HOW TO BEAT THE BEACH BUGBEARS

HOW TO BEAT THE BEACH BUGBEARS

BRITS’ ideal beach is a constant 25C, bans salesmen flogging local crafts, comes with free Wi-Fi, has parasols fitted with phone chargers and MUST be a location that looks good on Instagram.

New research shows nearly 60% of Brits take a beach holiday abroad once a year with more blokes (70%) loving a beach holiday than women (54%) – and when a quarter of Millennials hit the beach they spend over FIVE HOURS a day updating their social media profiles.

But the reality of a holiday by the sea means Brits have a whole range of beach bugbears, including sand getting in your food and phone, other people invading your territory and having nowhere to store your valuables.

So Travel Republic has provided a guide to combating Brits’ beach nightmares that shows why you should never head to the sea without a nappy, talcum powder and a fitted bedsheet.

A survey for Travel Republic’s Beach Hacks website –  https://travelrepublic.co.uk/a/beach-hacks/  – by Atomik Research shows:

• Brits’ worst beach bugbears are litter (49%); nowhere to leave your valuables when you go for a swim (35%) and sand going in your food (33%)
• Fifty-nine per cent of Brits go on a beach holiday at least once a year, with 22% going just once a year, 14% going twice a year, 12% every month and 10% every other month
• Two in three (63%) adults say they prefer a seaside vacation over a city break
• A quarter (24%) of Brits visit the beach because it reminds them of childhood holidays and Brits spend an average of 3.5 hours per day on the sand
• A quarter (23%) of Millennials aged 24-35 say they spend more than five hours a day on social media on the beach

The survey shows that 18-24-year-olds spend an average of 1.9 hours per day updating social media on the beach while those aged 35-44 are glued to their phones for 1.6 hours – and a third (35%) of Millennials say free Wi-Fi makes the perfect beach

Men on average spend twice as long as women on social media when on the beach, with blokes spending two hours updating their profile compared to one hour for women.

When comparing men and women’s reasons for going to the beach, more men like that it is family friendly (28%), there are lots of sports activities (27%) and enjoy the atmosphere of people around them (18%). More women like the chance to relax and being able to dip in the cool water (60%) and the guaranteed sun (42%).

Women had more gripes about the beach than men, with the top five complaints being: Litter (61%); nowhere safe to leave belongings (46%); people shaking sandy towels over you (40%); other people sitting right next to you even though there is loads of room (40%) and sand in your food (38%).

Whilst a sandy beach is the ideal location for Brits, the sand is also their biggest pet peeve, with 25% grumbling about sand getting stuck on you when you apply sun cream, sand getting too hot to walk on (27%), people shaking their sandy towels at you (29%) and sand going in their food (33%) as their biggest beach annoyances.

Travel Republic’s beach hacks include storing valuables in a nappy – as nobody would think to look in one – removing excess sand from your feet with talcum powder and staking out your territory on the beach using a fitted bed sheet as well as more tips to make your beach holiday as relaxed as possible

Travel expert Frank Brehany said: “The Travel Republic survey certainly rings a lot of bells, in particular people parking themselves next to you when there are so many spaces nearby, to being able to enjoy different zones on the beach to suit your mood! When I go to the beach I also enjoy being able to log-in to a resort’s wi-fi, but for many people, that either only feeds the addiction of being online, or worse, not being able to disconnect from the office.

“My recent trip to a beach certainly delivered many of the bonuses but also some downsides. I was particularly struck by groups of young people in their 20’s, unable to prise their mobile device from their hands, even when they are in the sea!

“Whilst we were surrounded by sand dunes, an azure sea and acres of pine forests, the silent tapping and squinting was all too evident, which led to me to ask; why?

“Whilst it’s great to be connected, my advice is simple; people at home don’t want to be updated every 10 minutes, break the habit and go digital-free for 4/5 hours because your holiday experience will be all the richer for engaging in those delicious surroundings! Who knows, you might be able to strike off something from that holiday bucket list; then you’ll have something interesting to talk about?”

Brits said that, on average, 25C is the perfect temperature at the beach with a quarter saying traditional fish ‘n’ chips is the ideal beach picnic.

When asked to pick an item that they could not go to the beach without, 26% said a hat and glasses, with 17% going for water or snacks – but seven per cent of Millennials said they would forsake all those for a selfie stick.

Brits are most likely to spend their beach time reading (43%) snoozing (43%), people watching (37%), paddling in the waves (34%) and listening to music (23%).

A spokesman for Travel Republic said: This research has shown that, whilst Brits enjoy going to the beach, it is far from idyllic, with beachgoers facing many annoyances due to sand, overcrowding and a lack of facilities.

With an estimated 25m* Brits travelling abroad for a summer holiday this year, we created a guide of useful beach tips and hacks to help holidaymakers love holidays on the beach!”

Top 25 beach bugbears

1. People leaving litter behind/rubbish in the sea (49%)
2. Not having anywhere safe to leave your valuables if you want to go for a swim (35%)
3. Sand going in your food (33%)
4. People sitting right next to you when there is the whole beach free (31%)
5. Other people blasting their music out (29%)
6. People shaking their sandy towel near to you (29%)
7. When the sand gets too hot to walk on (27%)
8. Getting sand stuck on you after applying sun cream (25%)
9. People walking around and selling crafts (25%)
10. People playing ball sports precariously nearby (24%)
11. Too windy, sending parasol and inflatables flying (22%)
12. Seagulls trying to steal your food (21%)
13. People bringing their pets to the beach (19%)
14. Not having anywhere private to change (18%)
15. People wearing inappropriate swimwear or lack of clothes for their age (16%)
16. Swallowing sea water (14%)
17. PDA (Public displays of affection) (13%)
18. When the tide comes in and you keep having to move your stuff back (11%)
19. People spending hours posing for the perfect Instagram shot (11%)
20. People dripping on you as you sunbathe (11%)
21. Getting all way to beach and realising you’ve forgotten your book/iPod/wallet etc. (10%)
22. Children splashing water (9%)
23. Ice cream melting by the time you sit down to eat it (9%)
24. Not being able to get a sunbathing spot past 11am (8%)
25. Sunbathing next to someone with a great body (8%)

Top 25 beach bonuses

1. Clean toilets/showers and changing facilities (45%)
2. Beach bar at the waterfront (35%)
3. Comfy sunbeds / daybeds with cushions (35%)
4. Lifeguards on patrol (30%)
5. Zones on the beach (e.g. kids, noisy, quiet, sports zones) (29%)
6. Wooden walkways into the sea for when the sand gets too hot (28%)
7. Ban on people trying to sell you crafty items (24%)
8. A smoking ban (24%)
9. A ban on reserving sunbeds with towels (22%)
10. Free Wi-Fi (22%)
11. Hammocks in the trees (20%)
12. Free massages (19%)
13. Unlimited ice cream (19%)
14. A ‘call’ button for waiters to bring drinks/food (18%)
15. Free water sports (e.g. jet skis, wind surfing) (17%)
16. Ice machines (15%)
17. Street food vendors (14%)
18. Cold towels brought round for cooling off (14%)
19. Phone charging points in parasols (13%)
20. Live music/entertainment (11%)
21. Complementary sun cream applied for you (11%)
22. Something you can tick off a bucket list (e.g. swimming with pigs, playing with baby turtles) (10%)
23. Remote controlled sunbeds and parasols (9%)
24. Air-conditioned caddies to take you to the beach (8%)
25. Instagrammable location (e.g. amazing views) (8%)