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A British tourist has praised a hotel for taking action against guests who try and hog empty sunbeds by reserving them with towels. She said she witnessed something that was worth highlighting

Many of us relish a holiday abroad, but one issue that never fails to cause a headache is the notorious sunbed wars. One woman recently claimed she witnessed the drama firsthand, reportedly in Greece, and couldn’t speak highly enough of the way the hotel handled it.

The British tourist, known as WelshTaiTai on TikTok, shared footage of what unfolded during her sun-soaked holiday. While most of us cherish the chance to travel, the age-old habit of reserving sunbeds can quickly spiral into chaos, rows and wholly unnecessary stress when you’re supposed to be unwinding.

It’s hardly a new debate either. In previous years, images have surfaced of holidaymakers literally camped out to stake their claim on a sunbed.

In the video, she described some guests as being “naughty”, claiming there’s a sign at her hotel clearly stating that sunbeds must not be reserved. It politely requests that guests refrain from leaving towels on the beds to stop others from using them.

Yet some guests chose to ignore the rule, prompting the hotel to reportedly take matters into its own hands. Staff are said to have gathered up all the offending towels and draped them over a wall, freeing up the sunbeds for other guests to enjoy.

Alongside the clip, she wrote: “POV: You wake up early for the perfect pool day only to find every sunbed ‘reserved’ with a random towel and nobody in sight. Then the hotel staff start removing the abandoned towels and suddenly people appear from nowhere acting shocked.

“If you’re not actually using the sunbed… you don’t own it. Simple.”

The clip has racked up hundreds of views, with many viewers quick to share their thoughts in the comments section, offering a wide range of opinions.

One wrote: “Wish every hotel would do this.” Another added: “Needs to be carried out in every hotel. I look for reviews and if this happens, I won’t book.”

A third chimed in: “Give those staff a raise. Just back from Majorca, where people were out at 5.30am reserving beds. Their towels were in the pool by 6.30am when the cleaners arrived to sort the beds etc. These guys are heroes.”

Meanwhile, a fourth remarked: “I would book a hotel purely on this rule.” Yet another observer noted: “Need more of this. You work 52 weeks and spend three weeks trying to get a sunbed.”

Others described it as “excellent” that the hotel had taken action to put a stop to “sunbed wars”, with many agreeing the policy should be adopted far more widely.

What you need to know

If this is news to you, hotels are well within their rights to prevent guests from reserving sunbeds, and many already have policies in place to tackle the problem.

Various methods are employed by hotels to address the issue. Some instruct staff to remove unattended towels, while others encourage guests to use booking apps to ensure fair access.

Such measures exist to stop guests from “hogging” beds — an all-too-familiar frustration that nobody wants to deal with while on holiday.

A tourist on holiday in Spain shared an image from her sunbed, but it left people taken aback. It wasn’t the view that grabbed people’s attention as they couldn’t believe their eyes

When we’re abroad it’s common to feel the need to share the view from our sunbeds, but one tourist left people floored after showing what hers looked like. Spain is a popular holiday destination for many, but sometimes travel adventures don’t always go as you’d expect and one woman made this pretty clear.

The woman, who posts as The Kelly Family on TikTok, has been documenting her travels in Spain, but people were left stunned after she shared the view from her sunbed this week. While it’s normal to want to blog your experiences when you’re enjoying some time in the sun, it wasn’t the scenery that had people glued to their screens.

She shared footage of the view from her sunbed and it wasn’t what people expected. Sometimes you see things you’d never imagine were possible when you travel abroad.

Posting from Majorca, she said people “refused” to move from the pool, but you needed to be prepared to sunbathe. This was because the weather was so cold, she considered a towel “a must” to stay outside.

Instead of greeting people with glorious sunshine, and a stunning view, she shared a clip of grey sky and her legs covered up with a towel. It wasn’t quite the holiday image you’d expect to see.

Alongside the clip, she wrote: “That glimmer of sun from this morning is long gone, and we’re using towels as blankets to stay sat on the sunbed longer.”

In previous videos, she also admitted the weather had been cold during their stay. She claimed it was “freezing” one day, which put her off going in the pool.

