We asked if Cape traffic was worth it. You answered. And yelled. And empathized.
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. To subscribe,
.
TODAY'S STARTING POINT
In yesterday's newsletter I asked the question: At what point is a trip to Cape Cod not worth the miserable traffic? Is the excruciatingly claustrophobic experience of trying to get on and off the Cape enough to cancel out the many magics of a Cape vacation?
And you answered. And yelled. And lectured. And commiserated. And questioned my sanity. And questioned the sanity of anyone who would question my sanity.
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But before I get to those, let me address something I avoided yesterday, but is front and center for me when entertaining any invitations to cross the Cape Cod Canal: Is there anything down the Cape that I can't get somewhere else, without the aggravation?
Granted, I live on Cape Ann, and we have everything Cape Cod has, in miniature, but with colder water and fewer sharks. (I should add that we also have traffic. Tons and tons of hours-long backups, constantly, so definitely don't come here.)
But it's not just Cape Ann.
Everywhere
in New England is magic in the summer. The Cape has become synonymous with summer, deservedly so. I don't think it's overrated. (Overpriced is another matter.) Instead, I think so many places are underrated, and once you allow that light to flicker in, it becomes harder to accept as fate that enduring bridge traffic is a necessary part of an epic summer.
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'No length of stay is enough' to make the traffic worth it, wrote a reader from New Hampshire named Sandy. 'Not only is it a horrible experience, I am also made acutely aware of the carbon spewing out of my and everyone else's tailpipes. It just cannot be justified.'
Readers raved about the South Coast, the beaches in Rhode Island and Maine, the lakes of New Hampshire and Vermont, the culture of the Berkshires, on and on and on. That's my point.
I expected those responses; what I did not expect were the sheer number of people who wrote that they had been so damaged by repeated run-ins with Cape traffic – 'I tell people that it's just like jet lag,' one wrote – that they sold their summer homes and never went back.
In answer to the question of how long you need to spend down the Cape to make the hassle of getting there and back worth it, readers were tripping over themselves to shout: There is nothing that makes it worth it!
'Sorry, but no amount of time could make up for the horrendous traffic,' Frank from the North Shore wrote. 'I haven't been to Cape Cod in 30 years.'
'I've barely seen my parents in a decade since they moved to the Cape,' wrote Jeff from Middleton.
And of course, there were many, many, many who emailed to explain the 'secret' to beating Cape traffic. Several even insisted this secret was so good that I was forbidden to share it (even though I had mentioned it in yesterday's newsletter). Regardless, I'll tell you again. I'm a rebel like that. Are you ready? Leave really early or really late, or go at non-peak times.
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I don't have the heart to inform these people that this isn't actually a secret. The people who were sitting beside me in bridge traffic on Sunday also know this. It's just often not possible to leave at those hours, which is why peak traffic hours exist.
'The stress of the traffic, the calculations about what time will be best (maybe if we wait until 10 p.m. to drive ... , etc.), in addition to the cost, makes the Cape feel alien and distant,' wrote one woman who cherished her childhood trips to Wellfleet.
'I hit my wall with the Cape about 7 years ago,' another reader wrote. 'Had been going most every weekend for about 25 years as an adult. Can't do it any more. Traffic has sucked the fun out of it.'
Still others informed me (again, like they were sharing a secret) that there are ferries and trains and even airplanes that go to Cape Cod. These are a great option if you love complicated logistics; find it easy to get to Rowes Wharf, South Station, or Logan Airport; just so happen to be going to wherever it is those planes, trains, and ferries travel to; and won't need a car when you get there. Also, the CapeFlyer train only runs once per day, and only on weekends.
But at least one person offered a zen approach to balance peak traffic against peak fun.
Advertisement
'My formula is four hours travel time on each end requires three full days of fun,' wrote Kathy from Jamaica Plain. 'If I start out accepting how long the trip is going to be (not how much shorter it would be if I left at 4 a.m., as my sister-in-law does) I am calmer.
