Ryanair and Michael O'Leary get the same bad rep that Wetherspoons and Tim Martin get. The numbers however don't lie. Ryanair and Wetherspoons allow people across the class spectrum to travel far and drink out despite the heavy financial pressures that surround us. Hurrah for them both, if it wasn't for them this land's decline would be even more miserable. Imagine only being able to have a night out once a month or only getting one foreign trip a year.
If only that didn't come with a reduction of the quality of life for the people actually living in the most popular tourist destinations. Whenever you visit one of those places, the locals can be divided pretty neatly into two groups: those who directly profit from your presence (e.g. all the AirBNB hosts), and those would much rather you weren't there.
That's true, but I think the main tourist hotspots in Europe are actually quite few in number. They are linked by many airlines, cruise ships, and railways, and this cannot all be laid at the door of Mr O'Leary.
Ryanair has opened many links to places which would have never had any benefit from tourism before. Also being able to visit family members over the Irish sea for example costs pennies whereas flying legacy carrier used to cost hundreds.
Personally I now stay away from the main tourist spots in Europe as they are so busy, hollowed out, and I'd feel some guilt about going there and being a part of the problem.
The hotspots may be relatively few in number, but millions of people actually live in them, and it's a significant quality of life issue. It's not like just moving away is a ready option, given that these cities are not merely impromptu Disneylands (though they are that, too, unfortunately), but are also economic hotspots where people work in all sorts of domains that have nothing to do with tourism, not to mention all the social and family ties that most locals have.
Anyway, cheap flights are definitely a contributing factor. To solve the problem, visiting needs to become more expensive and/or more inconvenient. The sooner that happens, the better, as far as I am concerned.
More to the point, if as seems likely the Venicians start restricting the number of visitors, entry will surely depend upon the size of your bank balance.
The concept of "affordable" seems odd in the modern context, everything but housing and a few weird habits is affordable to people on above minimum wage salaries.
Travelling first class or eating at Michelin star restaurants seem a luxury but going to Michelin star restaurants once a month is much cheaper than a smoking habit. Even the absurd things like helicopter flights and swiss watches are things an ordinary person could occasionally buy if they felt inclined to.
I remember working a minimum wage job and thinking I could afford steak and champagne every night with ease but a one bedroom studio flat was completely unimaginable.
We Americans joke about large gas station convenience stores being incomprehensible to the European mind.
But being able to visit Spain, Italy, France, Greece, all the storied nations of Europe, for the price of a restaurant meal... truly incomprehensible to me. I would easily get over my fear of flying if I could visit Venice or Madrid on a long weekend.
I have friends in the Basque Country, which I love to visit because of the mountains and the food. I also like seeing how the Basques are better dressed and less pink and blob-like than the British. Yet getting to either Bilbao or Biarritz involves several hours of interaction with modern Brits and others, all who seem to need to be constantly eating or drinking something. Worse, they often have YOUNG CHILDREN with them, who like to shout and run through barriers while the parents half-heartedly ask them several dozen times to stop it. The children invariably have names like Bradley or some other surname-cum-Christian name. If the parents ever catch your eye they look to the heavens as if to say, 'Kids. What can you do?' I usually drop my eyes and think to myself what I would do; something involving a straight jacket and gag for the children and a bare cement cell with neither internet coverage nor mobile phone signal for the parents. And then my friends meet me off the plane and whisk me away to calm and niceness.
I've done a lot of rock climbing in Spain and been on various flights disrupted by idiotic unruly Brits (and their ill-behaved kids). On one occasion a bloke -- in his sixties, I reckon -- refused to sit down while the plane was landing. Felt really sorry for the staff trying to pin him down. I was talking to a stewardess after we landed and she told me some of the stuff they'd bring on the flight with them. One woman that week had brought a ten pound bag of potatoes. To Spain.
