How To Prepare For a Beach Trip?
Do you love spending time at the beach? Proper preparation can mean the difference between having a blast in the sand and sea and being miserable because of things like sunburns, bug bites, bad weather, etc. These tips will help you have a fabulous time, whether your oceanside stay will last a month, a week or two, a weekend, or just a day.
Choose the Right Beach for the Type of Vacation You Want.
Start by deciding what type of experience you want from your stay.
Do you enjoy lively crowds or would you rather read a book and listen to the lapping ocean waves in relative quiet? Are you travelling with young children or would you prefer mostly adult company? Do you want to bring your dog along or would you rather be somewhere that doesn't allow pets? Do you want to avoid biting insects? Do you plan to spend most of your time on the sand or in the water? Do your research first to find a beach that has the type of environment you'll enjoy most.
2. Protect Yourself
Nothing can ruin a beach vacation faster than a sunburn, itchy bug bites, or a cut on the foot! So be prepared to deal with them so they won't spoil your trip. Buy a new bottle of sunscreen to pack to make sure you won’t run out and be sure to check the expiration date. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen formula for UVA and UVB protection with an SPF of 15 or higher. For extended outdoor activity, they recommend a water-resistant, broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
3. Be Prepared for Mishaps and Emergencies
Remember Ben Franklin's famous saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." You've armed yourself with an effective, high SPF sunblock and are applying and reapplying it liberally throughout the day. You've checked about the biting insect situation, brought an appropriate insect repellent, if appropriate, and are following the package directions carefully. You're protecting your eyes with sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays whenever you're outdoors. You've bought and are wearing appropriate sandals and/or water shoes to protect your feet.
And you've stashed any keys and valuables you want to take with you to the beach inside a waterproof, airtight, crush-proof dry box. You're definitely a smart cookie! It's even smarter to expect the unexpected and be as prepared as possible to handle any mishaps.
4. Plan Fun Activities For Both Good and Bad Weather
A little advance planning will let you enjoy your vacation even if you get a few days of cold, windy, rainy or stormy weather during your stay!
5. Bring Your Own Food, Snacks, and Water and Other Beverages
With very few exceptions, most beaches either have no food at all for sale or provide only a very limited choice of unhealthy and overpriced burgers, salty hot dogs and potato chips, and sugary soda drinks. If you're staying at a friend's house or renting a beach house that has kitchen facilities, bring your own tastier, healthier and cheaper meals, snacks, and beverages (and, of course, lots of cold, refreshing water and ice in a stay-cool thermos or insulated hydration bottle).
If you don't have access to a kitchen while you're on vacation but your hotel room contains a small refrigerator, consider making a quick trip to a local grocery or farmer's market to buy fruits, vegetables, loaves of bread, cheeses, crackers, sandwich fixings, bottled water, juices, and/or snacks so you can pack a cooler to take with you to the beach each day. You'll save money and eat a lot better, too!
6. Capture Your Vacation in Photos and Videos
It's fun to look back on a wonderful, relaxed trip to the shore and relive those good times...especially when you're shivering in the middle of winter! So make sure you don't forget to pack a digital camera, film camera, and/or videocam. You can capture some incredible shots with a high-quality underwater camera, especially if you plan to do any snorkeling or scuba diving.
For digital cameras and videocams, be sure to bring extra batteries, removable storage and a charger. If you're also bringing a laptop or tablet, remember to bring the right cable so you can transfer your photos and videos to it each night so you won't run out of storage space. And if you're traveling to a foreign country, bring a universal power adapter.
If you're bringing a film camera, make sure to pack plenty of fresh film (check the expiration dates on the film canisters or packaging).
Regardless of which type of camera or videocam you decide to bring, make sure you also bring a waterproof storage case to protect it.
