A perfectly planned beach bag is the key to a successful summer day. The walk from the villa down to the cove may be shaded by palm trees, or may take you past the pool, but the point is, in order to be prepared for anything you need the right accessories at your fingertips. First choose a simple bag of washable light fabric, something flexible and large enough for all the essentials. A good bag to travel with in general are those that you can fold up small or double as a carry-on bag full of lotion, books and sleepshades in first class. (We talked about tips on strategic packing in a previous post here.) Fill the bag with a pair of beautiful sunglasses, a great paraben free sunscreen with a high SPF, a non-plastic water reusable water bottle and your favorite big soft beach towel. You can also toss in a neat little bikini bag if you're going to change out of your bathing suit before dinner and need somewhere to stow the wet suit without getting everything else in your bag soaked.
In order to cut down on carrying too much you can choose items that are easily adaptable such as a pareo and wear them to the beach. A pareo is essentially a large lightweight wrap - but with an endless list of possible ways to wear it. You can wrap it around your waist for the walks along the boardwalk or you can toss it over your shoulders while enjoying the breezes on the yachts while island-hopping. It can even be wrapped and twisted into a unique halter top. A beach tunic or coverup is also great for the same reasons but the tunic will easily provide an evening option simply by adding your favorite capris, a tank top and some jewelry. Don't forget a light, wide-brimmed hat to protect your skin from too much sun. Of course the blackberry or iPhone and headphones will need a spot in the bag - in the zipper pocket to protect it from sand. But keep in mind, this is your vacation so skip the work emails and only answer the ones with details about this afternoon's lawn party! So here's hoping that a cool drink and ocean breezes are in your near future. If they are, be prepared to be cool - and stay cool.
Minnow Bikini Bag; Wide-brimmed braided floppy hat; Short solid butterfly beach dress; Indigo Chevron Ikat Beach Towel
The bag's already there - where are you??
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