Traveling is exciting but there are a multitude of details to get right. There are hundreds of things to remember and overlooking even one can mean hassles and frustrations. So while you're counting down the days to your trip, here's a handy article to help you get ready for the beach.

Get your skin ready

Caribbean beaches are some of the hottest places in the world and your skin is going to be exposed to both the sun as well as the gaze of your fellow travellers, so it's definitely worth the time spent getting ready for a change in climate.

Get some self-tanning location from the pharmacy. A few days before you leave, apply it according to the directions; twice a day for two to three days is usually enough. Be careful of the elbows, knees and ankles so they don't get extra dark and streak, and moisturize heavily before applying. You will be as brown as you want when you hit the beach, but you should still wear sunscreen.

Northern climates give a lot of people rough elbows. Smooth those rough spots out with an alpha-hydroxy lotion and a thick cream containing wax or paraffin. Rubbing vaseline on your elbows right after taking a shower for a few days is quite effective as well.

Do not go to a tanning booth -- you can get severe sun damage that will eventually show up on your skin. While this makes great business for a dermatologist in your future, it is not in your best interest.

Get your supplies at home

Beach supplies in Playa can be as expensive as water in the desert. Sun tan lotion costs upwards of $18 a bottle and they're now selling aspirin in packets of two for $3 to clueless tourists who forgot to plan ahead. Why needlessly waste money when you can buy these things at home and bring them with you?

Stock up on the following:

• Sun tan lotion
• Aloe Vera lotion (you'll need lots of this)
• Band aids
• Cold medicine
• Insect repellent
• Aspirin
• Motion sickness tablets (especially if you plan on going boating)
• Antibacterial handsoap
• Lip balm with sunscreen

For the truly prepared, the following should be kept in a beachbag in case of jellyfish sting (see below):

• Meat tenderizer paste
• vinegar
• baking soda
• rubber gloves
• tweezers
• hydrocortizone cream (this is actually quite inexpensive at the local pharmacies)

Don't forget these common items for the kids:

• 2 swimsuits per child
• 2 towels per child (one will always be wet)
• Beach toys: frisbee, paddle ball, football, crayons, travel games
• Baby powder
• Baby sunscreen
• Baby wipes
• Diaper rash ointment

Beach Goods:

• Cooler (optional with adults, but nice to have if travelling with kids)
• Inflatable Beach ball
• Inflatable floating lounge chairs - great to have if you're staying in a quiet hotel
• Boogie Boards - these are a lot of fun in Playa. They are especially cheap at home but expensive to rent.
• Inflatable Party Lounges - hang out with a few friends in the ocean.
• Towables - these inflatable tubes hold up to 3 people and are meant to be towed through the water. Lots of fun if you plan on renting a boat.

Make sure you pack all sun-tan lotions and other gels in your check-in luggage. US regulations prohibit carrying more than 3 ounces of liquids in carry-ons and airport security will throw them away if they find them (which is pretty likely).

Know the Dangers

Now the chances are you are going to have an absolutely incident free vacation, but it's good to be aware of the possible dangers that you can face on Mexican beaches.

Debris on Beaches

The better beaches in Playa are raked clean every morning, but because they are owned by the Federal government, the local hotels don't always take care of them like they should. Check your beach area carefully for rocks, garbage, glass, and sometimes metal rods sticking out of the sand. If you find anything, let the hotel staff know about it and insist they remove it if it presents a danger. (This is especially true if you have small children running around)

Beach Flags

Mexico beaches have a flagging system to indicate the current safety conditions on each section of the beach, based on weather, tides, wave height, and water quality.

A black flag is the highest warning level - it indicates dangerous conditions and you should not enter the water under any conditions. The other flags you may see are:

Red Flag - Dangerous conditions, swim with extreme caution

Yellow Flag - No immediate danger, but use caution while swimming.

Green Flag - Water conditions are safe and swimming is ok.

You may see others swimming even when the flags indicate it is not safe to do so. Do not join them - chances are they are unaware of the meaning of the flags.

Jellyfish

Jellyfish are a relatively common aquatic creature in Playa. They are easy to spot and avoid in the water, but you should also stay clear of jellyfish on land, jellyfish parts, or dead-looking jellyfish, as their poison can still be potent.

Jellyfish stings can cause mild discomfort and skin irritation, to severe pain and swelling and/or lesions of the skin, with a vague feeling of sickness, to a life-threatening condition. Jellyfish reactions depend upon a number of factors, such as when and where the sting occurred, the type and size of the jellyfish itself, and one's own natural immunity.

If a trained lifeguard is available, s/he'll know the protocol and have treatment on hand. When you're on your own, get the stung person out of the water and make sure the affected area is as still as possible. Before the jellyfish's tentacles are removed from the body, its stinging capsules, a.k.a. the nematocysts, located at the tips, need to be inactivated. This is important to do in order to prevent further release of the jellyfish's toxin. To help accomplish this, thoroughly rinse the affected region with vinegar (preferably) or seawater.

Myth Alert: Urinating on jellyfish stings doesn't help and can actually make the sting worse. It's also embarassing - don't do it!

Next, carefully and completely remove the jellyfish's tentacles with protective gloves, tweezers, or another object, such as a shell, while avoiding direct contact with the jellyfish. Then, the stung skin needs to be liberally covered with vinegar or a paste of baking soda or unseasoned meat tenderizer (or seawater if none of these substances is available), for at least 30 minutes or until symptoms improve. If you use meat tenderizer paste, an item some people in high jellyfish areas carry in their beach bags, apply it for no more than 15 minutes. This also helps inactivate any remaining venom.

If the affected skin has open sores, clean the area, treat it with antibiotic ointment, and cover the skin, several times a day, until it's healed. If itchiness continues, apply 1 percent hydrocortisone cream and/or take an over-the-counter antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine. For pain relief, taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen, applying an ice pack to the area, and/or using a topical anesthetic, such as benzocaine or lidocaine hydrochloride, can help.

Have the stung person see a medical provider right away if the victim experiences weakness, headaches, difficulty breathing, nausea or vomiting, chest pain, or any other sign of allergic reaction.