Haha. As we all know, Spain doesn't have any potatoes. God knows how they make their Tortilla de patatas. Probably buy them in bulk off people getting off Ryanair flights.
Mass tourism directly contributes to expensive housing, as the local housing stock gets converted into AirNBN rentals. It's not the only reason, but it is definitely *a* reason, and quite a significant one in popular tourist destinations.
I wish the Americans, with their entrepreneurial spirit, would make replicas of the city-centers of Europe's most commonly visited cities somewhere in Nevada or Arizona and redirect all the tourists there. It's not like these city-centers haven't turned into impromptu Disneylands anyway, with the locals staying away as much as possible. So, make a nice little replica, take the tourists, make some cash, and leave the originals alone!
another thing is the business models which became possible with these airlines. Half the musicians flying into European music festivals probably wouldn't be there without them, and a single big name doesn't make a festival. And yet more than a few of them spend half the flight cussing it. I know, i used to do it myself.
Budget airlines are very inclusive ? Yes, and that's good,
But they're also exclusive - there are whole swathes of the population who are excluded from budget airlines. Notably the poor, since travel requires accommodation and subsistence costs, however low the fares. Also excluded are the sick in mind or body - and people with a fear of flying !
Therefore a social chasm opens up between the Complacent Majority (who are smugly and snugly on the bandwagon) and a suffering underclass (who are not on the bandwagon).
Sounds lovely unless, like me, you live in one of the ground zeros of global tourism and cannot walk through the city center at a normal pace because of all the darn tourists.
If I go to Venice it will be a one and done type deal, so make me pay for it. Make your hotels €500 a night so that the city is quieter and more pleasant for everyone. If I know I’m going to *that* Venice the cost of the hotel will be worth it.
I went during Covid, was a magical experience. Don’t go during peak tourist season (summer holiday/half term) go in the autumn or winter, it’s still beautiful. I am in Florence currently and the crowds weren’t as bad as I feared
Ed, this is a misunderstanding. Go in the Autumn, stay in San Toma and revel in the place. There are strangely very few tourists off of the main arterial which runs from the train station to San Marco. You will adore it. If you want more help/recommendations please send me a DM. Great for children as well. 🙏
Please please do. I really can’t emphasise enough how non-touristy Venice can be with very little effort. Plus it really is indescribable. You will fall in love I can assure you. I can give you a very good accommodation recommendation for a family as well as some suggestions for an itinerary. In the meantime read John Julius Norwich’s History of Venice.
tried Valium a few times, but tbh it doesnt seem to have a huge effect and it may just be comforting having it in my pocket. simply flying more made it easier and reading about the mechanics of turbulence.
I find that a few glasses of wine always calm me down - though they're not cheap on Ryanair, of course xD
Which reminds me - I was once told off for drinking my own wine on a Bucharest to Dublin flight. I pretended to put it away, then slipped it into my inside pocket, went to the bathroom and finished it in there, like a teenage rebel. Take that, O'Leary!
Ryanair and Michael O'Leary get the same bad rep that Wetherspoons and Tim Martin get. The numbers however don't lie. Ryanair and Wetherspoons allow people across the class spectrum to travel far and drink out despite the heavy financial pressures that surround us. Hurrah for them both, if it wasn't for them this land's decline would be even more miserable. Imagine only being able to have a night out once a month or only getting one foreign trip a year.
If only that didn't come with a reduction of the quality of life for the people actually living in the most popular tourist destinations. Whenever you visit one of those places, the locals can be divided pretty neatly into two groups: those who directly profit from your presence (e.g. all the AirBNB hosts), and those would much rather you weren't there.
That's true, but I think the main tourist hotspots in Europe are actually quite few in number. They are linked by many airlines, cruise ships, and railways, and this cannot all be laid at the door of Mr O'Leary.
Ryanair has opened many links to places which would have never had any benefit from tourism before. Also being able to visit family members over the Irish sea for example costs pennies whereas flying legacy carrier used to cost hundreds.
