Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr made it look so good. But a randy beach romp spelled bad news for a British couple who had the misfortune to attempt it in Dubai. After meeting in July 2008 at an all-you-can-drink champagne brunch, Michelle Palmer, 36, and Vince Acors, 34, headed to the beach for what Palmer insisted was just "hugging and kissing." A passing cop, who reportedly saw a topless Palmer sitting on Acors, thought otherwise and so did the court. In October the couple was convicted of having sex outside marriage and offending public decency. They were fined for drunkenness, sentenced to three months in prison and ordered to be deported upon release. In November, however, an appeals court upheld the verdict but suspended the sentence and they flew home. Still, they could have taken it back to the hotel.
Top 10 Innocents Abroad
Former President Bill Clinton's retrieval of American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee from North Korea captured the world's attention. But hordes of foreigners have gotten themselves into hot water overseas. TIME looks back at 10 memorable incidents