3 beach line how many meters. Hotels – counting stars and coastlines

Once upon a time, our distant ancestors used the stars to navigate their travels. The stars helped them chart a route and not get lost in the vast expanses of the earth.

For today's travelers, the stars continue to serve as guides. Only not in search of the road, but in choosing its end point - a hotel or inn, taking into account, first of all, their “star rating”. For both experienced and novice travelers, there is only one criterion: “the more, the better.”

Unfortunately, there is still no general classification system that would be accepted throughout the world. Different countries, and often within the same country in its different regions, have their own criteria for assessing the level of hotels. The WTO (World Tourism Organization) has been fighting for many years to bring the system for assessing the level of service to some common standards, but so far without success. The requirements it sets today are no more than advisory in nature.

But, nevertheless, they still try to adhere to certain general requirements for comfort and quality of service everywhere.

In hotels of the same category in different places The range of services provided and the quality of service may vary significantly. But there is a certain minimum that allows a tourist to at least roughly get an idea of ​​what he can expect from a hotel of one level or another. So…

Hotels without category

A huge number of hotels around the world do not have any category. This is the largest group. There can be very modest hotels that cannot reach at least one star, and luxurious suites for which the category is below their level of dignity.

So the absence of stars does not mean at all that the concepts of service and comfort do not exist here. Most often, in tourist catalogs, hotels and out-of-category hotels are still assigned some level of “stardom” - so that tourists can get some idea of ​​the level of service.

1 and 2 star hotels

1 star hotels are designed for those who just need somewhere to spend the night and get cleaned up. This doesn't mean that everything is bad here. Most often, these are small hotels whose small area does not allow them to equip their rooms with a bath or shower.

  • Such hotels must have at least one toilet per 5 rooms, and at least two bathrooms per floor.
  • There will also be a refrigerator with a TV on the floor; room service is not provided. However, the room must have a mirror, sink, and towel.
  • Cleaning must be done every day, and linen must be changed at least once every five days.
  • As for food, the presence of at least a dining room is not mandatory.
  • There is still a TV, a refrigerator and bathrooms on the floor, also at least two.
  • There is also one toilet for five rooms, but it can be in the room.
  • Linen and towels should be changed more often - once every 3-4 days.
  • In hotels of this category, there should be dry cleaning and laundry services - not necessarily in the hotel itself, but they must accept things from the guest.
  • The most important difference is that some kind of canteen, cafe or restaurant must be open. True, if the numbers are less than 50, this may not happen. Meals can only be provided in the form of breakfast. During breakfast there may be room service, but this is not required.

The most popular - 3 star hotels

3 star hotels already represent something. This is the most popular group, and the most diverse. It happens that three star hotel in Europe it is better than five-star, for example, in Egypt.

In terms of price-quality ratio, this is, in general, the optimal option.

  • Toilet, bath (or shower), refrigerator, TV - everything should be present in the room.
  • If required climatic conditions, there must be air conditioning.
  • IN 3 star hotel there may not be a bar or restaurant, but access to them may be organized (for example, in nearby hotel) are obliged to you.
  • There should be a swimming pool, a parking lot on site, or at least a parking space near the hotel.
  • There must be either a business center or access to minimal office equipment - a computer, fax, telephone.
  • Telephones, as well as safes, may be in the rooms, but this is not mandatory.
  • Room service in such hotels should be available throughout the day, towels should be changed every day, and linen should be changed every 3 days.

4 and 5 star hotels

  • The rooms must have a toilet, shower, TV, refrigerator, air conditioning, telephone, safe, minibar; In the bathroom there are hygiene products and a hairdryer.
  • Towels and linen must be changed every day and cleaned too.
  • Main differences 5 star hotels- this is the area of ​​​​the rooms and the restaurant menu. Five-star hotels have more rooms good view out the window, they can provide a wider range of different services.
  • On the territory of both categories of hotels there should be restaurants, 24-hour bars, swimming pools, parking lots, business centers, conference rooms, and currency exchange offices.
  • Room service is usually available 24 hours a day. But for 4 star hotels it can only be during the day.

