Latest news with #touristsafety
The Sun
18 hours ago
- The Sun
Mum-of-two warns Brit tourists after Benidorm hotel room raided by teen thugs as her kids watched on in horror
A MUM-of-two has issued a warning to tourists after her hotel room was raided by thugs. Brit Becca Farley, 27, warned tourists to "keep your wits about you" after suffering a horror ordeal while holidaying at a Spanish tourist hotspot. 4 4 Becca was staying at Magical Tropical Splash in Benidorm with her partner, six-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter when her room was raided by thugs. The mother caught the strangers entering her room on the last night of the family's £2,500 week-long holiday. With signs put up around the hotel warning of a power cut Becca headed to her room alone to charge the family's phones. She was left terrified when she discovered two thugs heading to her hotel room in a bid to rob her family. Speaking about the horror incident Becca said: "As I got in the lift these two teenagers got in the lift with me and just pressed my floor level. "I honestly didn't think anything of it because there's five rooms per floor so I just assumed they were going to one of them." The two robbers then exited the lift on Becca's floor and headed straight for her room. She said: "I thought 'oh sh*t I have obviously got off on the wrong floor, what a palaver I'm going to have to wait for the lift again.' But it was the right floor. "It happened all quite quickly and they just strolled straight into my room. "I then followed in after them, which in hindsight, I shouldn't have because you hear horror stories and I think it could have gone sour. Shocking moment creepy hotel worker sneaks into Brit mum's room and steals her knickers on Benidorm holiday "But I just didn't really think and went straight into the room and shouted 'what are you doing in my room?'" Becca says one of the intruders then started screaming at her in Spanish. She responded by yelling: "Get the f*ck out, get the f*ck out, get the f*ck out." until the two thugs ran off. The terrifying incident was not over though with the would be thieves returning minutes later and banging on the door. Becca said she stayed in her room with the door locked as the two teens continued to bang on it, she added: "I was absolutely petrified. "I know it sounds silly and people have said you should have done this, you should have locked them in the room, you should have decked them but at that moment I think it was just that invasion of privacy. "This is supposed to be your safe place when you are away, you're away from home, we don't travel all that often so we were really shaken. "Then that night I did not sleep because I was flinching at every noise. "If it had happened earlier on in the week we would have flown home." 4 Becca went on to report the incident to hotel security after discovering another family had experienced a similar break in losing passports, watches and other valuables to the thieves. After the harrowing ordeal Becca is warning other tourists who plan to visit Spain. She said: "I would advise just to be alert. "A lot of people have said we were scaremongering people not to go away, not at all. "We will certainly go on holiday again, it's not a case of us never going abroad again but I think it's just having that awareness that if you are a lone woman, please be careful. "I'm very lucky that I'm OK but I think it's just a case of having your wits about you a bit more. "When you go on holiday you tend to relax and become a little bit naive to these situations." She also recommended tourists travel with padlocks so they can secure their valuables inside suitcases. She added: "Obviously keep your valuables safe. "I know some people say don't use the safes, we personally lock all of ours and padlock them in our suitcases. "I think it's just a case of having your wits about you and knowing not to get comfortable in somewhere you've never been before." Although she plans to continue travelling, Becca said she'll now take extra precautions. "I'm considering getting a webcam that you can put in your room next time we go away. I will carry on locking my stuff away. I would never take the kids away on my own. "I certainly wouldn't have cleaners in my room ever again, not to say it definitely was them but they have access to your room. "I don't know if I would feel comfortable going up to a room on my own again." Everything you need to know about visiting Spain Brits must have at least three months left on their passport from the day they plan to leave the country. Tourists do not need a visa if visiting for up to 90 days in an 180-day period. Make sure your passport is stamped on entry and exit. Travellers may be asked to show hotel booking confirmations and that they have enough money for their stay at the border. Spain is one hour ahead of the UK. The country uses the euro with around €10 working out to £8.55. Flights to Spain from the UK take between 2-4 hours depending on the destination.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Brit holidaymakers warned of ‘perfect storm' this summer leaving you with massive bill – check 5 ‘red flags'
