A high price to pay

The cost of living

Sir, – My wife, daughter and I returned from a very pleasant holiday in the Algarve last week. The weather was excellent, the hotel where we stayed was very good, as was the food. We enjoyed some meals out in restaurants where prices, compared to here, are worth mentioning. A cup of hot chocolate, an Americano and a cappucino were €3.70 in total. This week, in a well-known coffee shop in Dublin I paid €7.80 for two cappucinos. I just cannot understand why there should be such a huge price difference. – Yours, etc,

RICHARD WILLIS,

Monkstown,

Co Dublin.