On our first trip to a resort, we brought only swimsuits, sunglasses, and the bright-eyed innocence of a couple who’s never met Resort People. Now, years later, we are those Resort People.
We show up to the beach with our bag full of tricks and pull them out one by one to the awe of those around us, Mary Poppins style. Here are the things we think you need to maximize your resort stay and become a Resort Person:
➡ A tumbler with a lid and straw. Resorts will usually serve you in tiny cups, because a lot of people seem to finish half a drink and then leave it behind. But you’re not an amateur, and when you order a mango colada, you want a WHOLE mango colada. Hand the tumbler to a bartender or a server (keep the lid and straw), and you’ll get a full 20 oz. of your favorite cocktail.
➡ A waterproof pouch for your mobile phone and other belongings. Waterproof phone holders are very popular, but we want space for more than that, and we don’t want something hanging around our necks, giving us weird tan lines. This waterproof pouch can be worn around your waist or cross-body, can float if you trap air inside before triple-sealing it, and will actually allow you to use your phone through the material! We remove our phones from the pouch to take photos, so we bought two dark ones to conceal their contents.
➡ Water shoes. Go from the coffee bar to the pool without having to stop to take your sandals off! These don’t look like they’re obviously meant for the water, so you can wear them from the beach to the lobby without a second glance from anyone. You can even wear them at those pesky a la carte resort restaurants that require closed-toe shoes!
➡ Towel clips are great for keeping your towels on your chairs during those breezy beach days. They’re also a fantastic way to make sure no one mistakes your chair for theirs! We love these flamingo clips for when you really want to get noticed, but we have the plain clothespin version for when we want to appear ~classy~.
➡ One of us has this beach coverup hoodie (hint: it’s the female one of us) and is obsessed with it. It provides 50+ UPF, and the hood is amazing for providing back-of-the-neck protection when the sun just keeps creeping on your beach chair. It’s lightweight enough to dry quickly when wet but warm enough for the end of the day when the sun has gone down.
One of the fun things about going to resorts year after year is that you start to learn the little tricks that make your stays the best they can be. No more relying on the resort’s tiny cups! No more shivering when you’re the last ones out at the beach after sundown in December!
And if we’ve missed your favorite resort-ready buy, let us know! We’re always looking to get better at being Resort People!
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