain and the USA.

In 2024, the UK is imposing a new system called an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), whereby visitors from the US, Europe, Australia and Canada will be required to apply for permission and pay to enter the country.

Next year, the EU will begin implementing a new tourist visa(ETIAS), whereby non-EU citizens travelling from outside the Schengen zone will need to fill out a €7 application to enter the country. That includes the UK, of course!

Once this has all been paid, most people are asking, where is the money being spent and is it being spent on the tourism sustainability it is meant to support?  Last month, Balearic tourism minister Jaume Bauzá announced that 31 projects will be funded with revenue raised from the tourist tax in 2023.

The Sustainable Tourism Tax Commission, he explained, had approved 31 projects from 102 that had been submitted and which totalled 279 million euros in value. The 31 have a value of 94.5 million.

Do any of you know what those 31 projects are? In fact, can you recall any of the projects that have been paid for since the tax started? To be honest, me neither. And for me as someone who works in tourism and the media, that’s a bit worrying, isn’t it? 

 I wrote this in 2018, “Just a thought, why isn’t the Government promoting what they are spending the Tourist Tax money on? A video on that massive screen as you come through arrivals at the airport or pictures on the walls saying “last year we raised….and this is what we have spent the money on. Keeping Mallorca the way we all love it for now and for future generations.” Get Rafa Nadal to narrate the video, as he’s a Worldwide name that everybody knows and loves.”

I think the Government should be more open on where and what the money is being spent, and don’t be afraid to shout it from the rooftops. At the airport seems like a perfect place, and I would extend that to billboard’s around the island. If it is Rafa narrating a video then he speaks Spanish, Catalan, English, French and Italian. Or let him speak in Spanish with subtitles in as many languages as you need. Let’s face it nobody like taxes but if you can see the money is being spent on the island’s sustainability then it makes it a little more palatable. 

Richie is the MD at Pirates, the island’s number one night out featuring Adventure, Reloaded and Gringos. Subscribe to receive his blogs at http://www.dadtaximallorca.com

Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi, or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com

A Sporting Smorgasbord

If, like me, you’re a sports fan, then this summer has been an absolute feast of entertainment. Usually, the months between the end of the football season and the start of a new one are quite boring. Where I find myself watching old games that I already know the results of and sports that I would never normally watch.

However, this summer has been non-stop wall-to-wall sport of the highest calibre. We started with the Euros, England certainly didn’t play well, but they gave us some amazing memories. From the Jude Bellingham overhead kick, to defeating Switzerland on penalties and Ollie Watkins last minute winner against the Netherlands. Unfortunately our luck ran out against the deserved winners Spain, so although my country of birth didn’t win, at least the country I live in did.  Talking of the Spanish, tennis player Carlos Alcaraz has overtaken Rafa Nadal as the leading Spanish player after his straight sets final victory over Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon. Then we had the British Grand Prix at Silverstone which is always a show-piece event and despite coming to the end of his contract at Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton triumphed over his bitter rival Max Verstappen, with Britain’s Lando Norris finishing third.

To top the summer off, we’ve just had the Paris Olympics, which despite a weird and very wet opening ceremony which to me disappointed on many levels, the games themselves have been nothing short of sensational. I think my favourite things to watch has been the swimming, diving, gymnastics and the athletics. Although, I have found myself watching sports I would never ordinarily look at. I don’t think I’m alone in this, at least I hope not! But I’ve watched, dressage, shooting, BMX bike riding and skateboarding to name but a few. Which once the football season starts I wouldn’t go anywhere near. I think it’s the competitiveness of it all and that there’s a chance to win; a gold medal at the end. As I write this, Great Britain stand in fifth place in the medal table and are currently the best placed European nation, which is an unbelievable achievement. 

So it’s been a non-stop summer of great sport, and guess what? The Premier League and La Liga starts next week. I’ll see you on the other side. 

Richie is the MD at Pirates, the island’s number one night out featuring Adventure, Reloaded and Gringos. Subscribe to receive his blogs at http://www.dadtaximallorca.com

Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi, or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com