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Original poster

Beach - your top tips

68 replies

Jemgem · 25/07/2021 11:44

First time going on a beach holiday (that isn’t resort based!) to Cornwall next week and staying in a budget hotel. What are your top tips? Are there places to get dressed or clean toilets? What essentials would you recommend we take with us?

OP posts:

Howshouldibehave · 25/07/2021 11:48

Big waterproof beach bag.
One more towel than you think you need (we use those thin hammam ones so they don’t take up much room).
More water than you think you’ll drink-chillys bottles are good for keeping it cold.
Suncream
Huge towel to sit on/chairs.
Plastic bags to put wet stuff in.
Waterproof case thing for phone.
Beach shoes-the neoprene ones.
Sun hat/sunglasses if hot.
Book
Snacks
Some people use talc to get sand off-I’ve never bothered.
Rash vest/t-shirt if it’s going to be really hot.
Bucket and spade
Pot to keep valuables in if going in the water.

Hellocatshome · 25/07/2021 11:50

What are your top tips? Are there places to get dressed or clean toilets? What essentials would you recommend we take with us?

Depends which beach you go tonas the facilities, depends who "we" are as to what you take. Teenagers unlikely to require a bucket and spade for example.

PamTheSpam · 25/07/2021 11:50

An umbrella to use as a sun shade

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SmileyClare · 25/07/2021 11:54

Brace yourself for lots of traffic, very busy beaches and not being able to park when you get to the beach. If you can walk there, do that.

That said, the beaches are beautiful in Cornwall. I hope you get some decent weather and enjoy yourself

tealappeal · 25/07/2021 11:56

We always take a very large container of water so we can rinse our feet when we get back to the car.

SmileyClare · 25/07/2021 11:56

Most people wee in the sea and just get dried and dressed on the beach don't they? Doing that thing of trying to pull up sandy knickers under a towel wrapped around your waist. I don't think there'll be any luxury dressing areas!

Pieceofpurplesky · 25/07/2021 11:57

If you have little ones take a baby paddling pool to fill with sea water. Used to keep mine happy for hours

Faranth · 25/07/2021 12:00

Depends which beaches you're going to for facilities / toilets etc.

Take talcum powder to get sand off hands and feet.

namesnamesnamesnames · 25/07/2021 12:02

I'm a bit confused here. It sounds like you've had beach days before, only resort based, but you'd still have taken all of your stuff to the beach for that.

So it's the same? You'll use towels to change behind or the toilets, unless you have a beach tent with a closing front?

ShadowInVain · 25/07/2021 12:03

Toilets etc. really depends where you are going. If there are toilets they're sometimes quite a walk from the beach.

For changing - personally I just wear a tankini under my normal clothes (just with a skirt/shorts over it) and keep it on all day. If it's hot enough to swim, it will dry off. If you wear a skirt you can easily change the bottoms for pants under cover of the skirt if you're uncomfortable.

SmileyClare · 25/07/2021 12:13

@namesnamesnamesnames

I'm a bit confused here. It sounds like you've had beach days before, only resort based, but you'd still have taken all of your stuff to the beach for that.

So it's the same? You'll use towels to change behind or the toilets, unless you have a beach tent with a closing front?

I'm wondering if Op has only been to hotels abroad with a private beach? In which case, a British seaside experience will be a bit of a shock! There won't be sunloungers provided and toilets are very basic, not particularly clean and usually a long walk away. Dressing areas? Not a chance. Think more "roughing it".

I would advise having a plan b for days it might rain as well.

ShadowInVain · 25/07/2021 12:18

Do make sure you have fish and chips on the beach at least once! It never tastes better than with the smell of the sea in the air.

If you're going to Cornwall, have Cornish crab if you get the chance. The seafood in Cornwall is wonderful.

namesnamesnamesnames · 25/07/2021 12:22

Maybe. I was thinking that the UK also have beach resorts!

