Visitors to Cala Major beach in Palma, Majorca, are being charged up to €125 (£107) per day to hire two premium sunloungers and a parasol. The fee has jumped from €70 (£59) within the last year, leaving even locals outraged by the staggering cost.
Price breakdown and new concession terms
The €125 fee for premium beach sets was introduced following the "terms of new concessions" issued by the town hall last year, according to the Majorca Daily Bulletin. The set includes two mattress sunloungers and a higher-quality straw umbrella with a fitted table.
A breakdown on a poster at the beach shows the premium sunlounger rose from €30 to €45, making €90 for a pair, plus €30 for the parasol and €5 for a safe, bringing the total to €125. The town hall noted that a standard sunlounger now costs €10 (£8.57), up from €6 (£5.14).
Residents' objections and beachgoer response
The price increase prompted the Sant Agustí and Cala Major Residents' Association to lodge an objection, despite accepting the difference between standard and premium sunloungers. The association called the prices "exorbitant" and said "they are not for Spaniards," as reported by the local news publication.
In response, some locals and holidaymakers have chosen to bring their own towels and cheap parasols from local supermarkets instead of paying €125 (£107) per day.
Sunlounger reductions across Palma beaches
The price hike is not the only change affecting beaches in Palma. Last year, it was reported that the Palma de Mallorca council would remove almost 1,700 sunloungers from four beaches by 2026. Cala Major saw its sunloungers reduced from 300 to 250, according to Mallorca Zeitung. Playa de Palma plans to cut sunloungers from 6,000 to 4,436 and umbrellas from 2,503 to 2,218. Ciutat Jardi's sunbeds decreased from 300 to 288, and Cala Stancia from 150 to 132.
The removals are due in part to erosion and to create more space on the shores for locals, in response to complaints about overtourism.
