Passengers should think twice before binning their bag tags. 

Arriving at an airport is often a chaotic experience. From elbowing your way off the plane to grabbing your luggage at the carousel, most of us just want to get out of the arrivals and get our holiday started. However, this lack of attention can often leave holidaymakers vulnerable to the sneaky work of scammers.

One trick in the arsenal of scammers involves discarded luggage tags.

When you check in for your flight, any baggage being checked into the hold will be tagged with a large sticker displaying the destination airport, as well as other details such as your name and confirmation number, depending on the airline.

According to a Reddit poster on the r/Delta subreddit, who identified themselves as an airport worker, many passengers simply tear off these tags and bin them once they get to their destination airport. However, because these tags potentially contain personal information, passengers are being warned not to throw them in airport bins, as the information could be collected by scammers.

The poster warned: “Toss your bag tags at home.We are getting an influx of fraudulent claims being submitted for ‘missing items’ as these people are observing who is removing their luggage tags in the claim areas and using your information to submit claims for reimbursement.

“From my own personal experience [of] currently dealing with this, it is causing issue[s] with reimbursing the real people if they submit a legitimate claim.So please be careful and don’t take your tags off at the airport. They can steal enough information from that to use your travel itinerary to get paid.”

According to the poster, while the bag tag may only have limited data, a fraudster could potentially set up an email address with that person’s name on it and submit a claim for lost or damaged luggage.

One comment pointed out that at some Japanese airports, there are bins to securely dispose of baggage tags, ensuring that your personal data isn’t left in public. However, it’s best to simply keep your tags attached and shred them at home if possible.

It comes as passengers have also been warned to keep an eye on their boarding passes and ensure they never share photos of their tickets on social media.

Earlier this year, a man in the USA was given a $5,000 fine after stowing away on a flight by using a boarding pass stolen from a child.

As reported by Fox News, the man managed to take photos of passengers’ phones displaying their boarding passes and used one to gain access to the plane before hiding out in the bathroom.

It wasn’t until after takeoff when a flight attendant noticed he was wandering around and didn’t have a seat that the alarm was raised and the plane returned to Salt Lake City Airport. The 2024 incident highlighted the need for passengers to keep their personal information safe, even in areas with tight security such as airports. 

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Brits have been urged not to visit a ‘magical’ European seaside town that faces being concreted over.

Isola Sacra, or Sacred Island, is a coastal spot about 20 miles from Rome that is famous for its extensive Roman Necropolis dating from the 1st to 6th centuries AD, featuring unique tomb structures resembling houses. It’s a small place, with around 15,000 residents. However, its location close to Rome Fiumicino Airport, as well as access to a pretty strip of coastline, has made it a popular spot with tourists.

Hotels have popped up in the area and now a huge port is to be built. Known as Fiumicino Waterfront, it will include berths for approximately 1,000 small boats and a pier for mega cruise ships that will tower to 70 metres high and 350 metres long, capable of carrying up to 6,000 passengers.

The proposals were greenlit in November, prompting fury from campaigners and earning Isola Sacra a place on Fodor’s 2026 No List. The No List was created to highlight destinations where tourism is placing unsustainable pressures on the land and local communities. Its purpose is to give “a gentle nudge to ease up on a spot for now–not forever–and give a rest to any location that clearly needs a breather.”

Long-time residents of Isola Sacra have formed Tavoli del Porto, a committee working to safeguard the area. “Only together can we stop these projects that threaten to destroy a delicate ecosystem of dunes, wetlands, agricultural land, unique vegetation, and terrestrial and marine animal species,” the activists told local press in November.

The council has argued that the project includes measures for the protection of marine biodiversity and complies with regulations, Fodor’s reports. But campaigners argue that the work will destroy the feel of the town and the local habitat. They warn that three million cubic metres of sand would need to be extracted to create a deep channel allowing access for ships.

“Just 300 metres from the port construction sites lies a protected natural area. Environmental experts say its flora and fauna would be devastated. Large swathes of the coastline will also be cemented over,” Fodor’s writes.

Anna Longo, president of Italia Nostra Litorale Romano, added: “The scenario that looms appears apocalyptic: the coast will be overturned by piers and docks, hotels, and new commercial buildings.”

Barbara Bonanni, a local resident and Fiumicino city councillor, told local press: “For us, [the coastline] is a place that still holds its magic.”

Another major concern is whether the town will be able to cope with the number of visitors arriving once the port is operational. Huge cruise ships, delivering thousands of passengers at a time, can put great pressure on local infrastructure, swamping towns while offering little cash injection as most eat onboard.

David Di Bianco, spokesperson for the Port Working Group, told Roma Today: “They call this development, but it’s just another step toward the destruction of our sea.”

In a statement, Fiumicino Waterfront CEO Galliano Di Marco, said: “With a total investment of approximately 600 million euros. The project is destined to become one of the most innovative and sustainable tourism infrastructures in the Mediterranean, and tangible proof that infrastructure development and urban regeneration can successfully go hand in hand, fostering the economic and social growth of the community.”

If you’re looking for the perfect day out with riverside walks, historic sightseeing, and a vibrant food scene, then there’s a town just over an hour from London which fits the bill.

Marlow in Buckinghamshire sits on the Thames, and is famous for its beautiful Georgian architecture. It’s a popular spot for boating, with the historic Marlow Lock well-known to people who sail in the area. From the banks of the Thames, you can hire a small row or motor boat for the day and enjoy a serene day on the water, stopping for a picnic or pub lunch along the way.

In recent years, Marlow has become somewhat of a foodie destination, with several highly-rated restaurants found in the town. One of its most famous spots is The Hand and Flowers, owned by celebrity chef Tom Kerridge. It has the distinction of being the only pub in the UK to have two Michelin stars under its belt, and serves an ever-changing seasonal menu of British favourites. Book during the week and you can enjoy the set classics menu from £95 for three courses.

However, if you’re looking for a cheaper option, there’s a lesser-known option just down the road that’s also owned by the famous chef. The Coach was recently named by Which? As the cheapest Michelin starred restaurant in the UK thanks to its set lunches for just £20 for two courses or £25 for three. This one-Michelin-starred pub changes its set menu weekly, so there’s always something new for foodies on a budget to try. You can even stop by this cosy rustic pub for breakfast, with a full English priced at just £16.50.

After lunch, explore the historic town centre, which includes a long High Street packed with independent shops and old-fashioned pubs. Down side streets you’ll find streets full of beautiful Georgian homes, alongside interesting sights such as the Gothic Revival style St Peters Church, which holds the mummified hand of St James the Apostle. On West Street, you’ll find the Shelley Cottages, where Mary Shelley once lived and where she completed her most famous novel, Frankenstein. 

The cottages are not the town’s only literary connection. T.S. Eliot also lived on West Street and his former home is now the Vanilla Pod, a French restaurant. Novelist Thomas Love Peacock, who wrote Nightmare Abbey, also lived in the town. 

Marlow still has plenty of famous residents to this day. Ricky Gervais, DJ Chris Evans, and Olympic gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave have properties in the town. The latter was even president of the local rowing club for many years. The town’s location and historic charm have made it a popular spot for the wealthy, and it consistently makes the list of the UK’s richest towns. 

If you’re planning a longer trip, book a room in a riverside hotel such as the Macdonald Compleat Angler. This waterfront four-star hotel sits next to the historic Marlow Bridge and some rooms have private balconies to make the most of the views. It also has the Riverside Restaurant which features a conservatory overlooking the water, the perfect place to enjoy a candlelit dinner at the end of the day.

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