Tenerife

A British tourist in the Canary Islands has captured the chaos of her hotel’s sunbed wars, but she admits that rather than being annoyed, there’s one reason why she found the whole scene ‘funny’

A Brit staying in Tenerife was unimpressed by her fellow holidaymakers after she spotted sunbed wars erupting before the hotel had even opened up the breakfast bar.

Chenaiyah Bernard, 21, from Leeds captured the video of holidaymakers rushing early in the morning to snag their favourite sunbeds, even staking their claim on parasols in an attempt to get the best spot.

She was staying in the popular resort town of Playa de las Américas, and captured the scenes from her balcony last Friday (July 24).

The primary school play worker says she was relaxing on her balcony at 7.45am, and saw a group of people hanging around the pool area, looking to nab their loungers for the day before breakfast had even opened.

Chenaiyah’s video, set to the Mario Kart theme tune, shows Brits patiently waiting around for the cleaners to finish, standing next to parasols to stake out the area they want before they can grab sunbeds for the day, reports creatorzine.com.

Chenaiyah said: “I woke up early to stand outside of my hotel room balcony and witnessed a bunch of British people all stood around the cleaners waiting for them to finish so they could then occupy a sunbed and then head off to breakfast. I doubt they will all be wanting to sunbathe at 7.45am since it’s not that warm. People began to occupy parasols with their towels, which I found funny.”

Once the pool area is open, the Brits are shown taking sunbeds out and throwing their towels over them to mark their territory, before casually strolling away.

Chenaiyah was left bemused by the scenes, which ultimately proved pointless; she claims she had no trouble finding a poolside sunbed when she went down to relax later that morning, meaning the early birds’ rush may have been completely unnecessary.

She said: “I don’t care to wake up early for a sunbed but other people can do what they want.” She added that although it didn’t seem overtly “competitive or aggressive” adding that “it was just funny watching people wake up early just to claim a sunbed way earlier than they actually will need it, and I assume some people probably want to hog the sunbeds all day and not allow people who also want to sunbathe to use one.”

Chenaiyah said she doesn’t judge those taking part in the sunbed scramble, saying: “I don’t think it’s that serious in my opinion to go downstairs that early to claim a sunbed, to have your towel sat there when you aren’t always going to be with. Like, get out of the resort and explore, but people can honestly do what they want.”

But she pointed out there was plenty to do even if you don’t sit by the pool: “People who sleep in probably aren’t bothered about claiming a sunbed at the crack of dawn and feel they have better things to do, like exploring the area or going to the beach.”

Chenaiyah’s video has since been viewed over 160,000 times on TikTok with over 5,000 likes, and it’s safe to say most of the comments were on her side. One said: “Why oh why do people do this you are on holiday for god’s sake.”

Others claimed these kinds of videos influenced the kind of breaks they’d book in future. One said: “Why would you go on this type of holiday, that’s hell.”, while another joked: “all inclusive about as much fun as an MRI scan.”

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A British tourist visiting the Canary Islands has shared a great-value restaurant find in Tenerife, where a pizza and Aperol Spritz lunch came to much less than viewers were expecting

While planning holidays to the Canary Islands, or any other popular tourist destination, many holidaymakers will outline an itinerary to plan out their days. This often includes the various activities they want to do, places to visit, and when to schedule in time to relax by a pool or a beach.

But with the rise of social media, people can now also plan out which restaurants and cafes they want to visit, as many holidaymakers will take to platforms like Instagram and TikTok to rave about their favourite eateries in different locations, which sometimes leads to the restaurants in question going viral.

One of the many people who have shared where they’ve eaten is British tourist Beth Yeandle, who often takes to her TikTok to share her travel vlogs and recommendations to her followers. During a recent holiday to Tenerife with her friends, Beth went on to document her pizza lunch at a restaurant called La Spezia, raving about both the food and the prices.

“Okay, you need to save this for your next trip to Costa Adeje,” Beth said at the start of her video, as she was seen tucking into a cheesy-looking pizza.

People amazed by value of Tenerife restaurant

Panning to the outside of the restaurant, she revealed that she and her friends had stumbled upon the eatery one afternoon during their holiday, drawn in by menus advertising a €6 (£5) pizza and pasta deal, alongside a happy hour offering half-price drinks between 2pm and 5pm.

“We were so buzzing with this little find,” Beth said, as she shared footage from inside the restaurant, which was decked out in a minimalist Mediterranean style.