Naturally, the video got people talking, as you usually go on holiday expecting to see some sunshine. People had very mixed opinions though.

One person said: “I’m here in three weeks. I’m praying for sun.” Another simply replied with laughing face emojis.

Under a different video, a third wrote: “What part is this? I’m meant to be going Saturday, and the weather looks absolutely miserable.”

A fourth also noted: “We arrive on Sunday. I’ve paid my money. Rain or shine, the kids will be in that pool morning, noon and night. I don’t want to hear ‘it’s freezing mummy’. It’ll toughen them up.”

Others pointed out it’s quite early in the season to see boiling hot weather though. Someone else wrote: “Early season. It’s to be expected.”

One more also said: “Early May? It’s Europe. When did we expect a heatwave?” The good news is, more recently, the weather seems to have improved for the family as they were also seen enjoying some time in the sun.

What people need to know

Generally, people visiting Majorca in May should expect warm, sunny and pleasant weather. The month tends to offer a perfect spring-to-summer transition, with average daytime temperatures usually coming in between 22°C and 25°C.

Tourists should expect around nine to 10 hours of daily sunshine, low rainfall and comfortable, mild evenings. However, good weather is never guaranteed anywhere, and you should always bear this in mind when travelling.

Majorca is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Spain and Europe, as it draws millions of tourists annually with its stunning beaches, mountains and nightlife. It is frequently ranked as a top Mediterranean destination.

With snow-capped peaks tumbling towards the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park is one of the jewels in Colombia’s tourism crown.

But behind the picture-postcard views lies a more sinister reality.

Armed groups are holding local businesses to ransom and terrorising Indigenous communities.

The signing of a 2016 peace deal between the Colombian state and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) ended more than half a century of war and helped propel a country long associated with druglords and rebels onto the global tourism stage.

Since then, thousands of visitors have poured into the Sierra Nevada each day, trekking through pristine jungle to white-sand beaches or climbing towards Colombia’s mountaintop Lost City, which predates Peru’s Machu Picchu.

Few notice the men in camouflage watching from a distance.

They are members of the Self-Defence Forces of the Sierra Nevada (ACSN), a group of former paramilitaries that controls cocaine trafficking routes in the region and is also involved in illegal gold mining.

Extortion has become another lucrative business for the group. The “Conquistadores”, as ACSN members are often called, demand a cut of the earnings of hotels, tour bus companies and Indigenous communities, whose hand-woven hammocks and bags are snapped up by visitors.

“We are afraid and anxious about the future,” said Atanasio Moscote, the governor of the Kogui Indigenous people, who live high up in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park, which the Kogui consider “the heart of the world”.

In February, the government closed Tayrona National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site overlooking the Caribbean, for more than two weeks following threats against park rangers, allegedly issued by the ACSN.

Authorities have accused the group of pressuring Indigenous Wayuu residents in the park to resist a crackdown on illegal activities such as logging.

Together, Tayrona and the Sierra Nevada national parks received more than 873,000 visitors last year.

The influx of tourists marks a dramatic shift from the 1980s and 90s, when the region was a battleground for brutal clashes between paramilitaries and FARC rebels.

Ten years after FARC laid down its arms, the ACSN – founded by a paramilitary leader who was later extradited to the United States – holds sway in much of the area.

In recent months, Colombia’s biggest drug cartel, the Gulf Clan, has tried to muscle in, vying for control and prompting clashes with the ACSN.

Caught in the middle are Indigenous communities “who don’t speak Spanish, and who live off their crops and their traditional knowledge”, said Luis Salcedo, governor of the Arhuaco people, who also live in the Sierra Nevada.

Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president in modern history, included the ACSN in his bid to negotiate the disarmament of all armed groups in the country.

But four years after he launched his “Paz Total” (total peace) campaign, the ACSN still dominates the Santa Marta area, said researcher Norma Vera.

Extortion has now emerged as a key issue in the campaign to elect Petro’s successor in polls starting on May 31.

The Ministry of Defence says it has received more than 46,000 extortion complaints since 2022.

