If you live in a holiday destination....

[SamprasTheRabbit]

Inspired by the seaside thread. So many people are opting for U.K. based holidays this year, I don't think I realised how many have an annual abroad holiday until now!

If you live in a holiday destination (seaside, city or country) what would you want visitors to know?

I'll start with... disposable BBQs are dangerous if buried under the sand. They'll stay red hot and burn or cut some poor unsuspecting person's foot if trodden on. Pop them NEXT to the bins on the promenade and everyone else on top in a stack. They can go in the bins when cooled properly by the next morning.

And this thread, people, is why we can't wait to go abroad.

From previously living in a seaside town: the sea is dangerous- don’t just get your toddler splash unattended nor send your kids out on lilos with zilch supervision..

I'm in Cumbria and whilst it's great that the local economy can get going once more, I think a lot of anger on this thread has come from the fact that because of Covid, UK tourist areas have been overrun with idiots.

I can honestly say I have never known as much litter as there has been in the last year. It's everywhere and it's awful. I filled a sack full just walking half a mile yesterday. I've found abandoned camping equipment, human waste, the full works. It's devastating that a world heritage site is being treated in this way.

A campsite near me has refused to reopen this summer because of the disrespect and littering that was left by visitors last year.

During the last bank holiday weekend, police were unable to reach an incident because visitors had parked badly, blocking narrow lanes.

A mountain rescuer has been left paralysed after falling when attending a call out to some wild campers.

Trees have been cut down by people wanting to start campfires.

We've had three wildfires that I can think of in the last few months.

The list is endless. We want visitors, we really do. But we want visitors who are mindful that this is not Ibiza, it's a national park. We want you to come and enjoy this space responsibly, leaving absolutely no trace of your time here. I don't think that's too much to ask.

Please come and spend your money but stay away from the cliffs. Cliff falls can, and frequently do, fall down to the water line and beyond.
Also, check tide times. You can only walk from one destination to the next if you walk out on an outgoing tide at a good pace.
We welcome
Decent human beings who appreciate that this is our home are more than welcome

@Littleelffriend

Just fuck off

Hilarious!!!

I live in Cornwall and I love tourists but please, please - as has already been said - take your rubbish home. And that applies to locals as well who are often just as bad.

Don’t stop visiting is my advice I’ve lived in some of the uks top tourist destinations and don’t let the online attitude stop you experiencing lovely things.
Plenty of people do welcome the visitors and understand that we ourselves visit other places also.

That and if you’re visiting from a city to somewhere that isn’t a city or isn’t a big city take away times are rubbish buses are a lot less frequent and taxis tend to be more expensive so plan accordingly

They should ban disposable barbecues from being sold, they are dangerous in so many ways and also they're not even great at their job.

The majority of this thread has been about not leaving rubbish - tbh the pps who feel that would ruin their holiday are probably not going to be missed.

Hilarious that London is considered to be friendly - it is the least friendly place I've ever visited. People up our way might get fed up with piss takers who leave rubbish and interfere with livestock, but I also lend petrol to unwary tourists who get stuck and give careful directions, and my farmer neighbours does a good line in towing tourist cars out of the local ford.

All the posters saying they'd rather wait and take a holiday abroad where they will be welcomed with open arms, are either missing the point of the thread or completely deluded. Brits sadly have a terrible reputation as tourists (in many Europe counteies anyway) due to the abysmal behaviour of a very small minority.

Only got 1/2 way through this thread, but there’s a general theme. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but to all those locals whingeing about litter, fires, and loutish behaviour, you’re probably better off looking at your own children.
In my experience the majority of tourists recognise they’re in an AOOB, and treat it with respect. They may not recognise all the local customs but are usually interested and willing to learn. However the teens and 20 somethings who have been bought up there, take it for granted, and are usually the trouble makers.

Also @NannyAndJohn I say this with kindness, but why don’t you move? Where you live, is clearly not making you happy, and it could give someone else so much happiness, it’s such a shame you’re not making the most of it.

Hilarious that London is considered to be friendly - it is the least friendly place I've ever visited

I lived in London for a very short time and visit often. People are cool and don’t chat away to strangers when out and about but I soon learnt that if I just ask someone who looks like they know what they’re doing directly for directions they are really helpful. I’ve asked many random people where to go. I admit that some people are taken aback at first but I’ve only ever had a friendly response.
People in shops, bars, restaurants are nearly always nice.

Please take your rubbish home. It’s NOT local children. Seriously do you not think we know how much rubbish is the baseline? Most is picked up by local people as they go about their business.

Please please if someone tells you a road is too tight for your vehicle don’t just “have a try”.

Don’t feed the ponies… you’re here too see our wild ponies (and I don’t even mind waiting behind you when you stop dead in the middle of the road to take pictures of them) but feeding them your sandwiches and any other crap is not good for them and encourages them to be too friendly or aggressive around people.

Oh and stick to the speed limit in case one of said ponies wants to meet you in the middle of the road!

