Good Beach Guide names best British beaches

by Sean McLachlan on

The United Kingdom generally isn’t the first place people think of when they decide to go to the beach. Indeed, the beaches of Spain, France, and Cyprus are filled with lobster-red Brits, so it appears the locals agree, but the Good Beach Guide, published by the Marine Conservation Society, says the UK’s beaches are improving, at least in terms of water quality.

The latest report reveals that 421 of the UK’s 769 beaches have “excellent” water quality, up 33 from last year. In addition, fewer beaches are getting a failing grade. This is a positive trend after heavy rainfall in the past three years made sewage systems overflow and sloughed off fertilizers and agrochemicals from farmland.

The UK can’t sit on their laurels, though, because starting in 2015 the EU is going to enact tougher standards for water purity, and many beaches that are now borderline cases will get failing marks. The BBC has published an interactive map showing what regions do best. Of the two most famous beaches, Blackpool didn’t get the highest “MCS recommended” rating, but Brighton Pier did, which is interesting because the area recently elected the UK’s first Green Party Minister of Parliament.

Now if they could just do something about the weather. . .

Image of Blackpool beach courtesy zergo512 via Wikimedia Commons.

America’s Top 10 Beaches: Coopers Beach in Southampton, NY takes the top spot in 2010

by Leigh Caldwell on

Coopers Beach, Southampton’s stretch of white sand on New York’s Long Island, has been named 2010’s best beach in the America by Dr. Stephen Leatherman.

“New York has world-class beaches, but I don’t think a lot of people in the United States know about them,” said Stephen Leatherman, director of Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research.

Leatherman cited the fine sand, availability of parking and amenities, and Southampton’s long history as a beach community in his announcement.

Leatherman, aka “Dr. Beach,” announced his Top 10 picks for this year just in time for Memorial Day weekend, as has been his tradition since 1991. The coastal scientist says he uses more than 50 criteria — including water quality, temperature, sand quality, cleanliness, safety and environmental management.

Dr. Beach listed two Florida beaches this year — Siesta Key Beach and Cape Florida State Park — despite the oil spill still leaking in the Gulf of Mexico.

He told the Associated Press that Cape Florida State Park, near Key Biscayne, “doesn’t get the wave activity” that would encourage tar balls to wash ashore. As for Siesta Key, in Sarasota, Leatherman said he studied currents and does not believe the oil will reach the shores in Southwest Florida.

%Gallery-93850%Here are Dr. Beach’s Top 10 Beaches in America for 2010:

  • 1. Coopers Beach in Southampton, New York
  • 2. Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota, Florida
  • 3. Coronado Beach in San Diego, California
  • 4. Cape Hatteras on North Carolina’s Outer Banks
  • 5. Main Beach in East Hampton, New York
  • 6. Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii
  • 7. Coast Guard Beach in Cape Cod, Massachusetts
  • 8. Beachwalker Park in Kiawah Island, South Carolina
  • 9. Hamoa Beach in Maui, Hawaii
  • 10. Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne, Florida

%Poll-47218%

Panama City Beach, Florida, puts a guarantee on fun, despite oil spill

by Leigh Caldwell on

Amid concerns about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, some travelers are reconsidering plans for a Florida beach vacation this summer.

That’s why the Panama City Beach tourism folks have issued a “Real Fun Guarantee” that promises a $200 future travel credit if your stay at the beach is affected by the oil spill.

The program applies to new reservations, booked now through June 10, 2010, for stays at certain properties in the Panama City beach area, including the Bay Point Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, Beach Side Resort Vacation Rentals, Origin at Seahaven and several others.

If government officials close the beach or must be actively cleaning the beach during your vacation in the Panama City Beach area, you will get a $200 credit toward a return visit to the same property. The credit must be used by June 11, 2011.

Florida state officials take steps to stem oil spills’ impact on tourism

by Leigh Caldwell on

For now at least, none of the oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is affecting Florida’s beaches. And that’s exactly the message that state officials are trying to get out to keep vacationers from changing their plans.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist spent the weekend off-shore fishing off the coast of Destin, telling TV station WJHG, “The weather’s gorgeous. There’s not any oil on the beaches at all.”

And Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink is asking BP, the owner of the drilling rig that’s causing the spill, to fund a global advertising campaign to tell potential travelers that Florida is still open for business.

“We must aggressively advertise that Florida’s beaches remain clean and our seafood is safe,” Sink wrote in a letter to BP officials.

Visit Florida, the state’s tourism marketing agency, is providing live updates on the oil spill’s impact for visitors.

Officials representing the Florida Keys and Miami-Fort Lauderdale area are also worried about the oil spill’s impact. State and federal representatives met with scientists Monday in Broward County to discuss the possibility that the oil might hit their beaches, too.

The Miami Herald reports that Monday, the spill was about 80 miles from the Gulf’s “loop current,” an area that could carry the oil into the Florida Keys and around to the East Coast.

Broward County tourism director Nicki Grossman told the Herald that hotels in her area are getting “hundreds” of calls a day regarding the oil spill. If oil hits Broward beaches this summer, it could mean $10 million a day in lost revenue, Grossman said.

Free spa experience at the Ritz-Carlton Naples

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Any spa-lover needs to visit the Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples, because the Elements treatment at the beach property is nothing short of incredible. Now, the chance to visit the spa free makes this an absolute no-brainer. This is one of my favorite spas, and the deal might be enough to get me to book a flight.

Stay at either the Ritz-Carlton beach or golf resort, with the Spa Escape Package, and you’ll get a $200 spa credit, basically making your treatment free. You may want to have a little extra work done, but to have $200 knocked off the price from the start makes that a lot easier to handle. Rates start at $349 a night for the beach resort and $259 for the golf resort.

Need more incentive? From June 1, 2010, through the end of October, you can take advantage of the spa’s “Me Time” deal. When you book a 50-minute massage or facial, you can have your choice of two complimentary enhancements (a $50 value). On the list are hair masks, back scrubs, collagen masks and lip treatments. This is available every Sunday through Friday from 9 AM to 1 PM (but it can’t be combined with other promotions or discounts).

%Gallery-51126%