Omar Garcia, president of the hotel association in the coastal city of Santa Marta, a gateway to the Sierra Nevada, said he fears for Colombia’s fragile tourism boom.

“Any news affecting the image [of a destination] and visitor safety makes tourists think twice,” he said.

Tourists travelling to some of the most popular holiday destinations in Spain have been handed an update on prices

Travel officials in Spain have warned that airline ticket prices are set to rocket this summer. The warning comes as the Iran conflict places severe strain on the supply of jet fuel to airlines across the globe.

The mounting pressures have already prompted some airlines to scale back their planned flight schedules, with knock-on effects already being felt on ticket prices. And bosses say there are further headaches ahead for holidaymakers at some of the most popular Brit tourist spots as the peak travel season approaches – with around 18 million Brits heading to Spain every year.

The latest alert was issued by travel agents in Spain. The Balearic Islands Travel Agencies Association (AVIBA) has warned those heading to popular destinations such as the 3 key tourist spots of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza to brace themselves for steeper ticket prices – even as it confirmed flights to the region are not expected to be reduced.

According to reports in the Spanish media, AVIBA president Pedro Fiol cautioned that ticket prices will inevitably rise sharply due to the financial pressures stemming from the conflict. He warned that the war is likely to produce a summer “with a context of greater tension and rising costs that will be gradually passed on to ticket prices”, Spanish website Ultima Hora reports.

Despite this, he maintained that the profitability of routes to the Balearic Islands makes it unlikely that flights to the area will be axed. He did, however, flag that this could become a possibility outside of peak season.

AVIBA note that airlines are currently maintaining “a certain restraint” in airfares. But the president warned that the scarcity and increased cost of fuel driven by the Iran conflict will undoubtedly result in higher airfare prices. The Airline Association (ALA) has issued a similar forecast.

Lufthansa yesterday confirmed the axing of some 20,000 flights through October as part of its operational shake-up. The carrier explained that these reductions relate to unprofitable bases, though none of these are located in Spain. The strategy is to refocus resources on the most lucrative routes.

Mr Fiol said: “We don’t foresee a summer with planes grounded due to a lack of fuel, but we do anticipate a more complex and price-driven environment.” Meanwhile, Spanish website INB3N reports that Mr Fiol also cautioned there was a danger that additional flights could be compelled to make stops so aircraft can refuel mid-journey.

This week, TUI revealed the Iran war set it back around 40 million euros (£34.8 million) last month after it was obliged to bring home thousands of holidaymakers and staff. Europe’s biggest travel operator slashed its profit forecast and suspended revenue guidance as a consequence, causing its shares to fall.

The firm is amongst travel companies to have been substantially disrupted by the conflict in the Middle East, which erupted at the end of February. It is also amongst airline operators to face strain from a spike in jet fuel prices after the conflict drove up the cost of oil.

And holidaymakers should have “no worries” about flights being cancelled this summer, despite airlines confronting a “triple whammy” as a consequence of the conflict in the Gulf, a former industry boss has maintained.

Tim Jeans, a former commercial director at Ryanair who was later managing director of Monarch Air, said that while there “may be some trimming of schedules” by airlines, he did not expect carriers to scrap routes entirely.

His remarks follow stark warnings from the trade body representing European airports, which cautioned that a “systemic” jet fuel shortage could emerge ahead of the peak summer season if the Strait of Hormuz fails to reopen in the coming weeks.

Airports Council International, which represents more than 600 airports, recently wrote to European commissioners for energy, transport and tourism, warning that if the vital strait does not reopen in a “significant and stable way within the next three weeks” then “systemic jet fuel shortage is set to become a reality for the EU”.

Director-general Olivier Jankovec said: “The fact that we are entering the peak summer season… is only adding to those concerns.” However, Mr Jeans insisted: “I don’t see a situation where flights will get cancelled because of the non-availability of fuel.”

He acknowledged that there was a “triple whammy for airlines at the moment”, pointing to “the issues in the Middle East which has caused a massive spike in the cost of fuel”.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme, Mr Jeans added: “That in turn is pushing up ticket prices, and the uncertainty around whether it is going to be possible to travel, plus the increase in prices is reducing demand.

