What makes a happy holiday by the sea? In celebration of the UN World Happiness Day on 20th March, we’ve compiled our top tips to ensure you’re all geared up for a happy holiday at the beach.
Choose a destination that makes you happy
Planning a holiday to the seaside this year? Before you decide where to go and when, think about what you want to get out of your coastal break.
The first thing to consider when planning a seaside holiday in the UK, is the destination.
Do you want a pebble shoreline with fairground rides and seafront attractions? Sugar-white coves and chic coastal cafés? Rugged beaches with wild waves? Or a bijou fishing harbour with a huddle of galleries and boutiques? Are you and your travelling companions active types seeking an array of watersports, culture vultures looking for art and history, or foodies in search of a smorgasbord of coastal flavours?
The UK coastline is vast and diverse, with destinations to suit all types of beachgoers and coastal connoisseurs. For inspiration, use the filters on our accommodation search page to pick the perfect seaside location for you – be that an active retreat, a woodland hideaway close to the ocean, or a buzzing coastal town for a spot of shopping beside the sea.
Plan your holiday at the right time of year
Does it suit you to take your coastal break in the school holidays or off-peak? If you want to avoid the crowds and packs of families – and have the freedom to choose when you travel – plan your trip outside peak holiday periods. You’ll not only be rewarded with less-crowded beaches and attractions, and find more availability for holiday cottages at lower prices, you’ll also find it much easier to book last-minute seats in the best restaurants and on boat trips, making your holiday plans much more flexible.
If, like many of us, you’re tied to school holidays, you can still tailor your trip to suit your needs and ensure everyone is happy. Get organised and book ahead for the best deals, choose less obvious destinations off the beaten track, or opt for accommodation a little out of the main holiday hubs.
Plan your holiday at the right time of year by checking our School Holiday Dates 2024.
Make getting there a breeze
Family road trips are all too often punctuated by bickering kids, car sickness, and a relentless chorus of, “Can we stop for a wee?” Even a blissful couple’s car journey can turn into a row over a wrong turn or rising fury at a malfunctioning GPS. No one wants to start a holiday feeling stressed, so plan your journey and destination carefully to make travel easy.
Firstly, if you’re heading to a town destination where you won’t need wheels, can you swap car travel for train travel? Head to the likes of Newquay, Margate or Inverness by train, and you can simply watch the world pass by all the way to your destination.
Or, if you need a car to reach your holiday cottage, why not choose a location closer to home? Living on an island, there’s no need to hit the road for hours to reach the coast. Check out our top destinations within two hours driving time of some of the UK’s main cities, or use the Max Driving Time filter on our search page, and you might just come up trumps with somewhere you’ve never even thought of for your next holiday.
If you do decide to embark on a long car journey across the UK, make getting there fun. Take lots of snacks, and plan pitstops in scenic spots and places of interest en route, to stretch your legs and explore. After all, as T.S. Eliot once said: “The journey, not the arrival, matters.”
Pre-plan holiday outings that make you happy
Exploring new places, making memories and enjoying activities and adventures together is what happy holidays are all about. So, before you go on your seaside sojourn, do some research on days out and attractions in the area that you and your travel companions will enjoy.
If you’re intent on joining in the surfing craze get a lesson booked in. If there’s a must-see show while you’re in town, make sure you’ve got tickets, and if you’ve heard there’s a celeb chef with a restaurant-on-sea, reserve a table.
Whether you’re planning a trip to coastal garden, historical site or theme park, do some research to see if you need to book ahead – you’ll not only guarantee entry, you’ll often find better online deals and have lots to look forward to, so when you arrive on holiday you can just kick back and enjoy the beach between outings.
Make time for Blue Health activities on holiday
Did you know that simply being beside the sea can make you happy? It’s all well and good to pre-plan for key attractions, but while you’re away, make time to enjoy waterside activities that naturally boost your happiness and wellbeing.
Scientific research has proved time and time again that the ocean does wonders for your health – whether you’re lapping up the views or plunging into the sea for head-to-toe immersion. So, while you’re at the seaside, make time for sea dips, coastal walks, watching the waves and other blue mind activities.
Pack the right gear for your beach holiday
If you head to the coast with the right equipment for UK beach life, you’ll be much happier on your coastal holiday – whatever the British weather throws your way. While a bikini and board shorts might be the usual beach holiday essentials, in the UK you’ll want to pack waterproofs, walking boots and a wetsuit – whatever time of year you’re planning your trip.
“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing,” so said Alfred Wainwright. The right clothing matters if you’re up early for a sea dip, stomping along the coast path in sideways rain, or sipping a sundowner in a beach bar as day turns to night. In the right gear, you’ll no doubt be happy in your coastal environment, instead of running for shelter from the elements.
Choose the right type of property for you
Everyone has different tastes and desires – and at Simply Sea Views we offer a huge range of seaside holiday cottages to suit your holiday needs. If you’ve got a penchant for plush seaside living, use our Luxury on the Coast filter, if you want to wake up and clap your eyes on the sea, choose a property with Clear Sea Views, and use filters to select the likes of a hot tub, sauna or swimming pool.
From beachfront family piles to rural hideaways and chic apartments, tweak your search terms to find the holiday home of your dreams.
Ready to book your holiday by the sea?
Just booking a coastal break and having something to look forward to is the first step to happiness, so why not check out our collection of sea view cottages and book your seaside sojourn today?
