Brits have revealed the number one thing they dread after beach visits: sand. It gets in your suitcase, sticks to your skin and somehow reappears over and over, no matter how much you vacuum when you return home – and UK holiday-goers can’t stand the stuff.
Over half of the nation (54%) has admitted that they “dread” the cleanup that comes with a day by the coast – so much so that 40% of families will throw away perfectly reusable items if they are too sandy to clean. A third of survey participants felt sand makes a seaside visit “more trouble than it’s worth” – while 56% said they would visit the beach more often if they could avoid this pesky part of their trip.
Many families kept finding sand in their swimwear (26%), children’s ears (14%) and even in nappies (8%) more than three days after a beach day. The findings come from a new survey released on August 11 by TUI.
Thankfully, it seems excess sand could soon be a thing of the past.
The holiday company is currently working on a prototype of a gadget that they claim will solve this very problem. Introducing: the ‘Sand Shaker’. The aptly-named device consists of a vibrating platform that helps you quite literally ‘shake’ the sand off.
With 74% of holiday-makers wishing for a more convenient way to remove beach sand, this could be quite a nifty solution.
Foodies who worry about getting sand in their meals – which nearly a third (29%) of Brits admitted was the “worst” part of their holiday – could enjoy their dishes in peace, too.
The prototype, which is currently in development, would also come as a relief to the 49% of survey participants who, despite trying their best, said they could never fully get rid of the sand from a beach visit.
“When we found that the most wonderful family day out frequently ends with the most frustrating family clean up, we knew we had to do something to shake things up – quite literally,” said Neil Swanson, managing director of TUI UK and Ireland.
“Sand should only be found on the beach and not in clothes, suitcases, or beds, days and sometimes weeks after a holiday.
“The Sand Shaker will allow our customers to have their day at the beach and come home sand-free.
“It’s one small step for TUI, and a giant leap for parents”.
