Holidaymakers jetting off to Spain could be hit with a hefty price hike under new proposals. This comes in the wake of calls to ramp up the tourist tax for visitors heading to the Balearic islands.
The Balearic archipelago consists of four main islands: Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera, along with the smaller island of Cabrera and around 150 other minor islets. At present, Brits holidaying in Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca are subject to a charge based on the quality of their accommodation and the time of their visit.
In peak season, tourists fork out €4 (£3.50) per person each night in a five-star hotel, €3 in mid-range digs, €2 for budget stays, and €1 in hostels. These rates plummet by 75 per cent during off-peak periods.
Approximately 18 million Brits flock to Spain annually, making it our top holiday hotspot. It’s estimated that 27 per cent – nearly five million – of these travellers head to the Balearics, so any price alteration would have a significant impact.
One of Spain’s largest trade unions, the Workers’ Commission, is advocating for an increase in this rate. They’ve proposed a steep rise in this tax to €15 (£13) per person, per night in July and August.
Sky News reports that this would mean four adults staying at a luxury resort for a fortnight would shell out €840 (£736) in taxes during the summer peak, a substantial leap from the current €224 (£196) and an overall increase of £540.
Not only is this expected to generate revenue for the Government, but it is also hoped that it would curb the influx of visitors. The islands have long been grappling with the issue of overtourism, which has sparked numerous protests in recent years.
Many argue that it has driven locals away due to skyrocketing housing costs and a shortage of living space as many flats are transformed into AirBnbs. Others bemoan the negative social impact caused by tourists.
Pickpocketing is a major issue in popular tourist cities such as Barcelona, but it’s not Spain that tops the list as the prime location for this slick-fingered crime
Germany came out 4th for pickpocketing – pictured: Freiburg im Breisgau in Germany(Image: Michael Nguyen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
While Barcelona is infamous for its high levels of pickpocketing, it’s not Spain that takes the crown as the prime hotspot for this nimble-fingered crime. Despite pickpocketing being a major issue – particularly for tourists – in Barcelona, the problem is rampant across Europe and beyond, with one European holiday destination dubbed the “worst” for light-fingered theft.
In tourist-heavy areas, holidaymakers must be extra vigilant with their belongings, especially in airports, train stations, underground systems, hotel lobbies or even while strolling down certain streets. UK travel insurance firm Quotezone.co.uk revealed last year that it had pinpointed where travellers were most likely to fall prey to pickpockets, singling out a location visited by 3.5 million Brits each year.
Tourists have corroborated the research with reviews on one particular visitor hotspot warning of “a lot of pickpockets in the area”. Data gathered by Quotezone showed that Italy was the prime spot where tourists are likely to be separated from their possessions by nimble-fingered thieves.
Rome’s iconic Trevi Fountain has been flagged as a hotbed for pickpocketing, with the landmark boasting over 100,000 reviews – and hundreds of mentions of “pickpockets” on TripAdvisor, reports the Express.
As a site that becomes packed from spring through to summer, visitors are cautioned to “be careful” at this “beautiful” Roman landmark.
One disgruntled holidaymaker took to TripAdvisor to vent: “You have to elbow your way to the front of the fountain. Many people gather in front and sit for hours, so sitting is almost impossible.
“We didn’t spend more than 15 minutes. Be aware of pick pockets, as you are body to body in front and around the fountain.”
Another tourist, also reviewing on TripAdvisor, described a “beautiful fountain” but warned that the area was “extremely crowded”, cautioning others to “beware of this area” due to “lots of scams and pick pockets”.
According to research by Quotezone, Italy tops the list as the prime hotspot for pickpockets, closely followed by France, with the Eiffel Tower in Paris being particularly notorious.
Currently, Google reviews of the Eiffel Tower reveal over 800 visitors citing pickpockets as a problem – and the area is swamped with tourists throughout the year.
One Google reviewer shared their experience, describing the Eiffel Tower as “enormous and breathtaking”, but they also issued a warning.
The visitor penned: “It’s a very popular place, so expect big crowds; people from all over the world gather here to admire the monument and take in the scenery.
“Because of that volume of visitors, be mindful of your belongings. Pickpockets operate in crowded tourist spots, and there are street hustles and game scammers who may try to distract you or pressure you into playing quick ‘games’ that aren’t fair.”
The reviewer added: “Keep bags zipped and close, avoid carrying valuables in easily accessible pockets, and politely decline invitations from anyone hawking games or insisting you join impromptu activities.”
