You just want to zen out and listen to the waves crash against the sand as the sun's rays shine down on you. Don't count on it in Miami Beach. There's the asshole from Kendall blasting Power 96 from his radio, the guy playing bongos, and the idiot who gets a kick out of throwing corn chips at overly excited sea gulls.
So, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that poll conducted by TripAdvisor found Miami Beach to have the worst beach manners in America.
TripAdvisor polled more than 1,100 U.S. travelers for its annual beach and pool etiquette survey. Miami Beach was singled out as the city with the worst behaved beach goers.
On the state level, New York and New Jersey came in the top two spots, but Florida wasn't far behind at number three.
Survey respondents cited the following breaches of beach etiquette as the most annoying:
Surprisingly, 60 percent of respondents nationally say they would like to see areas of the beach that restrict children. Though, 72 percent would like to see more pet-free beaches. Thirty-two percent would like cell phone-free beach space.
- Blasting loud music - 27 percent
- Public intoxication - 12 percent
- Littering - 12 percent
Apparently, TripAdvisor didn't ask about clothes-free areas, but it turns out Americans have mixed feelings about proper beach etiquette. Thirty-four percent think it's a no-no for dudes to wear Speedos, but 78 percent think it's alright for woman to go topless on the beach if it's culturally acceptable. Oddly, most beaches we've been to that allow topless sunbathing often seem to have no shortage of Speedos either.
American travelers also seem to have weird feelings about strangers surrounding them on the beach. Seventy-nine percent think it's unacceptable to ask for a stranger's help in applying sunscreen. Which, OK, we understand, but 28 percent, the highest percentage, think that it's rude for a stranger to lay out their beach blanket within six feet of their own on a crowded beach. Though, another 28 percent says three feet was the minimum barrier, which sounds more practical. On an uncrowded beach most think a minimum distance of 20 feet is acceptable.
Sounds like Americans are sort of beach prudes. Miami Beach certainly won't be mistaken for a stretch of sand on a secluded island, and that's kind of the charm, isn't it? Sure, there's some noisy jerks, but the lively feeling on the beach is half of the fun.
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