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but to all those locals whingeing about litter, fires, and loutish behaviour, you’re probably better off looking at your own children.
In my experience the majority of tourists recognise they’re in an AOOB, and treat it with respect. They may not recognise all the local customs but are usually interested and willing to learn. However the teens and 20 somethings who have been bought up there, take it for granted, and are usually the trouble makers.

Your theory doesn't fit with the massive increase in these issues this year, that has coincided with increased numbers of tourists due to covid and people not being able to travel abroad.

The thing is the vast majority of tourists are respectful and welcomed, but with the huge numbers we're seeing, there is a significant increase in unacceptable behaviour and it's really impacting on these small communities. Where I am there's also an issue with people travelling in a different kind of way (using campervans/motorhomes) to how they usually would and they don't know the etiquette (such as where to park, to let cars overtake you etc) but also some of them don't know how to do that kind of holiday, hence shitting at the side of roads, in people's gardens or leaving shitty toilet roll all over the place, because they really don't know where to go or that they should take it away with them. They come here thinking they're going on some back road adventure so no one will notice, but thousands of other people are doing that same route and so if even a small percentage of them do these things, it becomes very noticeable.

To be fair, I don't suppose the French or Spanish much like beaches left full of litter, hot barbecues and human excrement

@VariantL1130

I'm in Cumbria and whilst it's great that the local economy can get going once more, I think a lot of anger on this thread has come from the fact that because of Covid, UK tourist areas have been overrun with idiots.

I can honestly say I have never known as much litter as there has been in the last year. It's everywhere and it's awful. I filled a sack full just walking half a mile yesterday. I've found abandoned camping equipment, human waste, the full works. It's devastating that a world heritage site is being treated in this way.

A campsite near me has refused to reopen this summer because of the disrespect and littering that was left by visitors last year.

During the last bank holiday weekend, police were unable to reach an incident because visitors had parked badly, blocking narrow lanes.

A mountain rescuer has been left paralysed after falling when attending a call out to some wild campers.

Trees have been cut down by people wanting to start campfires.

We've had three wildfires that I can think of in the last few months.

The list is endless. We want visitors, we really do. But we want visitors who are mindful that this is not Ibiza, it's a national park. We want you to come and enjoy this space responsibly, leaving absolutely no trace of your time here. I don't think that's too much to ask.

The news about people hacking bits off trees in the Lakes has really upset me today.

How dare these people come and destroy the countryside and ruin it for the people coming after them and commit criminal damage/theft on the property of the landowners/farmers.

Hilarious that London is considered to be friendly - it is the least friendly place I've ever visited.

Nah Londoners are really friendly.

@LaChatte

All the posters saying they'd rather wait and take a holiday abroad where they will be welcomed with open arms, are either missing the point of the thread or completely deluded. Brits sadly have a terrible reputation as tourists (in many Europe counteies anyway) due to the abysmal behaviour of a very small minority.

I was thinking the same. My DH has family from a popular European tourist hotspot. If visitors knew what a lot of the locals really think of them, or spoke the language and could understand what the smiling and welcoming staff in the bar were actually saying then they wouldn't be so convinced that it was different to a UK resort. And the behaviour that most people are complaining about on this thread is no more acceptable abroad than it is at home.

I live next door to a holiday let. It overlooks a beach. Every single occupant parks outside my house so that they can enjoy an uninterrupted view of the sea from their windows. WTF?

Surely everyone knows you park outside your own house first and only park outside someone else’s house if there’s no other alternative?

It does my nut in. I can’t bring myself to park outside their living room windows in retaliation, as it seems so petty.

@LaChatte

All the posters saying they'd rather wait and take a holiday abroad where they will be welcomed with open arms, are either missing the point of the thread or completely deluded. Brits sadly have a terrible reputation as tourists (in many Europe counteies anyway) due to the abysmal behaviour of a very small minority.

This.

@MiaowMix

I would happily avoid the places where these rude people live. Do please share. Unlikely I'd want to visit a muddy field or go hiking anyway so you're probs fine 👍🏼

Oh yes, I live in London where we are overrun with tourists year round, and yet we manage to be polite and welcoming to the people contributing to our economy,

Just as I find it easy to behave myself when I dare to leave London. I've found if you're charming and polite to people in general, you generally get it back in spades.

This thread is hilarious. So many bitter people hating the tourists. Honestly cannot wait to go abroad!

@MiaowMix do they shit in your garden?

I know people near here who have had tourists shitting in their garden because 'there aren't enough toilets here'

And not just once.

Do they shit in boxes and leave them in your local park? Or remove their used tampons and leave them lying about for your dogs or kids to find?

I know people near here who have had tourists shitting in their garden because 'there aren't enough toilets here'

I've seen shit in the floor of a toilet, never quite sure why you would find a toilet & then not use it, bad aim?

@awaketoosoon no idea.

But in your garden?

This is the vibe I'm getting.
"Beware the moon"
"Stick to the Moors"