Benidorm holidaymakers say 'its gone so downhill' as crime warning given

Daily Mirror

10 hours ago

Benidorm attracts millions of tourists every year for its sandy beaches, warm climate and vibrant nightlife. One man who visited the Spanish coastal town for a holiday has given a warning to others.
Benidorm is a popular holiday destination for many Brits who flock to the resort's sandy beaches to enjoy the lively nightlife and reasonable prices. The Spanish hotspot attracts millions of tourists every year who expect to have a fun time exploring the party scene but one visitor has shared his unpleasant experience.
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Frank the Stag Man, known for hosting numerous stag and hen parties in Benidorm, shared a clip on TikTok speaking to a British man who had 'not your normal night out in Benidorm.' The tourist, from Scarborough, told Frank that he was alone on the Benidorm Strip, a popular nightlife destination packed with bars, pubs and nightclubs, when he passed out and had his belongings stolen, including his wallet and phone.
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The man believed that he had been spiked, sharing that he had been spiked before so he knows the feeling.
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Spiking is a criminal offence that involves giving someone drugs or alcohol without them knowing or agreeing, like in their drink or with a needle.
The Scarborough holiday-maker added that he woke up on a park bench and two Spanish police officers told him to leave and he managed to get back to his hotel at 8am after asking local residents how to get back as he was lost.
He said that his wallet, cards and money were all stolen, as well as his phone, e-cigarette and even his glasses.
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The tourist believes the thieves knew he was on his own 'or they wouldn't have done it.' His theory is that they must have seen that he was alone in a bar and decided to spike his drink.
Giving more details on the alleged spiking, the tourist shared that when he had been spiked in the past his eyes became swollen and he noticed this happened again during this incident.
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According to Police.UK, the symptoms of spiking vary depending on what someone has spiked you with but the organisation adds that the signs can be similar to having excess alcohol.
Frank, who is originally from Tottenham but moved to the coastal Spanish town a long time ago, asked the man what advice he would give to other people coming for a holiday in Benidorm.
The tourist replied: 'Don't stay out on your own, never. Make sure you're out with your mates.'
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He shared that the only reason he stayed out was because he wanted to carry on partying but his friends wanted to leave so he was then on his own.
Frank also gave a warning to tourists in the caption of his TikTok video: 'BE AWARE IN BENIDORM. THIS IS REAL and I hear it a lot.'
The post has racked up 1.6 million views, 19,000 likes and more than 1,000 comments. One user suggested: 'On a holiday like that you go out with just your money for the night.'
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Another said: 'I've been hearing loads of these stories about Benidorm. It's gone so downhill lately.'
A third commented: 'I'm going on my own in August as a solo traveller. I'll be bringing my drink to the toilet with me. Thanks for the heads up.'
Despite the warning, other holidaymakers who have been to Benidorm said they had a great time and no issues.
One person wrote: "I've went out in Benidorm myself loads of times with zero issues," while another added: "Benidorm is a great place."
A third chimed in: "I've been going Benidorm for 40 years and never had any issues, there's good and bad everywhere."