“And so you have a situation where airlines are looking at their bookings for the next three months ahead and saying ‘should we fly that flight, is it going to be profitable?'”

A remarkably preserved town that has been underwater for a whopping 2,400 years has reappeared in a tourist holiday hotspot – anchored in the past and frozen in time

In an extraordinary turn of events, a town has reappeared after being submerged under water for more than 2,000 years – and it remains largely untouched.

In the popular holiday hotspot of southeastern Turkey, archaeologists uncovered a 2,400-year-old town beneath the Dicle Dam Lake. Despite being submerged for thousands of years, the town appeared eerily frozen in time, with remarkably preserved mosques, religious schools, and tombs that once made up an ancient community.

Due to a lack of human disruption, the town, near the district of Eğil, and near Diyarbakır, has remained protected and untouched under the water’s still surface. “In the images taken by the teams or when the water recedes, we can see that these historical structures have preserved their integrity and remain standing in a solid condition,” Dr. İrfan Yıldız, a researcher at Dicle University, said.

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The mosque and tombs beneath the water are said to be associated with the Prophet Elisha, as well as the Ottoman-era Caferiye, also known as Lala Kasım, Madrasa, and the Byzantine-era Deran Bath. Experts have noted just how extraordinary it is to have such well-preserved structures underwater.

The discovery of the settlement, published by Dicle University, is now offering archaeologists insight into the region’s prehistoric past and its transformation over the millennia. But how did this foregone town, that once had a thriving community, find itself lost in time and engulfed under water?

The Dicle Dam Lake was formed by a dam built in 1986 and completed in 1997, which was required as a vital water source for the region. But before this, the Eğil district, part of the Tigris River Valley, had been home to ancient communities.

Its residents date back to the Hittites and Ottoman empires, which once used prehistoric tombs. While the region is said to have served as a vital gateway for Assyrians, Persians, Hurrians, Mitanni, Romans, and Byzantine citizens.

Before the dam was completed and flooding engulfed parts of the region, some important sites were removed, while other parts were simply abandoned. The reservoir was filled, and the ancient town remained untouched, lost beneath the water.

While it’s been one of the most fascinating discoveries, the ruins are at risk of being lost if measures aren’t taken to protect them due to shifting water levels, sediment activity and possible erosion. Dr Yıldız, who described the find as “extraordinary”, is championing the extension of studies to protect the heritage site.

He said: “Underwater archaeological studies can be carried out on these remains.” It’s thought that further studies on the former town could help uncover more of the region’s history and the lives of the citizens who called it home, all those years ago.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

Ruben Chorlton-Owen, 24, from North Wales, booked an Airbnb abroad hoping for a great holiday. However, as soon as he arrived, things soon started to go downhill

We all enjoy escaping abroad for a spell in a different country, but sometimes holidays don’t quite unfold as we’d hoped. One traveller who recently learnt this is Ruben Chorlton-Owen, 24, from North Wales, who claimed he had an unexpected experience while staying at an Airbnb this year.

Ruben shared his travel ordeal as he struggled to comprehend how events unravelled. He jetted off in March for a break and to immerse himself in a different culture, but things took an unexpected turn when he encountered drama from the moment he touched down for his holiday.

This isn’t the first instance of travellers reporting problems while abroad either. Only weeks ago, tourists revealed they’d booked flights home early from a popular holiday hotspot.

Describing his recent Icelandic getaway, Ruben explained: “We landed late and arrived at our Airbnb just before midnight, expecting to warm up after travelling. However, when we opened the door, the entire property was completely pitch black with no electricity.

“It was around -5°C outside, and there was no heating in the apartment. The only heating available was two plug-in heaters, which couldn’t be used without power.

“We had to rely on our phone torches just to see inside, while our batteries were slowly draining. We tried contacting the host immediately but received no response.

“We were unable to get help that night and had to stay there without power or heating. Airbnb initially advised us to find our own hotel at that time of night and offered a 20% reimbursement, which was difficult given how late it was. We were eventually relocated the following day.”

