OFFERING MORE THAN JUST A BEACH HOLIDAY
More and more people and families are looking for something beyond a simple summer getaway. They seek community. They want to share time with like-minded people, find friends for their children, and live experiences that connect them with the environment and with others who share their lifestyle.
A villa with a pool and walking access to the beach is the ideal starting point: peace, nature, and comfort. But the real value emerges when that environment also allows for social interaction, shared activities, and the creation of bonds.
From our villa, we walk down to the beach, where there’s an incredible nautical atmosphere. The bay is full of people windsurfing and wing-foiling, and several centers rent out equipment. The children are already up, taking part in water-sports camps. We enjoy a coffee on the terrace overlooking the bay, then rent a couple of paddleboards to explore and do some snorkeling. Along the way, we run into the kids with their sailing instructors and friends from camp. There’s also a diving school offering bay excursions and a sailing school running catamaran courses.
After a morning of activity, we rest on our towels with a cold beer from the beach bar. Later, we head back to the villa for lunch and a nap — although the kids quickly vanish, eager to return to the beach with their camp friends.
At sunset, the local beach bar invites us to enjoy a cocktail while we meet other families and instructors from different countries we’ve met during the week. The children play on the sand until dark, now inseparable from their new friends.
Social immersion is a powerful added value when it comes to attracting families. Understanding what visitors seek and offering them the choice between the privacy of their villa and the social life of the beach —between disconnection and belonging— is key. If coastal destinations succeed in combining quality accommodation with an active community, they will attract a higher-value, more sustainable type of tourism, transforming a holiday spot into a second home — or even a permanent residence..