Beth and her two companions each ordered a pizza, all with different toppings, yet each looking equally mouth-watering.

“The pizzas were huge, and you can’t beat a good Aperol at lunchtime,” Beth said. “We enjoyed it so much that we actually ended up going twice.”

Although she didn’t disclose the total bill, assuming she took advantage of the deal, her food would have come to just €6.

As for the drink, the typical price in Tenerife ranges between €7.50 (£6) and €8.50 (£7), meaning her entire lunch set her back less than £10 with the half price offer.

Viewers were quick to flock to the comments section to voice their opinions, with many desperate to visit the eatery themselves after watching Beth’s clip.

“Ohhhhh I love Tenerife,” one person wrote, while someone else commented: “The best restaurant! !”.

“I’d be there every day,” a third person said.

Another user pointed out: “It’s worth noting that this is in Callao Salvaje and not Costa Adeje.”

A British expat in Tenerife called Caitlin Camp has shared her honest verdict after trying a popular three-course meal at a restaurant on the Canary Islands, as the price left her floored

A woman has shared her honest verdict after trying a three-course meal in the middle of Tenerife, as the price left her floored.

Caitlin Camp, from Manchester, often takes to her social media pages to document and share her life in Tenerife, after having moved there from the UK with her husband, Mattie, and daughter. After living on the Canary Islands for a few years, the family-of-three often shares snippets of their life, including things to do in Tenerife and what life is like as business owners, owning multiple jewellery stores.

In one video, the family brought a friend to try a three-course meal from a restaurant that often goes viral on social media, due to how cheap it is.

“We’re in Tenerife, and we’re on the hunt for the three-course for a tenner menu,” Caitlin said at the start of the video.

As they arrived at the restaurant, called the Savoy, they noticed the offer was in fact €12.95 (£11) for a three-course meal, as she went on to show off the extensive menu available to read outside the restaurant.

“Oh, yum. There’s actually a few things I can see already,” she said as she was reading through the menu.

Meanwhile, Mattie said he’d been looking at the Chinese side of the menu, which was a three-course oriental meal for €12.95 (£11), including a starter, a main with a noodle or rice dish, as well as a dessert.

For their starter, she and her friend opted for some garlic bread, while the man ordered the hot and spicy soup from the Oriental menu. The two women then also got Spaghetti Bolognese for their mains, while Mattie opted for egg fried rice with a curry-like dish to go with it.

After taking a bite, Caitlin said: “First impressions? It’s not terrible. It’s very much you get what you pay for.”

As they got their food, she also shared the kids meal for had come with a main, with her opting for a pizza for her daughter, as well as ice cream for dessert.

Meanwhile, the adults ordered chocolate cake, cheesecake, and ice cream for their desserts. Taking a bite from his cheesecake, Mattie said: “It’s something. It’s not cold. I thought it was gonna be cold. And it’s lukewarm.”

The chocolate cake wasn’t a hit for Caitlin either, as she took a bite and soon declared: “No, this isn’t for me. I’m not a fan of this.”

In total, for the three three-course meals and a kids meal, as well as their drinks, their dinner outing came to €72.87 (£61.97).

Despite the mixed reviews of the food, several people soon took to the comment section to share their thoughts, with one person saying: “Went there last year was €10.95 I think gone up a bit, 3 course for €12 is an absolute steal. And the foods not even that bad.”

“We always come here whenever we come to Tenerife. The food is okay and the staff are lovely,” a second person said, while a third viewer wrote: “Been loads of time cheap and well worth it.”

Someone else said: “The Chinese meal looked way better than the Bolognese.”

Ruben Chorlton-Owen, 25, from North Wales, visited Tenerife with his girlfriend and was taken aback by the price of food compared to back home. He recently shared his travel story online

A Welsh tourist who recently visited Tenerife has exposed his thoughts on the dramatic difference in food costs compared to back here in the UK. Ruben Chorlton-Owen, 25, from North Wales, shared his perspective from his Canary Islands holiday, keen to update others about his travel experience.

The social media influencer, who boasts over 100,000 Instagram followers, pointed out the significant differences he noticed while away, with some findings being especially surprising. During his week-long trip with his girlfriend, the pair had a wonderful time, although the price of meals grabbed his attention.

This isn’t the first time such observations have surfaced in Tenerife either. Previously, another tourist expressed similar astonishment at their restaurant bill at the location.