'I'll be headed to Wellfleet Sunday for five full days of family, friends, and fun. And yes, it's worth the travel.'
🧩
9 Across:
91°
POINTS OF INTEREST
By Kaitlin Lewis
Yoni Zisblatt ran through a fountain during Tuesday's searing heat.
Heather Diehl for the Boston Globe
Boston and New England
102:
That's where Boston's temperatures peaked on Tuesday amid the suffocating heat felt across the region —
Fallout from Read verdict:
Karen Read's defense attorney
Political ads:
Many Boston voters recently received a text from an anonymous sender slamming Mayor Wu, including my colleague Shirley Leung. It's a perfectly legal move amid loopholes in Mass.' campaign laws,
Protecting the vulnerable:
New data shows that adult patients at the state's mental hospital in Worcester were restrained for close to two hours in most instances last year, raising concerns about patients' well-being. (
Trump administration
Precarious peace, and profanity:
A ceasefire between Iran and Israel appeared to hold Tuesday after initially faltering, and after Trump ripped both countries for fighting
More doubts on NATO:
Heading into a summit with other members of the alliance, Trump cast uncertainty over whether the US would abide by the mutual defense guarantees outlined in NATO's treaty, telling reporters it "
Holding tight:
Fed ChairJerome Powell said he's in a wait-and-see mode about cutting interest rates — something Trump has agitated for — because it's 'highly uncertain' how tariffs will affect consumers. (
The Nation and the World
Flight cuts:
JetBlue is leaving Miami as of Sept. 3, including daily flights from Boston. It's keeping service to West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. (
Nuclear power:
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said her state is looking to build a large nuclear power plant, the first undertaken in the US in more than 15 years. (
GLP-1 safety:
Novo Nordisk will stop offering Wegovy through Hims & Hers — less than two months into their partnership — claiming that the direct-to-consumer pharmacy is unlawfully selling knockoff weight loss drugs. (
BESIDE THE POINT
By Teresa Hanafin
💌
Love Letters:
A groom-to-be asks: How can I be the best possible husband? Meredith's advice:
🪩
Being a good guest:
Speaking of marriage, here are
💍
The Big Day:
And the wedding stories just keep on coming. These newlyweds are independent by nature, but kept choosing
🔭
It's a new day:
The largest digital camera ever built has released its breathtaking first photos of the universe, kicking off a 10-year mission to explore the changing universe in stunning detail. (
🍬
Sweet on you:
Candy is having a moment.
Advertisement
🌳
'Finding Louis:'
In 2022, a Dutch detectorist found something that put him at the center of a World War II story — and
🍧
Pops:
These 40 recipes for delightful popsicles will keep you cool all summer. Between you and me, some of them are ice cream-adjacent. (
Thanks for reading Starting Point.
This newsletter was edited by
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Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Boston Globe
We asked if Cape traffic was worth it. You answered. And yelled. And empathized.
