
Stunned Brit sees holidaymakers reserve beach spots at 'ridiculous' time
A Brit was left stunned after seeing tourists putting their towels on a Benidorm beach at 6.30am.
Michelle Cranston spotted the group claiming their spot as she prepared to fly home. The 52-year-old had enjoyed a sunny holiday in the Benidorm resort with her husband.
The couple were waiting for their airport transfer when they noticed the group placing their towels on the sand at what Michelle called a 'ridiculously early time.' She filmed three tourists setting out a long line of deck chairs and beach brollies right in front of the shore.
The rest of the beach appeared deserted at the time—Sunday, July 6.
'My husband and I woke up early to get ready for our airport transfer pick-up at 8:30 a.m. for our flight to Newcastle,' said Michelle, who lives near Middlesbrough, Teesside, in an interview with What's The Jam.
'We were staying at the H10 Porto Poniente Hotel in the old town of Benidorm, in a room with uninterrupted, breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea and Poniente Beach. It was our second stay here—it's perfect for people-watching.
'After getting ready, we sat on the balcony with a coffee and noticed some people were already setting up their chairs and parasols along the water's edge. It was just before 6:30 a.m.'
Michelle posted the video online. She said: 'After a giggle about what a ridiculously early time it was to be setting up for a prime spot on the beach—I mean, you're not going to run out of beach in Benidorm—I took a short video and wasn't thinking any more of it. On my return to the UK, I checked my phone, and to my amazement, it had gained a lot of interest, reactions, and replies. I never anticipated the post would be this popular.'
Michelle and her husband aren't the only Brits frustrated by early risers 'reserving' sun spots.
A group of irate holidaymakers recently told how they thwarted a cunning plan by fellow Brits to bag sunbeds seven hours before their hotel pool opened.
While having a late-night chinwag on their balcony, Mandy Boyd spotted some lads she thought were sneaking in for a cheeky swim. But on closer inspection, the 34-year-old realised the young men were actually trying to nab the best loungers at 2:00 a.m.—despite the pool not opening until 9:00 a.m. the next day.
READ MORE: Brit warns others as he's slapped with £150 fine after returning from holiday
The quartet of girls watched as the lads dragged out sunloungers to secure prime spots. Mandy and her mates patiently waited on the balcony for the perfect moment to dash down and swipe the towels.
The comical "sunbed wars" sabotage took place around 2:00 a.m. at the Aquasol Aparthotel in Palmanova, near Magaluf, Spain.
"We're just doing the Lord's work," said Mandy, from Bridgend, South Wales, speaking to Luxury Travel Daily. 'I can't stand it when people reserve sunbeds and don't use them all day. I find it really inconsiderate. It was shocking to see them reserving beds at 2 a.m., especially when there was no chance of those lads being up to enjoy them. We kept the towels but made sure we left them where they would find them.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Keir Starmer urged to give tourist tax powers to local leaders to boost public services
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has previously called for a mandatory 'tourist levy' for those visiting the city with Edinburgh already set to introduce a charge Keir Starmer should give local leaders powers to impose tourist taxes to help fund cash-strapped public services, a new report says. The Autonomy think-tank warns councils across the country lack the powers to respond to the strain on infrastructure caused by tourism. The report's authors say they should be able to establish "tourist taxes", which already exist in some areas of European holiday hotspots including Spain and France. They say: "Such a tax would begin to undo the heavy toll that UK Government austerity has heaped upon local councils over the last decade." It also calls for an "English right to roam" covering woodlands, rivers and the green belt. It follows a warning to Brit tourists planning all-inclusive holidays to Spain. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has previously called for a mandatory "tourist levy" for those visiting the city with Edinburgh already set to introduce a charge to raise up to £50million-per-year from July 2026. There are also reports Deputy PM Angela Rayner has been pushing for councils to be allowed to tax tourism. But recently No10 said there are "no plans" for a tourist tax in England. "We have previously said there's no plans to introduce a tourism tax in England," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said. They added: "Places can already choose to introduce a levy on overnight stays through working with their local tourism sector, using the accommodation Business Improvement District model. "Tourism obviously plays an important role in the UK's economy. Inbound tourism is the UK's third largest service export. The UK is the seventh most-visited country in the world, and we're committed to continuing to support the sector." Will Stronge, Chief Executive at the Autonomy Institute, told The Mirror: "Tourism must no longer be treated as an extractive industry built on carbon-intensive travel and precarious labour. "That's why we're calling for, amongst other things, the introduction of a local tourist tax: a fair, targeted measure that would fund the maintenance of public services and protects natural environments. "It empowers communities to invest in the infrastructure they sustain but too often see exploited for private gain. This is a vital step toward reducing over-tourism, restoring democratic control, and ensuring that leisure contributes to - rather than undermines - climate and social goals."


Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Brits could be fined THOUSANDS if they don't follow little-known duty free rules for cigarettes, booze & perfume
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRITS could be fined thousands if they fail to follow these little known rules at border control. Holidaymakers could also see their items seized upon re-entering the UK, if they fail to meet border control's high standards. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 UK Border Control is one of the strictest in the world Credit: AFP 3 Luxury items including perfume are subject to the restrictions Credit: Alamy The laws are designed to protect the UK economy, as well as out natural environment. To make it easy for travellers, the Government and British border forces are clear about how much of each product you can bring in. Importing alcohol to Britain Bringing alcohol into the UK is legal, but there are strict limits on how much alcohol you can take with you through customs. You can bring a total of 4 litres of a spirit over 22 per cent ABV (alcohol by volume) or 9 litres of an alcohol under 22 per cent ABV. However, you cannot bring both quantities. If you have a variety of alcoholic products with you, then they must total the same amount listed above. For example, 4.5 litres of cider (a drink under 22 per cent ABV) and 2 litres of a spirit above 22 per cent ABV would be allowed into Britain. This is because each quantity is equivalent to 50 per cent of the legal amount. Meanwhile, 4 litres of a spirit and 9 litres of cider would be double the amount which you can import. Failing to follow customs law could see you being handed a £2,500 fine per contravention. UK airport reveals new security rules for passengers If the amount of imported alcohol is exceptionally high or you are a repeat offender, you could be slapped with a prison sentence. The length of the sentence could vary greatly, depending on your crime. There are strict limits on tobacco products too UK law allows you to bring a maximum 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars of 250g of tobacco (including shisha) OR 200 sticks of tobacco for heating to Britain. Like alcohol, you must combine these allowances. That would mean you could bring 100 cigarettes and 25 cigars, for example, as each is at 50 per cent of the total allowed in. Tobacco products, like alcohol, can only be brought into the country by someone over the age of 17. Also, tobacco and alcohol quantities are counted as entirely separate so you don't get a larger quantity of one by taking none of the other. Luxury goods at the border Luxury goods, including perfume or electrical items, can often be imported into the UK without paying duty or tax. However, if the sum total of the items exceeds £390, you will have to pay tax on every item - not just the ones which push you over the limit. For people arriving by private plane or boat for leisure, the allowance is £270. Meat, milk and plants are banned The importation of meat, honey and dairy is strictly prohibited. The only exception to this rule is to infant milk or medical food, though both amounts cannot exceed 2kg. Failing to follow these rules could see you being slapped with a staggering £5000 fine. EU arrivals are the only group allowed to take high-priority plants into the country, though they will need to apply beforehand for a phytosanitary certificate. Restrictions on cash Cash up to a total of £10,000 can be brought into Britain, though this must be declared 72 hours in advance of your arrival. Declarations on all products listed here must be made, even if you are just transferring flight. Failing to declare something could result in you receiving a criminal sentence.


Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Little-known Ryanair bag rule might mean your luggage isn't allowed on the plane
Ryanair has updated its hand luggage policy, with the airline's free 'personal bag' now allowed to be larger than before - but there's a strict rule to look out for Ryanair travellers could see their luggage turned away at the boarding gate, even when they're willing to cough up additional charges for it. The no-frills carrier allows passengers on standard tickets to bring one " personal bag" without cost, provided it meets particular size restrictions. The former measurements were 40x25x20cm, but these have been revised following amendments to EU legislation. Currently, Ryanair's personal bag specifications are 40x30x20cm, with crew members able to utilise bag measuring devices at every gate to verify whether travellers' luggage surpasses this limit. If your bag fails to squeeze into the sizer at the gate, you'll be hit with an extra charge to take it aboard, potentially reaching £70 or 70 euros. In other similar news, a Brit abroad slammed an all-inclusive hotel food asking 'what on earth is this?' The cheapest Ryanair flights are the Basic Fares, which only allow a passenger to bring a personal item (which has to fit under the seat) on board, as well as be assigned a random seat. Although the ticket price is lower compared to other fares, it comes with a lot of restrictions. We've all read or heard stories about passengers getting charged extortionate prices because their personal items were bigger than the allowance. To avoid this from happening, passengers can pay an additional cost to ensure that their journeys are as smooth and as trouble-free as possible. But for those who are budget-conscious and want to save as much as possible, keep an eye out at the gate. A little-known regulation might see your bag refused entry, even when you're prepared to settle the additional costs with airport personnel. This occurs because all Ryanair departure gates function without accepting cash, requiring any gate bag charges to be paid via card, reports the Daily Record. A Ryanair representative stated: "Our bag policy is simple; if it fits in our bag sizer, which is bigger than our agreed dimensions, it gets on free of charge. If it doesn't fit within our sizers, it will get charged for." "There is a very simple solution to this issue, which is that passengers comply with their agreement of the time of booking, and travel with bags that fit or are smaller than our agreed bag dimensions," they added. Travellers lacking a card or who cannot otherwise settle payment for an oversized bag will be barred from bringing the bag onto the plane.