Ruben commented: “We ate at a number of restaurants in Playa de las Americas, including Savoy Restaurant. The food was consistently excellent, with generous portions, friendly staff and great service.

“Everywhere we ate felt like fantastic value for money, especially compared to what we’d usually expect to pay back home. I expected Tenerife to be a bit cheaper than the UK, but I genuinely didn’t expect the difference to be so significant.

“We found ourselves eating out much more because everything felt so affordable, and it was nice not having to constantly think about the cost every time we ordered food or drinks.”

During their visit to Savoy restaurant in Playa de las Americas, the duo opted for a set menu priced at just €13.95 (£11.93). Both tried the standard and Chinese-style offerings, essentially savouring what felt like four courses between them, including starters, mains (with fillet steak available), desserts and extra Chinese dishes.

Back in Britain, Ruben remembered spending £23 on a chicken chorizo linguine – a single dish that cost almost twice the price of a complete three-course meal in Tenerife. He pointed out this wasn’t a one-off example of such a dramatic price difference.

He commented: “The difference was huge. A three-course meal in Tenerife cost less than what I’d often pay for a single main course in the UK.

“Breakfasts, coffees, drinks and evening meals all felt noticeably cheaper, while the quality of the food was still excellent. It was an amazing holiday.

“The weather was brilliant, the atmosphere was relaxed, the beaches were beautiful and everyone we met was very friendly. We also visited Siam Park and went on a boat trip, which were both highlights of the holiday.

“I love exploring new destinations, so I’m always keen to visit somewhere different, but Tenerife is somewhere I’d happily return to in the future.”

Ruben also believed the location offered exceptional value for money, calling it “one of the best-value holidays” he’d ever experienced, considering the weather, accommodation, cuisine, beverages and range of activities available. When it comes to eating out, he also offered some helpful advice to get the most from your budget while there.

In his view, there are numerous ways to uncover some of the most cost effective spots to visit.

“I’d definitely recommend exploring beyond your hotel and trying local restaurants rather than just sticking to the tourist hotspots,” he added. “Compare menus before choosing somewhere to eat because there are some fantastic deals available.

“Tenerife has so much more to offer than just the beaches, so take the time to explore different parts of the island and support local businesses.”

A tourist who has been on holiday in Tenerife has been praised for “getting her own back” on alleged “rude” holidaymakers who were apparently reserving sunbeds with towels. Ellie McAdams decided to take action

A woman has been praised for “getting her own back” on “rude” tourists who allegedly used their towels to reserve sunbeds that weren’t in use, and it’s not the first time such an event has happened. Ellie McAdams recently opened up about her experience in Tenerife where she claimed some people were trying to “hog” sunbeds that weren’t in use.

She explained what happened in a TikTok video when she was relaxing by the pool recently while on holiday, and she admitted she doesn’t think people should be able to “reserve” their sunbeds for hours without using them. In her opinion, other people should be able to enjoy them instead.

It’s not the first time the topic has come up either. Previously, someone else claimed they had been called “selfish” for actually attempting to reserve sunbeds while abroad.

Ellie said: “So we’ve been wondering aimlessly all morning, looking for a sun lounger, and we then notice that there was a group of sun loungers right by the pool that have been currently unoccupied for four hours. So, what did we do?

“We removed their towels and sat on the beds. We went and asked the lifeguard, and said ‘they haven’t been there for four hours, maybe move their towels?’ and he said ‘yeah, go for it’.

“So, stay tuned and see if we end up having an argument, but it’s our last day, so we don’t really care.” A while later, she added: “Just an update, it is now 1.15pm, those beds were unoccupied for five hours, so I’m very happy that we moved those towels off.

“And did we put them back? No. You can’t claim beds and then f*** off out for the day. You can’t do it. It’s rude and it’s selfish.”

The video has been viewed over 11,000 times since it was shared, and people were quick to comment too. Hundreds chimed in to express their thoughts, and many offered praise.

One said: “No sun lounger should be reserved and unoccupied for more than an hour.”

Another added: “No problem in reserving sunbeds before breakfast and then having breakfast before you occupy the sunbeds. But for people who claim them first thing in morning then not to be seen most of the day is not on.”

A third replied: “Well done. I remove towels every day when I’m away on holiday. People have to learn.”