BRITISH holidaymakers are being warned they could be walking straight into a 'perfect storm' - all thanks to a surge in romance scams targeting tourists abroad. Across the UK, Brits are getting ready to start their summer holidays, packing suitcases, booking last-minute flights, and looking forward to relaxing in the sun. 2 But behind the scenes of holiday fun and relaxation, there's a growing threat many aren't aware of. Experts warn that criminals are preying on travellers' emotions — using carefully crafted lies, fake love stories, and emotional manipulation to scam unsuspecting victims. This summer, many people risk facing heartbreak and devastating financial losses if caught off guard. The warning comes as fraud analysts raise the alarm across popular tourist destinations like Spain, Greece and Italy, where scammers are increasingly preying on vulnerable British tourists. Scammers know that when people go on holiday, they let their guard down. They're more open to making connections, more likely to share personal details online, and often unfamiliar with local customs. This makes them ideal targets for fraudsters who want to win their trust fast – then drain their bank accounts. Romance scams are no longer rare or isolated. In fact, last year alone, over $1.3 billion was lost in romance scams in the US, according to the Federal Trade Commission. UK cases are steadily climbing, with victims often too embarrassed to speak out. And these scams don't just play out on dating app s. Criminals are lurking on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and even LinkedIn. They're also showing up in travel forums, Airbnb experiences, and WhatsApp groups – ready to charm their way into someone's confidence. Holiday romances might sound like harmless fun, but if someone you're chatting to online says they love you after two days, wants to talk about marriage before you've even met, or keeps cancelling plans to meet up, alarm bells should ring. This kind of fast-forward intimacy is often a tactic known as love bombing – a classic move used by scammers. Other red flags include people who ask for money in emergencies – whether it's for a stolen passport, hospital bill or a sudden need to book a flight. It's always urgent, and it's always fake. If someone insists you keep the relationship secret or pressures you to switch conversations to private apps like Telegram or WhatsApp, that's another sign something's wrong. McAfee has also warned about a rise in scams tailored specifically for the summer travel crowd. One common trick is the 'travel buddy' scam, where someone meets you on a travel app or forum and suggests tagging along on your trip. Once you book flights or accommodation, they either disappear or show up expecting you to foot the bill for everything. Then there's the 'local lover' con – a charming local sweeps you off your feet, says they want to visit you in the UK, but needs help covering visa fees, insurance or a plane ticket. These stories are carefully scripted to tug at your heartstrings – and your wallet. Another risk comes from 'digital dating' scams abroad. If your dating app suddenly starts buzzing the moment you land in a tourist hotspot, it's probably not a coincidence. Scammers use geo-location tools to target tourists in areas known for high visitor traffic, knowing people are often more emotionally open and less cautious when travelling. And in a modern twist, the 'crypto Casanova' scam is becoming more common. Here, someone builds a connection with you, casually mentioning their success with cryptocurrency. Before long, they're offering to help you invest – but the platform they guide you to is fake, and once you send money, they vanish. While all of this might sound like a warning to avoid holiday romance altogether, McAfee says the key isn't fear – it's awareness. Travellers are being urged to stay smart online. The 5 red flags to avoid They move too fast. They avoid meeting in person or always have a reason to cancel. They need money—urgently. They ask you to keep the relationship private. They want to take the chat off-platform. That means not sharing too much personal information, especially travel details like hotel names or flight numbers. Never send money to someone you've only met online, no matter how convincing their story sounds. Trust your instincts, but also use your head – if something feels off, it probably is. If someone claims to be in the same country as you but only replies in the middle of the night, that's a possible red flag. Likewise, if you've had a few drinks, think twice before sending sensitive messages or clicking on suspicious links. Scammers often take advantage when people are relaxed and not thinking clearly. Always tell a friend back home who you're talking to. A second opinion can often spot things you might miss. And avoid using public Wi-Fi to access sensitive accounts or dating apps – use a secure VPN if you need to connect while travelling. If you suspect you're being scammed, act quickly. Cut off all contact without warning or explanation. Block the person immediately and report them to the platform. If you've already sent money, inform your bank as soon as possible – they may be able to help. And most importantly, don't stay silent. Scammers rely on shame to keep victims from speaking out. You are not alone, and you're not foolish. These criminals are skilled manipulators with tried-and-tested tactics. 2
The Independent
06-06-2025
- The Independent
Watch: Terrified passengers cling on as boat carrying 89 tourists sinks in Bali
Watch as a boat carrying 89 passengers capsized off the coast of Bali on Wednesday (4 June), with terrified tourists screaming as they tried to scramble to safety. The 125-seater boat was struck by a large wave shortly after departing from Nusa Lembongan Island at 4.30pm local time, with water quickly filling up the cabin Video footage shows panicked holidaymakers and locals breaking the ship's windows to exit the vessel, with some jumping in the water while others escaped to nearby boats. All passengers and crew were evacuated to safety by 6.30pm local time and no deaths or serious injuries were reported.
