Asterodeia

Hi Fodorites!

I have a unique challenge. I am hard of hearing, with an increasing likelihood of being completely deaf within a few years. I'm building a "bucket list" for my ears, of things that I want to hear and experience before it's too late.

One of the things on my list is that I want to fall asleep and wake up while listening to the sound of the ocean - waves crashing - seagulls - you know, that type of thing.

I don't really care where this occurs, although obviously a nice B&B on the coast is an obvious choice. The hard part is that so many places that advertise as being "on the water" aren't actually close enough to HEAR the water.

Do you have any suggestions? Places you've stayed or found or longed for?

I currently live in London, so locations in Europe are preferable, but I'm not ruling anything out,.

Many thanks!

PS - Also taking suggestions for other items to include on my bucket list.

Dickie_Gr

When?

adrienne

The Hilton Giardini Naxos had crashing surf but I didn't see any gulls.

janisj

Good luck with your bucket list.

one idea - There are tons of B&Bs around the coast of Scotland on the water with lots of sea birds. On the western isles, on the coast of Fife, in dumfries/Galloway, etc.

Trophywife007

If California makes it onto your bucket list, you can check out the Monterey Beach Resort in Seaside, CA You can get rooms facing the ocean, fall asleep and wake up to ocean waves and seagulls.

http://www.montereybeachresort.com/m...ch-resort.aspx

All the best with your bucket list!

jane1144

We fell asleep to crashing waves at the Hotel Marina Piccola in Manorola (Cinque Terre). There are gulls there as well. I should note that it was a windy night.

Dickie_Gr

What you ask isn't actually that easy.

We have visited Mallorca many times and to an area which is very close to the home built by the Danish architect Jove Utzon, who designed the Sydney Opera house. He bought his dream plot on the cliffs and built his dream house. After about six months, he despaired as the house was the greatest mistake he ever made. He spent night, after night able to sleep due to the crashing waves and was nearly blinded during the day, by the glare of the sun off the ocean.

Many properties are developed to avoid the negative effects of the ocean.

We rented a house on the beach on Vancouver Island, the swell from the Pacific just came rolling in and tossed timber onto the beach like match sticks. On a rough day, the noise drove us crazy.

Crashing waves usually relate to long open beaches with a long wave fetch or to cliffs.

Janis is quite right, I could link you 50 beautiful hotels in Scotland which are close to the sea but most have a protected aspect to avoid what you actually seek.

Here's two examples :

http://www.pierhousehotel.co.uk/
http://www.balcary-bay-hotel.co.uk/

Both are on the beach but both have protected aspects.

Here's two which hotels which meet your needs, both incredible :

http://www.knockinaamlodge.com/
http://www.sookeharbourhouse.com/

Sooke Harbour House is just a design masterpiece, I haven't come across a hotel like it anywhere in the world. Just understated, Ralph Lauren style with beautiful coastal art.

About the best crashing surf we have encountered is on the east coast of Cape Cod, above Chatham.

I can't think of a hotel on the beach.

Dickie_Gr

Cornwall is also a good bet, on the North coast, no problem with seagulls.

nukesafe

Well, I know this would be a bit of a trip for you, but perhaps the loudest, most impressive, surf I have ever heard/felt has been on the western edge of Vancouver Island in Canada during winter storms. I mean, they really shake your world when they crash ashore! Even hard of hearing guys like myself are impressed. Here is a link to an article about it: http://travelmamas.com/tofino-storm-...-of-the-world/

Dickie_Gr

Just what I thought nukesafe, Sooke Harbour House is just down the coast from Tofino.

The surf on Chesterman's beach is thunder.

http://www.chestermanbeach.net/

bvlenci

I don't think you'd hear the sound of crashing waves from a hotel room in Manarola. Also, maybe I'm being picky, but the Mediterranean isn't an ocean. It matters, because oceans have much heavier surf than the Mediterranean.

The coast of New England has reliable surf. I remember once staying in Camden, Maine, and hearing the surf when I woke up. Much of the New Jersey coast has reliable surf, if you can find a hotel close enough to the water's edge.

If you're in London now, Cornwall sounds like a good choice.

A few other treats for the ear:

The carillon bells in towns in the Netherlands and Belgium.

The birdsong at dawn in rural Ireland.

Evensong sung by a good cathedral choir in England.

Beethoven's Missa Solemnis.

sparkchaser

Beach Hotel Dos Mares just outside Tarifa, Spain. You can get beachfront bungalows.

Mathieu

bvlenci, that's an awesome list !

asteroedia: I've stayed in hotels in the Caribbean with rooms and balconies a few feet away from waves breaking on a beach. While some have complained that the sound has prevented them from a sound sleep, I'd agree that there is nothing more soothing to fall asleep or to wake up to.

I've had the experience you seek on all of these islands: Antigua, St.Martin, St. Barthelemy (Barts), St. Kitts, Dominica, Tobago. First google (research) each island to find the side that has rougher water, then look for resorts/hotels on that side, then ask for ocean front (vs. inland facing) rooms. Rougher water is not a negative, just the side with more wave action instead of very calm lake-like seas.

Betsy

Totally adored our visit to Sooke Harbour House a few years ago. Dinner was awesome. Don't remember hearing the surf, though.

basingstoke2

Drive into the El Yunque rainforest in Puerto Rico at night, preferably when there is no moon. Park in the small parking area near the waterfall. Standing next to your car in nearly total darkness, listen to the night sounds of the rainforest - a veritable symphony of insect song punctuated by the call of tiny coqui frog - coqui, coqui. You will never forget it.

Belinda

You said that you are open to anything so.... I spent last weekend in an overwater bungalow at the Berjaya Resort in Langkawi (Malaysia). The water was so loud and so relentless that after three days I couldn't wait to be back on dry land! You will definitely go to sleep and wake up to the sound of the sea.

annhig

absolutely agree with bvl - come to Cornwall. if you stay on the north coast you will be spoilt for choice of places with crashing surf and the sound of gulls.

you could start here : [though note that the map is a bit misleading as it implies that Cornwall is on the coast of Ireland]

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...north-cornwall

several of their picks are right on the coast, and a few only just a mile or so inland.

or if you've got the cash, this is a fantastic place to stay, right on the cliffs:

http://www.scarlethotel.co.uk/

good luck with your search!

WWK

Sorry these are so far, but both Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos and Kaanapali in Hawaii have what you're looking for.

There are lots of condos/resorts right on the beach in Grace Bay. Same is true in Hawaii.

sandralist

I would go to Portugal. It's Atlantic coast has some of the biggest waves in the world.

MissPrism

I once lived in Aberystwyth on South Marine Terrace. You could certainly hear the sea there. I see that there are a few B&Bs there.