----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2007
Subject: Estepona
Position 36:24.887N
005:09.437W
Forget Estepona. It's a nice enough place
but some of the marinaros are swindlers.
We got to the marina on Sunday about 1:30 PM and
by this time the office staff had gone home for the day.
A young marinaro checked us in and told us the
berthing for one night was 50 euros. That seemed very high but we had no
choice. While I was waiting to check in, a German in a 38 foot Bavaria
checked in and was charged 50 euros which he paid with cash. When it was
my turn I wanted to pay by credit card but the marinaro said only cash.
I replied I was only going to pay with a card and I'd wait until the office
opened later in the day. About 3:00 the marinaro came to the boat and
said to come to the office to pay. I followed him and he took me to the
office but not inside. Next to the door was a cash machine and he wanted me to
take 50 euro out to pay him. I told him in no uncertain terms in Spanish
I was not going to pay with anything but a card.
Well, the office didn't open until the next day
and so when we checked out and paid, I found out it 26 euros not
50.
Rather than question anything, I paid and
left. I wasn't sure if the office had it right or the marinaro
did. As we were about to leave I saw the German and asked him if he paid
50 euros for one or two days. He told me one. I told him what the
real price was and suggested he get his money back. The marinaro was
going to turn in 26 euros and keep the rest. I sure am glad I insisted
on using the card. That same day I bought a magazine and
newpaper and the clerk would not take a card only cash which I paid
with. He explained he makes no money on the transaction if a card is
used. The magazine is clearly marked (in very small print as part of the
bar code) 6.50 in Spain. He had repriced it 7 euros. I went back
and said how come he was charging me more than the stated price. I gave
him the choice of refunding the whole price or giving me back the
difference. He refunded the whole price. Two examples of
underhanded dealing. I could understand not taking a card for a
magazine, but then upping the price also was not acceptable.
Moral, stay away from Estepona. Trouble is
we would have stayed for several days had we known the real price at the
outset. As it was I didn't find out how reasonable it was until it was
to late. We both lost on that one and I hope the little s--- gets fired
over cheating.