Hotels and coastline

In addition to stars, there is also a gradation of hotels based on their location relative to the beach, the so-called. coastlines.

The hotel's location on the first coastline means that it is in close proximity from the beach, at most across the road from it.

The second line involves a 5-10 minute walk to the beach; hotels on this line are separated from the shore by some buildings, for example, other hotels or parks.

The higher the standard coastline number, the farther the hotel is from the beach. Usually, first coastline- these are 4-star and 5-star hotels, but 3-star hotels can also be located on the first coastline.

Advice! When choosing a hotel, it is best to focus not on the number of stars, but based on what exactly you came for and what you want to get from your vacation.
  • If you only plan to be in your room to spend the night, it may not make sense to pay extra for services you won't use.
  • If you travel a lot yourself, then you should pay attention to the availability of transport.
  • If you want the sea, choose a hotel located next to the beach or have well-functioning transportation.

Everyone has their own ideas about have a good rest, and you can always find a hotel that meets your requirements.

Reading sentences travel companies, we often come across terminology whose meaning we do not fully understand.

A first line hotel is always more expensive than a second or third line hotel. What is the additional fee for and is it always justified? We'll figure out...

Shoreline Rules

If you follow the letter of the rules of hotel associations in most countries of the world, then classification by lines provides for the following rules:

  • 1st line – hotels are located directly on the seashore, the distance from the hotel doors to the nearest beach is no more than 100 meters. Between the hotel and the beach there can be no promenade, no road, no barriers, much less other hotels. The distance is taken geometrically - between the hotel and the sea in a straight line. Considering that a first-line hotel may be located in the mountains, and a winding path leads to the beach, the actual distance may be a little greater, but certainly not more than 150 meters. Most often, first-line hotels have their own beaches, access to which is free for guests of these hotels. Usually these are 4* and 5* hotels, although there are also “three rubles”;
  • 2nd line – between the beach and the hotel there is a promenade (a walking alley along the coast) or a regular road. The distance to the nearest beach is no more than 200 meters (directly). There should still be no other hotels between the sea and the beach. Most second-line hotels have their own beaches, some invite their guests to the nearest public beach (3* hotels). Most often, hotel transport does not go from the second line to the beach; you will have to get there on your own;
  • 3rd, 4th and 5th lines - city hotels, the distance to the beaches is more than 300 meters. Among this type of hotels there are high-level establishments - 4* and 5*. In this case, special transport to the beaches is provided for guests. Depending on the level of your tour, it can be used without restrictions or for a nominal fee. Private beaches are rare for 3rd line hotels. Most often, clients are offered to relax next to an excellent swimming pool, both sea and fresh water. The cost of a holiday in urban hotels, far from the beaches, is significantly lower than in hotels on the seashore, but the level of comfort is no less, even vice versa.

What about life?

All listed rules apply to Europe. Here, numerous associations, corporations, tourism ministries and similar bureaucrats monitor the observance of order. But the East is a delicate matter, therefore, in Egypt everything may be somewhat different:

  • The first line in Egypt will be considered a hotel located close to the sea (up to 100 meters), but the presence of a promenade or a busy highway in front of the hotel is not considered an obstacle. The main thing is that there are no other hotels in front of the first line hotel. This rule is not mandatory. Old hotels that were built 20-30 years ago are most likely actually located on the shore and have their own beach. But new hotels often “sin” with not very reliable information in their advertising brochures. Exit? Before booking a tour, carefully study the hotel’s photos online, read the reviews (the main thing is that they are specific and not general and enthusiastic; many people like to write reviews for little money);
  • It is rare to find a third or fourth line hotel in Egypt. Most likely, in the booklet the question of coastlines will be cleverly glossed over with phrases like: “there is an excellent beach nearby”, “the sea can be seen from the window of every second room”, “a luxurious swimming pool for the discerning public”. If the coastline is not specified, be prepared for your hotel to be located in a city block. Holidays in such hotels are rarely expensive, but if you come to the seaside, then get ready for the cute young Aladdin at the reception desk to answer your legitimate question about the beach with an indication of where you can find a stop regular bus, “which in 30 minutes will take you to a chic public beach, where everything is free." How to deal with this? Inquire about the availability of a beach near the hotel, the cost of entry to the nearest private “shores,” and the availability of the hotel’s own transport.

