Beachspotter.com FAQ

Using Beachspotter

by Pete

The site in a nutshell (or should we say, seashell)

The key to creating the best beach-spotting tool is up to you. We'd love to personally visit each and every beach but that would take a lifetime and a never-ending supply of flip-flops. Plus, when it comes to your hot spots, you are the pros. So, it's you, the users to spread the word about the best and worst beaches you've ever been to. The steps are easy:

1. Register:

Join the community of fresh bait out there. Choose a user name and password and we'll send you a validation email.

We're working on a profile page that you can use to store your own personal information. Keep your eye on the site for this addition. So cool it's gnarly... almost.

2. Search:

If you're on a hunt for the perfect tan don't know where to go to get it, the best way is to browse through the beaches on the site. Just enter the name of the location in the search box or, click on the 'Browse' link at the top of the page. This will take you to a page displaying all countries. Paradise here we come...

If you are looking for a specific beach, search for it using the search box in the top right-hand corner of the homepage.

If you can't find it, add it yourself using the 'Add a beach' tab at the top of the page.

3. Add a beach:

If the beach you love (or hate) isn't listed, do the rest of us a favour and add it.
Once you're registered, enter the name of the beach, it's location and if you fancy it, string a few words together in a review. You'll need to locate it on a map too - but read on, that bit's easy.

4: Using the maps:

The map will display automatically when you add a beach - but you'll need to zoom in to exact location. Use the buttons on the left of the map to do this. Place the target as close as possible to the beach as you can - or we'll all end up in the sand dunes (or Antarctic) when we try to locate it.

If you don't know where the beach is, please notify us at beachspotter @ googlemail .com and we'll do our best to find out.

If you spot an incorrect entry throw us a lifebuoy (i.e. an email) to beachspotter @ googlemail .com

5. Review:

As you search through the site you may come across beaches you've been to. Unleash the inner writer within and share a few words of wisdom with your fellow beach babes.

6. Rate:

To make it easier for you, there's a simple rating system. Just enter the features that make the beach stand out and give each one a score. There's no limit, we want the good, the bad and the ugly; from the size of the waves, texture of the sand, topless totty, to accessibility. Drag your mouse along the star rating - the more the better.

7. Create lists:

Create a list of beaches to suit your taste. You can use these for a quick an easy reference and they'll help others find inspiration.

The type of list is up to you - your imagination is the only limit.
A few examples are:

• Best Australian beaches
• Best for scuba diving
• Dog friendly beaches
• Don't swim here
• Seaweed central
• Best nudist beaches

You get the drift...

General enquiries

What is BeachSpotter all about?

BeachSpotter is a guide for beach lovers all over the world.

It is a place to search for the world's best and worst beaches. Users can add, review and search for their favourite beaches. They can create their own profile and view those of other beach lovers. They can also create their own customised lists. You can record their experiences and advice about the beaches you've visited... or just browse through the tips that others have shared.

The site is what you make it so feel free to let us know about your hidden coastal secrets. Top spots for fishing, surfing, swimming and seaside sauciness - whatever 'floats your boat'. Interactive maps also make searching for hot spots easy.

How do I locate a beach?

If you are looking for a specific beach, search for it using the search box in the top right-hand corner of the homepage. If you can't find it, add it yourself using the 'Add a beach' tab at the top of the page.

If you don't know the name of the beach and just want to browse through a region for inspiration enter the name of the location in the search box or, click on the 'Browse' link at the top of the page. This will take you to a page displaying all countries.

How do I contact beachspotter.com directly?

Drop us an email at: beachspotter @ googlemail .com

Or write to us:
39 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0EE

Registration and personal details

I've forgotten my password

Very simply, if you click on the 'log in' link on the top of your page it will open a register box. Click on the 'forgot my password' link and enter you email address or username, we'll send your password to your email address.

My password won't work

One frequent problem is that passwords for the site are case sensitive. You could try to enter your password with a different case (eg: all capitals - you may have had the Caps Lock switched on when you entered your password originally). The quickest thing to do is to click the 'forgot password?' link in the log-on box. You will then be able to enter your e-mail address and have your password e-mailed to you instantly.

What happens if I haven't received a confirmation email?

Check the junk mail section of your email inbox - sometimes extra sensitive filters will pick them up. If it is not located there, please contact beachspotter @ googlemail .com and we'll look into the problem for you.

Using the maps

How do I move my cursor across the maps?

When adding a beach, do not attempt to grasp the target with the mouse. You can only move across the map by grasping the outside edges of the map and dragging it across the screen.
NOTE: The map moves in the opposite direction to which you move the cursor.

I can't see the beach on the map - how do I get a more detailed view?

The controls in the top left-hand side of the map allow you to zoom in and out of the map. In order to stay focused on your destination point you may also need to use the left, right, up and down buttons above this zoom tool. The arrows correspond with the direction in which the map will move.

