Preparing for your holiday and knowing what to expect is very important, and I thought I had done so very well ahead of my getaway to Crete earlier this month. The trip was much-needed and way overdue, and I greatly enjoyed a mix of exploring, museum visits and sun-soaked relaxation. But one thing completely skipped my mind, and an extremely embarrassing thing given that I have written an awful lot about overtourism of late.
Upon checking out of my four-star hotel, the Capsis Astoria in Heraklion (come on, I needed a bit of luxury), I was informed that I was due to pay €40 in "city tax" - €10 per night. This was on top of a €16 fee for a breakfast on my first morning, which, incidentally, I was unimpressed by and did not return to. The disturbing sight of cocktail hot dog style sausages mixed in with scrambled eggs will live with me forever. I was a tad flummoxed at the £35 charge, and asked the receptionist how many breakfasts I was paying for.
When she explained the meaning behind the amount, I felt a bit silly.