When choosing a tour, remember: only you decide where you will relax. Demand full information about hotels, beaches, living conditions, transport. Check everything yourself on travel forums, review sites, and look at photographs. Ask questions, get answers. Understanding all the “Egyptian” tricks is quite simple. But this must be done before you board the plane. If the main thing for you on your trip is the sights of an ancient and exotic country, you will only need to stay in a hotel with a good swimming pool. You can sunbathe here too. If you just need sea, sand, a beach umbrella and a comfortable sun lounger, then choose a first-line hotel - this is for you!

There are different classifications of hotels - by letters, “keys”, “crowns”, “points” and finally by stars. Most often the European consumer hotel services uses the “star” classification.

1* — hotels of this class are located in quiet, unremarkable places. They are small, with up to 10 rooms. Meals are not provided, but sometimes you can get a modest breakfast for a fee. Amenities in the room include a wardrobe or hanger, chairs, washbasin, mirror, towels. Cleaning is daily. Linen change - every 7-8 days, towels - every 3-4 days. At least two bathrooms per floor and one toilet per no more than five rooms.

2* - everything is the same as in 1* hotels, only linen is changed every 6 days. The toilet and bathroom are usually located in the room. The hotel must also have a restaurant or cafe and offer food options.

3* — in hotels of this category, each room must have a toilet, bathroom, dressing table, luggage stand, and radio. The rooms have TV and air conditioning. Bed linen change - 2 times a week. Towels are changed daily. The hotel territory may include a guarded parking lot, a swimming pool, a restaurant, a hairdresser, a business center, and a currency exchange. The hotel staff wears uniforms, separated by service.

4* — everything is the same as in 3* hotels with additions: in the rooms there is a minibar, individual air conditioning, telephone, safe, hairdryer, shampoo, shower gel. Daily change of bed linen and towels, laundry, ironing and clothes cleaning services. A breakfast menu is served in your room. On the territory of the hotel there is a beauty salon, a sports and fitness center, car rental, a TV salon, a music salon, games and conference rooms, a restaurant, a sauna, and a swimming pool.

5* - everything is the same as in 4* hotels, but at a higher quality level. In some cases, hotels of this category have the following additions - a second bathroom in the room and a telephone in the bathroom.

In a number of countries there is an alternative classification of hotels. For example, in Turkey, you can relax in club hotels, which are divided into:

HV1- a first category club system hotel with accommodation in cottages. Roughly equivalent to three or four stars. They have good animation and a large green area, but the rooms are small.

HV2- a club hotel of a lower second category.

Hotels also differ according to the following criteria:

First coastline- these are hotels located directly on the seashore.

Second coastline- these are hotels with a road or promenade between the territory and the beach.

Reading the offers of travel companies, we often come across terminology, the meaning of which we do not fully understand.

A first line hotel is always more expensive than a second or third line hotel. What is the additional fee for and is it always justified? We'll figure out...

Shoreline Rules

If you follow the letter of the rules of hotel associations in most countries of the world, then classification by lines provides for the following rules:

  • 1st line – hotels are located directly on the seashore, the distance from the hotel doors to the nearest beach is no more than 100 meters. Between the hotel and the beach there can be no promenade, no road, no barriers, much less other hotels. The distance is taken geometrically - between the hotel and the sea in a straight line. Considering that a first-line hotel may be located in the mountains, and a winding path leads to the beach, the actual distance may be a little greater, but certainly not more than 150 meters. Most often, first-line hotels have their own beaches, access to which is free for guests of these hotels. Usually these are 4* and 5* hotels, although there are also “three rubles”;
  • 2nd line – between the beach and the hotel there is a promenade (a walking alley along the coast) or a regular road. The distance to the nearest beach is no more than 200 meters (directly). There should still be no other hotels between the sea and the beach. Most second-line hotels have their own beaches, some invite their guests to the nearest public beach (3* hotels). Most often, hotel transport does not go from the second line to the beach; you will have to get there on your own;
  • 3rd, 4th and 5th lines - city hotels, the distance to the beaches is more than 300 meters. Among this type of hotels there are high-level establishments - 4* and 5*. In this case, special transport to the beaches is provided for guests. Depending on the level of your tour, it can be used without restrictions or for a nominal fee. Private beaches are rare for 3rd line hotels. Most often, clients are offered to relax next to an excellent swimming pool with both sea and fresh water. The cost of a holiday in urban hotels, far from the beaches, is significantly lower than in hotels on the seashore, but the level of comfort is no less, even vice versa.

