THE SEASON OF BEACH RESORTS
No other places are so popular in summer as beaches. While mountain and golf resorts are primarily for sporty and athletic people who prefer active rest, beach resorts suit almost to everybody. Who would refuse of the pleasure of lazing on warm and soft sand caressed by the sun and breathing in the healthy air? If such relaxation is not attractive for you, then you could spend your energy on swimming, jet skiing, snorkeling or diving - this is also accessible there. So, beach resorts are for all ages and tastes.
An ideal beach resort has a number of features. There should be a gentle slope of about 7 percent, which makes it comfortable to sunbathe, walk, jog and build sand-castles. The water purity and sand colour are also important to create an aesthetically pleasant atmosphere. It's much more preferable to stay at a hotel with rooms overlooking beautiful scenery. Besides, good meals, an access to major roads, shops, nightclubs and other public places where tourists may need to go to should be provided. Moreover, guests expecting to find here facilities for such activities as surfing, snorkeling, parasailing, kayaking, waterskiing, scuba diving, etc. must not be disappointed. And of course, everybody will be pleased to feel a friendly attitude of the staff and hospitality of the native people.
The best resorts of the world try to meet these high standards and make their guests' holidays unforgettable. The journal Forbs named twenty-four beach resorts which are considered to be the most popular and first-class. Here is the list:
1. Hayman in the north-east of Australia
2. Ocean Club - on Paradise Island in Australia
3. Copacabana Palace in Brazil
4. Little Dix Bay on the British Virgin Islands
5. Cap Juluca in the British West Indies
6. Hotel du Cap in France
7. Bora Bora Lagoon Resort in Tahiti
8. La Samanna in the French West Indies, on St. Martin's island
9. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay in Indonesia
10. Hotel Splendido in Spain
11. The Datai in Malaysia
12. Royal Palm Hotel on Mauritius Island, 500 miles off Madagascar
13. Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas on the island of Crete in Greece
14. Le Meridien Ile des Pins in New Calidonia (between Australia and Fiji)
15. The Marbella Club in Spain
16. Cotton House on the island of Mustique in the Caribbean
17. Amanpuri in Thailand
18. The Residence in Tunisia
19. Caneel Bay on the U.S. Virgin Islands
20. Shutters on the Beach in California
21. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea in Hawaii
22. Weekapaug Inn in Rhode Island
23. K Club in the West Indies
24. Las Ventanas al Para in Mexico
Certainly, all these resorts are rather expensive, but the service there is worth paying for. Many of them for years have been places visited by aristocratic families, Hollywood stars and the wealthiest businessmen only, but now they are becoming more democratic, though remaining first-rate beach resorts.
That's where you can have the time of your life. But both there and on not so expensive resorts to be wholly satisfied with your holidays you will have a reasonable wish to look accordingly. It's especially important for women, and most of all for those who keep to fashion. This year the design follows the retro trend and emphasizes femininity at the same time. Bandeau top, graphic cuts with banding and striping, "monokinies" with cut-out sides and high-waisted bikinis are in fashion. Strings, on the contrary, are out. Colours should be bright - pink, turquoise, scarlet, green, coral, blue, orange and purple. Black-and-white, coconut and chocolate swim suits are also preferable. As for prints, exotic theme is the central one - flowers and fruits. Very elegant look swim suits with gems - amethyst, chrysoberyl, turquoise and tiger eye. A good accompaniment will be big wooden and metal bracelets, large bids, loose overalls and turbans, or bright shawls, wide-brimmed hats, long bids and large ear-rings.
Thinking of getting a fine olive skin colour, one shouldn't forget about the danger of sun rays. The best time for safe sunbathing is in the morning before 10 a.m. and in the evening after 4-5 p.m. The time between 12 p.m. and 17 p.m. is better to spend in the shade - the risk of skin damage is too great. Don't expose yourself to sun rays for more than 15-20 minutes. People with pale skin and fair hair, and those having a lot of molts must be especially careful. Use sunscreens for protection. When choosing them, pay attention to the SPF number on the label indicating the level of protection which is directly proportional to the number. Smother your skin for 30 minutes before sunbathing and first of all take care of your face, neck, breast and palms. If you have a greasy skin, you'd better use gels. Women shouldn't make up while lying in the sun - it can cause spots on the skin.
If a good piece of advice is all you need to spend your vacations perfectly, then buy a package, take all you need and - bon voyage! But in case something else is necessary, don't spare yourself to make next summer excellent.
References:
http://www.aif.ru/online/dochki/255
http://www.forbes.com/2001/06/07/0607feat.html
http://www.iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/spring05/osterer/water.html
http://www.dj.ru/fishky/moda/52792.shtml
http://www.fashiongates.com/magazine/fashion-news-fashion-trends.html