Summer is officially here and many Brits will be heading off on holiday abroad or in the UK. Many are searching for sights and activities to do on their travels, but forget to research what could cost them while they are away.
Parkdean Resorts has looked at 10 of the weirdest foreign laws that could cost tourists thousands this summer - from not flushing the toilet to wearing certain colours in public to make sure no one’s caught out when vacationing.
Greece beaches charge tourists €900 for taking pebbles
When going to the beach abroad this summer, be sure to not take home anything that doesn’t belong to you - including the beach itself. In Lalaria Beach in Skiathos, it is illegal to take pebbles home from the beach, if you do you could be fined €900 (£771). In Sardinia, taking sand could cost you €3,000 (£2,569).
It's illegal to wear camouflage in several countries
Several countries including, Barbados, Jamaica and St Lucia have laws to stop people from wearing camouflage clothing. You could be fined up to $2,000 (£1,574) or even be put in jail for a year for wearing any garment in the style. This rule came into place as camo wear is often associated with ‘rebels’ and ‘troublemakers’.
You’re more likely to be fined in Singapore than anywhere else
Singapore is known for its cleanliness and it’s a standard it’s determined to hold tourists to. Chewing gum, littering and even not flushing the toilet in Singapore can all lead to fines ranging from $300 (£175) to $100,000. (£58,209).
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In Greece, it's illegal to wear high heels when you're touring ancient monuments
If you’re planning to visit ancient monuments on your holiday to Greece this year, make sure you don’t wear high heels. Since 2009 it has been illegal to wear shoes that could disrupt or damage monuments at the likes of the Acropolis, Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens and the Epidaurus Theatre in the Peloponnese region.
Never wear yellow clothes in Malaysia
In 2016, a group of protestors walked the streets of Kuala Lumpur wearing yellow clothing to demand the resignation of the then-Prime Minister. Since then, yellow clothes are considered to be a symbol of protest and a threat to security. If you decide to wear yellow clothes you could risk a fine of €1,000 (£857).
Don’t wear your beachwear in Spain
If you’re heading to Spain this summer, make sure you stick to only wearing beachwear on the beach. In the likes of Mallorca and popular holiday destination Barcelona, if you walk around the cities in a swimsuit, bikini, swimming trunks or even bare-chested you can be fined between €100 (£86)-€200 (£171).
Swearing down under could cost you £126
Across the country in Australia including Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria it’s illegal to swear in public and you could be fined up to 240 Australian dollars, which translates to £126. You could even be jailed for up to 6 months if you’re found guilty of using abusive language.
Feeding pigeons in Venice
In a bid to control the number of pigeons and the damage they cause in Venice, the city has banned feeding them. Any tourists spotted giving pigeons food can face fines from $80 (£69) to $775 (£664).
Never kiss on the train platform in France
Back in 1910 the French railways got tired of train delays caused by people kissing their farewells on platforms. The old law insists still to this day that all kissing on the platform must be done before the train departs, so be careful when travelling to your next destination.
Don’t build sandcastles in Benidorm
Benidorm is all about sun and fun, but if you want to build sandcastles on Levante beach you’ll need to get a permit first - or you could be fined up to €150 (£129). If you also smoke, sleep or use shampoo or body wash on the beach you could be fined hundreds more.