In that case, look to hire a beach hut maybe? Gives you space and privacy when you need it. Many also come equipped with beach toys, a kettle etc.

Katinkak8 · 25/07/2021 12:22

We bought a pop-up tent this year to protect us from UV rays/to have a bit of shelter. It was brilliant. My DD2 even had naps in there. We also bought a mat from Aldi that allowed the sand through but not back up again, which was great when trying to eat a picnic without getting all sandy.
I'd also second the Chilly/Sho style bottles to keep your water cold.

fruitpastille · 25/07/2021 12:26

We go with swimming things under clothes and get changed into dry things holding a towel wrapped round. Picnic, drinks, sun cream. Maybe a ball/frisbee or bucket and spade (even the older kids like a bucket to collect things in). Shoes that you don't mind getting wet or sandy e.g. crocs or flip flops. If you're staying all day a sun tent/shade but make sure you can carry everything as it can be a bit of a walk from wherever you park.

Karaokehell2021 · 25/07/2021 12:26

Take a picture of your kids in what they are wearing. Beaches are a magnet for losing kids and its impossible to remember what they are wearing on the spot

ShadowInVain · 25/07/2021 12:30

@Karaokehell2021

Take a picture of your kids in what they are wearing. Beaches are a magnet for losing kids and its impossible to remember what they are wearing on the spot

Noting a shoreline landmark that's parallel with your encampment is a good tactic on a crowded beach.

Familiarise yourself with the lifeguards' flags for safe swimming/surfing areas and make sure you stay within them, as the currents in Cornwall can be dangerous even in shallow water.

icedcoffees · 25/07/2021 12:33

Whereabouts are you going?

There's a big difference between a resort-type beach and an isolated beach. Many of our local beaches have no toilets or facilities to speak of, whereas others I've been to have toilets, cafés, shops, ice-cream parlours etc.

actiongirl1978 · 25/07/2021 12:39

We travel to the beach in swim clothes. And more often than not stay in them all day and travel home in them too, wetsuit for my DS, swimming costume for me under my shorts and vest. We only stay 5 mins from beach though.

We have a big quad bodyboard bag. It holds 3 bodyboards, all the wetsuits, all the towels and googled plus light weight chairs. You wear it as a rucksack (we'll DH does)

Then two chairs, a 'sport-brella' and a picnic insulated rucksack.

We take pringles, drinks and cookies and then generally buy lunch from the cafe at the beach.

Sand gets everywhere - just cope with it.

broodyas · 25/07/2021 12:40

Bring a picnic blanket
Quick-dry towels - we have ones from decathlon - so much better than beach towels
You can get hooded cape things to get changed under if you want

Pumpkintopf · 25/07/2021 12:41

How old are the kids?

actiongirl1978 · 25/07/2021 12:42

The beach we go to is 50p per toilet trip, or people go in the dunes or the sea

ShadowInVain · 25/07/2021 12:46

I have seen people set up a camping portaloo in a beach tent but personally I CBA with the faff.

veeeeh · 25/07/2021 12:46

Sounds like a lot of hard work to me. Give me grass and a lake/river anytime.
The crowds and the sand really put me off. Sorry to be the party pooper, but each to their own, and hope you have a wonderful time.

MatildaTheCat · 25/07/2021 12:48

@Katinkak8

We bought a pop-up tent this year to protect us from UV rays/to have a bit of shelter. It was brilliant. My DD2 even had naps in there. We also bought a mat from Aldi that allowed the sand through but not back up again, which was great when trying to eat a picnic without getting all sandy. I'd also second the Chilly/Sho style bottles to keep your water cold.

If you do buy a pop up tent do not be the people next to us on the beach recently. The sight of two grown men trying, for over half an hour, to fold said tent up was quite possibly the funniest thing I’ve seen all year.

Eventually they staggered off the beach with their long suffering wives clutching this tent which was still not folded properly and would clearly spring instantly back open in the car.

Practice at home. Top tip.

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