Beach and pool etiquette

Between the Sun, the Sand and the People

A Guide to Beach and Pool Etiquette During the Summer Holidays

By Tami Lancut Leibovitz | Master of Manners

The beach is a place of freedom — but freedom does not excuse us from good manners.

During the summer, between sun loungers, flying towels, melting ice cream, children running towards the water and families spreading out across the sand, it is easy to forget that we are not alone.

The beach is one of the most complex public spaces we share. Families, young people, children, older adults, music, food, games, dogs and an impressive amount of equipment all meet on the same stretch of sand — often in close proximity and minimal clothing.

The good news is that most of the things that make a day at the beach enjoyable — or unbearable — do not require complicated regulations. They simply require awareness, consideration and good judgement.

The Golden Rules of Polite Beach Behaviour

1. Personal Space — Even on the Sand

Have you arrived with a parasol, cooler, chairs, surfboards, toys and three children? Wonderful. Just remember that your equipment should not take over an entire section of the beach.

Choose a place that is not too close to people who have already settled down. Arrange your belongings without blocking walkways, and do not open a parasol directly above someone who was there before you.

There is no need to measure the distance with a ruler. Simply ask yourself: would I feel comfortable if someone set up this close to me?

2. Music — Your Playlist Is Not Public Property

Not everyone came to the beach to listen to dance music, children’s songs, a podcast or your favourite summer playlist at full volume.

A small portable speaker can dominate a surprisingly large area.

The rule is simple:

Headphones — yes. A speaker that sets the mood for the entire beach — no.

Even the most carefully curated playlist is still a personal choice. A public beach is a shared space, not a private party.

3. Keep the Sand on the Ground

Before shaking out a towel, item of clothing or beach bag, look around and check the direction of the wind.

A cloud of sand in someone’s eyes, hair or lunch is not a pleasant beach souvenir.

Shake towels away from other people, and walk around their belongings rather than stepping on or jumping over them.

A towel may be lying on public ground, but while someone is using it, it marks their temporary personal space.

4. Ball Games — In the Right Place

Beach tennis, football, volleyball and frisbee are all part of the summer experience, but the entire beach is not a playing field.

Choose an open area away from sunbathers, small children and other people’s belongings.

A useful rule of thumb is this: if someone else has to duck, move, protect their head or lift their drink because of your game, the game has already crossed the boundary of considerate behaviour.

And when the ball does land on someone else’s towel, do not simply smile from a distance. Stop, apologise and put things right.

5. Dogs on the Beach — Welcome, with Conditions

Even the friendliest dog may frighten a child, surprise an older person or disturb someone who is uncomfortable around animals.

Before arriving, check whether dogs are permitted and what the local rules require. Some beaches restrict access, while others have designated off-leash areas.

Keep your dog under control, clean up after it immediately and prevent it from wandering among towels, approaching food or shaking water and sand over strangers.

A wet dog spraying a nearby family may be amusing to its owner — rather less so to the people receiving the unexpected shower.

6. Food and Cleanliness — With Good Taste

A picnic on the beach is part of the pleasure. Strong smells, open packaging and leftover food, however, can quickly affect everyone around you.

Bring your own rubbish bag, clear away food waste promptly and keep food covered whenever possible.

If the nearest bin is full, find another one or take your rubbish home. A full bin is not an invitation to create a new pile beside it.

Avoid lightweight disposable items that can blow away, and make sure you leave no bottle tops, straws, plastic bags or broken glass behind.

The rule is simple:

Everything you bring to the beach must either leave with you or go into a bin.

7. Phone Calls — Not Everyone Needs to Hear Them

A family video call, a workplace argument or a detailed update about your private life does not need to become the soundtrack of the surrounding beach.

Of course, you may speak on the phone, but keep your voice at a reasonable level. For a long or personal conversation, move away from the towels and find a quieter place.

A public space is not a space without privacy — not yours and not that of the people around you.

