4 Laws That May Ruin Your Holiday

Traveling can be really freeing, but not following a countries law can hand you in deep trouble, and you might even end up in jail because of this. Freedom is the oxygen of the soul, and traveling is a way for you to refill your energies.

For me traveling is really freeing and allows me to discover new people, places, and cultures. However, every country has its own set of rules and laws that you might not be aware of. Tourists often find themselves in hot waters with law enforcement officers because they might not be mindful of that country’s specific laws.

At best, you might go off unscathed with a mild embarrassment, and at worst, you can end up in jail. So, without further ado, let’s learn about some of these countries and their weird laws.

1. Singapore

Singapore is a marvelous place. I’ve been there twice already, and it is a sight for sore eyes. But if you ever visit Singapore, then leave your gums at home and don’t bring them when you are traveling there. It has been illegal to chew gum in the Lion City since 1992.

To you, chewing gum might seem harmless, and if you live in the United States, then you find no issue with that. But for the Singaporean government, this is a significant and expensive issue. This is because people who throw their used gum anywhere and this would mess up and damage the public transit system.

They would spend about 106 00 dollars each year to clean up gum litter and damage before this ban was put into action. So if you are caught in possession of chewing gums, then you can be fined and even face jail time.

2. France

France is a beautiful country and is a place that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. However, if you are in the City of Love and taking the metro, then there are some rules that you have to follow if you are going to France and don’t know any French that won’t save you from getting a fine.

Throwing your metro ticket is illegal in Paris, and you can be stopped by the metro police; they might ask to see your ticket. If you threw it away or can’t find it, then you might find yourself with a fine in your lands. And take it from someone who had to face this first hand; this will ruin your day.

I’m a New Yorker; here, we hop the turnstile and do anything to not pay the subway, and most of the time, we get by without any issue, but France is a bit striker with their metro laws. So, when you are in France, keep your tickets with you and throw them only once you’ve left the metro station.

3. Maldives

The Maldives is a deeply religious country and is a primarily Islamic country. It is a common misconception that you can’t bring religious materials like a bible into the country, but this is entirely unfounded. However, you can’t bring religious iconographies like statuettes as they are banned by custom.

The country doesn’t allow people to bring religious iconographies to the island, but you are also not allowed to bring alcohol and pornographic material either. These include alcohol sold in the duty-free section of the airport and sex toys.

We recommend not to bring these items in, especially the sex toys and pornographic videos, because you might get embarrassed if they search your bags, and everyone will get to see your private business. On top of that, you can even be fined for this.

4. Barbados

It is illegal for the layperson to wear camouflage in Barbados. No, not because it is a crime against fashion and the fashion police will stop you, but because members of the military are allowed to wear camouflage. So, if you are visiting Barbados, leave your camouflage clothes at home.

The Barbados government put this law into action in the 1980s, and it was enacted to prevent gang members from impersonating soldiers and robbing people. Not wearing camouflage isn’t really an issue for me because it is tacky and too straight for me, but you know you do you.

The law is still in place, and if you are in Barbados and find yourself wearing camouflage, you can be fined.

Sound off in the comments section below and tell us if you want to read about more weird laws around the world.