Despite this, he acknowledged the property itself was clean upon arrival and access was simple via the key box, but he said that was where the positive experience ended. He also alleged what made matters worse was that, after this occurred, he looked at the reviews and noticed other guests had flagged similar power problems.

Ruben said he had reserved the stay roughly two months beforehand, so they had no means of knowing at the time, as the complaints were more recent. He continued: “It wasn’t how we imagined starting the trip – arriving somewhere new in the middle of the night expecting somewhere warm and safe, only to find no power in freezing conditions.

“To add to the chaos, when we were relocated to the new accommodation, we accidentally entered the wrong property as the house next door had the exact same lockbox and code. We ended up briefly walking into someone’s home by mistake before realising, which, in hindsight, was quite surreal (and luckily no one was in).

“Throughout the situation, the host remained unresponsive and most replies appeared automated. While Airbnb did eventually provide full compensation, the first 24 hours were stressful and difficult to resolve.”

If you’ve never come across Airbnb before, it’s incredibly popular. Airbnb is a worldwide online platform and app that links travellers with hosts to facilitate the rental of distinctive accommodation – from spare bedrooms to complete properties.

Established in 2008 as a peer-to-peer, short-term rental marketplace, it enables holidaymakers to discover authentic, locally-based accommodation in more than 220 countries and territories, while simultaneously allowing hosts to earn income from their properties. It provides visitors with an alternative to traditional hotel stays.

When questioned about the matter, an Airbnb spokesperson said: “We were disappointed to hear about this experience, and we’ve provided the guest with a full refund and the host has been removed from the platform. All bookings come with AirCover, meaning in the rare event something isn’t as expected on arrival for a stay, we’ll help the guest find a similar place or give them a refund.”

Air traffic controller strikes will cause ‘indefinite’ disruption to flights from April 17, affecting some of the most popular European holiday locations

British holidaymakers are facing the prospect of indefinite disruption starting from tomorrow at major European holiday destinations. A total of 14 airports at popular holiday locations are preparing for strike action from Friday, April 17.

Air traffic controller unions are warning that the strike action is ‘indefinite’. Spanish media reports indicate that the action by USCA kicks off on April 17 at the Canary Island hotspots of Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro – with nine further locations also affected.

Other popular holiday destinations set to be hit by airport strikes include the mainland locations of Jerez de la Frontera, La Coruña, Madrid-Cuatro Vientos, Vigo and Seville. Castellón, Burgos, Huesca and Ciudad Real are also set for strike action.

Travel website Travel On World is cautioning tourists that the greatest risk is likely to be “delays, late aircraft rotations, missed connections and short-notice timetable changes.”

The site notes that for many travellers, the main concern is not a complete shutdown of operations. Instead, it is planes departing late from earlier locations, inbound flights being held up, departure slots changing around, turnaround times tightening and passengers having to put up with long waits for clear details on what is happening.

Because air traffic control is classed as an essential service, Spanish authorities have the power to impose minimum service levels. This should mean that some flights continue to operate.

Some flights are therefore likely to depart close to schedule. Yet others may face significant delays, and some could be cancelled where airlines determine the knock-on effect has become too serious.

What are my rights over the Spain airport strikes?

According to the Civil Aviation Authority, if your UK flight is delayed, and a post-Brexit regulation known as UK261 applies to it, your airline must care for you while you are delayed. This includes supplying you with food and drink depending on the length of your delay, and accommodation if you are delayed overnight.

You may also be entitled to compensation if the delay results in you reaching your destination airport more than three hours late. If the delay exceeds five hours, you can opt not to travel and receive a refund.

What is the Spain strike action all about?

The airports affected by the industrial action share a common thread – all are operated by SAERCO. Further strikes had previously been anticipated at Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, linked to a separate ongoing dispute involving Groundforce baggage handlers. However, it emerged earlier this week that this action has now been suspended.

Travellers must now contend with this latest wave of industrial unrest. Air traffic control unions say they are taking strike action over staff shortages and shift scheduling disputes – and passengers should be ready for disruption.

