Ahead of the summer season, the holiday car rental experts at StressFreeCarRental.com have researched the strangest laws at popular locations across the globe so tourists aren’t caught off guard.
Every year millions of tourists pack their bags and jet off to soak up the sun, culture, and sites of different counties where some unintentionally break laws and are punished accordingly.
There are many strange laws and local customs in other countries, but some are so bizarre that they would catch even the most experienced traveller out.
Perceived harmless acts, like wearing high heels or stepping on money, are illegal in some parts of the world.
Spain, one of the most popular sunny European spots, has recently introduced a flurry of fine-able offences, including bans on inflatable dolls, which could see cheeky tourists lumped with a £650 if they ignore the rules.
A spokesperson for StressFreeCarRental.com said: “Tourists should always research before jetting off on vacation so they don’t cut into their holiday budget by unknowingly breaking the law.
“Although some laws may not seem to make sense, holidaymakers must respect them else they could be fined or even locked up.
“Most tourists will not be intentionally setting out to break laws but will be unknowingly caught by unusual foreign rules they have never heard of before.
“Being fined for wearing high heels may seem far-fetched and downright silly, but when travelling overseas, people must accept that different cultures and opinions lead to different law-making and something legal at home could be a huge no-no abroad.”
These are the most bizarre laws in popular holiday hotspots:
9. Santa Cruz de Tenerife, feeding stray animals.
This popular getaway location has introduced new rules prohibiting feeding stray animals under plans to preserve a better and cleaner environment. The new law means tourists can be fined for feeding stray and wild animals, such as pigeons, cats and dogs, because it is seen to be contributing to littering. Minor breaches will see tourists slapped with a 750 euro fine, while incidents deemed more serious will see tourists fined an eye-watering 3,000 euros. Photo: Getty
10. France, kissing at train stations.
The French railways became tired of the delays that farewell kisses were causing on the platform, which led to a law prohibiting smooching when the train was at the station. The law has been in place since 1910 to avoid costly delays and overcrowded train stations, but there is no formal penalty today. But to be safe, save kissing for the bus station. Photo: Getty