Greece holiday warning as tourists face huge fines for wearing common item
Holidaymakers heading to the sun-drenched beaches of Greece should be aware of local laws that could result in hefty fines. Greek authorities are taking a firm stance on preserving their ancient heritage, imposing bans on removing pebbles and wearing high heels at historic sites.
In an effort to protect its landscapes and cultural treasures, Greece has gradually introduced strict regulations. The Greeks take great care of their ancient stones, banning the wearing of high heels at historical attractions to prevent potential damage. As British families head to airports for their eagerly awaited holidays to destinations including Greece, Spain and Italy, they should be aware of the unusual rules in place.
Since 2009, visitors to iconic Athens landmarks such as the Acropolis and the Epidaurus Theatre have been required to leave their stilettos behind, according to findings by Parkdean Resorts.
While many travellers like to keep up their style while on holiday, the Greek Government introduced this law to prevent visitors from wearing shoes that could damage historical attractions.
Those found wearing potentially damaging shoes at ancient sites could face a fine of up to €900 (£771), reports the Express. Greece has also introduced other regulations to limit the risks posed to its heritage and land.
Tourists tempted to take pebbles as souvenirs from picturesque spots like Lalaria Beach in Skiathos might find themselves out of pocket by as much as £771.
Spain is cracking down on tourism's toll with a series of eccentric rules, especially in Barcelona, where holidaygoers caught in beachwear away from sandy shores might be forking out between £86 and £171.
Majorca is not far behind, with new penalties designed to deter "undesirable" behaviour along its popular coastlines.
Even Benidorm is getting tough on fun in the sun, as sandcastle builders on Levante beach could end up shelling out as much as £129 if they lack a permit.
The fines don't stop there - smoking, kipping or using soap products on Benidorm's beaches could hit tourists' wallets even harder.
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Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Greece holiday warning as tourists face huge fines for wearing common item
Greece has put in place strict rules to preserve its ancient heritage and breathtaking landscapes, meaning holidaymakers jetting off should be aware of the laws Holidaymakers heading to the sun-drenched beaches of Greece should be aware of local laws that could result in hefty fines. Greek authorities are taking a firm stance on preserving their ancient heritage, imposing bans on removing pebbles and wearing high heels at historic sites. In an effort to protect its landscapes and cultural treasures, Greece has gradually introduced strict regulations. The Greeks take great care of their ancient stones, banning the wearing of high heels at historical attractions to prevent potential damage. As British families head to airports for their eagerly awaited holidays to destinations including Greece, Spain and Italy, they should be aware of the unusual rules in place. Since 2009, visitors to iconic Athens landmarks such as the Acropolis and the Epidaurus Theatre have been required to leave their stilettos behind, according to findings by Parkdean Resorts. While many travellers like to keep up their style while on holiday, the Greek Government introduced this law to prevent visitors from wearing shoes that could damage historical attractions. Those found wearing potentially damaging shoes at ancient sites could face a fine of up to €900 (£771), reports the Express. Greece has also introduced other regulations to limit the risks posed to its heritage and land. Tourists tempted to take pebbles as souvenirs from picturesque spots like Lalaria Beach in Skiathos might find themselves out of pocket by as much as £771. Spain is cracking down on tourism's toll with a series of eccentric rules, especially in Barcelona, where holidaygoers caught in beachwear away from sandy shores might be forking out between £86 and £171. Majorca is not far behind, with new penalties designed to deter "undesirable" behaviour along its popular coastlines. Even Benidorm is getting tough on fun in the sun, as sandcastle builders on Levante beach could end up shelling out as much as £129 if they lack a permit. The fines don't stop there - smoking, kipping or using soap products on Benidorm's beaches could hit tourists' wallets even harder.
