When you visit a beautiful island like Zakynthos, you want to enjoy eating out and having a drink. But what happens when everything gets too expensive? If you are on a tight budget, dining out every night is simply not an option.
The Supermarket Alternative: The Rise of Budget Shopping
To save their holiday budgets, many travelers—especially families of four—are choosing the easiest and most economical solution: grocery shopping. Instead of spending a fortune at local tavernas, tourists are heading to budget supermarkets like Lidl to buy their essentials.
The price difference is shocking and speaks for itself:
- The Greek Salad Contrast: A traditional Greek salad (Choriatiki) can cost up to €13 at a tourist restaurant, while the ingredients cost around €3 at a supermarket.
- Drinks and Coffee: Buying coffee, beer, or spirits from the supermarket costs a fraction of the price charged at beach bars and clubs.
- Family Budgets: For a family of four, cooking a few meals themselves is the only way to avoid spending thousands of euros on food during their stay.
How High Costs Are Harming Local Restaurants
This shift in tourist behavior directly impacts the local dining industry (Estiasi). We are not just talking about one or two people; thousands of visitors are now choosing to eat in their apartments or hotel rooms. While this helps tourists stay on budget and enjoy their holiday without overspending, it leaves local tavernas and restaurants completely empty.
Now, we want to hear from you: When you visit an expensive island, what do you do to keep your costs down? Do you prefer local tavernas or budget supermarket cooking?
No comments:
Post a Comment