Write to us at . To subscribe, . TODAY'S STARTING POINT In yesterday's newsletter I asked the question: At what point is a trip to Cape Cod not worth the miserable traffic? Is the excruciatingly claustrophobic experience of trying to get on and off the Cape enough to cancel out the many magics of a Cape vacation? And you answered. And yelled. And lectured. And commiserated. And questioned my sanity. And questioned the sanity of anyone who would question my sanity. Advertisement But before I get to those, let me address something I avoided yesterday, but is front and center for me when entertaining any invitations to cross the Cape Cod Canal: Is there anything down the Cape that I can't get somewhere else, without the aggravation? Granted, I live on Cape Ann, and we have everything Cape Cod has, in miniature, but with colder water and fewer sharks. (I should add that we also have traffic. Tons and tons of hours-long backups, constantly, so definitely don't come here.) But it's not just Cape Ann. Everywhere in New England is magic in the summer. The Cape has become synonymous with summer, deservedly so. I don't think it's overrated. (Overpriced is another matter.) Instead, I think so many places are underrated, and once you allow that light to flicker in, it becomes harder to accept as fate that enduring bridge traffic is a necessary part of an epic summer. Advertisement 'No length of stay is enough' to make the traffic worth it, wrote a reader from New Hampshire named Sandy. 'Not only is it a horrible experience, I am also made acutely aware of the carbon spewing out of my and everyone else's tailpipes. It just cannot be justified.' Readers raved about the South Coast, the beaches in Rhode Island and Maine, the lakes of New Hampshire and Vermont, the culture of the Berkshires, on and on and on. That's my point. I expected those responses; what I did not expect were the sheer number of people who wrote that they had been so damaged by repeated run-ins with Cape traffic – 'I tell people that it's just like jet lag,' one wrote – that they sold their summer homes and never went back. In answer to the question of how long you need to spend down the Cape to make the hassle of getting there and back worth it, readers were tripping over themselves to shout: There is nothing that makes it worth it! 'Sorry, but no amount of time could make up for the horrendous traffic,' Frank from the North Shore wrote. 'I haven't been to Cape Cod in 30 years.' 'I've barely seen my parents in a decade since they moved to the Cape,' wrote Jeff from Middleton. And of course, there were many, many, many who emailed to explain the 'secret' to beating Cape traffic. Several even insisted this secret was so good that I was forbidden to share it (even though I had mentioned it in yesterday's newsletter). Regardless, I'll tell you again. I'm a rebel like that. Are you ready? Leave really early or really late, or go at non-peak times. Advertisement I don't have the heart to inform these people that this isn't actually a secret. The people who were sitting beside me in bridge traffic on Sunday also know this. It's just often not possible to leave at those hours, which is why peak traffic hours exist. 'The stress of the traffic, the calculations about what time will be best (maybe if we wait until 10 p.m. to drive ... , etc.), in addition to the cost, makes the Cape feel alien and distant,' wrote one woman who cherished her childhood trips to Wellfleet. 'I hit my wall with the Cape about 7 years ago,' another reader wrote. 'Had been going most every weekend for about 25 years as an adult. Can't do it any more. Traffic has sucked the fun out of it.' Still others informed me (again, like they were sharing a secret) that there are ferries and trains and even airplanes that go to Cape Cod. These are a great option if you love complicated logistics; find it easy to get to Rowes Wharf, South Station, or Logan Airport; just so happen to be going to wherever it is those planes, trains, and ferries travel to; and won't need a car when you get there. Also, the CapeFlyer train only runs once per day, and only on weekends. But at least one person offered a zen approach to balance peak traffic against peak fun. Advertisement 'My formula is four hours travel time on each end requires three full days of fun,' wrote Kathy from Jamaica Plain. 'If I start out accepting how long the trip is going to be (not how much shorter it would be if I left at 4 a.m., as my sister-in-law does) I am calmer. 'I'll be headed to Wellfleet Sunday for five full days of family, friends, and fun. And yes, it's worth the travel.' 