The upsides of living at the coast are endless. You have sea air, bracing and unpredictable, whipping up everything in sight and making you feel alive. The smell of salt on the wind; the quiet community; the better air quality and the stunning views. It’s your little haven, the most beautiful place in the world.
Then the tourists come.
It’s an invasion every year. They come with brightly colored beach balls, loud noise, and they shatter your rural coastal idyll. It seems so unfair that you have to share your slice of paradise right at the same time that it’s at its most beautiful. The summer sunsets are made less spectacular by the noise, commotion and mess that the tourists bring. You find yourself praying for September, the end of the school holidays, and blissful relief.
Rather than hating the tourists and doing nothing about it, there are a few steps you can take to reclaim your area. Tourism, of course, has its benefits, providing a boost to the local economy like few other industries can. So it’s time to learn to live with them and find practical solutions. (Of course, you can still go all out with the celebrations when they finally leave. You’re only human.)
Privacy
Being on holiday makes people do things that they never normally would. They peer into houses, wander into gardens and generally treat the area as a giant play park.
Do whatever it takes to continue your sense of privacy. Hedges are a great deterrent from any passers-by, and can provide shade that you find welcoming year round. Custom made blinds are perfect for enhancing the feeling of closing in your own space. Anything that stops you feeling like your home is a tourist curiosity is worth looking into.
Learn Their Habits
Much like zoologists when trying to understand an animal, by understanding the tourist’s ways, you can outthink them. As a basic rule, a tourist day begins late. This gives you a few hours in the morning to do your errands without worrying about crowds.
If you have a beach nearby that you like to walk on, keep an eye on how busy it is for a few days. A pattern should develop. The closer you get to evening, the more space there will be, so arrange your day to take advantage.
If you like to eat out, then this can be more problematic. Stay away from weekends, when the traffic is doubled up from short and long stay visitors. Talk to the owners of local eateries; they will have some idea when they are most busy.
Report Them If There’s A Problem
It feels harsh, but it’s necessary. People are off their guard on holiday, and unfortunately, this brings about a tendency to drink too much alcohol. If you see people causing trouble or otherwise disturbing you, call the police. It can as often be for their safety as it is for your serenity, so don’t hesitate to act if needed.