Benidorm holiday warning as tourists ‘must avoid 10 things’ or face huge fines

There are 10 things you must avoid if you visit , according to a vlogger.

While the ‘s infamous party town is one of Britain’s favourite destinations – with roughly 820,000 of us making trips there in 2023 alone – there are some rules as well as that you might not be aware of in Benidorm.

Thankfully, Paul from the Who Knows Where channel on has outlined “10 don’ts” for tourists following his holiday in Benidorm earlier this month.

Drinking in the streets

It is actually illegal in Benidorm to walk around the streets drinking from a glass or bottle. Paul said: “If the police stop you – one, you will lose your drink, and two, you could receive an on-the-spot fine.”

Beach cocktail vendors

Paul warned that vendors selling cocktails on the beach are actually breaking the law. “Do not touch these cocktails,” he said. “They are not made by the bars on the beach, they are made in the back of dirty vans behind the bins.” Paul has been told that the fruit in the cocktails is dug out of hotel bins, and they often contain no alcohol at all.

Exchanging money

Paul said “beware of the freestanding ATMs” you’ll find around Benidorm, explaining how they give you the “worst exchange rate”. He recommended using a bank or your hotel instead.

He also sounded the alarm over “any exchange places that are behind glass windows”. He added: “Go up and ask [about the exchange rate], you will see signs on the boards outside but they aren’t always what you will get.” For the best exchange rate, Paul said he goes to a shop called The Wine Barrel.

Smoking on beaches

Paul said he received a lot of questions about smoking on the beaches. He explained how while generally you can, there are certain “restricted areas” where smoking is prohibited. These areas are around the mobility access ramps. He warned: “If you are caught smoking around those access points, you could face an on-the-spot fine there and then.”

Valuable or sentimental items

“Can someone tell me why you need to come away with every bit of gold that you own?,” Paul asked pointedly, suggesting there’s no need to risk losing these items or having them stolen.

Leaving people on their own

Paul warned: “Don’t let one of your party decide to wander off back home once they’ve had too much to drink, whether it’s male or female, don’t let them go back on their own, especially if they’re worse for wear […] never leave someone on their own, especially at night in Spain.”

Pea Men

The Pea Men are notorious scammers in Benidorm. These con artists engage you in a rigged game involving a pea and some cups, and their accomplices will often scan you for valuables and attempt to steal them during the distraction.

“They will get your money if you fall for this,” Paul warned. “You’ll probably see a couple of tourists win – they are not tourists, they are in on the scam.”

Mobile phones

“Don’t leave your mobile phone unattended on the bar or the table when you go to the toilet,” Paul said. He also warned of people with “leaflets, pamphlets and vouchers for excursions”, who will approach you and place their stuff on top of your mobile phone. After you wave them along, they will leave and swipe the phone as they do so.

Paul went on to warn of a third scam that involves people approaching tourists and saying they’ve lost their phone, asking to borrow one to make a call. He said they will simply run away as soon as you hand it to them.

Late night trips to the beach

“Between the hours of midnight and 7am, it is not permitted to enter any beach areas here in Benidorm,” Paul explained. He said fines for breaking this law range from £650 to £1,000.

Ordering doubles

Paul said there’s “no reason” to ask for doubles at bars in Benidorm because “there’s no such thing as measurements in Spain”. Most drinks will contain roughly a double measure anyway, he added.