First-ever abroad/beachy holiday - tips?

[Ralphiesaurus]

For lots of reasons (mainly to do with other people’s needs and preferences) I’ve never been on an abroad, hot weather, beachy holiday before. Decided at the advanced age of 54 to suit myself finally and just book it.

Am soooo excited! Will be going with my two older teenage (15 and 19) daughters. But suddenly realised I’ve got no idea how to deal with some of the practicalities… I have taken them camping in the UK loads, and have travelled far and wide myself with work, so it’s not the travelling per se that bothers me. It’s really silly stuff that you probably know if you’ve been doing this all your life!

Some things stressing me out at the moment are - what to do with valuables at the beach or pool? Is it ok to lie in the hotel during the hottest part of the day? How to be a less obvious pickpocket target in the town. How long is normal to spend on a lounger by the hotel pool? Or on a hired beach one?

Advice please! I am so excited but the worry about all these seemingly inconsequential things is ruining the anticipation a bit…

Valuables - generally a book, phone, towel (obvs), sun cream and snacks. We keep in a beach bag. Generally one of us stays with our stuff, pool or beach.

spend as long as you want at beach or pool.

re hottest part of the day, up to you guys! You can sit under an umbrella and dip in the pool/sea occasionally. Go for lunch/go to your room. It’s your holiday you do what you want!

How exciting!

You don’t need to take much stuff to the pool - you can leave your purse in your hotel room and go back for it if needed. Have a small bag for phone/hesdphones/kindle and just tuck it under the towel when you go in the pool. Same on the beach (though you might have cash/card too). When you are in the water you just keep an eye on your sunbed.

if you do something like hire a pedalo you usually get a waterproof container for your valuables.

You can stay at the pool all day or not / it’s up to you. You’ll probably pay for beach beds and umbrella (you will always want shade!) so you might want to make the most of that cost by spending a whole day at the beach.

You might find the hottest part of the day is a time you want to retreat to you room or find somewhere lovely for a long lunch. But you don’t have to - just do what feels comfortable for you.

FWIW when we have a sun/beach holiday our average day is breakfast - beach early, by 10, (especially if we need to park a hire car), lunch about 2, another couple of beach hours, back to pool for an hour or so then usually in our accommodation resting/napping before going out again the the evening about 8pm for dinner

You’ll have a great time. Don’t overthink it ❤️

Edited to add: it’s never occurred to me to try to avoid being a pick pocket target! But I guess it’s same rules as home. Keep your bag fastened and in front of you, don’t keep your money, cards and phones in your back pockets !

Make sure you have good insurance

Where are you going, and what type of hotel. It makes a difference to some extent to how blade you can be.

For us on our numerous hotel/beach holidays, down to pool/beach early morning, lie in sun, listen tousic, read, walk, swim. Back to hotel for lunch and short nap in room. Back to pool,/beach about 3pm, repeat morning routine.

Valuables left with family member. Or just under towels, very safe area.

Never worried about being robbed/pick pocketed as very safe ares.

Don't take valuables to the pool / beach. I stick my phone in waterproof pouch and take it in the pool / sea with me if we are going in.

Of course it's ok to lie in the hotel during the day if you want to!

There should be safe in your hotel room. Use it.

Take an extension cable and an adapter so you're not all fighting over chargers.

Have fun!

Brilliant tips - thank you so much. Exactly what I'm looking for.

Sicily, with a nice mid-range hotel with aircon and pool.

May I just jump about a bit with excitement?!
(Here, I mean. Not at the hotel. That would be weird 😁.)

Some hotels have a small safe in each room, so that you can leave valuables.

Leave everything in the room that you don't need for now. Go out with €50 in cash and one debit card. If you want to carry a spare card, get DD19 to carry it. Leave your passport, driving licence, NHS card, and all that other stuff in the room. (Theft from rooms is not impossible, but they will only take cash. If someone grabs your bag they will take the cash from it and then toss everything else over a wall.)

Regarding pickpocketing, remember that they can't steal stuff from a metre away. So keep clear of people. Watch out for people with clipboards, old ladies trying to press a piece of rosemary into your palm, people pretending to be deaf, and people who need change for parking meters. You're on holiday, it's not your job to be helpful. See if you can get a little rucksack with a zip-up pocket on the same side as the straps, so it's up against your back.

Get a GHIC so you are covered for medical emergencies. Obviously get travel insurance as well for stuff like repatriation, but the GHIC will do the heavy lifting if you need hospital treatment. Find out in advance if your insurance covers private ambulances, because if you need one and the hotel calls it, it may be private, which is not covered by the GHIC. Remember the universal emergency number in the EU is 112. If you call it, say "English / In-glay-zay" until they put an English-speaking operator on.

