Three tiny travel mistakes that could get you deported, fined or worse

Whether you're gearing up for a winter escape or planning next summer's adventures, holidaymakers are being warned that even the smallest travel slip-ups can lead to serious consequences abroad. Commonly overlooked mistakes have landed Brits in hot water overseas, resulting in hefty fines, deportation and, in some cases, jail time.

Winter holidays are becoming increasingly popular among British travellers, with a study carried out by O2 suggesting that around 6million Brits spent Christmas abroad last year, a 48 per cent year-on-year rise. This trend is expected to continue in 2025, whether the destination is a winter wonderland or a sun-soaked week away to forget the stresses back home - but research beforehand is also necessary.

Rules for local customs need to be studied, particularly for popular destinations such as Dubai, where things that are legal in the UK, such as CBD oil vapes, could land you behind bars. Care needs to be taken while travelling to and from airports, as, earlier this year, a 22-year-old British woman was barred from entering Morocco while on a trip with friends because she left her passport on the plane after arriving in Marrakech.

Rebecca McCurry disembarked with friends before quickly realising she had left her passport in her seat. Despite alerting staff, she was told she could not retrieve it herself and that crew members had swept the plane in search of the passport, with no results. Rebecca was denied entry into the north African country and endured what she described as three hours of "terrifying" questioning before being sent back to the UK.

Passports can present other issues, with a damaged document giving sufficient grounds for a border officer to turn you away if your travel document contains any rips. The EU also carries a complicated set of passport expiration rules, requiring them to be less than 10 years old, with three months of validity remaining once you've returned home.

Additionally, starting next year, most British passengers will need an ETIAS authorisation, a pre-travel security check, to travel to most European countries in the Schengen Area. There are exemptions, such as for UK nationals who have residency rights in an EU country under the Withdrawal Agreement. 

Elsewhere in the world, data from Thailand Travel Specialists at Travelbag shows that trips to the south-east Asian country increase by more than 158 per cent from November to February, and there are new laws Brits need to be wary of.

Something as innocuous as posting a selfie with a beer bottle could breach the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which would land unassuming holidaymakers a hefty fine, as it is considered a form of advertisement. Breaking this law could result in fines ranging from £1,100 to £11,000 and may even carry a year-long jail term.