When you’re travelling alone, some things get more complicated. Going to the beach alone is one of those! Staying safe and keeping your belongings secure when you are on your own at the beach isn’t always easy. So, I’m sharing all of my knowledge and tips to help you to enjoy your solo beach trip safely so you can just concentrate on relaxing and enjoying the sunshine.
Top Tips for Staying Safe at the Beach Alone
Be Prepared
That is, do your research on the beach. Make sure it easy to get there – some of the beaches I wanted to visit in Cornwall had a very steep path down the cliff to get to the sand so I decided not to risk falling and chose a safer beach. Is there nearby parking or public transport? Will you have to walk far to get there, and will you need comfortable shoes or just sandals?
Check the tide times to make sure the beach won’t get cut off at high tide. Make sure the beach is safe for swimming if you are planning to go for a dip, and pay attention to any warning signs or flags.
Is there somewhere to buy food and drink or do you need to bring everything yourself? My first tip would be to bring food and especially drink anyway, so you’re not relying on having to buy it from somewhere that may not be open.
Stay Hydrated
This might be an obvious one, but it is easy to forget to keep drinking while you are enjoying yourself! Take plenty of water with you, I usually put ice cubes in my water bottle to keep the water cool a little longer. Snacks are also useful to keep you going until your meal.
Protect Yourself from the Sun
Do not underestimate the power of the sun’s rays. Even on cloudy days, you can burn easily, and without anyone to remind you to apply and reapply sunscreen you need to be extra careful. There are various ways to protect your skin though, and they don’t involve asking anyone to rub cream into your back!!
Wear Sunscreen
I might be showing my age here but as Baz Luhrmann said; “if I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it”. Even if you want to tan, sunscreen is still essential, so lather that stuff on. I’d also recommend setting an alarm at regular intervals so you remember to re-apply, and to wake you up in case you doze off in the sun!
How to Put Sunscreen on Your Own Back
Don’t worry, going to the beach alone doesn’t mean you have to ask a stranger to rub sun lotion on your back. While that could be an ice-breaker to get chatting to that cute guy or girl, I’m not a fan of being touched by people I don’t know!
The easiest option is to get an aerosol sunscreen spray which delivers an even coverage wherever you spray, so no awkward contortionism or creepy strangers required. Sun Bum’s sunscreen spray is vegan, reef-friendly and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.
Alternatively, you could get a lotion applicator that you fill with your sun cream and use to rub on your back. The Back Bliss Lotion and Cream Applicator was designed by a woman who got sunburnt at the beach because she couldn’t reach her back, so it could be just the thing to help you apply your sunscreen. Other similar products like this lotion applicator are also adjustable to make sure you can reach every spot!
Cover Up
If you’re not working on your tan, the easiest way to protect yourself from the sun is to cover up. Be wary of thin, floaty materials as they still allow UV light to pass through so you could still burn. A normal t-shirt will work well, or you can buy a UV filtering rash guard or long-sleeved swimming top to keep your skin safely covered up.
Take an Umbrella
The third option is to stay in the shade. Some beaches may have a few palm trees (watch out for coconuts!) but bringing or hiring a beach umbrella is the best way to guarantee shade that won’t disappear as the sun moves across the sky.
Keep Your Belongings Safe
Now we’ve got you covered, it’s time to figure out how to keep your belongings safe at the beach.
Don’t bring anything valuable with you to the beach in the first place. Leave expensive jewellery and electronics at home or back at your hotel. If you drive to the beach I wouldn’t recommend leaving them in your car either, as break-ins to cars at the beach aren’t uncommon.
While you are sunbathing, keep your bag in sight at all times. I’ve had someone try to creep up behind me to grab my bag, so don’t let it out of your sight! If you have an umbrella or sun lounger, clip the handle around the pole or leg so no one can grab it and run, or keep the strap on your wrist or around your ankle.
To keep your belongings safe while you are in the water there are several options to help prevent thieves from taking your stuff.
Anything that you leave on the beach could be put into a portable safe which you can attach to a parasol and bury in the sand. Alternatively, secret stash items like a fake water bottle or can of coke also foil thieves.
If you prefer to keep anything valuable with you, a waterproof dry bag that you can sling over your shoulder will keep electronics and car keys safe and dry, and with you at all times. I have a small waterproof pouch I take with me into the water, so I don’t have to worry about anything while I’m taking a swim.
If you want to take photos then a waterproof phone case to go around your neck is essential to protect your phone from sand and water as well as potential thieves!
Avoid Being on the Beach At Night Alone
After dark, even the safest of beaches can become a scary place at night. For me, unless I am with a group of people, I head home as soon as the sun sets. The exception to this is if your hotel is right on the beach, and you are somewhere with other people where you feel safe. However, still be on your guard wherever you are!
