'I live in Benidorm and tourists make this same mistake every time they visit'
A Benidorm expert has issued a stern warning to holidaymakers about a significant issue that has plagued the area, urging tourists to remain vigilant.
Known as frankthestagmanofficial on TikTok, Frank is famed for organising stag and hen dos in the Spanish resort. He also uses his platform to share travel advice. In one video, he revealed a major problem affecting tourists. He raised the alarm for travellers, stressing that "this is really happening", and advised them to be "very, very careful" during their stay.
Frank pointed out a "big problem" with holidaymakers having their phones stolen. In his clip, he explained: "Generally, what happens is, someone comes up to you and they'll say to you 'oh, I'm with some friends, and I'm lost, and I don't know where I'm going. Can you do a Google Map search for me?'
"What you do, because you're a nice person, is you whip your phone out, you get your Google Maps up, and as soon as you get your Google Maps up, they grab the phone and run off with it."
Frank clarified that if you're wondering why they insist on you unlocking your phone first, there's a straightforward reason. Once it's unlocked, they can "help themselves" to all your apps, including any money-related ones.
If anyone approaches you with such a story, he strongly advises against taking out your phone. He admitted it's a "horrible" thing to suggest, but warns it's necessary given the current circumstances.
The man issued a warning: "You help that one person, they'll run off with your phone, they'll take all your money,". "Just basically destroy whatever they can. And, do you know what people, let me tell you this right now, no one's going to help you then."
His warning has resonated with many, garnering over 2.1 million views and numerous comments expressing gratitude for the warning.
One user agreed: "It's rife now, and dangerous too." Another shared a consequence of this trend: "Such a shame for people who genuinely might need help as we're all too scared to help anyone."
A third user drew a parallel: "Like a standard day in London then." Another commenter recounted a similar experience: "This happened to me in Bilbao. Ironically, I spent the rest of my holiday asking strangers if I could use their Google Maps to work out where I was going. Didn't run off though."
Others thanked Frank for raising awareness, pointing out that some banking apps have facial recognition for added security, yet still advised against taking unnecessary risks.
Benidorm sits in the middle of the Costa Blanca and according to an index from online holiday provider, Travel Republic, British tourists accounted for 45% of overnight stays in this city alone in 2024, totalling over 600,000 visitors. Benidorm has 32 British pubs, many of which stream live sports daily and are known for their very low beer prices.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Thousands of 'pretty' jellyfish invade Welsh beaches
Thousands of 'pretty' jellyfish invade Welsh beaches The jellyfish have been spotted on beaches across Wales including Criccieth and Barmouth with a boat owner estimating 'millions' were on Cardigan Bay Flotillas of juvenile moon jellyfish washed up on the sandy beach at Barmouth (Image: Barmouth Publicity Association ) The west coast of Wales has been struck by an astonishing influx of "pretty" jellyfish. At this time of year beaches are often littered with the creatures but the sheer numbers being seen are beyond anything in recent memory. Scores of the creatures have washed up on beaches, far exceeding what is typically expected at this time of year. Cardigan Bay alone noted sightings of "millions" following choppy seas last weekend. The current marine heatwave enveloping the UK, fuelled by an unusually mild spring leading to higher sea temperatures, was anticipated to cause a boom in jellyfish numbers. Accounts on social media indicate a significant presence on the sands of Gwynedd among them Criccieth, Fairbourne, and Traeth y Greigddu (Black Rock Sands). One resident from Barmouth was surprise at the sheer volume along the shore. They said: "There are thousands of them along the shoreline – I've never seen so many. They are about the size of a hand and have four purple rings visible in them." These visitors are moon jellyfish, which are familiar sights in British waters. Their most notable characteristic is a quartet of circles within their semi-transparent bells, which are actually their reproductive organs, known as gonads. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. Spain has experienced similar surges in recent times and tourists there are being prepped for the likelihood of even more jellyfish appearing on popular beaches during the peak of summer. There increased sightings have led to bans on swimming with climate change and escalating sea temperatures often cited as the culprits, reports NorthWalesLive. Article continues below A larger moon jellyfish (Image: Kora27/Wiki ) Last year almost 7,500 beachgoers in Catalonia required medical attention after jellyfish stings – a 41% increase from the previous year. However Welsh beachgoers can breathe a sigh of relief since moon jellyfish, which are common around Wales, pose minimal risk to humans. They also pose minimal risk to dogs though they might experience some discomfort like itching or slight agitation so if your pooch happens to lick or eat a moon jellyfish keep an eye out for symptoms such as drooling or vomiting. More severe reactions are unusual. Blue, compass, and crystal jellyfish have also been spotted off the shores of Anglesey and Gwynedd, delivering only mild stings akin to nettle rashes upon contact. Meanwhile larger barrel jellyfish have been found on beaches and pose no threat. The sight of jellyfish often garners appreciation for their beauty. A woman recounting her encounter with a Moon jellyfish said, "I've seen these on Black Rock Sands they are so pretty with their purple rings." Article continues below More hazardous jellyfish, such as the lion's mane and Portuguese man o' war, generally make an appearance later in the summer and in fewer numbers. Beyond adding colour and intrigue to our shorelines these jellyfish are integral to marine and coastal ecosystems as they provide food for a variety of animals including turtles, gulls, and crustaceans.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
British woman cries after Benidorm holiday ruined by 'too many Spanish people'
