It can cost a pretty penny to spend a day at the beach at Italian beach clubs (stabilimenti balneari), and prices are on the rise. AdvertisementIt's widely estimated that at least half of Italy's nearly 8,000 kilometres of shoreline is operated by private lidos, where you have to pay for beach access. You also have to bring your own umbrella, chairs and even food, since it's rare to find a snack bar at a public beach. More than 80 percent of Altroconsumer's survey respondents reported the availability of such facilities as the reason they chose to pay for a private beach club. Altroconsumo is currently heading up a campaign and public petition to reform Italy's beach system, advocating for more free beaches, fair prices for consumers, and a more transparent tender process for private lido vendors.