🧩 9 Across: 91° POINTS OF INTEREST By Kaitlin Lewis Yoni Zisblatt ran through a fountain during Tuesday's searing heat. Heather Diehl for the Boston Globe Boston and New England 102: That's where Boston's temperatures peaked on Tuesday amid the suffocating heat felt across the region — Fallout from Read verdict: Karen Read's defense attorney Political ads: Many Boston voters recently received a text from an anonymous sender slamming Mayor Wu, including my colleague Shirley Leung. It's a perfectly legal move amid loopholes in Mass.' campaign laws, Protecting the vulnerable: New data shows that adult patients at the state's mental hospital in Worcester were restrained for close to two hours in most instances last year, raising concerns about patients' well-being. ( Trump administration Precarious peace, and profanity: A ceasefire between Iran and Israel appeared to hold Tuesday after initially faltering, and after Trump ripped both countries for fighting More doubts on NATO: Heading into a summit with other members of the alliance, Trump cast uncertainty over whether the US would abide by the mutual defense guarantees outlined in NATO's treaty, telling reporters it " Holding tight: Fed ChairJerome Powell said he's in a wait-and-see mode about cutting interest rates — something Trump has agitated for — because it's 'highly uncertain' how tariffs will affect consumers. ( The Nation and the World Flight cuts: JetBlue is leaving Miami as of Sept. 3, including daily flights from Boston. It's keeping service to West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. ( Nuclear power: New York Governor Kathy Hochul said her state is looking to build a large nuclear power plant, the first undertaken in the US in more than 15 years. ( GLP-1 safety: Novo Nordisk will stop offering Wegovy through Hims & Hers — less than two months into their partnership — claiming that the direct-to-consumer pharmacy is unlawfully selling knockoff weight loss drugs. ( BESIDE THE POINT By Teresa Hanafin 💌 Love Letters: A groom-to-be asks: How can I be the best possible husband? Meredith's advice: 🪩 Being a good guest: Speaking of marriage, here are 💍 The Big Day: And the wedding stories just keep on coming. These newlyweds are independent by nature, but kept choosing 🔭 It's a new day: The largest digital camera ever built has released its breathtaking first photos of the universe, kicking off a 10-year mission to explore the changing universe in stunning detail. ( 🍬 Sweet on you: Candy is having a moment. Advertisement 🌳 'Finding Louis:' In 2022, a Dutch detectorist found something that put him at the center of a World War II story — and 🍧 Pops: These 40 recipes for delightful popsicles will keep you cool all summer. Between you and me, some of them are ice cream-adjacent. ( Thanks for reading Starting Point. This newsletter was edited by ❓ Have a question for the team? Email us at ✍🏼 If someone sent you this newsletter, you can 📬 Delivered Monday through Friday. Billy Baker can be reached at
Hamilton Spectator
18-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
IslandLinkBus nixes service from Tofino and Ucluelet to Port Alberni, passengers must first go to Nanaimo
Nora O'Malley Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Ucluelet, BC - IslandLinkBus has cancelled their service from Tofino and Ucluelet to Port Alberni. In a rather confusing string of emails, Islandlink says passengers riding between Tofino and Ucluelet must first go to Nanaimo's Departure Bay Terminal, even though the bus stops in Port Alberni in front of the Casino en route to Nanaimo. A one-way ticket from Ucluelet Junction (the pick-up spot is Ukee Poke) to Departure Bay is $75. The cost for a bus ticket from Tofino to Departure Bay is $85. It's $45 for a ticket from Departure Bay to Port Alberni. 'This is all necessary to fine tune our operations and costs of operations, we are not subsidized in any fashion,' said Lisa Brisco, IslandLinkBus operations manager. 'Passengers from Tofino and Ucluelet wanting to go to Port Alberni must first go to Nanaimo and then return to Port Alberni. We do understand there are added costs incurred, but that is the only way with our license,' she continued. 'To make that stop would be operating contrary to our license. That in turn will risk our jobs and the services we offer on the island, so we do as we are licensed to do.' 'IslandLink has a 'connector' license where Greyhound/Tofino Bus had an 'inter-city' license,' Brisco explained. 'Our one and only destination is Departure Bay in Nanaimo and our service connects with the BC Ferry service in Nanaimo.' IslandLink also told the Ha-Shilth-Sa that they cancelled the Tofino/Ucluelet to Port Alberni service 'as the numbers to and from the coast were not enough to keep that route at this time.' The company said to 'check with BC Transit'. BC Transit confirmed in an email that 'there has been no formal exploration of service between the West Coast and Port Alberni'. Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Administrator Iris Frank is deeply troubled by the reduction of bus service. 'We on the West Coast have an urgent need for reliable transportation,' said Frank. 'This service is not a luxury. It is a need. Tla-o-qui-aht members, along with members from Ahousaht and Hesquiaht, depend on this transportation to access medical care that is not available in our home communities. These trips also allow our people to take care of vital needs—groceries, prescriptions, financial services, and family obligations—often all in one trip,' Frank continued. 'Without a consistent and affordable bus service, many will face impossible choices. The absence of this essential connection will create additional financial hardship for our people. This is not just about transportation. This is about equity and fairness. We must not allow our communities to be left behind,' she said. IslandLinkBus has a trip leaving every morning from Port Alberni to Nanaimo's Departure Bay Ferry Terminal at 8:40 a.m. The cost is $45, one-way. Then IslandLink picks up passengers at 10:40 a.m. in Nanaimo for a trip to Tofino and the Ucluelet Junction. IslandLink collects passengers in Tofino at two stops (House of Himwitsa or Cox Bay Visitor Centre) and then Ukee Poke (2201 Pacific Rim Hwy) at 3 p.m. before heading eastbound to Port Alberni. The bus stops in Port Alberni at 4:30 p.m. to pick-up passengers headed to Nanaimo. An IslandLink bus driver re-iterated that if he lets passengers off the bus in Port Alberni, they could lose their license. The final trip of the day is a 6:10 p.m. service from Nanaimo, Departure Bay Ferry Terminal to Port Alberni, 3800 Block Maple Way, opposite the Casino. 'Our service originates and ends in Port Alberni daily, we employ three Port Alberni residents and have maintenance services and fuel purchases in Port as well,' said Brisco. Elloise Hoey, 29, was waiting for the IslandLinkBus service from the Ucluelet Junction to Nanaimo on June 16. She missed the 3 p.m. bus and is out $75 because she was waiting at the Junction Visitor Centre instead of Ukee Poke where the bus collects passengers for its eastbound trip – an honest mistake coming from a U.K. traveller on a work visa. Gutted having missed her bus, Hoey was unsure as to how she was going to get to Nanaimo for a flight the next day. Hitchhiking was not an option in her mind, but she did have a family member in Lake Cowichan that she could call on to do the roughly four-hour drive to collect her. Frank called on all levels of government to recognize the urgent need for sustainable transportation solutions that 'respect the realities of life in remote Indigenous communities.' 'This is a moment to rally together, to raise our voices, and to insist that no one should be denied access to basic services simply because of where they live,' said Frank. MLA Josie Osborne reminded West Coasters that both Island Health and the First Nations Health Authority helps with travel for medical appointments. 'I encourage any constituent with questions about these programs to reach out to my office,' said Osborne in an email. 'Establishing a new inter-regional service between the West Coast and Port Alberni will require a strong partnership between the local governments, First Nations and B.C. Transit, especially knowing that most new routes and service expansions are initiated by local governments. As the local MLA, I will do everything I can to support communities and local voices in this important work to improve transportation access for people,' she continued. Osborne noted that West Coast communities, local governments, and First Nations worked hard to establish a new public transit service on the Pacific Rim, the first new route added to BC Transit in eight years. 'We now have reliable, safe and affordable options for people to travel between Tofino, Ucluelet and Hitacu, and this is a massive accomplishment for our communities,' said Osborne. Visit the IslandLink at for more information on rates and booking queries. -30- Captions IslandLinkBus picks passengers up at Ukee Poke/West Coast Shapes for a cross-Island trip to Nanaimo. While this bus stops in Port Alberni to pick up more passengers, Tofino/Ucluelet passengers are not permitted to step off the bus. If they want to go to Port Alberni, they must carry-on to Nanaimo and then purchase a one-way ticket from Nanaimo to Port Alberni. IslandLinkBus leaves Ukee Poke at around 3 p.m. on June 17 for an eastbound trip to Nanaimo, Departure Bay Ferry Terminal. (Nora O'Malley photos) Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Yahoo
