Don’t you just miss spending time at your favorite sandy beach, or perhaps one that you’ve been eyeing for a long time. The sighing waves, the rolling tides, the gritty sand, and the sunshine on your skin; Oh! Can it get better than that?
Undoubtedly, you can fail to enjoy the full extent of what any beach offers if you don’t make adequate preparations. It is the difference between having a fantastic vacation and feeling miserable. For instance, you might pick a spot with bad weather and many bugs, or you can forget to carry your sunscreen—let’s not start talking about the nasty sunburns that people get.
So whether you’re heading to the Caribbean or somewhere in Africa or you’re planning to explore some of the local beaches, you need to prepare beyond just carrying your beachwear or sunscreen. You need to do a lot more.
Select the most appropriate beach for your vacation type
If you’re an avid beach traveler, you’re well aware that not every beach is suitable for you. First, there are those with lively crowds and those with splashing waves in relatively quiet environments. We also have beaches that have campgrounds where you can bring your furry friend along.
Other beaches also have rules regarding what you can or can’t do. For example, do you love a cookout, jet skiing, or hanging around after the sun sets? Be sure to confirm if your desired beach allows such because you might be disappointed.
It’s also important to consider these questions. Are you a good swimmer or diver? Are you bringing along your family? Are you looking to enjoying swimming in the water? The answer to these questions will determine whether you should find a beach having certified lifeguards because they’re the difference between life and death.
Data from the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) shows that the chances of drowning are 0.0000055% in a beach with a USLA certified lifeguard. Basically, you can’t drown when a lifeguard is around.
Carry Beach Accessories
Although most 5-star resorts or hotels offer on-site accessories, we cannot emphasize this enough, be sure to carry yours. Why? Because first, you’re going to need something that is very comfortable. You may want something close to the ground or seats higher, which your would-be hotel doesn’t offer.
It would help if you also had your clean beach towels around. While you can always find this at a resort, it doesn’t hurt to bring yours—at least you can be sure about your towels’ cleanliness.
Another reason why you should bring your accessories is because you want to get the most out of your beach experience. What if your resort has fewer amenities? Would you sit and wait for your turn or arrive at the beach earlier than others to grab them? Or what if you want to relax at your private spot?
Be sure to carry your accessories. Alternatively, you can inquire about their availability as you make travel plans.
Always pack your sunscreen
Sunscreen does more than just protect you from nasty sunburns; it reduces your risk of skin pre-cancers and cancers. It reduces the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma by 40 and 50 percent, respectively. It also prevents the premature aging of your skin, which entails sagging, wrinkles, and age spots. You sure don’t want to come from vacation looking worse than before!
Although you’re probably aware of this and regularly use your recommended SPF 15 sunscreen, vacationing on the beach requires more. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using an SPF 30 broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against all types of ultraviolet rays.
However, you need to remember that some sunscreens can affect your face adversely, especially if you have sensitive skin. You can always carry two types of sunscreens- one for your body and another one for your face. Be sure to test them beforehand.
Carry an insect repellant
No one is going to tell you this; vacations can get itchy. Itchy bites from mosquitoes, ants, and other biting bugs can worsen your overall experience. Some bugs, including fleas, flies, and ticks, can cause illnesses such as Lyme, chikungunya, and dengue fever, among others. According to the CDC, while some of these illnesses are mild, some can have adverse and lasting effects and sometimes prove fatal.
So before traveling, research your destination. Are you traveling to a remote location with swarms of these nasty bugs? Do you need to get vaccinated against anything? Does your destination accommodation site offer bug protection accessories? Knowing this will help decide what you need to carry. However, the standard rule is always to have a bug spray and an insect repellant to be safe. It will help you rest easy on the sand.
Prepare yourself for emergencies and mishaps
As with any other endeavor, beach vacations can also have mishaps or emergencies. You might get sunburns, cut or bruise yourself while running, or even faint because of the heat. Although we hope for the best, we need to prepare for the worst.
So here’s what you need to do.
• Carry a relief treatment for insect bites to lessen the itching.
• Bring along an antihistamine to reduce the swelling and itching that follows some insect bites.
• Pack a pain reliever or an anti-inflammatory medication to relieve the pain from working out or surfing for an extended period.
• Also, carry a first aid kit with some alcohol wipes, tapes and bandages, and ointment.
Prepare for both bad and good weather
The weather can be unpredictable at times. While you might have anticipated sunbathing and surfing, you can experience a downpour. So, start by planning some fun activities at the beach. Are you a passionate reader? Carry with some books. Bring some toys and sports equipment, especially if you’re traveling as a family.
Then plan for ocean activities. Do you like going to a surf camp Costa Rica? Come with a surfboard and enjoy the rolling waves. You can also bring swim fins, a snorkel or some fitness equipment.
Lastly, plan for indoor activities. Carry a tablet or a laptop for reading or playing games. You can also carry a board game set and playing cards as well as stationery and pens. Having a music device also won’t hurt. You can dance to the beats and chill to some soft melodies.
You can have a perfect beach vacation with adequate planning. Although we always expect to have fun, things can turn for the worst; it’s essential to prepare both for good and bad events.