When people travel – particularly if they’re on vacation – they can sometimes cause problems. Thinking that what is OK at home is OK where they’re visiting, behaviors caused by inebriation, decisions based on inappropriate recommendations of influencers, and simply the vast increase of tourism in certain places have resulted in cities that have seen vast changes, and not always for the better.
In the past few years, some cities (and entire countries!) have put their foot down and started issuing fines to badly behaved tourists. And some of the behaviors, at least from an American’s POV, typically wouldn’t be considered “bad” here (again, thinking what’s perfectly fine and normal in one place may not be the case somewhere else). Here are some you should keep in mind in your travels, in order of fine amounts:
Outdoor smoking where children frequent
According to CNN, as of July 1st, “France has banned smoking in all outdoor areas frequented by children — including parks, beaches, public gardens, bus stops, school entrances, and sports venues. The sweeping measure is part of President Emmanuel Macron’s pledge to create “the first tobacco-free generation” by 2032.”
Where: France
The fine: €90 to €135 ($105 to $157.99 USD)
How to avoid it: Don’t smoke where you’re not supposed to.
Saving a pool lounge
Tourists will “claim” lounge chairs with a towel and then abandon said chairs for hours on end, leaving those who would like to use a lounge chair “now,” with nowhere to sit/lie down.
Where: Spain
The fine: Up to €250 (roughly $292.57 USD)
How to avoid it: Know the rules for saving lounge chairs where you are, and follow them.
Driving with inappropriate footwear
Driving while wearing “loose” footwear such as flip flops or sandals, as well as while wearing no shoes, can be potentially dangerous, with a higher risk of your foot slipping off the gas or brake pedal.
Where: France, Greece, Italy, Portugal
The fine: Up to €300 (roughly $351.08 USD)
How to avoid it: Wear proper shoes (read: not flip flops, sandals or bare feet) when driving.
Swimming in restricted areas
It’s become a “thing” in Venice for tourists to swim in the polluted waterways. This causes a danger to the swimmer do to the environment of those waters, as well as the safety risk due to vehicles using the waterways.
Where: Venice
The fine: €350 (roughly $409.60 USD)
How to avoid it: don’t swim in the canal (Really, you don’t want to. Unlike Paris and London, Venice has not cleaned its canal and it’s a mess of sewage and other poisons. Just don’t.)
Taking a shell or pebble from the beach
FUN FACT! There are many places around the world where taking seashells, sand, pebbles and even sea glass from their beaches is worthy of a fine. Here are a bunch of them.
Where: Greece
The fine: Up to €1,000 (roughly $1,7028 USD)
How to avoid it: Take pictures of them instead
Wearing swimwear away from the beach
Tourists often think nothing of walking around town in their bathing suits.
Where: Albufiera, Barcelona, Cannes, Sorrento, Split
The fine: upwards of €1,500 (roughly $1,755.42 USD)
How to avoid it: change your clothes or wear a cover up when you leave the beach
Wearing inappropriate footwear on hiking trails
To hike the trails of Cinque Terre safely, closed, waterproof shoes that cover the ankles and have an anti-slip sole are required. Officials monitor the trails for compliance and issue fines to those who don’t.
Where: Cinque Terre
The fine: upwards of €2,500 (roughly $2,925.71 USD)
How to avoid it: Wear appropriate footwear.
Drinking alcohol in public
Public drinking has become a problem in several cities.
Where: Canary Islands, Ibiza,Magaluf, Mallorca
The fine: Upwards of €3,000 (roughly $3,510.85 USD)
Codes of Conduct
Some cities are adopting codes of conduct so tourists can learn how to be “good visitors.”
- Albufeira: “Rules for Public Places“
- Galápagos: “National Parks Rules“
- Luontoon: Outdoor etiquette for the homeland of the Sámi
- Malaga: the “Improve Your Stay” campaign
How to avoid it: Don’t drink on the street. Only drink in bars, restaurants or wherever you’re staying. In moderation, of course.
“The rules, while they might sound rigid and punitive when listed out, are all about encouraging responsible and empathetic travelling,” said Jessica Harvey Taylor, Head of Press at the Spanish Tourism Office in London. “They are designed to protect the holiday experiences of the vast majority of people who behave responsibly on holiday.”
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