What about life?

All listed rules apply to Europe. Here, numerous associations, corporations, tourism ministries and similar bureaucrats monitor the observance of order. But the East is a delicate matter, therefore, in Egypt everything may be somewhat different:

  • The first line in Egypt will be considered a hotel located close to the sea (up to 100 meters), but the presence of a promenade or a busy highway in front of the hotel is not considered an obstacle. The main thing is that there are no other hotels in front of the first line hotel. This rule is not mandatory. Old hotels that were built 20-30 years ago are most likely actually located on the shore and have their own beach. But new hotels often “sin” with not very reliable information in their advertising brochures. Exit? Before booking a tour, carefully study the hotel’s photos online, read the reviews (the main thing is that they are specific and not general and enthusiastic; many people like to write reviews for little money);
  • It is rare to find a third or fourth line hotel in Egypt. Most likely, in the booklet the question of coastlines will be cleverly glossed over with phrases like: “there is an excellent beach nearby”, “the sea can be seen from the window of every second room”, “a luxurious swimming pool for the discerning public”. If the coastline is not specified, be prepared for your hotel to be located in a city block. Holidays in such hotels are rarely expensive, but if you come to the seaside, then get ready for the fact that the cute young Aladdin at the reception desk will answer your legitimate question about the beach by indicating where you can find a regular bus stop, “which is 30 minutes away.” will take you to a gorgeous public beach where everything is free.” How to deal with this? Inquire about the availability of a beach near the hotel, the cost of entry to the nearest private “shores,” and the availability of the hotel’s own transport.

When choosing a tour, remember: only you decide where you will relax. Demand full information about hotels, beaches, living conditions, transport. Check everything yourself on travel forums, review sites, and look at photographs. Ask questions, get answers. Understanding all the “Egyptian” tricks is quite simple. But this must be done before you board the plane. If the main thing for you on your trip is the sights of an ancient and exotic country, you will only need to stay in a hotel with a good swimming pool. You can sunbathe here too. If you just need sea, sand, a beach umbrella and a comfortable sun lounger, then choose a first-line hotel - this is for you!

The beach is a piece of Paradise!

Beach holiday- this is the most classic holiday! About the same as Beethoven in music. Sun, sea, fresh sea air and... you are in the center of all this paradise. Life turns into one sheer pleasure. Unless, of course, you get burned on the first day. You are immersed in this paradise, immersed... and suddenly it all ends - the vacation has come to an end, it’s time to go home. How time flew by! Beach holiday- the best confirmation of Einstein's theory of relativity - the slower you live, the faster time flows. But here’s the paradox - you feel, on the contrary, rejuvenated! Here it is, a simple and uncomplicated vacation on the beach!

But, despite all its simplicity, even in beach holiday There are some details that are worth paying attention to.

Hotel line.

Beach hotel always looking at beach. But the beach is just a line of land hugging the sea. It is not always possible to line up all the hotels on this same line. And then the hotel is built on the next, second line. Second line hotels do not have their own access to the sea. But they can have their own beach on the shore and use municipal or share first line hotel beach. Depending on the popularity of the resort, the actual number of lines may be three or four... but, as a result, all hotels not on the first line are still classified as second line hotels.

Cost of holiday in second-line hotels, all other things being equal, is cheaper than the cost of a holiday in first-line hotels. Life there is calmer as there is no noise from the beach. But there may be road noise because second line hotels are usually located across the street from first line or beach hotels.