Personally I now stay away from the main tourist spots in Europe as they are so busy, hollowed out, and I'd feel some guilt about going there and being a part of the problem.
The hotspots may be relatively few in number, but millions of people actually live in them, and it's a significant quality of life issue. It's not like just moving away is a ready option, given that these cities are not merely impromptu Disneylands (though they are that, too, unfortunately), but are also economic hotspots where people work in all sorts of domains that have nothing to do with tourism, not to mention all the social and family ties that most locals have.
Anyway, cheap flights are definitely a contributing factor. To solve the problem, visiting needs to become more expensive and/or more inconvenient. The sooner that happens, the better, as far as I am concerned.
"are we going to restrict access to Venice to a handful of appropriately Byronic aristocrats?"
Come on, this is actually a good idea. Requirement 1: must have kept a bear for a least a term at university.
More to the point, if as seems likely the Venicians start restricting the number of visitors, entry will surely depend upon the size of your bank balance.
I remember back in the late 90s I wanted to visit Berlin, but the only flight from Dublin was a £600 one with Aer Lingus.
In the end I flew to Paris Beauvais with Ryanair for £20.
I will always be grateful to Ryanair for helping me see much of Europe even as a broke teenager.
The concept of "affordable" seems odd in the modern context, everything but housing and a few weird habits is affordable to people on above minimum wage salaries.
Travelling first class or eating at Michelin star restaurants seem a luxury but going to Michelin star restaurants once a month is much cheaper than a smoking habit. Even the absurd things like helicopter flights and swiss watches are things an ordinary person could occasionally buy if they felt inclined to.
I remember working a minimum wage job and thinking I could afford steak and champagne every night with ease but a one bedroom studio flat was completely unimaginable.
We Americans joke about large gas station convenience stores being incomprehensible to the European mind.
But being able to visit Spain, Italy, France, Greece, all the storied nations of Europe, for the price of a restaurant meal... truly incomprehensible to me. I would easily get over my fear of flying if I could visit Venice or Madrid on a long weekend.
The rest stops on European and Japanese turnpikes put American ones to shame.
Very good - I think in para 4 from bottom you probably mean 'intrepid' rather than 'interpret'.
thanks!
Para 18: began not begun.
As well as Ryanair and ‘spoons, let’s hear it for Greggs. Food for the people.
I have friends in the Basque Country, which I love to visit because of the mountains and the food. I also like seeing how the Basques are better dressed and less pink and blob-like than the British. Yet getting to either Bilbao or Biarritz involves several hours of interaction with modern Brits and others, all who seem to need to be constantly eating or drinking something. Worse, they often have YOUNG CHILDREN with them, who like to shout and run through barriers while the parents half-heartedly ask them several dozen times to stop it. The children invariably have names like Bradley or some other surname-cum-Christian name. If the parents ever catch your eye they look to the heavens as if to say, 'Kids. What can you do?' I usually drop my eyes and think to myself what I would do; something involving a straight jacket and gag for the children and a bare cement cell with neither internet coverage nor mobile phone signal for the parents. And then my friends meet me off the plane and whisk me away to calm and niceness.
I've done a lot of rock climbing in Spain and been on various flights disrupted by idiotic unruly Brits (and their ill-behaved kids). On one occasion a bloke -- in his sixties, I reckon -- refused to sit down while the plane was landing. Felt really sorry for the staff trying to pin him down. I was talking to a stewardess after we landed and she told me some of the stuff they'd bring on the flight with them. One woman that week had brought a ten pound bag of potatoes. To Spain.
haha
Haha. As we all know, Spain doesn't have any potatoes. God knows how they make their Tortilla de patatas. Probably buy them in bulk off people getting off Ryanair flights.
Well, never expected to see RS Archer in a sentence with EM Forster. Chef’s kiss.
two of the great figures of the English literary canon
😂
Personally I would rather have cheap housing and expensive flights rather than the reverse. Not Ryanair's fault
put O'Leary in charge of house-building, and give him a share of the profits from each unit built.