USCA spokesman José Luis Feliú told El Espejo Canario that delays are a real possibility. And the sunspots are busy all year long. Aena reports that 5.7million British holidaymakers visited the Canary Islands in 2023 alone.

Even outside of the school holidays, the islands remain a firm favourite with British travellers – and for good reason. According to the Hello Canary Islands website, with 4,800 daylight hours a year, the Canary Islands have the most daylight hours of anywhere in Europe.

What the unions are saying about the Spain airport strikes?

USCA spokesman José Luis Feliú told Spanish media there is currently a “shortage of air traffic controllers,” which he said directly impacts the system’s operation. “It generates greater stress, more fatigue, and makes it impossible to guarantee service continuity,” he warns.

The union spokesman highlights that the surge in air traffic has worsened the situation, compelling professionals to shoulder heavier workloads under increasingly difficult conditions, reports El Espejo Canario. One of the most pressing concerns is shift management, he alleges. “The company unilaterally changes the schedule,” alleges Feliú, leaving workers unable to plan their personal lives, he claims.

He claims that air traffic controllers are forced to “give up leave, vacations, and planned changes,” a situation he regards as unsustainable in the long run. “In the end, you work the same hours, but without any planning,” he claims.

The strike is indefinite, although minimum services will remain in place, it is understood. Spanish website Larazon reports that the union cites “staff cuts of up to 33%” as the reason for this nationwide strike.

The website reports that the action is set to affect football fans using Seville airport. The Copa del Rey final will take place in Seville between Atlético de Madrid and Real Sociedad on Saturday, April 18.

According to Diario de Jerez, as of midday Thursday, the Jerez airport schedule still showed 18 commercial flights planned for Friday (nine landings and nine takeoffs). Meanwhile, another 18 commercial operations are scheduled for Saturday, two of them with Germany.

A POPULAR European city is set to bring back its ‘tourist tax’ for visitors this summer.

The city became the first metropolitan area globally to charge day-trippers an admission fee, which was introduced on April 25, 2024.

Day-trippers who book last-minute trips to Venice this summer will feel the biggest sting, with reservations that are made less than four days in advance costing €10 per person.

Holidaymakers who are a bit more organised, and book their trips more than four days ahead of their planned visit, will only have to pay €5.

Entering the city before 8.30am or after 4pm exempts you from paying, as does being a current resident or a Venetian-born visitor, a student, worker, or someone in the city on an overnight stay.

When you’ve secured your QR code via the booking platform, it will be checked at one of seven entry points across Venice, which includes Santa Lucia railway station.

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However, if you do not pay the fee and are not registered for exemption, or if you fail to produce the QR code, you could be fined anywhere between €50-300.

That’s equivalent to up to £260.

The number of pay-to-enter days is increasing from 54 to 60 this year.

However, last year’s stats show visitor numbers dropped only slightly over the summer, from an average of 16,676 in 2024 to 13,046 in 2025.

The new tax is to help incentivise tourists to visit the small Italian city on weekdays, rather than during the weekend.

But it faces opposition as critics argue that it would not teach visitors ‘respect’.

Giovanni Martini, the city council member, said: “Wanting to raise this to 10 euros is absolutely useless. It makes Venice a museum.”

There are now more tourist beds in Venice than official residents, whose numbers stand at an all-time low of 50,000.

The dates the fee will be in place this year

• April: 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
• May: 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31
• June: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28
• July: 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26

A brazen scammer allegedly charged a British tourist a staggering £1,500 for a kebab – and police near Copacabana beach, in Rio de Janeirom said the man was arrested

An unsuspecting tourist was hit with an eyewatering £1,500 charge for a kebab on a hugely popular tourist beach.

A scammer was arrested on the world famous Copacabana beach, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, after he and another person allegedly changed the price on a payment terminal and overcharged the victim by a staggering amount. The Brit reportedly ended up paying £1,480 (10,000 reais) for the meaty treat that should have set her back just £15 (100 reais). Police said the machine was allegedly tampered with and ended up charging the victim a much higher price than what she was told.