Important for a beach holiday distance from the hotel to the beach. And here nuances are possible. The area of ​​the first line hotel can be large and the walk to the beach may take several hundred meters. While residents of a small second-line hotel may find themselves just a hundred meters from the beach.

If second line hotel is located at a considerable distance from the beach, then delivery of vacationers to the sea can be organized by buses or funny electric cars. By the way, electric cars can also be used in first-line hotels if the hotel territory, in the opinion of the owners, is too vast and difficult to overcome for a pampered tourist. Sometimes second-line hotels are connected to the beach by underground galleries, or vice versa, suspension bridges. Moreover, an underground gallery can really turn out to be a gallery in the sense of a collection of various works of art, paintings, statues and other pleasant decorations of our life. Please check with our managers for all these details.

IN second line hotels In addition to a more attractive price, there is often a wider range of services - massage, sauna, children's and sports grounds, and the like. Or even a whole water park(!), like, for example, in a hotel Titanic in Hurghada, Egypt. So, before you refuse the second line, consult with our manager.

Types of beaches.

Beaches are different. Take a short educational course on the types (types) of beaches. It will come in handy.

  • Sand beach . Sand differs in color - white and black.
    White sand- this is normal sea ​​sand. Every grain of sand has been washed by centuries of surf and warmed by the sun. You lie down on him and absorb his energy. At this time, your children build their own worlds from it.
    Black sand is of volcanic origin and consists of small particles of solidified lava washed by the surf. Naturally, such beaches are found only near volcanoes. For example, in the Canaries and Sicily.
    Since not every section of the sea coast is a ready-made beach, sometimes it is created artificially. In Egypt, for example, on some (I repeat, for some) bring sand from the nearby desert and spread it along the shore. Well, since there is sand in the desert last time took a sea bath many millions of years ago, the quality of such beaches is not always good. I mean sand. Otherwise everything is up to par.
    For families with children sand beach perfect place.
  • Sand and pebble beach. This is a beach where time has not yet had time to erase all the pebbles into sand. On a sand and pebble beach, sand and pebbles can be mixed, or they can go in stripes - first sand, and when entering the sea - pebbles. In any case, such a beach is comfortable for swimming and sunbathing.
  • .


    The surface of the beach is covered with round-shaped pebbles washed by the sea. Based on the size of the pebbles, they are divided into simply pebble and small pebble. If large pebbles cover not only the beach, but also the seabed, then the pebbles can become overgrown with algae and become slippery. Then you need to be careful when entering the sea.


    Pebble size per small pebble beach approximately the size of buckwheat. Well, maybe a little bigger. In my opinion, a small-pebble beach is even better than a sandy one - there is no dust on it and the pebbles are easily shaken off the body.

  • Shell Beach. This type of beach is not common. Its surface is covered with crushed remains of shell shells. Among them there are also quite sharp pieces, therefore, it is advisable to visit such a beach in special beach shoes.
  • .


    What good can I say about this pile of harsh stones?! Oh yes! Purity! Yes, it is the purity and transparency of the water that is attractive rocky beaches . If you are a fan of snorkeling, you will definitely like it. But when entering the sea, you need to try not to slip on boulders overgrown with algae. But with children it is better to relax in another place.

  • Concrete beach. What to do if you have the cleanest, gentle sea at your side, but the shore is very narrow or such that it is simply impossible to put your foot on it? The good soldier Schweik, known for his wisdom, would say - nothing can be done about it! But there were people who came up with concrete beaches. Such beaches are concrete platforms directly on the seashore, and sometimes raised on supports from the water. On concrete beaches It’s convenient to sunbathe, although a certain amount of romance is, of course, absent there. To enter the sea, as a rule, ladders or steps are used. Often concrete slabs are combined with natural beach areas. You can use such beaches, for example, in Croatia and Montenegro.
  • .