Meanwhile, a fourth commented: “I find people absolutely selfish for even putting towels down, first come first served. Don’t blame you moving them, we do it all the time.”

What are the rules when it comes to reserving sunbeds?

When it comes to reserving sunbeds, there is no universal rule. However, some hotels and resorts enforce their own specific guidelines, so it’s always best to check.

Many resorts have a policy stating that towels left on unoccupied loungers for one to two hours will be removed by staff and placed in lost property to free them up for other guests. Then, there are other hotels where pre-booking is required.

Some resorts allocate sunbeds to specific rooms or require you to reserve a parasol at reception when you arrive. Other hotels may not have any rules in place at all.

However, according to online forums like Reddit, the act of “reserving” beds by putting towels down at dawn and returning hours later is generally frowned upon. Many deem the act as “selfish”, and it can cause tension.

However, in Ellie’s case, she did point out that it wasn’t a problem throughout the whole holiday. In the comments, she added: “I’ll be honest, we never once woke up early to get a bed, and we never struggled.

“There was three of us and one little boy. This was our last couple hours by the pool before our transfer, and was the only time we walked about and couldn’t find one!”

British holidaymakers travelling to the Canary Islands have been warned to arrive at the airport three hours early due to severe border control delays caused by the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), with some travellers reporting waits of up to two and a half hours at passport control

British tourists heading to the Canary Islands are now being advised to reach the airport three hours in advance, mainly due to serious border control hold-ups caused by the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES).

The rollout of the new biometric border infrastructure has sparked enormous queues – occasionally stretching to three hours – at popular holiday airports such as Gran Canaria Airport and Tenerife South. Airlines and travel specialists have issued these firm warnings to stop British and non-EU passengers from missing their return flights.

Under the EU’s digital border scheme, non-EU travellers (including British passport holders) must complete facial recognition scans and fingerprinting at border control.

Technical glitches and the considerable time needed to process each passenger have severely clogged passport control lanes.

The Canary Islands accommodate vast numbers of UK passengers. When several flights depart for non-Schengen destinations simultaneously, the local infrastructure becomes rapidly overwhelmed.

Spanish airport operator Aena officially requires a three-hour arrival window as standard procedure for all non-Schengen flights (which covers all flights returning to the UK).

Airlines such as Wizz Air have firmly reinforced the three-hour recommendation. Nevertheless, passengers should be mindful of a practical obstacle: many baggage drop and check-in desks at Canary Island airports do not open until precisely two hours before departure. Airlines continue to recommend arriving early to ensure you’re at the head of the queue the moment check-in desks open, enabling you to clear security and head straight to the congested passport control gates.

A travel expert based in the Canary Islands has now shared his thoughts on the 3-hour airport warning in a recent video.

Mr TravelON (real name David Gainford) is a well-known travel and media content creator on TikTok, recognised for his candid, lively vlogs and live streams centred on holidays in the Canary Islands (including Lanzarote, Tenerife, and Gran Canaria).

The influencer, who commands 192,000 followers, took to his account this week to offer his perspective on the guidance.

Gainford stressed in his clip that passengers travelling with luggage may be unable to check in three hours before departure as the desk may not yet be open. However, he suggested that many airlines are looking to address this by opening earlier.

He also pointed out that those who have booked a package holiday with TUI or Jet2 can count on these companies to ensure they reach the airport on time.

“It’s their responsibility to get you from your hotel and accommodation to the airport on time,” he said.

“So sit back, chill out, relax, and let your rep tell you what time you’re getting picked up.

“Yes, it might be an hour earlier.”

He noted that independent travellers not using a tour operator should ‘probably get to the airport three hours early’. The travel expert also warned that massive queues at airports could be likely, as travellers arriving at the airports have given conflicting accounts.

“Some are reporting two or two-and-a-half hour’s wait, it really does depend on how may flights land at that time,” he said.

The video has garnered over 180 likes as Canary Island holidaymakers hunt for information.

Numerous viewers flocked to the comments to share their own experiences, with one individual stating: “I got to Lanzarote airport 3 hours early last month and had to wait a hour for the gate to open.”

Meanwhile, another remarked: “Arrived in Lanzarote last month no issues on arrival but leaving to fly back to the UK was awful, we arrived early just in case, went to gate 6 done what we needed to once our gate number came up we headed over, that was where the issues began, you had to go through the machines again and there was only three machines.”

