How building sandcastles and shampooing your hair could get you a fine on holiday

As if going abroad wasn’t expensive enough, vacationers also need to be aware of seemingly harmless activities that could land them a hefty fine.

We recently reported that the Italian resort of Sorrento has banned bikinis, with people wearing them risking a £425 (€500/$500) fine for “indecency”.

Now, FairFX has listed some more surprising ways vacationers can be fined, from building sandcastles to picking up a souvenir pebble, and from washing your hair on the beach to sleeping on one. It warns, “Research your destination before you go to check for any rules or restrictions that could cost you.” Scroll down to get a head start…

Spain

Would you like to build a sandcastle on Levante Beach in Benidorm? You need a municipal permit beforehand, otherwise you could be fined up to 150 euros (£125/$150).

Smoking on the beach, sleeping on the beach, and using shampoo or soap on beaches can also result in fines of hundreds of euros.

Fancy having a beer while walking in Madrid or Barcelona? Beware. In these cities, drinking in public is prohibited. Disregard this rule and you can be fined up to 600 euros (£500/$600).

And like Sorrento, Spain has some places where bikinis are banned.

Greece

Lalaria Beach on Skiathos Island – where Mamma Mia! was filmed – is adorned with beautiful round white pebbles. Tourists found them irresistible and removed them to keep as souvenirs.

After concerns were raised that this would slowly destroy the beach, a ‘Take a picture, not a pebble’ campaign was launched. And removing pebbles forbidden.

The authorities there have even set up an amnesty box made of pebbles at the airport.

If you’re caught stealing one of the famous pebbles, you could be fined 775 euros (£655/$775).

Portugal

Wild camping is taboo in Portugal and can be punished with a fine of up to 600 euros (£500/$600).

The country has also banned smoking in enclosed public areas, with fines of up to 750 euros (£635/$750) for those breaking the rule.

Italy

In addition to the bikini ban in Sorrento, tourists should also note that from next year they will have to pay a fee of three to ten euros (£2.50 to 8.50/$3 to 10) to visit Venice.

Failure to pay could result in a fine of up to 300 euros (£255/$300).

Throughout Europe

Brits are required to put a UK sticker on their cars when driving in the EU – the UK number plates are no longer allowed.

If they break this rule, they can be fined up to £120 (€141/$141).

Jack Mitchell, Head of Travel Money at FairFX, said: “As holiday budgets tighten amid the cost of living crisis, unexpected fines abroad could put a significant strain on your budget. Worryingly, you could get caught visiting a country you’ve been to many times, as many rules have been put in place recently.

“To avoid unexpected fines, research your destination before you fly to find out about any rules or restrictions that could cost you. We recommend reading the local news, speaking to your travel provider or tourist information and using an app or translator device to ensure you understand signs that might warn you of hidden charges. In particular, we are seeing holiday hotspots adopting new rules to protect locals and the environment.

“If you face a fine, always pay in local currency or with a special currency card so you don’t get caught with hidden exchange fees.”