    When we say “beach,” we usually imagine a gently sloping shore. And this is fair, because the word “beach”, translated from Turkic languages, means bald (remember - bald). But words are words, and the banks can be quite steep and then you have to build terraces on the slope or build decks on which you can sunbathe. And in some cases, when the coast rises almost vertically, sunbathing areas have to be simply carved into the rock in the form of niches. (Pictured is the hotel beach Maritim Jolie Ville Golf & Resort(Maritim Jules Ville), Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.)

Swimming season (aka beach season).

Beach holidays, unfortunately, are not without their drawbacks. Apart from the ban on swimming behind buoys and the danger of walking with a peeling nose, its main drawback will be its dependence on the weather - you can relax on the beach only during beach (swimming) season. Therefore, a tourist planning to devote his vacation to relaxing on the beach should know when and at which resorts there is a swimming season. To answer this question, I created a small climatic database on resorts in Russia and the world and determined the periods when you can and want to swim.

The criteria for determining the beach season are as follows:

All criteria are taken relative to average monthly climatic indicators.

Beach (swimming) season.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctbut IDecResort/City
Bulgaria, Burgas
Bulgaria, Varna
Vietnam, Phan Thiet
Greece, Heraklion
Greece, Rhodes
Greece, Thessaloniki
Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo
Egypt, Hurghada
Egypt, Sharm el-Sheikh
India, Goa
Indonesia, Bali
Spain, Malaga
Spain, Mallorca
Spain, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Cyprus, Larnaca
Cyprus, Paphos
China, Sanya
Cuba, Santiago de Cuba
Maldives, Male
UAE, Dubai
Russia, Evpatoria
Russia, Sochi
Russia, Yalta
Thailand, Pattaya
Thailand, Phuket
Thailand, Koh Samui
Türkiye, Alanya
Türkiye, Antalya
Türkiye, Bodrum
Türkiye, Izmir
Sri Lanka, Galle
Sri Lanka, Colombo

After looking at this table, you will definitely have some questions. For example, why is the swimming season so short in Sochi and Crimea - only two months? And in the Maldives, it turns out, they only swim for three months!

Unfortunately, I can’t help you here - these are the statistics and these are the criteria we have chosen for the season. But you can still get answers to your questions - go to the page Swimming season. There you will have the opportunity to change the criteria beach season according to your taste, or just look at detailed data on the resort’s climate.

Entering the sea.

Entering the sea for a beach holiday it's important. In most cases, entering the sea is the same as entering the beach. But there are also some “layer pies”, as, for example, in Turkey in Beldibi. Here the beach starts with sand, then there are pebbles, you enter the sea over the stones, and swim over the sandy bottom!

Depending on how and with whom you are going to relax, the criteria may be exactly the opposite. Therefore, there can be no general recipes.
What you need to pay attention to.
If you don't know how to swim, or are you going on vacation with small children, then the approach should be smooth and gentle. It is desirable that the bottom be either sandy or small pebbles. When vacationing with children, it is better to exclude concrete beaches and beaches with rocky entry into the sea.
However, a gentle approach also has disadvantages - if there are sea ​​urchins , then if you accidentally step on it you will get, if not a ruined vacation, then at least a few sad days with a doctor’s call from the insurance company, an operation to remove needles and several bandages.


The most problematic entry into the sea is rocky. Walking into the sea on sharp, slippery rocks covered with algae is not an art, but a rather dangerous test. Oddly enough, children pass it easier than adults. Nevertheless, It is not recommended to relax with children on a beach with a rocky entry into the sea.

On beaches with a rocky approach, it is highly advisable to use a special beach shoes, which will protect your feet from sharp stones and slightly reduce the risk of slipping. You can usually purchase such shoes directly at the resort. It costs from 5 to 15 dollars depending on the quality, materials and... your presentability.

The capitalist thirst for profit (nothing personal, just a Soviet cliche) pushes the owners of beach hotels to correct the inherent shortcomings of beaches with a rocky approach. In the photo you see the simplest and cheapest, but very effective way to easily access such beaches - the white ridge is sandbags, which line the path along the bottom of the sea. It is very popular among children and people suffering from hydrophobia. But the most common use is for entering the sea and.

Coral reefs.