‘People want peace, not poolside tantrums': The rise of child-free hotels
A summer's morning, just after 9am, and something astonishing is happening: I am still in bed. In the six years since I have had children, this is entirely unheard of. There are no elephantine footsteps charging towards my bedroom; no clammy, jammy hands clawing at my covers; no piercing shrieks of 'Muuuuuum!' over cornflakes and toast. The silence – aside from birds chirruping through my open window – is deliciously deafening. I am, of course, not at home (where my harried husband is wrangling our two children through the morning rigmarole entirely solo) – but have spent the night at an adults-only hotel, one of a growing number of properties, both in the UK and abroad, that specifically ban under-16s. Statistics suggest there are now more than 1,000 such hotels, B&Bs and holiday resorts worldwide, driven by demand from child-free and solo travellers – not to mention parents who, like me, adore their offspring, but sometimes dream of getting far, far away from them. But that dream could be under threat due to a recent challenge under French law, which suggests the 'no-kids trend' could amount to 'violence against children' under equalities legislation. Laurence Rossignol, a socialist senator, is reportedly planning to introduce a Private Member's Bill to make it illegal to ban children from French hotels, restaurants and campsites – a move which could have dramatic repercussions for child-free venues around the world. This doesn't trouble Frank Lawrenson, the owner of Rectory Manor in Great Waldingfield, a picturesque village in rural Suffolk, which has been grown-ups-only since 2022. Indeed, Frank says he would have cut children from the guest list earlier, if only he hadn't had several of his own. 'Children can be so hard to manage, especially in a property like this,' says Frank, 58, who inherited the sprawling Georgian rectory – on a site that dates back 2,000 years – and turned it into a hotel, now a five-star country retreat with a swimming pool, tennis court and croquet lawn, in 2014. 'We wanted it to feel like a haven, and if you have children running around screaming, that's certainly not peaceful,' he adds. 'The policy is one of the main reasons guests choose to stay here.' He and his fiancée, Georgina, 48, have six children between them, now aged 18 to 23, and they first banned under-13s when their youngest turned 13. The lower age limit increased incrementally each year. Although both loved hosting families with younger guests, they decided it 'didn't suit the house' – certainly, there are sharp edges, uneven stairs and breakable ornaments everywhere. 'You might get a perfectly sweet two-year-old banging her spoon on the breakfast table and ruining the tranquillity for everyone else,' says Georgina. 'People come to escape. Even the best-behaved children can get on your nerves – especially when they're not your own.' The hotel seems to lavish in a sort of hedonism that simply wouldn't be possible with children around. Cut-glass decanters of whisky and gin adorn every room. Flames crackle perilously from open fireplaces. The artwork is eclectic and, in some quarters, verging on risqué. My room contains a roll-top bath, perched – somewhat incongruously – on a thick pile carpet. Quite delightfully, the property's motto, emblazoned on my key fob, is an Italian phrase – 'Non si vive solo per soffrire' – which translates as 'One doesn't live only to suffer.' As a long-suffering, sleep-deprived, permanently frazzled parent, I could certainly get on board with that. Travel experts say adults-only hotels are part of a growing trend – dating back as far as the 1970s, when they first appeared in the Caribbean, and spreading to Spain and France in the early 2000s. But it's only in the past five years that they've really started booming in Britain, with mainstream holiday companies – such as Warner and Scott Dunn – now offering adults-only options. Online, you'll find copious Mumsnet threads devoted to child-free holidays, as well as luxury travel round-ups of five-star resorts that proudly ban children. According to Google Trends, searches for 'adults-only holidays' have soared in popularity since 2020. 'I've seen this trend gain real momentum,' says Liz Taylor, a hospitality and luxury brand consultant with 30 years' experience. 'Holidays have become more than a luxury – they're a lifeline. People want peace. They want to switch off. And, let's be honest, that's hard to do when you're dodging poolside tantrums or trying to enjoy a cocktail during a toddler's tea party.' Emma Latham, a Cheshire-based luxury travel planner, agrees. 