Quotezone’s comprehensive European pickpocketing index has revealed Italy as the top spot, with France coming in second and Spain taking third place. These rankings are based on mentions of “pickpockets” or “stolen” per million visitors.
The researchers reached their conclusions by analysing the number of mentions of “pickpocketing” or “stolen” on traveller review websites for Europe’s top destinations, compared to the number of visitors to each country.
Greg Wilson, founder and CEO of Quotezone.co.uk, warned: “Theft can happen anywhere, and tourist hotspots are convenient places for criminals to target holidaymakers’ wallets and purses while they are busy taking in the sites.
“Many holidaymakers are unaware that some of the most popular destinations for Brits have some of the highest incidents of pickpocketing in Europe.
“Our research revealed some surprising results with Italy having the most pickpocketing mentions, yet France and Spain have much larger volumes of tourists.”
According to data from Quotezone, the “worst” European countries for pickpocketing are:
Many Brits are unaware of certain specific rules to do with carrying phones and laptops on planes that could get caught you out at the airport if you are not careful
Many people don’t know this hand baggage rule(Image: Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
All airlines have their own restrictions, such as the size of hand luggage you can take onboard or whether you can pack your own food and drink. But one little-known security rule in particular can still catch out even seasoned travellers, and it concerns electronic items.
The rule applies to all airlines, so whether you’re jetting off with TUI, British Airways, Ryanair, or easyJet, it’s important to follow these guidelines.
All airlines allow certain electronic items in hand luggage, including mobile phones, laptops, and tablets, and chances are, you’ll be taking at least one of these on board to keep you entertained.
However, if any of these items have a flat battery, you could find yourself facing a difficult decision. Electrical items need to be charged, as security may ask you to switch these items on. If you can’t, they can refuse to let you through security, putting a stop to your travels.
The UK government’s official website, which has a wide variety of travel advice and updates, states: “Make sure your electronic devices are charged before you travel. If your device does not switch on when requested, you will not be allowed to take it onto the aircraft.”
If you do make the mistake of leaving an uncharged item in your bag, your options will depend on the country you’re departing from and the airline you’re flying with. One option is to put it in your checked luggage if it hasn’t been checked in yet.
British Airways
British Airways offers this advice on its website: “Please ensure that any items in your hand baggage are fully charged and switched on before you arrive at the airport. If your device is not charged, please place it in your checked baggage.
“If you are connecting, make sure that you do not deplete power in your devices during the first part of your journey as charging points at airports might be very limited and you may need an adapter.”
If you find yourself unable to get through security, British Airways advises passengers at London Heathrow Airport to consider rebooking onto a later flight, giving them time to charge their device.
However, the airline’s advice continues: “A fee might apply for changing your booking, subject to your ticket type”, meaning a flat battery could be a costly mistake.
BA also suggests leaving your goods at “Bagport, who operate the lost property office in London Heathrow.” They will then get a reference number and need to contact them once they’ve arrived at their destination to arrange retrieval of the item.
TUI’s advice states: “If you’re carrying any electronic devices in your hand luggage that are capable of holding a charge, you’ll need to make sure they’re fully charged when you go through airport security. This is part of new security measures that have been introduced by airports in the UK and abroad.
“We recommend you keep things like mobile phones switched on until you board the plane, as there might be more checks at the departure gate.”
Ryanair
Ryanair doesn’t provide any additional guidance on its site. Under the FAQ ‘What happens if my smartphone or tablet dies before airport security?’, it states: “If you have already checked in online and your smartphone or tablet dies, you will receive a free of charge boarding pass at the airport.” However, it is not mentioned what your options would be if security refuses to let you through.
A MAJOR UK airport has been shut down after facing difficulties with one of its runways.
Flights were cancelled and planes grounded overnight with passengers encouraged to check with their airlines to see if their journey has been affected.
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
Planes due to land at the airport were diverted to other UK sitesCredit: LNPLeeds Bradford Airport was closed following issues with its runwayCredit: Alamy
Leeds Bradford Airport is expected to remain closed to both departures and arrivals until 5am on Saturday.
Jet setters were warned that the closure could continue on longer.
The first flight out of the closed airport, a Jet2 service to Heraklion in Crete, is expected to leave shortly before 5:25am.
Flights due to land at Leeds Bradford Airport were diverted and sent to other UK airports in the wake of the runway issue.
The busy airport usually operates for 24 hours a day but has been closed now until the issue can be adressed.
Staff at the airport are reportedly working at speed to fix the problem as soon as they can.
The team at Leeds Bradford Airport said that customer safety is their number on priority.