Coral reefs They are beautiful, but it is simply impossible to enter the sea through them. It happens that reefs quite limit the space for swimming. In such cases, on good beaches, special passages are cut into the reef ridge, or an overpass is built along which you can go beyond the reef line, as can be seen in the photograph.

Tide height.

Entry into the sea depends on the height of the tide. The beach, which is wonderful at high tide, at low tide can turn out to be very inconvenient for entry - the waters that have receded from the shore can expose a very unpleasant bottom along which you will have to wade for quite a long time in knee-deep water to the place where you can finally swim.

Are you scared? No need! Hotel owners are well aware of this situation and equip their beaches overpasses, sometimes quite long, along which even at low tide you can comfortably and safely reach the desired water. And this photo was taken from just such an overpass. So in a good beach hotel you can swim regardless of the lunar phases and planetary positions!

Artificial structures for entering the sea.

In general, by definition, pier it is a port facility for berthing ships on both sides. It is often made in the form of a dam. But in tourism this beautiful word is used to mean flooring on stilts, where vacationers sunbathe and from which it is convenient to plop straight into the sea without wasting time entering it. The pier helps a lot with rocky approach, and also adds romance.

This is a floating bridge. But on a beach holiday, it is used not as a crossing from one shore to another, but as a convenient entry into the sea, especially on beaches with rocky entry.

Pontoons come in metal and plastic. For beach holidays, plastic ones are the most popular - they do not get hot under the sun and are pleasant to step on with bare feet. The disadvantage of pontoons is that in case of strong waves it has to be removed, for example, towed further out to sea, where the waves are not so steep.

Whose beach?

Beach Hotel ( beach hotel) one way or another, must have the beach at your disposal. The form of ownership of beaches has two specific options and one vague option, or, as it is popularly called, “wild”:

  1. Municipal (state, royal) ownership of the beach. In most countries of the world, the coastline of the sea legally belongs to the state or monarch. Typically, they transfer management rights to local municipalities, which provide beaches for public use, including hotels. Examples of such states are Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Russia, Thailand, etc.
    Unfortunately, in Russia, where the coastline is federal property, the effectiveness of beach management is low. In this regard, on December 16, 2013, Deputy Prime Minister D. Kozak proposed transferring them from federal property directly to municipal property. Municipalities, in turn, must concession the beaches to hotels so that they can maintain them in proper condition. The Deputy Prime Minister naively(?) assumes that such concessions will in no case turn the beaches into private territories...
  2. Private beach property. There are not many states that allow private ownership of the coastline of the seas, but they exist. Among them are Egypt, Dominican Republic, Morocco, Ukraine... In these countries, beach hotels can actually have a private beach.
  3. Wild (no man's) beach. A wild beach is understood as a section of the coastline not equipped for swimming and relaxation, which is used by people at their own peril and risk just for swimming and relaxation. The coastline on which a wild beach is located is almost always owned by the state, but there is no specific economic entity managing it as a beach.

For organized beach holidays they are used only municipal and private beaches. And here again we have several options that are useful to know about when choosing a beach hotel.

Hotels with private beach.

When we read in a hotel advertisement that it has private beach, this does not mean that the beach belongs to the hotel on a property right. As we already know, in most countries, ownership of the coastline is state-owned. "Private beach" in this case means that in one way or another the hotel has exclusive right to use the beach.

In practice, a hotel can have its own beach in the following ways:

  • rent or, if possible, private ownership coastline and the construction of a beach on it.
  • rent part or all municipal beach.

For vacationers, the form of ownership does not matter. But hotel tenants have to constantly think about maintaining their rental rights. For example, in France, beach rental rights are reviewed every five years.

As a rule, first-line hotels have their own beaches. It is very rare to find an option when a second line hotel has its own beach.

Hotel with private beach is the most preferred choice for a beach holiday. In this case, in first-line hotels, the beach is adjacent directly to the hotel territory, and all hotel services are always available. All beach equipment on the beach - umbrellas, sunbeds, towels, as a rule, are provided free of charge. The beach itself may additionally have a pier or pontoon from which it is convenient to enter the sea. Moreover, the beach bar will operate a few meters from the place where you sunbathe.