The sun is hotter than what you might be used to, through at least the middle of September. Consider not going to sunbathe after 10:30 or before 15:30, at least for the first couple of days.

I would suggest you bring a waterproof bag or pouch that you can use to secure your essentials, like your phone. Avoid leaving valuables unattended, or better yet, leave them in the hotel room's vault. You can carry a small amount of cash with you because you never know when you will need it.

Taking a break in your hotel room during the hottest hours is perfectly fine. I would personally have a bottle or two of beer during that time.

As it's your first time going on holiday abroad, let me tell you the basic mistakes we generally make: feeling like wasting time and money, missing out on some must-see places even after spending a lot, and feeling insecure. Don't be stressed over these things, just plan an itinerary that suits you.

Before anything else, I would suggest you compare the flight prices here https://www.skyscanner.com I always use this one to get the best deals. Also, I found this guide that really helps with planning out your trip easily. https://gowithguide.com/blog/how-to-plan-a-trip-5-essential-steps-5730 You can check it out.

The most important thing is to relax, soak up the sun and sand, and spend quality time with your daughters. The little details will work themselves out.

We leave all valuables in the safe in the hotel room. At the pool/beach we do have our phones and kindle but they are buried deep underneath towels and cover ups when we are in the water or one of us often stays on dry land (mainly me, I am not a big water person).

We always stay in the room after lunch and go back out after 3pm. I personally don't drink alcohol during the day in the heat, even with lunch.
Ensure you drink plenty of water, take a metal one with you from home and fill it up regularly.

I wear always a cross body bag when we go out, zip/flap to the inside. We have photos from our passports and leave the originals in the hotel. Have at least two cards (debit and credit) and only take one card with you so you don't loose all your abilities to pay in case it does get stolen.
Try to keep a distance but that's often easier said then done.

Oh have a fab time!
When you check into your hotel ask for the room safe. Some charge and some don't, some have a key and some are combination. Put all passports and cards in there and only take out what you need.
Most hotels will let you charge drinks and snacks to the room, if not then just take a few euros out with you to the pool or beach. I don't know the beaches in Sicily but in some places they have lockers on the umbrella. If not then a little waterproof bag is useful if you all want a paddle, otherwise one person stays with the stuff.
We leave the bag with stuff in at the pool when we go for lunch, just take phones/ valuables with us.

When you go down to the pool find sunbeds with parasols. No matter how much you want some sun you will want shade. When DH and I go on holiday we usually have a leasurely breakfast then an hour by the pool. Then maybe a long walk stopping off for coffee and back to the pool. Repeat throughout the day. This is only because I can't sit still, many people will stay all day. If that suits you then don't feel guilty! I take a book and some crochet to do round the pool. I only go to the beach to swim but you can spend the day there. Most beaches have sun beds to hire and showers.

Don't feel obliged to spend every day sightseeing when you need to unwind. A holiday is still valid if you spend it laid on a sunbed with a cocktail!

I have only ever worried about pickpockets in places like Barcelona. I guess Palermo might be in that category? Get a small zip up bag that goes across your shoulder and don't put it on the floor unless it's wrapped around your leg.

A few additional tips from me, take Chilly's water bottles or similar. Check with your airport but you can usually take one each empty through security, or pack them in a suitcase. They are fabulous for keeping water cold in the heat.
Don't forget lots of mosquito repellent as well as antihistamines and something for the itching in case you are bitten. Staying later around the pool without repellent on is prime biting time. You can have repellent on over suncream.
We found it helpful to speak some Italian. If you will be going out and about it's handy to learn some key things, if only to be polite.
Definitely dip out of the sun at peak time, or at least stay in the shade. It's fierce.
Have a fabulous time, we loved Sicily and plan to return next year.

I never take really valuable jewellery on holiday. I don't trust the hotel safes. I take a few bright bangles, a necklace and one pair of earrings I wear everyday. You can get waterproof pouches for phones. I go to the beach really early at 9am. I leave the beach at 12-1pm to go for lunch somewhere in the shade or go back to the hotel and have a shower then a late lunch at about 2pm. I often go back down to the beach again at 4pm once the hottest part of the day has passed. Remember if in Europe there is an hour time difference so it's still nice on the beach up to 8pm at night. Other days I laze around the pool from 10am after a late breakfast then go for lunch at 1-1.30pm. Take a shower and a nap then go down to the beach at 3.30pm until 8pm. Make sure you put on strong sun cream and slavery on the Aloe Vera after sun. Don't forget sun cream on your feet, top of ears and back of your neck as these are often overlooked. Snacks are often expensive on holiday so if you spot a supermarket you could pop in and get snacks for the whole week eg nuts and fruit. Leave your passport in the hotel safe.