How to Pack the Perfect Beach Bag

Every so often, we like to go through our vault and revive previous posts that people liked. Some things never get old—like this post with advice on packing the perfect beach bag, originally published in June 2015.

Is a day at the beach part of your summer plans? Whether you’re visiting us in the Caribbean or spending a weekend at a beach resort nearby, you’ll want to remember to bring all of the essentials for a great day of fun in the sun. Here are some of our favorite items to fill up your beach bag:

Sunscreen – Undoubtedly, the most important thing you can pack in your beach bag is sunscreen! It will protect you from the sun’s harmful rays and ensure that you leave your beach day with a healthy glow instead of a burn! Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, and don’t forget to reapply throughout the day to keep your skin protected.

Tip: Try a spray-on sunscreen that lets you apply even coverage easily without missing a spot.

Read more about sun protection!

Accessories – When packing for your beach day, you definitely don’t want to leave your sunglasses, hat, flip flops and cover-up behind at the resort. These summer accessories will make you look stylish while also keeping you comfortable during your day in the sun. You also won’t want to forget a plush, comfy towel to lie on.

Tip: Polarized sunglasses are great for people with sensitive eyes. They’ll give you crisp, clear views of the beautiful scenery while keeping you squint-free!

Hair products – If you’ve got long locks, you’ll want to bring along some beauty accessories to keep your hair out of your face and untangled for the day. Pack some hair ties, bobby pins or clips, in addition to a headband or scarf to keep shorter hair pulled back. You can also bring a small bottle of detangling hair spray and a wide-tooth comb to brush out any knots from the wind or water to keep your hair looking great.

Tip: Want to keep the beachy waves after you’ve left the shore? Try spritzing a saltwater spray into your hair and scrunching it to imitate the look your hair gets from the ocean air.

Entertainment – While your main reason for a beach day might be to get some much needed R&R, you may also want to pack some things to keep you entertained throughout the day. Pack some portable speakers to play music from your phone or MP3 player, a book or magazine to read, or even a game like bocce ball or horseshoe. If you have little ones, don’t forget the necessary tools for sandcastle building!

Tip: If you’re planning to bring electronics to the beach, like your phone, MP3 player or eReader, make sure to put them into a protective case first to keep sand & water from ruining them!

What are your must-have items for a beach day? Share them in the comments below!

Caribbean Islands You Should Visit Right Now

Whether you’re looking for an indulgent getaway or a taste of authentic Caribbean culture, there’s no time like the present to visit the islands. The Caribbean Journal has compiled a list of nine islands that are ideal for spring travel—some well-established tourist destinations, some on the rise.

Barbados, Bonaire and St. Croix all receive shout-outs. Barbados makes the cut for its luxury reputation as “the English-speaking St. Barts;” Bonaire, for its friendly yet trendy culture; St. Croix, for its rising foodie scene. You can see the full list here.

Barbados Rum Is the Best Rum: How to Taste It While You’re Here

Barbados is perhaps best known for its rum. It’s been produced here for more than 350 years, most famously by Mount Gay Distillery, established in 1703. Barbados rum is still some of the world’s finest, and visitors have a range of great opportunities to taste, appreciate and discover the ins and outs of “Barbados Water.”

  • If you’re interested in seeing a working sugar plantation and learning the history behind rum production, your best bet is St. Nicholas Abbey. Rum was closely tied to the Caribbean sugar trade—centuries ago, it was part of the so-called “Triangular Trade” that also involved the capture and transportation of slaves and the shipment of molasses. Take a tour of St. Nicholas Abbey to see the house and visit the grounds. Its current owners also started an artisan rum distillery, which you can explore while you’re there.
  • Mount Gay Rum offers a visitor experience that includes a tour, a film presentation, a visit to the Mount Gay bottling plant and a rum tasting.
  • The Foursquare Rum Distillery is a working modern rum production facility that produces a range of spiced rums as well as Doorly’s, Rum 66, E.S.A. Field and Tommy Bahama. Visitors are invited to explore sections of the factory floor and read the placards explaining the rum-making process. Entrance is free.
  • Seemingly wherever you look on Barbados, you’ll find a cozy rum shop where the locals enjoy passing an afternoon. Some also serve authentic Bajan (Barbadian) food like pudding and souse, flying fish and macaroni pie. Visiting a rum shop is the best way to get a sense of what Barbados rum really means to people today.

While you’re at it, have you tried pouring a splash of rum over ice cream? Don’t go overboard (yes, that becomes a sailing pun in light of rum’s history with the British Navy), but it’s a fun way to spice up your dessert island-side.

New Inter-Island Flights to Extend Your 2017 Vacation

2017 InselAir Flight Time Table, courtesy of InselAir

InselAir, a small airline focused on short local flights among the Caribbean islands, has just rolled out a new schedule of inter-island arrivals and departures for Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao and St. Maarten. In 2017, InselAir now offers four flights per day between Bonaire and Curacao, five flights per day between Curacao and Aruba and two flights per day between Curacao and St. Maarten.

If you’re interested in extending your vacation by a few days, why not hop a plane to a neighboring island before you head home? Each Caribbean island has its own distinct culture and way of life, which can be a pleasure to discover and explore. Each Divi Resort also has its own personality—if you’ve enjoyed one of them, you might consider learning the Divi way on a new island. Whether you choose Aruba, Bonaire, St. Maarten or one of our others, we can guarantee warm hospitality that’s authentically Caribbean. Bon bini!

Sun Protection for Babies

The Caribbean is an incredibly popular destination for families. The calm waves and shallow waters of our beaches present the perfect opportunity to introduce young children to the ocean. Our breezy, sunny weather doesn’t hurt, either. But it’s important to remember that the sun rays can be much stronger here than other places! You can help protect the littlest members of your family by giving them hats, applying lots of sunscreen with a high SPF, making sure they wear T-shirts and keeping them out of direct sunlight for long periods of time.

A family of globe-trotting bloggers has several more sun shelter tips for beach vacations with the kids—you can take a look here.

St. Maarten Heineken Regatta Kicks Off Today

Get ready for an action-packed weekend of world-class sailboat racing at the 37th Annual St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, taking place March 2-5, 2017. Last year, participants from 37 countries traveled to St. Maarten to compete. It’s a great time to be on the island—not only do you get to see impressive vessels and meet experienced pros in the sport of sailing, you get a chance to join in the fabulous parties that always accompany the event.

To all those on-island, have a great regatta! Don’t forget to block next year’s regatta into your schedule: it will take place March 1-4, 2018.