This comes as a wave of brazen conners have hit the popular Brazilian beaches in shallow attempts to swindle visitors. Brazilian police, in a statement, said: “We have arrested a criminal that carried out a card machine scam against a British female tourist in Copacabana.”

The detained man was reportedly part of an organised fraud scheme that targeted foreigners, mostly in Rio’s famous Ipanema and Copacabana areas, according to O Globo.

The head of Rio’s tourist police, Patricia Alemany, said her team (named DEAT) were working to find and detainee the people trying to con tourists out of their money, she told the Brazilian site.

She said: “DEAT has been repeatedly arresting these criminals. However, there is no oversight of street vendors on the beach, which creates an environment of public disorder and greatly facilitates this type of crime.”

Another woman was charged nearly £3,000 (20,000 reais) for corn on the cob which had been smothered in margarine. The woman, from Argentina, should have just paid £3 (20 reais) for the food. She said: “I don’t understand numbers in Portuguese. I don’t speak Portuguese.”

Another tourist, from Colombia, was shockingly charged about £400 (2,500 reais) for a caipirinha – a Brazilian cocktail made with a spirit, sugar and lime.

This comes after another shocking scam hit some tourists in Brazil. Last year, cases of “Goodnight Cinderella” spiking scams were reported, where holidaymakers fall for glamorous looking women, especially in Brazil, before they put powerful sedatives in victims’ drinks and then rob them once they pass out.

The scams led to several Brits finding themselves with money, belongings and passports taken by the women who often work in gangs in popular tourist locations like Rio da Janeiro.

Police in Brazil said that British tourists are seen as “easy prey” as they could be unaware to the dangers, often have expensive items on them as well as cash, and do not know the local area well.

A 21-year-old Brit spoke out about how he passed out after taking just a few sips of a drink on his holiday. He was later recorded collapsing unconscious on a Brazilian beach but was rescued by a Good Samaritan. The student revealed he was offered a Capriahna cocktail by a trio women before the incident.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued an update for a sun-soaked holiday hotspot and warned that there have ‘been fatal accidents’ in the area

The Foreign Office has issued a travel warning for a hugely popular holiday destination that welcomes thousands of Brits every year.

On Wednesday, 15 April, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) updated its travel advice for the Maldives. They warned about swimming safety in the Indian Ocean, with the Maldives renowned as a hotspot for snorkelling, swimming and watersports due to its crystal-clear turquoise waters.

While the waters around the Maldives are appealing, the FCDO warned that they “can have strong tidal currents that can drag you away from the shoreline.” They noted that more than eight Brits have drowned in the area since 2021, and urged everyone to be aware of the risks and understand how to minimise them.

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In an updated warning, they said: “You should read the security information provided by your tour operator and make yourself aware of local swimming conditions on arrival at the resort. Keep in regular contact with resort staff to see if these conditions change.

“Only swim in well supervised areas, areas designated as safe for tourists, or where lifeguards are available. Pay attention to warning signs or flags and avoid swimming in areas with strong currents, high waves or dangerous underwater conditions. If something does not feel right, get out of the water at the earliest opportunity.”

They further highlighted: “Being aware of the potential dangers will help you to stay safe. Always take local advice before going into the sea.

“There have been fatal accidents involving boat propellers in the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA) and nearby whale shark tourism sites. Regulations requiring propeller guards are not yet fully enforced. Take extra care when swimming or snorkelling near boats and follow local safety instructions.

“See water safety on holiday from the Royal Life Saving Society.”

The FCDO doesn’t advise against travel to the Maldives, but it has warned that “escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption”. This has resulted in airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights, which could impact “connections to and from the Maldives.”

For anyone planning a trip to the Maldives, the Foreign Office advises the following before travelling:

• “Check travel advice for any countries or territories you are transiting through
• Check for the latest updates from your airline or tour operator before travelling
• Review your travel insurance policy to confirm what is covered
• Monitor local and international media and sign up for FCDO travel advice email alerts”

In further travel advice for safety in the Maldives, the FCDO highlight that terrorist attacks “cannot be ruled out”. They state: “Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals. Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities.”

For more information on travel advice to the Maldives, visit the Foreign Office website.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com