8. Clothing — Dress for the Setting

Swimwear is entirely appropriate at the beach or pool. When entering a café, restaurant, hotel lobby or nearby shop, add a shirt, beach dress or light cover-up.

This applies equally to women and men.

It is not a question of modesty. It is a question of context. What is appropriate beside the water may not be appropriate at a dining table or service counter.

9. Children — Joy with Responsibility

Happy children are an important part of the summer holidays, but responsibility for their behaviour belongs to their parents — not to the people on the next towel.

Pay attention to prolonged shouting, running between other people’s belongings, splashing strangers, digging holes in walkways and playing ball in crowded areas.

The beach does not need to become a classroom, but it is a wonderful place to teach children that public space belongs to everyone and that even while having fun, we remain considerate of others.

10. Safety in the Water — Consideration That Saves Lives

Before jumping, diving or throwing a ball, check who is nearby.

Do not swim directly into another person, and do not splash people who have not chosen to join your game.

Enter the water only in designated swimming areas, during lifeguard hours and in accordance with local safety instructions.

The sea is no place for ego, arguments or the belief that “it will not happen to me”. Here, responsible behaviour is not merely polite — it is essential.

11. Lifeguards and Warning Flags — Not Suggestions

A lifeguard is not part of the scenery and is not offering advice for discussion. The lifeguard is the professional authority responsible for safety in the water.

Warning flags and swimming restrictions vary by country and location, so always check the signs displayed at the beach.

Follow instructions, remain within the designated swimming area and never enter the water when swimming is prohibited or when no lifeguard is on duty.

12. Photography and Privacy — People Are Not Scenery

Would you like to photograph the sunset, your family or the picnic? Of course. Just check who appears in the frame.

People in swimwear are not automatically part of your holiday album.

Avoid photographing identifiable strangers, particularly in a close, embarrassing or exposed situation. Never publish images that may humiliate or intrude upon another person’s privacy.

When someone else appears clearly in the photograph, the respectful choice is to ask permission or choose a different angle.

13. Leave the Area Clean — Preferably Cleaner

Before leaving, stop for a moment and look around.

Collect all rubbish, fill in holes you have dug, shake towels away from other people and check that no toy, bottle, shoe or small piece of plastic has been left behind.

Leaving a place clean is the quiet signature of a considerate person. Anyone who wishes to enjoy nature must also help protect it.

The People Working in the Heat — Service Etiquette at the Beach

Waiters, cleaners, lifeguards, security staff, parasol attendants and ice cream vendors often work for hours in heat, humidity and sand that makes every step more difficult.

They are not background characters in our holiday, and they are certainly not personal servants. They are professionals providing a service under demanding conditions.

True courtesy is often revealed in the way we treat people from whom we believe we have nothing to gain: with patience, eye contact, appreciation and the understanding that the person in front of us is a human being, not merely a function.

Begin with Patience

A delay is not always the waiter’s fault. The kitchen may be busy, the distance from the bar may be considerable and walking through sand takes time.

A smile, eye contact and a simple sentence such as, “Thank you, there is no rush,” can make a real difference to someone who may already have dealt with dozens of impatient customers that day.

Even when something goes wrong, it is possible to speak clearly and politely:

“Excuse me, I think one item may be missing from our order. Could you please check?”

A respectful request is no less effective than a demand — and is usually far more effective.

Ice Cream Vendors and Beach Sellers

The familiar call of “Ice cream!” is part of the summer soundtrack. Behind it is a person carrying heavy equipment for hours in direct sunlight.

Even when you are not interested, a brief “No, thank you” is more respectful than exaggerated hand gestures or deliberate silence.

Decide what you want before stopping the vendor, have your payment ready and do not leave the cooler open while the entire family debates every available option.

Bargaining over a very small amount, when someone has carried the product across hot sand directly to you, is not always a great consumer victory. Sometimes it is simply a lack of sensitivity.

Ordering from a Beach Bar or Restaurant

When entering a restaurant, bar or hotel lobby, dry yourself and wear an appropriate cover-up.

