Brits abroad have a bad rep. From being belligerent and getting kicked off of planes, to mass brawls on stag dos, we certainly make ourselves known.
But if you thought sunbed wars and one too many jägerbombs were the only problems with our holiday etiquette… think again.
Those of us holidaying in Portugal apparently need to be a little more stringent when it comes to our toilet habits.
A hilarious sign has been spotted near the waterfront of Santa Eulália beach, in Albufeira. It has a picture of a man urinating and someone crouching and pooing with a red no symbol.
Written next to it is the words ‘NÃO URINAR’, which translates as ‘don’t urinate’ and underneath in English it says: ‘No poop and pee.’
The beach is extremely popular with holidaymakers, including Brits, and it’s known for its golden sand and shallow waters. There’s also a large British expat community there.
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But the need for the sign suggests the scenic holiday location is under threat from being soiled by unruly tourists.
One holidaymaker said: ‘Who would brazenly do a poo on a beach? I think most people know that is not acceptable behaviour.
‘I’m not sure why they need a sign to warn people from doing it. But I guess it was there because disgusting people have done it in the past.
‘All in all, it was a bizarre thing to see on the beach.’
The Algarve welcomed a record 5.2 million tourists in 2024, where the beach is located, and Faro’s Gago Coutinho Airport welcomed a record 4.4 million British passengers.
While the sign isn’t aimed at Brits exclusively, we make up a healthy chunk of the visitors to the area, meaning we need to make a special effort to hold our pee while taking a dip.
Santa Euláli is also a registered Blue Flag beach, which means it is renowned for its safety and quality – the sign seems to be an effort to keep it that way.
If you’re travelling to Portugal this summer, then graphic signs on the beach are the least of your concerns.
The industrial action, which began on July 25, is taking place every weekend (from Friday to Monday) and has led to delays and cancellations across Portuguese airports, including Lisbon, Faro, and Porto Santo.
The walkouts, led by SPdH/Menzies ground staff, are due to various issues, including low wages, unpaid night shifts and a lack of staff parking.
It includes staff in baggage handling, aircraft servicing and at check-in desks.
Up to 60 UK flights a week could be affected, disrupting travel plans for over 10,000 passengers.
The specific dates you can expect disruption between are:
- August 8-11
- August 15-18,
- August 22-25
- August 29- September 1
Menzies Aviation said it has contingency plans to minimise disruptions to ground handling services at airports over the strike days, The Portugal News reported. Metro has contacted Menzies Aviation for comment.
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