Disappointed holidaymakers can make contact with staff on the ground at terminals to ask any questions about their flights.
A statement on the airport’s website, posted at 10pm, reads: “Due to an unforeseen issue with the runway, we have had to take the decision to close the airport until the morning.
“Customers are advised to check with their airline for the most up-to-date information regarding their flight.
“We are working to resolve the disruption as soon as possible, the safety and comfort of the passengers travelling through our terminal is our number one priority.
“Our team is on the ground in the terminal to answer any customer queries regarding departures.”
Leeds Bradford Airport was granted planning permission to operate round the clock in 1994.
Dozens of flights take off and land at the busy midlands airport on a day-by-day basis.
According to the airport’s website there is a designated night-time flight period.
This lasts from 11pm to 7am every evening with only the quietest jets permitted to operate between these hours.
Here’s the full list of best to worst UK airports according to Which?
A number of people holidaying in the Costa Blanca resort in Spain have been targeted in recent days by a common crime that could leave you seriously out of pocket
Liam McInerney Content Editor
10:28, 21 Oct 2025
‘Several’ Brits have reported being targeted in recent days (Image: Getty)
Brits jetting off to Benidorm to escape the autumn chill have been urged to keep their wits about them due to a common crime that could put a damper on their holiday and leave them out of pocket.
Michelle Baker, who has resided in the popular tourist destination for over four decades and once ran a local newspaper for 20 years, now keeps Brits up-to-date via her Facebook group, Benidormforever.
Her most recent post was a “serious” warning, beginning with the words “Look out… there’s a thief about!”
She went on to detail concerns that have cropped up recently, stating: “The happy holiday vibe coupled with the warm weather – and a couple of cocktails – can often make us less vigilant and I don’t want to be a party pooper but several people have contacted me in the last two days to tell me they’ve been pickpocketed…
“All were in the Old Town (generally considered the safest area of Benidrom) and none felt a thing.
“Benidorm is a statistically safe place but crowds anywhere in the world attract pickpockets, and sadly Benidorm is no different.”
In terms of advice, she wrapped up by saying: “You know the drill; Keep your valuables out of sight; don’t carry your passport with you (unless you’re going to change money), don’t leave phones on the table, and beware of strangers getting too close, asking questions or bumping into you…
“Spread the word; stay vigilant and stay together for a happy holiday folks.”
Responding to the post, one individual commented: “Always zips and keep everything in the front pockets. Benidorm gets bad reviews for this but go to London Oxford Street exactly the same.”
Another shared: “We were targeted not far from the royal last week. Hubby’s wallet taken from buttoned short pocket. Didn’t feel a thing, first time in 35 years visiting.”
One user remarked: “A young man on (scooter emoji) tried to steal my phone from my bag late at night, but fortunately although I had consumed plenty of gin I still had my sensible head on and stopped him. That was old town.”
A fourth person noted: “Visited in April, friends zipped up bag was dipped and her purse was taken. The pickpockets walked right in front of us, broad daylight, been visiting years, it is getting worse, a zip will not stop these low lifes.”
Another added: “Thank you am coming in November we’ll take what you said on board.”
Earlier in the summer, Michelle disclosed that she herself nearly fell prey after an “agitated young individual” approached to say he had lost his friends and couldn’t remember where he was staying.
The con involved the person suggesting that they vaguely knew where it was and that you could assist by opening Google Maps for them before they grabbed the device and legged it.
Michelle continued: “I was lucky; I didn’t get my phone out I simply told the chap who stopped me where his hotel was… but my friends weren’t so lucky and are absolutely gutted to have fallen for this.”
The Foreign Office has issued a warning to Brits, stating: “Be alert to the risk of street crime. Thieves use distraction techniques and often work in teams. Take care of your passports, money and personal belongings, particularly when collecting or checking in luggage at the airport, and while arranging car hire.
“Do not carry all your valuables in one place. Keep a copy of the photo page of your passport somewhere safe. Make sure your accommodation has adequate security. Keep all doors and windows locked. If you’re concerned about the security of your accommodation, speak to your travel operator or the property owner.”
A seasoned traveller has shared a list of items that should never be packed in checked luggage, as they could be difficult to replace if your suitcase goes missing
15:54, 17 Oct 2025Updated 15:57, 17 Oct 2025
Some items shouldn’t be left in checked luggage(Image: Jackyenjoyphotography via Getty Images)
A travel guru has issued a stark warning to holidaymakers, urging them not to pack certain items in their checked luggage. With many travellers heading off for Christmas breaks or to enjoy some winter sun, Jet2, Ryanair, easyJet, and TUI passengers are being warned about the potential dangers of packing a variety of everyday items.
