HOLIDAYMAKERS in Italy have been warned they could be slapped with a ￡2,500 fine for a common beach mistake.

       A tourist in Sardinia is facing the huge fee after he was caught trying to take home a mammoth haul of pebbles weighing 41kg from the shore.

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       A French man was caught trying to leave the Italian island of Sardinia with 41kg of pebbles and stones Credit: Getty 3

       Sardinia is known for its pristine white sand beaches Credit: Getty

       He was picked up when boarding a ferry headed from Porto Torres to the French port of Nice.

       The man now faces a fine of up to €3,000 (￡2,576), reports RTE.

       The customs agency said: "Checks revealed that in the boot of his car he had 41kg of pebbles and stones taken from the Lampianu beach."

       The stones and pebbles were subsequently seized and will be relocated.

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       Sardinia beaches are known for their pristine white sand, which is so prized regional authorities made it illegal for tourists to take it home with them.

       Punishments also apply to taking, holding, or selling pebbles, stones, and shells from the island's coast or sea without permission, with fines ranging from €500 to €3000.

       The alleged mistake comes after another tourist was fined €80 "as soon as" she arrived in Italy for something she believed to be a common mistake.

       Instagram user Leonora warned others: "If you use public transport, you need to validate your tickets after purchasing them."

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       But her viewers were hardly sympathetic to her situation, with one writing: "This is not a scam. This is absolutely common practice across many European countries."

       Traveller Alaya echoed Leonora's sentiments, telling her own social media followers they could receive €40 fines in Italy for being "clueless tourists" and failing to validate their tickets.

       She said she witnessed more than 10 travellers be kicked off a bus in Rome and fined because they did not know they had to validate their tickets.

       Meanwhile, at the airport before embarking on their big trip to Thailand, a family were forced to pay out an extra ￡5,000 over a passport mistake.

       A small rip on 24-year-old Bethany's passport meant she was not able to fly to the tropical paradise as planned.

       She could, however, fly to Turkey, so her family forked out an extra ￡5000 to get them there.

       Tourists in places like Greece and Bali have recently been warned of some new rules which could lead to punishments including fines if not adhered to.

       Wearing the wrong footwear in Greece could now cost a traveller ￡700, while hiking mountains in Bali have been banned completely.

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       The stolen pebbles and stones were seized and will be relocated Credit: Getty