Yet a third responded: “We landed in Lanzarote last night and we were lucky, 10 minutes from getting off the plane to arriving at the bus stop. EES was ok, no queue and the luggage was waiting for us as we came through.”

One commenter summarised the situation by saying: “Better to be safe than sorry, it’s a nightmare at certain times.”

When contacted, a representative of the Ministry of the Interior commented: “The Entry Exit (EES) border control system has been fully operational in Spain since April 10th and is being implemented as initially planned, with positive results to date, and no significant incidents have occurred.”

The Cuerpo General Policía Canaria (CGPC) has also been contacted for comment.

The guidance emerges after renowned travel publisher Fodor’s has placed the Canary Islands — singling out Tenerife and Lanzarote in particular — on its 2026 “No List” back in November last year.

The publication cautioned responsible travellers to reconsider visiting, citing a severe housing crisis, gridlocked traffic, and water shortages brought on by overcrowding.

It’s the time of year where Brits flock to the continent to explore its cultural delights, but many will find that in addition to longer queues at passport control, they could paying more to visit top attractions

Exploring Europe has become a lot trickier, and more expensive, since Brexit. From 90-day restrictions to the new Entry/Exit System (EES) that non-EU residents need to go through, the days of carefree hopping across the continent are over.

In the latest blow to Brits, some of Europe’s top tourist attractions have also started two-tier pricing schemes for EU and non-EU residents, meaning not only are we relegated to the longer queues at airports, on arrival we’ll also pay more to experience the country when we arrive.

Here are some tourist spots where you’ll need to pay more if you don’t have an EU passport.

1. The Louvre

According to a report by Which?, visitors to the Louvre, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Paris, face a two-tier pricing system. The museum increased its prices last year, from €22 to €32 (around £19 to £27), for anyone from outside the European Economic Area (EEA). So, visitors from any of the 27 EU countries, or Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway, will pay €10 (about £8.64) less than British tourists.

Other Paris attractions such as the Palace of Versailles and Sainte-Chapelle have also introduced dual pricing depending on nationality. British visitors to the historic château in Versailles will pay €3 more for their tickets (about £2.50).

2. Teide National Park

Tourists visiting Teide National Park, the largest of its kind in the Canary Islands, will need to pay for a permit to walk its most popular trails. This recently introduced fee runs from €10 to €25 (approx. £8.64 to £21.50) depending on where you go and whether you take a guide. Tenerife residents don’t pay this charge, and people who live on other Canary Islands get heavy discount.

It’s not the only Canary Islands attraction to offer deep discounts for those who live on the archipelago. For example, a visit to Siam Park, a sprawling waterpark in Tenerife is around €44 for a standard adult ticket, about £38, but half the price if you live on one of the local islands.

3. Acropolis of Athens

Hoping to take the kids to see the iconic Acropolis of Athens? if they’re British passport holders you’ll need to fork out more. While EU residents up to the age of 25 can visit the Acropolis for free, non-EU kids from the age of six to 25 will need to pay €10. Older adults also get fewer discounts if they’re from outside the EU. While seniors over 65 from the EU can pay a reduced €10 entry fee, Brits of the same age pay the full price of €20 (about £17.25).

4. The Royal Palace of Madrid

The Royal Palace of Madrid offers free hours between Monday to Thursday, from 4 pm to 6 pm from October to March, and from 5pm to 7pm from April to September, but these are only available to citizens of the European Union and Latin American citizens holding proof of nationality. Brits who want to visit the official residence of the Spanish royal family will need to pay nearly €25, although there are half-price tickets for younger people.

5. Pompeii and the Colosseum

Young people hoping to explore Italy’s state museums such as Pompeii and the Colosseum will pay more if they’re from non-EU countries. Many Italian attractions offer heavy discounts for young people up to the age of 25, bringing the cost of tickets down to under £2 in some cases. But these aren’t available to British passport holders.

Elsewhere in Italy, visitors to Rome will now need to pay for access the lower basin and steps of the iconic Trevi Fountain. As of February, visitors need to pay €2 to get close to the popular sightseeing spot, although locals can still enjoy it for free.

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Ruben Chorlton-Owen says lots of people are being caught out and paying a heavy price for it

A British traveller is warning anyone heading to Tenerife this half-term to watch out for several “tourist traps” that ensnare visitors every year. Ruben Chorlton-Owen frequently posts his travel advice and tips with his 105,000 followers on Instagram (@rube).