Do not sit on upholstered furniture in a wet swimsuit, and do not place sandy feet on chairs or tables.

Gather your requests before ordering: napkins, cutlery, sauces and water. This saves the server repeated journeys across hot sand.

Never whistle, snap your fingers or wave a bottle to attract attention. Make eye contact, raise your hand gently or approach the counter.

“Hello”, “please” and “thank you” remain the least expensive and most valuable words in the service industry.

What About Tipping?

There is no single international rule for tipping at beaches and pools. Customs vary widely between countries, hotels, resorts and individual establishments.

At a restaurant or bar, follow local practice and check whether a service charge has already been included.

When an employee provides personal assistance — bringing equipment, setting up a parasol or delivering drinks directly to a sun lounger — a small tip may be an appropriate way to show appreciation, depending on local custom.

It may be useful to carry a small amount of cash, but remember: a tip does not replace eye contact, gratitude or respectful behaviour.

Beach Equipment Is Not Private Property

Sun loungers, chairs, parasols and mattresses belonging to a beach club or hotel should not be moved, collected or claimed without permission.

Ask a member of staff for assistance. The arrangement may be connected to safety, access routes or operational rules.

The Pool: The Same Rules, with Less Sand

A public pool or hotel pool is often more enclosed and more crowded than a beach. It is therefore especially sensitive to noise, hygiene and the occupation of shared space.

Most beach rules apply here as well, with several additional considerations.

The Towel War — Who Authorised You to Claim the Sun Lounger?

The “towel war” describes the habit of placing a towel, flip-flop, book or water bottle on a sun lounger — not because someone is using it, but in order to reserve it for hours.

The chair remains empty, other guests search for somewhere to sit and the shared area becomes a quiet territorial battle.

A towel may hold a place while someone takes a brief swim or visits the restroom. It cannot replace genuine presence while the guest is having breakfast, sightseeing or relaxing in the hotel room.

A shared sun lounger belongs to the person using it — not to the person who marked it at dawn.

• Shower Before Entering the Pool

• A quick shower before entering helps remove sweat, sand, oils and excess sunscreen from the body and protects the quality of the shared water.

• This is not merely a technical rule. It is a basic matter of hygiene and consideration.

• Swimming in Lanes

• Choose a lane that matches your speed.

• When several swimmers share a lane, follow the signs and local convention, keep to the correct direction and allow faster swimmers to pass safely.

• Do not stop in the middle of the lane for a conversation, and do not block the end while resting.

• Children and Babies

• Use an appropriate swim nappy for babies and toddlers, supervise children continuously and keep energetic games away from lap swimmers and adults who are trying to relax.

• The pool is not a childcare service, and the lifeguard does not replace the parent.

• Diving, Noise and Safety

• Do not dive into shallow or crowded areas, push other people or deliberately splash those who are not part of your game.

• Do not enter the pool when ill, particularly when experiencing fever, vomiting or diarrhoea.

• Follow the lifeguard’s instructions and the rules of the venue. Here too, safety is not optional.

And What About the Speaker?

The pool is not a private party.

Unless the music is part of an organised activity provided by the venue, use headphones and keep your soundtrack to yourself.

In Conclusion: A Courteous Beach Is a Civilised Beach

The beach and the pool are small reflections of the society in which we live.

The way we care for cleanliness, speak to service staff, supervise children, respect privacy and lower the volume says much more about us than the swimsuit we wear or the parasol we choose.

When we say thank you, leave space for others, avoid photographing strangers, collect our rubbish and listen to the lifeguard, we are not merely following rules of etiquette.

We are creating a culture of respect.

The sea is a place of escape, relaxation and freedom. Yet precisely when the boundaries appear open, we must remember the boundaries of behaviour.

Each of us — with a towel, child, speaker, ball or dog — is a partner in this shared space.

And as always, even in swimwear:

Etiquette does not restrict freedom. It is what allows everyone to enjoy it.

© All rights reserved to Tami Lancut Leibovitz