British holidaymakers confess their shocking behaviour

British holidaymakers confess their shocking behaviour

British holidaymakers are notoriously set in their ways when it comes to jetting off abroad for a break in the sun.

They're not opposed to breaking a few rules to get the most out of their holiday or setting their alarms for four in the morning every day to secure a spot on their favourite sun lounger either.

Confessions come in thick and fast from the guests in a new Channel 4 documentary series filmed at Holidayworld, the largest all-inclusive holiday resort on the Costa del Sol.

Openly stealing towels from the restricted cleaning closet, urinating in the pool, and stealing light bulbs, to their demands for extra pillows and getting that all important kettle in the room.

Brits also consume so much food at the all-yo u-can-eat buffet that they can put on over half a stone in just the fortnight they're away.

Brexit is never far from the traveller's minds either, as the vote, which was announced last summer when the series was filmed, meant that their holiday spends were seriously reduced because of the falling exchange rate.

The Secret Life of the Holiday Resort proves that Brits truly do play to stereotype with their disregard for local custom and bad behaviour.

(Left) The Lloyd family play the part of the British holidaymaker to perfection as they make some startling confessions. (Right) The Wades take every opportunity to spend time together on their break in the sun and take advantage of the buffet

James and Leanne are on holiday with their children - they open up about the difficulties of being step-parents to each other's daughters

The 500 Spanish staff take care of the 2,000 guests that arrive every week, fielding their fussy complaints and unusual whims without hesitation.

Head of housekeeping Manoli, has worked at the resort for 12 years, but she is still left surprised by the habits of the British guests.

Nearly 5,000 towels and 3,000 sheets are washed at the resort every day but she reveals that figure could be higher: 'English guests re-use their towels a lot.' 

HOLIDAY RESORT FACTS 

At the Holidayworld all-inclusive resort: 

• 2,000 people arrive every week cared for by 500 staff members.
• Four tonnes of bacon and five tonnes of chips consumed every week.
• Guests sometimes consume up to 6,000 calories in just one day and can put over half a stone in a fortnight. 
• Guests get up at 4am to secure a sun lounger by putting a towel down.
• They eat and drink continuously â€" breakfast is at 6am, snack bar until 6pm, then dinner at 7pm.
• Nearly 5,000 towels and 3,000 sheets washed at the resort every day.
• There's a two hour window for the cleaning team to tend to 1,000 rooms every day. 
• Over three quarters of Brits take unofficial souvenirs - including slippers, robes, toiletries and lightbulbs.

She adds: 'We ne ed lots of pillows, because English people, they can’t sleep with just one. They need at least four.'

And she always gets asked for a clean kettle: 'We use a microwave to heat up water, why would you use a kettle?'

The rush to secure a sun lounger 

The Lloyds are a typically hard-working British family, away on their annual trip to reconnect and recharge their batteries.

'When the bonus comes that’s the first thing we put money down on. We’ve done all-inclusive a couple of times and when you work it out it is more cost effective.' explains father Wayne, who works in logistics for Ikea.

And it comes as no surprise that the foursome - parents Nicky and Wayne, son Danny and daughter Ella - have remained in the exact same spot by the pool every day for t he entire fortnight.

Nicky confesses she sets the alarm early every morning to secure their spot and others are exactly the same.

One annoyed holidaymaker explains her routine: 'I was down there at five to six, it was pitch black the stars are out and 80 per cent of the sunbeds are gone. 

'I was then saying to different people, “what time did you get up?” I think one of them was quarter past four. It's mad.'

According to cleaner Erminia, the sun loungers are filled with towels by 7am but there's never anyone there - they're all enjoying the breakfast buffet.

Other holidaymakers offer their own thoughts about why they act the way they do when they go abroad, ignoring local custom to do as they please

Holidayworld is the largest all-inclusive resort on the Costa del Sol which is where the series is filmed - they have a capacity of 3,000 guests looked after by 500 staff 

'Eyes bigger than their tummies' 

On average Brits put on just over half a stone during a fortnight break thanks to the unlimited and continuous food the all-inclusive resort pust on, with guests sometimes consuming up to 6,000 calories in just one day.

Holidayworld's breakfast buffet is from 6am, before a snack bar opens for the rest of the day until 6pm. There's a short break before the evening buffet opens at 7pm.

And when abroad one third of holidaymakers - who spend on average £1,863 per person on their vacation - prefer to eat exclusively British food.< /p>

'Their plates are just white,' says one fellow holidaymaker referring to the mountains of beige food like chips, chicken nuggets and pizza constantly on offer.

Waiter Andrey adds: 'Their eyes are bigger than their tummies.' 

'Here if you are English, it gives you English options, so you don’t have to eat Spanish food,' says Danny of the Lloyd family.

His mother Nicky isn't keen on Spanish delicacies like paella either: 'I don't do fish.' 

Maria the chef cooks hundreds of dishes every day which is mostly British food. Waiter Andrey believes Brits don't know when to stop eating

Brexit problems

Brexit is one thing all of the holidaymakers can’t ignore â€" no matter if they voted or not â€" because the falling exchange rate meant that their holiday spends suffered.

The Wade have a debate over the hot topic, after the vote results were announced last summer, when the programme was filmed.

Dave, the father of the clan is shamed by his wife Jackie for not voting because he ‘couldn’t be bothered to walk down to the polling station’.

He was angry that he lost out on precious Euros: ‘I didn’t expect us to be voted out.’

'Well you’re the mug then aren’t you? You got the hump but you didn’t put your vote in,’ she laughs.

The Lloyd family also have a discussion over dinner, leading father Wayne to worry about the future of their holidays.

‘The pound won’t stretch so far. I anticipate that the holidays and travel abroad will become more expensive. We’ll wait and see.’

But his wife Nicky has other ideas: ‘You’ll have to get a second job… Got to have a holiday. Nights for you.’ 

Entertainment is put on by the staff every night for the guests who stay exclusively on the resort in the Costa del Sol

Unofficial souvenirs and bad behaviour

The Lloyd matriarch also isn't opposed to using the cleaning closet like her own private pantry.

'I’ve been in the cleaning cupboard and taken some extra towels and sheets we’ve needed and a few more toilet rolls. 

'I’ve used it as my own personal cupboard. Although there’s a camera so I’ve probably been spotted,' she confesses. 

Nicky isn't the only badly-behaved guest, as over three quarters of Brits take unofficial souvenirs.

Manoli reveals one person removed all the lightb ulbs in his room before leaving, while others have taken the usual slippers, dressing gowns, disposables, toiletries. 

And Nicky's son Danny makes one confession that causes her to brand him a 'tramp'.

'I weed in the indoor pool... Well everyone's weed in the pool!' 

The Secret Life of the Holiday Resort airs Friday at 8pm on Channel 4

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