TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, announced yesterday the results of its annual beach and pool etiquette survey of more than 1,100 US travellers, revealing that when many Americans lose their layers waterside, unfortunately their manners are also stripped bare. Seventy-four % of respondents think that people often violate some form of beach or pool etiquette, while one in four (26%) have asked a stranger to stop behaving rudely at the beach or pool. Silence is golden to travellers, as blasting loud music was noted as the most annoying violation of beach and pool etiquette.
Americans were called out as the world’s worst beach and pool etiquette offenders, with New Yorkers named the country’s most poorly behaved, followed by beachgoers from New Jersey and Florida. Miami Beach, Florida, was identified by respondents as the US beach with the worst behaved beachgoers.
Young adults are deemed the most egregious waterside etiquette offenders (39%), followed by teenagers (34%) – while middle-aged adults (12%) outweigh young children (10%).
85% consider it unacceptable to reserve chairs by getting up early and leaving one’s possessions on them – while 11% confess to doing so. While 34% deem it an etiquette breach for swimmers to skip the shower prior to taking a dip in the pool, 38% confess that they do so rarely, while 14% never do.
About a third of travellers think alcohol and the water don’t mix. Thirty-three % consider it inappropriate for travellers to enter the pool when under the influence of alcohol, 30% think the hot tub should be off limits, and 29% say the ocean should be out of bounds when drinking alcohol.
31% feel that their “personal space” on the sand is always or often invaded by fellow beach-goers. At a crowded beach, 28 % consider six feet to be the closest acceptable distance to sit next to another stranger, while a further 28% are comfortable with three feet, and 17% set a boundary of four feet.
At an un-crowded beach, 30% consider 20 feet to be the closest acceptable distance to sit next to another stranger, while 26% say seven to ten feet will suffice, and 17% say 11 to 14 feet.
Beach Fashion Faux-Pas: 34% consider it an etiquette violation for men to wear Speedos. 25% think that skimpy bikinis are a no-no for women. 78% think its okay for women to go topless at the beach or pool, in destinations where it’s culturally acceptable – while a further 6% think it’s acceptable, regardless of the destination.
“Regardless of how beautiful the sand and blue the skies, even the most jaw-dropping beach and pool settings can be ruined by inconsiderate behaviour,” said Karen Drake, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor. “With vacation time precious to us all, a little thoughtfulness can go a long way in maintaining waterside harmony.”
