An Irish woman has been arrested at Gran Canaria Airport after allegedly attempting to flee a hotel without settling a £2,100 bill for an all-inclusive stay. The woman, whose age has not been released by police, was detained at Border Control on July 20, 2026, and appeared in court the same morning.
Details of the Stay and Unpaid Bill
The woman had been staying with her partner and child at an unnamed hotel in San Bartolome de Tirajana for 11 nights on an all-inclusive basis. According to a spokesman for the National Police, the hotel launched an investigation after being unable to contact her. The reservation was made through the hotel's website using a bank card, but when the hotel attempted to charge the card after the stay ended, it was declined.
Police Investigation and Arrest
Hotel staff made repeated attempts to contact the woman to resolve the situation. The police spokesman stated: 'Although she initially stated that she intended to make the payment, claiming she was unable to access her bank card because she was already at the airport, she ultimately ceased all communication without paying the outstanding amount.' The National Police then launched a search and found her at Border Control at Gran Canaria Airport, where she was detained.
Legal Proceedings and Tourism Protection
The detainee was taken to the Maspalomas National Police Station for the preparation of the corresponding case file and was subsequently brought before the judicial authorities. The police force added in a statement: 'The National Police remains firmly committed to protecting the Canary Islands’ tourism sector, a key pillar of the archipelago’s economy, by strengthening cooperation with hotels to combat any type of criminal activity affecting their operations.'