TikTok user @thepointsguy has offered crucial advice on what you should “never put in your checked bag, regardless of how short your flight is.”
He’s highlighted items such as suncream and plug adaptors, due to the potential issues if your checked bag goes missing.
This guidance serves as an important reminder to always keep certain essentials within reach during travel. One item that should always be kept close at hand is any prescription medication, reports Chronicle Live.
The expert said: “One thing that should always be kept close at hand is any prescription meds. The expert said: You may be able to get a doctor to call in your prescription, but that becomes trickier if it’s a weekend or a holiday or if your medication doesn’t allow for refills before the previous prescription runs out.”
Moreover, he has advised against storing electronics in checked luggage. He cautioned that despite the honesty of most airport staff, there remains a “risk” of theft.
He also warns against packing “jewellery and cash” in checked luggage, along with any “items with significant personal value”, urging holidaymakers to keep such treasures close to hand to prevent “financial or emotional loss”.
Finally, he suggested that “plug adapters and high-quality suncream” should remain in your hand luggage, as these could be difficult to find in more remote locations if your checked baggage goes missing.
The savvy traveller suggests packing “daily necessities” in your carry-on bag – always ready for those times when a spare outfit, essential toiletries, or vision aids such as glasses or contact lenses might be needed at short notice.
Following this prudent advice going viral and receiving widespread praise online, one TikTok user commented: “Everything important goes into my carry-on. Meds, contacts, electronics in particular.”
Another agreed, adding: “I only have clothing and shoes in checked bags. Everything else is in my carry-on.”
This handy guidance comes as millions of Brits jet off to Christmas markets as well as winter sun destinations from the Canaries to the Caribbean. However, if you’re hoping to travel light with just hand luggage and space is a concern, another travel expert has revealed a clever trick to pack ‘three months’ worth of stuff’.
This strategy was shared on TikTok by @joanna. pirog, who ditched the use of packing cubes for a more simple and cost-effective method.
Her demonstration involved an empty suitcase and a selection of holiday clothes, which she neatly rolled before carefully placing them within the luggage.
Her suitcase held an impressive range of dresses, shirts, tops, skirts, and shorts with ease, and even when it appeared full, Joanna managed to fit in extra items by slotting them into small gaps. She insisted that this method allowed her to pack ‘three months’ worth of clothes into a single compact suitcase.
A TikTok user has shared a ‘travel hack’ that shows how to get an açaí bowl through security – but experts have warned that it could result in a hefty fine
Make sure you check liquid rules before you fly(Image: Jaromr Chalabala / 500px via Getty Images)
Social media platforms, particularly TikTok, have become a hub for so-called “travel hacks.”
Holidaymakers often turn to these online content creators for tips on how to make the most of their flights and hotel stays.
However, much of the advice found online should be taken with a pinch of salt, especially if it doesn’t come from a qualified expert.
This has been the case with one passenger’s video, which has caught the attention of travellers worldwide and has now been viewed over a million times.
In the clip, she reveals how she manages to get her açaí bowl past security: by freezing it before packing it in her hand luggage, reports Chronicle Live.
The post sparked confusion in the comments section, with one viewer asking: “Wait, how did you get this through security?”, and another warning, “Pretty sure this is still considered a liquid.”
Now, travel experts are weighing in – and they have one clear warning.
According to Amanda Parker, spokesperson for Netflights, freezing açaí bowls or similar liquids to bypass security screening isn’t just ineffective – it could result in your snack being confiscated or, worse, a hefty fine.
“According to official government guidelines, you’re not allowed to carry frozen items in your hand luggage,” explained the travel specialist.
Even though this açaí bowl is frozen, it’s still considered a liquid and security will treat it as a liquid. “Your treat may start to thaw when you pass through airport security, and if it exceeds the 100 ml liquid limit, it’ll be going straight in the bin. Plus, the spillage while you carry it, not worth the hassle.”
Furthermore, the risk continues beyond security, as the contents of the bowl could also cause issues at customs for those returning to the UK. Many popular toppings and ingredients, including dairy, seeds, and fresh fruit, breach UK border regulations.
“There are restrictions on bringing food back to the UK, too. Meat, dairy, fish, fruit, veg, nuts and seeds are all no-nos,” Amanda warned. “You could face a £5,000 fine if you break these rules. Since açaí bowls are typically topped with nuts, seeds, and dairy, it’s crucial not to freeze your açaí bowl for your flight back to the UK, as you could pay the price.”
