A British expat who has made Benidorm his home is calling on tourists to stop one particularly rude habit that he says is bringing shame to the British community in Spain. Harry Poulton, who shares travel advice and insights about life in the Alicante region, took to TikTok to express his frustration, admitting he feels 'embarrassed as a Brit' living in Spain.
A Plea for Respect
In his video, Poulton began: 'I find this quite sad, disrespectful and to be honest, it's just embarrassing having to make a video like this.' Having lived in Benidorm for an extended period, he claims to have 'seen it all'—from people running down the Strip half-naked in a thong to drunk holidaymakers causing scenes on the beach. However, he stressed that 'there's a line' when it comes to such behaviour, and visitors must be mindful of it.
Poulton warned: 'It's a line that should just not be crossed [as Brits]. Because remember, we are in a foreign country—a foreign country that's not ours—we're guests.' He then described an incident he found 'bang out of order': 'There was a group of lads walking back from the Strip, presumably a little bit drunk. And there were two Spanish women—quite elderly may I add—and these guys decided to be quite rude, disrespectful, shouting in their direction and were quite vulgar.'
Reminder to Tourists
While acknowledging that 'we all want to have a good time' on holiday, Poulton insisted there is 'no need to be rude and disrespectful' to locals. 'They don't deserve it,' he fumed. 'We are guests in their country and sometimes I think people need to be reminded of that. You wouldn't do that back in the UK, would you? Of course you wouldn't.'
He closed by emphasising that while it is great to come to Benidorm for a 'good time', there is no need to take things out on local residents. 'You've seen the news—in certain parts of Spain they don't want us here,' he said. 'Let's not make it worse. Let's not bring that kind of attention to Benidorm. It's not necessary. Leave the Spanish alone.'
Reaction from Fellow Brits
Poulton's comments resonated with many British TikTok users. One exclaimed: 'I totally agree with you. We come to Benidorm every year.' Another added: 'It's a shame when things like that happen... very disrespectful.' A third noted: 'I say all the time that it's behaviour like this that make the Spanish hate us. We all get tarred with the same brush.' A fourth user agreed: 'British are such an embarrassment here in Spain. I've lived in Spain four years now and I'm so glad we live in a lovely town with not many holidaymakers. The Brits just don't see how they are making a name for themselves. Respect where you are.'
Benidorm remains a beloved holiday destination for Brits, with approximately 800,000 to 900,000 visiting annually, making them the largest group of international tourists. The coastal city on Spain's Costa Blanca is often called the 'Spanish Las Vegas' due to its countless bars, clubs, and cabaret venues, particularly in the Levante district and Calle Gerona.