Pensioner Freda Jackson had been looking forward to her holiday in Benidorm all year, but ended up outraged at the number of Spanish guests at her hotel A British tourist claims she ended up crying at the end of her two-week holiday to Benidorm as her hotel had "too many Spaniards in it". Freda Jackson, from Blackburn, Lancashire had booked to stay at the Poseidon Playa, located on the outskirts of the popular tourist spot with a pal back in April 2017. The following year, the pensioner, who is in her eighties, opened up about the allegedly miserable time she had on her trip raging, "why can't the Spaniards go somewhere else for their holidays?" According to retired care assistant Freda, her hotel was full with supposedly "rude" Spanish people, one of whom almost knocked her "flying" without so much as an apology. READ MORE: Spanish island 'sounds the alarm' over tourist issue and it doesn't involve Brits Grandmother-of-six Freda, who lives with mobility issues, revealed: "The hotel was full of Spanish holidaymakers and they really got on our nerves because they were just so rude. "One evening a Spanish guy nearly knocked me flying and he just walked off without even apologising." And when it came to the entertainment on offer, unimpressed Freda was left far from amused. She recalled: "The entertainment in the hotel was all focused and catered for the Spanish - why can't the Spanish go somewhere else for their holidays?" As explained by Freda, she'd been recommended the Poseidon Playa by travel operator Thomas Cook, and was left dismayed on a number of counts. Although she'd request flat ground access, Freda says her accommodation was located on a slope. She and her friend, who had paid a total of £1,133 for the holiday, went on to demand either a full refund or a free trip as compensation. Freda continued: "I have never complained about a holiday before - but this one was a disaster from start to finish. My friend and I paid for it from our pensions and it was a struggle trying to fund it over 12 months and the holiday was totally ruined - I cried after. "We wanted to go somewhere on flat ground and not in the hills because we have mobility issues. To top it off, once we got to reception they told us we had been put on the 14th floor - thankfully we were moved to the second floor - and that it was 42 steps down to the hotel's swimming pool." Freda, who has previously enjoyed trips to Greece, Turkey, Portugal and Tenerife, alleged that Thomas Cook "mis-sold" and "ruined" what should have been a dream holiday. She and her then 61-year-old friend journeyed 1,500 miles from Manchester Airport to Alicante on May 10 of that year, having allegedly not been notified that their flight dates had changed. According to Freda, she had to submit a letter of complaint directly to Thomas Cook, as there were no reps on the holiday to whom she could air her various grievances. Thomas Cook bosses initially offered the duo a £75 holiday voucher as compensation for the "disappointing" experience. A Thomas Cook spokesperson issued the following statement at the time: "Due to a system error Ms Jackson was not informed of a change to her flights until six days before departure. "We are very sorry for the inconvenience this caused and are investigating to make sure it doesn't happen again. We have offered Ms Jackson and her travel companion a gesture of goodwill to try and put things right, which we hope she will accept." The grandmother later denied to the Mirror that she had made any derogatory comments about Spanish people.
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Major UK airlines may owe travellers '£520' compensation for delayed flights
A travel blogger has recommended two avenues to explore for anyone who has been hit with flight delays - but travellers must check they are eligible first A savvy travel blogger has shared a genius tip that could see delayed passengers "successfully claim up to £520" in compensation. Known as The Travel Mum, the blogger has chucked a lifeline to delayed flyers by sharing a genius tip that could see passengers forced to wait hours for their flights recoup some money. Addressing her huge 417,000 TikTok following, she highlights how often travellers with airlines like Ryanir, TUI and easyJet are missing out on their entitled reimbursements. "Is there anything worse than getting to the airport and finding out your flight has been delayed?" she asked. "Well, here is a little hack to make sure you get the compensation you are owed." The Travel Mum added: "Most families don't realise they could be owed up to £520 per person after a delay. A huge 52% of valid claims get wrongly rejected by the airlines for all sorts of reasons." The Travel mum recommended AirHelp, a stellar online service that eases the task of claiming compensation for inconvenienced passengers facing delays, cancellations, and overbookings. The platform, boasting an impressive 4.6-star rating on Trustpilot, says it has supported more than 2.7 million people in successfully claiming. While users can utilise a free compensation checker on the platform to see potential pay-outs, securing the cash with AirHelp's guidance isn't cost-free - although they tempt with a 'no win, no fee' option, a 35% slice of the pay-out is the standard charge if the claim is successful, reports the Daily Record. You can opt for an AirHelp+ annual membership from just £34.99 a year, dodging any deductions from your compensation payouts. With AirHelp, the burden of paperwork and negotiation is lifted from your shoulders, regardless of the fee plan you choose; they even cover all court costs up to an incredible £1,000. The Travel mum added: "AirHelp is great because they know what they are talking about, and they will handle the whole claims process for you. They will even take the airline to court if they are denying you what you are owed." It's worth noting, though, that you can lodge a claim yourself at no cost, without involving AirHelp. Reaching out directly to airlines - each with their unique claims protocol - is one way to go about it. Martin Lewis ' MoneySavingExpert offers bountiful tips and a handy, free-to-use online tool for lodging and tracking complaints. Before you get carried away, make sure you're eligible for a payout. Certain conditions need to be met, such as cancellations within a fortnight of departure, strikes by airline staff, or when the disturbance is the airline's responsibility. However, remember that uproarious weather, political turmoil, volcanic ash clouds and security issues don't make the cut for compensation claims. If you're jetting off from a UK or EU airport, or with a UK or EU-based airline landing in these zones, your flight should be protected by EU and UK compensation rules. This also applies if you've booked through a travel agency or tour operator. However, any flight provider or airport outside the EU may have different rules. For more details, check out MSE's compensation guide or visit AirHelp.