North Wales Live
5 hours ago
- North Wales Live
Man who left UK to live in Benidorm warns tourists to avoid three 'no go' areas
Benidorm, a top Spanish holiday destination, welcomes around five million visitors each year. Harry Poulton, 24, developed a fondness for the location after a trip with friends at 18 and now considers his decision to move there the best choice he's made. However, Harry wants to share his knowledge with tourists planning to visit the coastal city. Using his TikTok platform, where he has 40,000 followers, he identified three areas in the nightlife capital that he believes are best avoided due to safety concerns. First on his list is the 'Yellow Brick Road', a hub of pubs and restaurants that forms the heart of local entertainment, encompassing streets like Leanto, Ibiza, and Leerida. Harry cautioned: "The Yellow Brick Road – this little public pathway [...] leads all the way up to the Rio Park. Now, it has been known for a few things, mainly small thefts like pickpocketing. Generally, during the day, it's absolutely fine. I'd recommend avoiding it at night." The second area Harry advises against visiting is Pueblo Alley, located near the Hotel Pueblo and Levante Beach. He warned: "This is one I definitely recommend avoiding, especially late at night, as you do get the pickpockets hanging around this area." He continued: "You also get the odd lady of the night. There are plenty of other ways around". At the top of the list for areas to avoid is 'Mugger's Alley', in Harry's opinion. He warned: "It is the most notorious – it's the one we all know. Known for pickpocketing, ladies of the night, it's just an area I would avoid. "They're even doing these new taxi scams. It's crazy. Save yourself the hassle and cross the road." A further warning was shared on a public Facebook page named Benidorm Forever, with a post cautioning: "It's located at the start of the strip opposite the Hotel Flash and runs behind the white 'SATE' building, near Morgan Tavern. It's safe enough in the day but late at night you'll likely get approached by 'hugger muggers' (individuals who will invade your space pretending to know you while swiping your valuables), prostitutes and robbers." The post continued: "Men on their own are the main target so stay together and walk in front of the sate building, not behind it. Remember most crimes in Benidorm are non violent, it's your phone and cash they're after, so keep both out of site and if you do get robbed you need to visit the SATE office (opposite the hotel Flash) in office hours to make a police report." While acknowledging the potential dangers, Harry remains an ardent fan of this beloved holiday destination. He contends that many British tourists harbour misconceptions about Benidorm, dismissing fears over sly scams and inflated prices as simply not true. Furthermore, since making the switch from Brighton to Benidorm, Harry's seen his living costs take a significant plunge, with monthly outlays now ranging from £500 to £1,000, inclusive of bills. Harry proclaimed: "If you live here, you get it. Benidorm is paradise - and anyone who says otherwise is lying."
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Brits ignore red alert heatwave warning with huge rush on last-minute breaks
Portugal, France and Spain all suffered through temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, but for many Brits looking to abroad, that feels preferable to staying put Brits are ignoring 'red alert' health warnings and heading to the Continent en masse. Thousands of Brits have booked holidays in the past 48 hours, with many boarding flights in the next seven days as part of last-minute deals, swapping the uncomfortable British heat for Europe's scorching sun. In arguably classic British fashion, a huge number of holidaymakers are ditching the mere 34C temperatures of the UK for something a little more sizzling on the Continent. According to On the Beach, in the past 48 hours, bookings to Europe increased 23% and there was a whopping 47% increase in bookings leaving in the next week. Portugal, France and Spain all suffered through temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, but for many Brits looking to be abroad, that feels preferable to staying put. Have you been affected by the intense heat? Email webtravel@ This is despite the serious danger to life that is posed by the temperatures in parts of Europe right now. A record number of heat alerts are in place across France as the country and other parts of southern and eastern Europe remain in the grip of soaring temperatures. Sixteen French regions, including Paris, have been placed on red alert for Tuesday, the country's highest, while 68 others are on orange alert. Heat warnings are also in place for parts of Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, and Balkan countries, including Croatia. In Barcelona, a woman has lost her life, allegedly after spending a gruelling shift cleaning the streets of the Spanish city. According to the newspaper El País, the cleaner was working in the Raval neighborhood of Ciutat Vella during the heat of the day. She spent eight hours outside, enduring temperatures above 30°C, according to Aemet. So far this year, 2,168 people have died from causes attributable to the heat in Spain alone. Last year, 3,521 deaths were linked to extreme temperatures in the country, CLM24 reports. Despite the clear risk of heatwaves as intense as the one scorching Europe right now, clearly many Brits feel things could be a little hotter. Bookings to Amsterdam and Paris reached record highs this Monday, with On the Beach recording a 178% increase in bookings to Paris year on year. Perhaps they are attracted to the quality of heat, as opposed to the quantity of Celsius. The UK heat is famously muggy, sticky, and airless, with little breeze and minimal chance of proper cooling off at night. Homes aren't designed for heat, and air conditioning is rare, leaving people tossing and turning through humid, sleepless nights. In contrast, much of southern Europe is built for the heat. Even at 35 or 40 degrees, there's often dry, baking sunshine rather than the suffocating humidity Brits face at home. Zoe Harris, chief customer officer at On the Beach, said: 'It's official, Europe is roasting and Brits can't get enough of it. Let's be honest, 35 degrees in Spain feels like a glorious bake in the sun, while 28 in the UK feels like trying to sleep in a damp greenhouse. As soon as Brits see Europe heating up, they book their almost immediate escape, because roasting under a Spanish sun is paradise compared to stewing in the UK's clammy heat.' 'City break bookings have jumped by 32% in the past 24 hours as Brits rush to make the most of Europe's scorching heatwave. It's not just the beaches calling this time, urban getaways are booming too. After all, cities offer shady streets for exploring, cool museums and cafes to duck into, and air conditioning in abundance, making even the hottest days easy to enjoy.'