Map, Satellite and Hybrid - what does that mean? Which should I use?

These refer to the type of map you want displayed. Map: is a simple, graphical representation of the world. It uses block colour, clear lines and labels. Satellite is a photographic geographical view of the world. It does not contain labels. Hybrid is a mixture of the two.

What is Google Earth?

Google Earth is an application that shows satellite images of the world and allows fast zooming and panning. Beachspotter beaches can be seen inside Google Earth by clicking on "View in Google Earth" from the options on the left when viewing a beach.
Download Google Earth here

Where do your maps come from?

Our maps are all sourced from Google Maps. The map data found in Google Maps is sourced largely from NAVTEQ and TeleAtlas. Similarly, the imagery found in "Satellite" mode is sourced predominantly from DigitalGlobe and EarthSat.

I'm worried about my privacy. Are Google's satellite images real-time?

The satellite images on Google Maps (beta) are taken from a variety of commercial and public resources and are not real-time in nature. The images that Google Maps displays are no different from what can be seen by anyone who flies over or drives by a specific geographic location.

Does Google Maps work everywhere?

Google Maps provides satellite imagery for the entire world at varying levels of resolution. This information was taken courtesy of the Google Map help section

Submitting a review

What can I review?

You can review any beach - anywhere in the world. The good, the bad and the downright sandy.

Do I have to log in to submit a review?

Yes, you do. You can do this using the log in tab at the top of the page. if you have not yet registered you must do this first.

How do I submit a review?

1. Find the beach you want to review and click on its title. This will open the beach's information section.
2. Click on the blue 'Add a review' button - if you have not already logged in you will need to do so now in the pop up box.
3. Drag your mouse along the star rating at the top. This is a general overall score - the more stars the better.
4. Write a small review describing the beach, your opinion on it etc.
5. When you are happy with your overall rating and review, check the spelling and press the 'Submit your review' button.

What do I do if I notice an offensive review?

Please notify us at beachspotter @ googlemail .com

Adding a rating

What is a rating?

A rating is the 'score' you give to the various features and amenities a beach has. You assign these yourself - according to what is important to you.

How do I submit a rating?

1. Find the beach you want to rate and click on its title. This will open the beach's information section.
2. Click on the blue 'Add a rating' button - if you have not already logged in you will need to do so now in the pop up box.
3. Enter the feature you want to rate. Please take care with spelling
4. Drag your mouse along the star rating - the scores range from one - poor to five - excellent.
5. When you are happy with your rating, press the 'Add rating' button.
6. Repeat this process for as many features as you like.

Been there

What does 'Been there' mean?

This one is quite self-explanatory. As you browse through the beaches on the site you can tick the 'Been there' box if you have visited the beach you are viewing. This will automatically add the beach to a list of beaches you have visited. You can see the entire list on your 'My beaches' page.

Adding a list

What is a list?

A list is a selection of beaches that fit into a chosen category. We're not all adrenaline junkies or surfers and everyone wants different things out of a seaside experience. Create lists to group together your favourite beaches, for easy access to them and to guide others with similar interests.

How do I submit a list?

1. Find the beach you want to include in a list and click on its title. This will open the beach's information section.
2. Click on the blue 'Add a list' button - if you have not already logged in you will need to do so now in the pop up box.
3. If you want to add a new list, click on the 'New list' button.
4. Enter the name of the list (e.g. 'Best Topless Beaches') and a description (e.g. The best places to get an all-over tan without being locked up for indecent exposure'.
5. Press submit and the beach will automatically be added to the new list.
6. If you want to add a new beach to an existing list, find the beach (you'll need to add it if it's not already there) and select a lost from the dropdown menu in 'Add this beach to my list'.

Can I create more than one list?

You can create as many as you wish.

Can I view other people's lists?

Yes you can. When you're on a beach's page the lists in which it is displayed will show up in the list section.

Links

What is the 'Links' page for?

The Links page displays all the extra information you may need about a particular beach. Recent news articles, travel guides, web cams, images, you name it. If you have something you'd like to point us towards simply drop us an email at beachspotter @ googlemail .com and we'll slap it on there.

Using the Photos section

Can I submit my own photos?

Unfortunately, you can't do this automatically. If you've got an image that quite simply can't be missed, email it through to us at beachspotter @ googlemail .com and if it's as pretty as you say it is we'll add it. At the moment, the Photo page displays feeds of images from all over the Internet. All the more reason to make sure you spell the beach names correctly.

Other information

What do I do if I have a complaint?

If you spot something wrong with site or the content, please email us with as much information as possible, including a link to the incorrect page. We will do whatever we can to resolve the problem.

Where can I get destination and travel advice?

Head to lastminute.com for all your travel deals and advice.