The 24-year-old, from Abersoch, North Wales, has recently been to the popular Canary Island destination. However, while there, he noticed a few things that raised concerns. And now, he is alerting people to several common “tourist traps” that catch holidaymakers out annually, as detailed in a video amassing more than 8,000 views.

If you find yourself requiring a pharmacy, watch out for “fake” establishments selling the same product at inflated prices. He said: “They’re real shops, but they have the same LED signage (as a pharmacy) but in blue colour (rather than green).

“So it’s not entirely illegal and many tourists fall for it. People later find out the product hasn’t worked as it’s not an actual medical product.

“It’s important to find a proper ‘farmacia’ that sells actual drugs to help with any pains or issues. Fake ones also don’t really have a lot in there and also heavily charge way too much for things like sun cream or paracetamol. They’re just tourist shops really.” He also advised Brits to be careful about how they withdraw money once they arrive.

“Make sure you try and get your cash before you come here,” Ruben told creatorzine.com. “Because the local currency exchanges or these ATMs will charge you a high markup and you’ll be getting a very bad deal for your money.”

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While he praises the destination for being “affordable” and “friendly”, there are still risks to be mindful of. He said: “Make sure you use the licensed taxis.

“Not only are they genuine, but they’re also much more affordable than the Uber app. And you’ll also get charged four times the price that it should be.”

Ruben also issued a stark warning for anyone heading back to their accommodation late at night or after a day of drinking in the sun. He recommends giving a wide berth to any shabby-looking areas and narrow alleyways. He said: “It’s full of pickpockets.

“It can be quite dangerous, so just make sure you stay vigilant and you’re not having too much – or use the licensed taxi to get home when it’s late at night.”

And for those fancying a cold beer or cocktail on the beach, Ruben suggests thinking twice, as it could land you with a whopping fine. He said: “If you do like to drink, make sure you don’t do it down the beach. The fines are now a minimum of €750 to €3,000.

“Make sure you just stick to the bars, your hotel room, your Airbnb. Don’t be taking any glass bottles at all down the beach, it really isn’t worth the risk.”

The site is popular with tourists but is now sealed with fences, flags and warning signs

A beach popular with UK holidaymakers has closed again after mass bacteria levels were found in the water. The sunny spot popular with tourists has been fenced off from the public after being declared a no-swim zone.

Swimming has been banned by the local authorities after water samples were taken. La Pinta beach in Costa Adeje, Tenerife, has been shut since May 14. Adeje Town Hall has placed barriers on the seafront whilst the samples are reviewed.

Daily monitoring of the water detected signs of microbiological levels linked to enterococci bacteria. Exposure to contaminated water can lead to stomach illnesses as well as skin, eye and respiratory infections.

The beach is now covered with red flags, barriers and tape to deter holidaymakers from taking a swim. The picturesque spot usually features an inflatable assault course which is popular in the summer.

The beach will remain closed until the sample tests are cleared. Tourists were left fuming by the news.

One person said: “Again? This isn’t great.” Another added: “How sad.” One other person said: “Many tourists, many problems.”

One person said: “I was thinking yesterday, is the water clean? I had such a feeling.” Another person said: “It is at least good that it is tested to find these things out, but sad that something nasty was found.”

What is enterococci?

Enterococci are a large genus of lactic acid bacteria that can survive and grow whether oxygen is present or not. These bacteria are natural inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and other animals. In a healthy gut, they live harmoniously alongside other microbes and actually help maintain a balanced digestive system. They are also incredibly resilient organisms, capable of enduring extreme environments, high salt concentrations, and a wide range of temperatures.

While they are generally harmless in your gut, enterococci can turn into opportunistic pathogens if they escape the intestines and enter other parts of the body. This usually happens in hospital settings or in individuals with weakened immune systems. When they do cause trouble, they are notorious for triggering urinary tract infections (UTIs), blood stream infections (bacteremia), heart valve infections (endocarditis), and wound infections.

From a medical standpoint, two specific species cause the vast majority of human infections: Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium. What makes enterococci particularly challenging for doctors is their natural resistance to many common antibiotics. Over the years, some strains have even developed resistance to vancomycin—one of the strongest antibiotics available—leading to a class of superbugs known as VRE (Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci). Because they are tough to kill and spread easily on medical equipment and hands, hospitals enforce strict hygiene protocols to keep them in check.