How do you keep cool in 35 degrees on holiday?

[dameofdilemma]

Assuming you don’t want to stay indoors the whole time (which is what I’d probably do at home) - will swimming pools with no shade really keep the kids cool?

The sea might be cool but is it worth a walk in the sun to get to the beach and no shade when you get there (there re no loungers, it’s not that sort of beach).

Feeling a bit unsure as we’re going somewhere that isn’t usually this hot (we’ve been several times before in the Summer and it’s been max 25 degrees but is now forecast 35).
I’m not sure what to do if it’s that hot apart from cower in a shady corner…

If you're lucky, there will be a bit of a sea breeze. Otherwise, it will be meltingly hot. Buy a beach parasol, cower under it and occasionally make a mad dash into the sea for a cooling swim. Or just go to the beach in the evening.

If you're in an apartment, freeze water bottles and take them out in a cool bag. I couldn't cope in heat without them.

Talc is helpful. Medicated talc eg cuticura is even better. You won't keep cool but you'll chafe less.

I love those kind of temps, I swim, sit in the shade with a book, go to a bar and have a drink, I never think it feels as hot on holiday as it does here.

You need shade and water. Buy a sunshade for pool/beach. Get in water to cool down and get out and sit in shade
Wear a wet scarf when walking around.
Frozen drinks bottles is a great idea and I wish I'd thought of that.

Staying indoors is fine, especially during the main hear of the day. We would usually be indoors for lunch and then a couple of hours reading, playing games etc.

Walk on the shady sides of the street when possible.

I drink pina coladas to stay cool

Indoors between 12 and 4pm. If you are outside you need to be in full shade or you risk heat stroke.

The best way to deal with it is to get up early then have a long siesta and enjoy the cooler evenings.

34 here today expecting hotter tomorrow.

Treat yourself to a decent parasol and a Big Hat and take a baseball cap and rash vest to swim in - the pool and sea will cool you a lot, yes.

The heat is only a problem if you have aspirations of hiking to ruins or trekking through sun-weathered valleys in said heat and direct sunlight. That sort of activity would literally kill me. Today I walked ten minutes, mainly in the shade, to the hairdresser and I felt nauseous and had a banging headache by the time I arrived. It's been 35-36 here today with no breeze.

Early mornings, afternoons in the shade with book / iPad / siesta, and arise like a phoenix as the sun sets.

Yes to the frozen water bottles and I now subscribe to Caroline Hirons's theory that sticking a cooling water spray in the fridge and misting occasionally is very refreshing. You can also shove the cold can down the front of your vest for a rush of cool. Just keep drinking water, 3l min per day, and invest in some rehydration sachets. Take them, daily, and pay attention to the quantity of water you need to add, otherwise they're useless.

Can you tell I've made surviving in hot places that are trying to kill me into an art form?

Depends where you are going...where I live it's 35 to 40C right now and going in the sea is like getting in a warm bath. The pool is a better option.

If it were us, we'd be going out early in the morning, well before 9am so we could enjoy a potter, the beach or trip nearby. If we weren't eating lunch out, we'd plan to be back in accommodation for lunch and a combination of a swim, doze (we never sleep well in hot temperatures at night so a doze helps), shower time for everyone and perhaps one or two light hearted games/reading/internet time. Would also include having a nice cake inside or a glass of wine/lager around lunchtime before we ventured out again.

Get shade, a hand fan (not a battery one) and then don't move. It's always the moving that ends up making me hotter. Once I've acclimatised if I stay still and do something like read a book I could cope.

However I hate hot weather and would always choose a cold weather holiday.

When we were in Cyprus we sat in the shade at the pool. As the sun moved you could sit in the shallow end and read in the shade. Went in for lunch 12.30-2.30ish. DH hated it as he's not a pool person!!

We walked to breakfast then home then changed and went to the pool at which point I was always so sweaty I jumped straight in!

I was in Sicily in May and it we 39 for a few days. It was intense. We bought two parasols and did lots of beach. Sea breeze makes it feel loads cooler. Water sprays are great (shop bought like Evian or just a plant atomiser). Lots of frozen things to eat and cold drinks. Make sure you have lots of time in places that have air conditioning.

I live in these conditions and really you need to be inside during the middle of the day. Try a bar or cafe with air con , stay in the shade, swim and stay wet but be careful to drink lots and lots of water. I find even shopping exhausting.

In France at the moment, mid-30s. My DC have soent a lot of the time in the pool. It does cool them down but you have to be careful with sun protection and how long they spend in the sun. You could go to the beach early, or if you want to go later, get a parasol. Do have transport or are you reliant on walking? We have a car so drive to local bug towns etc with the air con on, then have a short walk and a drink somewhere shady.

Take a siesta in the hottest part of the day (although I would say it is actually hottest later than you think, eg 3-6/7pm). Then have dinner later, wander down to the beach/town in the evening when it's cooler

Make sure the children have rash vests and swim shirts to avoid sunburn. Have them regularly go for a dip in the sea so their clothes are wet.

Get up early, go out for a couple of hours. Go back to the room/villa for a lazy lunch, and either a siesta or a relaxing couple of hours. Go back out again around 4pm.

Wear loose clothing in natural fabrics. Strange as it seems, covering your shoulders, arms and legs will keep you cooler if you are wearing the right things.

Keep hydrated.

We’ve done it a few times and with young dc I’d avoid the beach around midday and sit young dc in shade around pool

I'm doing this now! Dd(17) sleeps in & only leaves the accommodation after 6pm for a swim then dinner out. I get up for an early swim/walk/errands then back indoors until late afternoon when I got to the beach. Nice & relaxing for us but it would be much harder work with a younger more active kid.

I went to Spain to a holiday village once a few years ago. I was shocked that only about half of the loungers around the pool had parasols.
we had to get up at 5am / 6am every morning to put towels down in order to secure a parasol as I just can’t sit outside even in the morning in the hot sun without one.
Absolutely bonkers that they wouldn’t have one for ever 2 sets of loungers.
some clearly didn’t mind as they were happily laying out for hours in 35 degrees sun.

I agree, I'd never go out again at 16:00, 18:00 or 19:00 are cooler, I go out then and stay up later because the temperature is so pleasant in the evening.

Go out early and late, have a long lunch/chill out in between.

Same as PP I have survived hotter temps when I lived overseas.

If you need to go out walk in rhe shade and seek out air conditioned shops etc.

Get up early and do things then eg sightseeing/supermarket etc.

2pm leisurely lunch in the shade then a glorious afternoon siesta either outside fully shaded or indoors.

shower circa 6pm then out and about from 7.30ish or head to the beach which will be lovely then.

Dinner and a stroll after will set you up nicely for bed later

Try to get into the Spanish way of mealtimes with early breakfast 2pm ish lunch merienda (snack) about 5/6 and later dinner followed by a walk