Own beaches are also preferable from the point of view tourist safety– strangers are usually not allowed on them. I say “usually” because in some countries, by law, the public cannot be denied access to rented or even private beaches.

Beach rental. Second line hotels.


Second line hotels physically located so that the beach cannot be directly adjacent to the hotel premises. In addition, hotels on the second line are located on the second line because the first line is already occupied. That is, there is no longer anywhere to rent or purchase an unoccupied section of the coast. And in most cases, the problem with the beach by second-line hotels is solved in the following ways:

  • rent of part of the municipal beach
  • renting part of the first line hotel beach.
  • and the third, less common way - it happens that the hotel and the first and second lines belong to the same owner. Then the hotels share one beach.

On rented beaches of second-line hotels, beach equipment - umbrellas, canopies and sunbeds - are usually provided free of charge. Not all hotels provide towels and the beach bar is also rarely present.

Beach holiday on the municipal beach.


Except beach hotels there are also ordinary ones city ​​hotels, and just boarding houses are different. They do not and will not have any beaches, neither their own nor rented - their task is to provide you with accommodation, and the guest must think about the beach on his own. And then where should the poor businessman to the Canary Islands go (not to be confused with just a “bunk”!)? Of course, on municipal beach! Moreover, he will go there on a general basis. That is, you will need to pay for entrance to the beach (entrance may be free), for umbrellas, sun loungers and towels, if any. Thus, the vacationer receives the full range of beach services, including a beach bar, but only pays for it all on the spot.

How much does it cost to visit the beach? In the photo you see Jumeira municipal beach Beach Park In Dubai, on which I escaped from the Arabian heat. Entrance cost 5 Dhs ($1.34), umbrella - 10 Dhs ($2.74). Quite reasonable prices and excellent quality of the beach. By the way, the hotel where I lived provided free bus to the beach.

In countries with a developed beach recreation industry, municipal beaches are of high quality. For example, Spain with its exclusively municipal beaches for many years it has ranked first in the world in terms of quantity.

Wild beach.


Wild beach… brrrr, the hair on the back of my neck stands on end. But in fact, everything can turn out to be very good, and sometimes just wonderful! After all, the main problem is not that the beach is wild, but that sometimes wild people come there - they leave behind garbage and inscriptions on the rocks. Well, remember, probably, we all come from there, from caves. But some remained there...

However, enough of the sad stuff, let’s get back to the beaches and beach holidays. Of course no guide will send you to swim on a wild beach– there is no equipment, no cleaning, no rescuers, no “conveniences” either. But sometimes there is such beauty - in front of you is a piece of the famous wild beach in Beldibi, Türkiye. Tourists and local residents I enjoy swimming here.

The main condition that must be met when swimming on a wild beach is safety. Entering the sea should be safe, do not swim far, and do not swim in strong sea conditions. And it is advisable that you are not completely alone on this wild beach. Just in case.

Beach quality and Blue Flag.


The Blue Flag is a sign of beach quality.

If you want to relax on the beach, the quality of which absolutely and uncompromisingly meets all the highest international standards of cleanliness, safety and comfort, then you need a beach over which flutters blue flag with a white circle in the middle and three waves in it! This is a special sign with which the International Federation of Environmental Education - FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education - FEE) celebrates beaches highest quality in countries that take part in the special Blue Flag program. Beach quality, confirmed Blue flag, is the highest and indisputable rating recognized throughout the world.
More information about the Blue Flag program and criteria beach quality and countries participating in the program you can find out on our website in the section.

The only thing you can regret about the program is that not all states are taking part in it yet. For example, Egypt, our favorite Egypt, has not yet been noted by any blue flag. As a consolation to us all, we note that Spain, Greece And Türkiye are world leaders in quantity blue flags.
And we love them even more for it!


This is what a tourist looks like when he sees the beach in Maya Bay on Lay Island in the Phi Phi archipelago, Thailand.
Don't believe me? Come and see!

Beach holidays at any time of the year from GlobeEx!

Call us or click the button and order beach holiday or call back. We will find you a place where you will swim with pleasure.