What to take to the Beach
Beach Essentials
Aside from the sunscreen I’ve already mentioned, these are the most important things to take to the beach. Get my printable beach packing list here.
Sunglasses
Not only do sunglasses look cool, but a good pair will also protect your eyes from UVA and UVB rays. If you’re going in the sea with them, a strap to keep them on your face can come in handy!
Sun Hat
A sunhat is important to protect your head and face, especially if you plan to be in the sun for any length of time. Peaked caps are useful, but a full brim will protect your neck as well.
Chapstick
Your lips will dry out quickly with the sun and salty water, so a chapstick with a built-in SPF protection will help keep your lips soft and safe from the sun.
Disinfectant Wipes
Wipes are handy for wiping your hands before you eat, and generally keeping things clean. It’s amazing how dirty things get at the beach!
Beach Clothing
Swimsuit
Of course, you don’t want to forget your swimsuit! Break out your cute bikini and sexy swimming shorts, you deserve it!
Swimming Clothes
If you are planning to spend a lot of time in the water, sunscreen will wash off so a rash guard t-shirt will protect your skin from burning. Even an old t-shirt will do the job if you don’t want to splash out on some new gear, but there are some super cute shirts you can get!
Towel
If space allows, I like to bring 2 towels to the beach – one to lie on and one to dry myself off with! Microfibre travel towels take up less space than normal bathroom towels and are easier to shake the sand off.
Sarong/Coverup
To give your skin a break from the heat of the sun, or to cover up to go into a shop, having a sarong or cover up is a must. For the gents, a t-shirt or funky colourful shirt is the perfect beach accessory. For ladies, I usually have a sarong and a tank top to put on, although there are some beautiful dresses around to choose from too.
Flip-Flops/Sandals
Beach shoes or sandals are very useful if you are visiting a stony beach, and they will also protect the soles of your feet from burning on the hot sand. I hadn’t realised that sand can burn your feet, but after experiencing a painful beach visit in Belize I learned the error of my ways!
Jelly shoes or water shoes can also be worn in the sea so you don’t have to worry about stepping on anything sharp under the water.
Dry Underwear
There is nothing worse than sitting around all day in a wet swimsuit, so some dry underwear is essential. I usually wear my bikini to the beach, then before heading home I change into some dry underwear which makes my journey back so much more pleasant! That does take some stealthy towel action to avoid flashing everyone, but it is definitely worth it!
Wrap your wet swimsuit in your towel or put it in waterproof bag to stop it from soaking everything else in your bag.
Things to do at the Beach Alone
Don’t be worried about feeling lonely or awkward at the beach on your own. There are plenty of things to do at the beach to keep you busy!
Read
Chilling out at the beach with a good book sounds like the perfect solo beach vacation to me! A good old paperback is easy to carry and it won’t matter too much if it gets damp. If you prefer to read on your Kindle or iPad, remember to keep it safely hidden when you’re not using it.
Listen to Music, a Podcast or Audiobook
I love disappearing into my own world at the beach, especially if there are noisy families around. I just pop in my earphones and listen while I’m gazing out to sea. If you’re somewhere peaceful though, there is no better sound than waves lapping on the shore.
People-Watch
People watching is addictive, and easy to do when you’re wearing sunglasses! I don’t mean to stare incessantly at anyone in a creepy way, but I do like to have a nosey at what other people are up to.
Explore Rock Pools
Depending on the type of beach you are on, there may be rock pools to explore when the tide is out. Another favourite of mine from my childhood, having a nose about in rock pools to find anemones, starfish and crabs is still great fun – although I leave them where they are.
Go Snorkelling
I’m not a fan of just swimming around without things to look at, so snorkelling is the best way to keep me entertained in the sea. If you’re nervous about swimming in the sea, I find it’s also nice to know what is under the water so I can make sure there are no sharks or anything scary down there!
Go Beachcombing
I have recently discovered a love for searching for sea glass when I’m at the beach. Unless it’s the height of summer, the beaches in England aren’t usually warm enough for a swim, so I’ve taken to just walking along the shore and keeping my eyes open for anything interesting. You never know what you may find!
Get Active
There are plenty of water sports you could try your hand at, depending on where you are. Surf lessons, scuba diving, windsurfing or paddleboarding are just some of the activities you could do alone at the beach. Even going for a walk or a run on the beach can pass the time quite nicely.
Enjoy!
The whole point of being at the beach alone or with people is to enjoy it. Whatever you like to do at the beach, you can do it, and enjoy your time there. If I’ve missed any top tips then do let me know in the comments anything else that you do to stay safe and enjoy a solo trip to the beach.