'Not long ago, the only 'adults-only' offering in a resort might have been the later dinner setting,' she says. 'Today, we're seeing entire properties or dedicated areas within larger resorts designated specially for adult guests.' This, she explains, appeals to all sorts of holidaymakers – whether parents escaping their offspring for short getaways, couples without children who prefer to avoid family-focused environments, or empty nesters who want to enjoy their peace and quiet. Margaret and Jonathan Evans, from Pontypridd, are among the last. 'Since our youngest daughter left home last year, we wouldn't dream of staying anywhere that accepts children,' says Margaret, 67. 'It was hard enough going on holiday when our three were younger – always worrying about mealtimes, and whether they'd break anything or fall over. We couldn't switch off.' Geoff and Linda Banks, from Fleet, Hampshire, agree. 'I'd be so cross if the holiday I'd looked forward to for months was ruined by noisy children haring around the place,' says Geoff, 54. 'I just wish they did adults-only flights as well.' Staff members, too, say they prefer working at child-free properties – not only is there less mess to contend with, but they're not expected to act as makeshift babysitters. At Rectory Manor, the closest I come to youth in my 24-hour sojourn is 18-year-old waiter Cyrus, who serves a top-notch cooked breakfast, and tells me: 'When we allowed kids, the swimming pool was an issue – people were nipping to the mini-bar and expecting staff members to watch their children splashing about while they were gone. If anything had happened, we'd have been responsible.' Of course, the adults-only privilege comes at a premium: my weekday night away, plus breakfast, comes to £219. 'If you consider how much you would pay for a family of four to stay at a hotel for a week, would you pay the same amount for just two of you if it were an adult-only hotel? The answer seems to be yes,' says Aled Evans, a travel specialist at Our Local Tour. 'I most certainly would be willing to pay for it,' adds Raj Gill, a travel expert and the editor-at-large of Upscale Living magazine. 'I feel most people would be happy to pay extra to have a restful and relaxing holiday.' Consequently, holiday venues are reaping the rewards – both financial and reputational – of going adults-only. 'If a hotel or tour operator can differentiate itself and appeal to a certain demographic, then it has a market advantage,' Evans explains. There are, however, risks – not least alienating long-term guests who go on to have families and find themselves unwelcome. Frank Lawrenson admits that when he banned under-16s in 2022, there were some regulars – who had previously stayed with their children – who weren't happy about the change. 'It was sad, but ultimately for the best,' he says. But as the tide turns against children in Britain, do properties need to consider the legal ramifications of banning younger guests? In France, certainly, the 'no kids' policy seems to fly close to the wind, and the issue has reared its head in California, where a swath of stunning ocean-front properties – catering only to adults – have recently opened, prompting critics to question whether they contravene Section 51 of the state's Civil Code, which prevents discrimination. In the UK, under the Equality Act 2010, it is illegal to discriminate against someone because of their age when providing goods and services – but there are exceptions. If a service is genuinely 'adults only' – such as a spa treatment, sports competition or nightclub – this is justifiable, as it relates to the nature of the service. This, it seems, would equally apply to holiday properties that cater solely to grown-ups. 'I doubt there are any legal issues,' says Taylor. 'We're talking about creating environments tailored to specific needs and preferences. It's about choice; not exclusion.' Gill agrees – but says the onus rests on hotels, B&Bs and resorts to inform prospective guests of their policy. 'As long as the rules are clearly laid out from the off, and the age limits and boundaries are established, then I do not see any future issues,' she adds. Nor, it must be said, do I. Still reclining in my four-poster bed, contemplating whether to go for a morning swim or a leisurely breakfast, I find myself searching online for another child-free break – perhaps swapping sunny Suffolk for Bali or the Bahamas – with my husband in tow, this time. Non si vive solo per soffrire, after all… Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