Sadly I doubt he could get the planning permissions
O'Leary is trying to build housing in Dublin for his staff
There’s no reason, other than the interfering government, why we can’t have both.
Mass tourism directly contributes to expensive housing, as the local housing stock gets converted into AirNBN rentals. It's not the only reason, but it is definitely *a* reason, and quite a significant one in popular tourist destinations.
I wish the Americans, with their entrepreneurial spirit, would make replicas of the city-centers of Europe's most commonly visited cities somewhere in Nevada or Arizona and redirect all the tourists there. It's not like these city-centers haven't turned into impromptu Disneylands anyway, with the locals staying away as much as possible. So, make a nice little replica, take the tourists, make some cash, and leave the originals alone!
or Britain could replicate its nicest areas to make more of them!
Anything you like, as long as the number of tourists in Prague goes down by 70% or more.
Well, Las Vegas sort of did that.
another thing is the business models which became possible with these airlines. Half the musicians flying into European music festivals probably wouldn't be there without them, and a single big name doesn't make a festival. And yet more than a few of them spend half the flight cussing it. I know, i used to do it myself.
Budget airlines are very inclusive ? Yes, and that's good,
But they're also exclusive - there are whole swathes of the population who are excluded from budget airlines. Notably the poor, since travel requires accommodation and subsistence costs, however low the fares. Also excluded are the sick in mind or body - and people with a fear of flying !
Therefore a social chasm opens up between the Complacent Majority (who are smugly and snugly on the bandwagon) and a suffering underclass (who are not on the bandwagon).
While we’re at it, down with television, some people are blind. No more ice cream, won’t someone think of the gluten intolerant? And boycott walking.
Sounds lovely unless, like me, you live in one of the ground zeros of global tourism and cannot walk through the city center at a normal pace because of all the darn tourists.
feel like tourism taxes are the way forward. like with road pricing, if something is overused then it's best to ration via higher prices.
I've never actually been to Venice, for instance, love reading about its history but the thought of the crowds has always slightly put me off.
Tourism taxes certainly make the most sense.
If I go to Venice it will be a one and done type deal, so make me pay for it. Make your hotels €500 a night so that the city is quieter and more pleasant for everyone. If I know I’m going to *that* Venice the cost of the hotel will be worth it.
I went during Covid, was a magical experience. Don’t go during peak tourist season (summer holiday/half term) go in the autumn or winter, it’s still beautiful. I am in Florence currently and the crowds weren’t as bad as I feared
Florence is so nice. would love to return
Ed, this is a misunderstanding. Go in the Autumn, stay in San Toma and revel in the place. There are strangely very few tourists off of the main arterial which runs from the train station to San Marco. You will adore it. If you want more help/recommendations please send me a DM. Great for children as well. 🙏
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rgaua5JjRcQ
thank you! I might take you up on that offer
Please please do. I really can’t emphasise enough how non-touristy Venice can be with very little effort. Plus it really is indescribable. You will fall in love I can assure you. I can give you a very good accommodation recommendation for a family as well as some suggestions for an itinerary. In the meantime read John Julius Norwich’s History of Venice.
I have it on kindle, ready to read when I go.
Lovely stuff Ed. Was there anything in particular you did to ameliorate your fear?
tried Valium a few times, but tbh it doesnt seem to have a huge effect and it may just be comforting having it in my pocket. simply flying more made it easier and reading about the mechanics of turbulence.
I find that a few glasses of wine always calm me down - though they're not cheap on Ryanair, of course xD
Which reminds me - I was once told off for drinking my own wine on a Bucharest to Dublin flight. I pretended to put it away, then slipped it into my inside pocket, went to the bathroom and finished it in there, like a teenage rebel. Take that, O'Leary!
The rules are clearly laid out, and fair.
Exactly.