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British Tourist Expresses Dismay Over Ice Cube Charge at Costa del Sol Bar
A holidaymaker from Britain voiced her annoyance after encountering an unexpected surcharge for ice cubes at a beachside establishment on Spain’s Costa del Sol. The incident occurred at Havana beach bar in Estepona and sparked online debate about tourist pricing.
Outrage Over ‘Petty’ Charge
Viv Proops, a UK visitor, took to social media to share her experience at Havana beach bar, located on Playa del Cristo beach. She questioned the common practice of separate charges for ice, stating, “On Playa del Cristo beach today. Ordered an iced coffee at Havana Beach Bar and was charged for a coffee and charged extra for two ice cubes. Is that normal?”
Proops further commented on the minor fee, “Is ice always an additional cost? Seems rather trivial in my opinion!” She reported being billed €4.50 for the coffee and an additional €0.50 for the ice.
Social Media Users Condemn Bar’s Policy
Online commentators quickly supported the tourist, denouncing the supplementary charge as unusual and labeling the beach bar as exploitative.
- One user commented, “That’s ridiculous. I would not return there.”
- Another added, “People need to stop going to these places. Everyone is getting ripped off.”
- A further comment read, “That is just pathetic, and then they wonder why people visit once and never return.”
Havana Beach Bar Defends Ice Cube Surcharge
Responding to the criticism, Havana Beach Bar explained to the Spanish Eye newspaper that the extra charge was implemented to offset the operational expenses of their ice production.
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A bar representative stated, “We utilize a professional industrial ice machine that cost us over 9,800 euros, and it consumes a considerable amount of electricity daily.”
The spokesperson elaborated, “We understand it might appear insignificant, but in our environment where everything is brought near the sea with comfort as a priority, small additions contribute to covering the elevated running costs.”
Wider Trend of Tourist Pricing Concerns
This incident is not isolated, as tourists increasingly express dissatisfaction with inflated prices for food and beverages in overseas destinations.
Recently, another British tourist criticized a cafe in Benidorm for charging extra for condiment sachets. The holidaymaker visiting Benidorm with family was surprised by an added charge at The 4 Kings bar on Avenida Mediterraneo during a breakfast outing.
Upon receiving the bill, she discovered a €1 charge for two sachets of HP sauce, priced at €0.50 each. The traveler shared an image of her bill alongside the condiment packets on a local Benidorm social media page, captioning it: “Be careful going for breakfast in this place, €1 for two HP sachets, rip off.”
Her order, consisting of two “jumbo” breakfasts, orange juice, coffee, and the two sauce sachets, totalled €15.90.
Defense of Benidorm Bar Prices
Conversely, some online users defended the Benidorm bar, asserting that the overall cost remained reasonable.
- One user remarked, “That’s an absolute bargain, 2 jumbo breakfasts, a jug of orange juice and a coffee, plus sauce, all that for €15.90.”
- Another comment stated, “I think if anything this bar is now going to get more customers thanks to you.”
Local Frustration with Tourism Costs
Local residents are increasingly expressing discontent with rising costs in popular tourist locations, suggesting that tourists themselves contribute to the price increases.
Earlier in the month, significant numbers of Spanish citizens protested across Spain, demanding solutions to a housing crisis they attribute to mass tourism. These demonstrations in major Spanish cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, and Palma de Mallorca, highlight the ongoing challenge of balancing tourism promotion with addressing citizen concerns about escalating living costs.