I ♥ the beach by Steph S-C-O

{Montego Bay, Jamaica}

Best Resort. It's a tie between the Bavaro Princess (for beachjunkie's wedding) and Iberostar Paraiso Beach (for A&E's wedding)

Worst Resort. Marea de Portillo in Manzanillo, Cuba -- it was my very first all-inclusive getaway and I didn't do much research!

Tropical Cocktail of choice. Usually something sour or a beer.

Favourite Sunblock. Ombrelle -- have used it for years!

Beach tunes. I don't listen to music much when I'm on the beach...I like to hear the waves and the noise the people make. But, in the even that I do, I like Jack Johnson.

One magazine to bring. I usually bring a book or crosswords, but, I do carry a Women's Health Mag.

Best Tour Operator. I'm not sure but I know I don't like Sunwing.

Go to travel agent/company. We've booked with itravel2000 mostly, but, we have also used Bev Chin from Travel Kiosk.

Travel Essentials. Sunblock, lip balm, sunglasses, lotion, flip flops, bikini, UNDERWEAR!!!

Steph
stephsolchai.wordpress.com

I ♥ the beach by Aileen

{Waikiki Beach, HI}

Best resort. Iberostar Paraiso Beach. We got married at this resort in the company of our friends and family. One of our most memorable vacations!

Worst resort. I haven't found one yet, but there were resorts that were not as comfortable but they always had other amenities to make up for it.

Tropical cocktail of choice. Margarita

Favorite sunblock. L'oreal Ombrelle Sport. This sunblock goes on easily and doesn't leave a sticky residue.

Beach tunes. Bob Marley, Blue Crush Soundtrack and of course, the local music.

One magazine to bring. Women's Health.

Best tour operator. Apple vacations

Go-to travel agent/company. Allison's Travel Agency, orbitz.com

Travel essentials. Ipod with external speakers, Magazines, a couple of books, bikini, slippas, cover up, hat, aloe gel and sunscreen.

Aileen
Our Bump Adventures

I ♥ the beach by Steph

{Ashwem Beach, Goa, India}

Best resort. Yab Yum Resort at Ashwem Beach, Goa, India

Worst resort. I have not been to enough resorts to fairly say that there is a worst on my list. I can rank them, but I can't say that there is one resort that I had such a negative experience at that I can classify it that way.

Tropical cocktail of choice. Mojito

Favorite sunblock. I love the Neutrogena products because they feel the cleanest.

Beach tunes. Something acoustic.

One magazine to bring. InStyle, because it's nice and thick and easy to flip through.

Best tour operator. Not sure, so I will say SunWing

Go-to travel agent/company. I do my research for pricing on redtag.ca, itravel2000.com and Expedia. Then I get in touch with Beatrice at travelbee.ca and she usually gets me the best deals

Travel essentials. iPod, a couple of books, sunscreen, snacks, cameras, flip flops, magazines, mosquito repellant.

Steph
stingaling.wordpress.com

I ♥ the beach by Leeann

{Tulum ruins, Riviera Maya}

Best resort. Iberostar, Riviera Maya

Worst resort. RIU, Dominican Republic

Tropical cocktail of choice. Miami Vice

Favorite sunblock. Blue Lizard

Beach tunes. 311

One magazine to bring. US Weekly

Best tour operator. Depends on resort

Go-to travel agent/company. n/a

Travel essentials. camera, sunglasses, iPod, several bathing suits and coverups, sun block, lip balm that contains SPF, and most important, an all-inclusive resort!

Leeann
Join the Gossip

I ♥ the beach by Reg

{Varadero, Cuba}

Best resort. I've only been to two resorts in my travels. So out of the two resorts I'll say that Barcelo Solymar in Varadero, Cuba is my fave.

Worst resort. Dakak Beach Resort in the Philippines. I don't remember much because I was younger. It was a little bit of a trek from hotel cabin to beach. I believe the cabins are on a hill too.

Tropical cocktail of choice. I don't drink cocktails

Favorite sunblock. I have Coppertone Sport SPF30

Beach tunes. Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry, kidding... Anything acoustic.

One magazine to bring. I don't usually bring magazines because I'm busy playing beach volleyball or swimming.

Best tour operator. Sunwing

Go-to travel agent/company. ?

Travel essentials. Sport sunglasses, frisbee, iPod, sunblock, aloe, towel, hat, and some beer.

I ♥ the beach by Reni

{Boracay Island, Philippines}

Best resort. Tabacon Grand Spa and Thermal Resort (Costa Rica) and Discovery Shores Boracay (Philippines)

Worst resort. So far I've been lucky on not having a negative experience on lodging/accommodations.

Tropical cocktail of choice.  pina colada, mango margarita

Favorite sunblock. Ultra Sheer Neutrogena Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 70 and Neutrogena Sport Face Sunblock Lotion SPF 70

Beach tunes. California Gurls (Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dog), Summertime (TQ), Escapade (Janet Jackson),  I'm In Miami B*tch (LFMAO), Holiday (Madonna), I Got A Feeling (Black Eyed Peas), Dynamite (Taio Cruz)  - sorry, I listed too much.  It said, tunes - plural, right? :)

One magazine to bring. Marie Claire

Best tour operator. Interbus (Costa Rica)

Go-to travel agent/company. CostaRicanTrails , Mango Travel and Azumano Travel (mostly for trips to Asia)

Travel essentials. sunblock (the ones mentioned above), clinique after-sun body balm, flip flops, iPod, a magazine, a good book, sunglasses, passport, camera (point & shoot and dslr), wallet, pen/paper or a travel journal, blistex daily conditioning lip balm SPF 15

Reni
in HER shoes @ www.livewhatyoulove1.com
theSTREET @ http://thestreet1.tumblr.com

I ♥ the beach by Lisa

{Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos}

Best resort. The Four Seasons Maui.  But my favourite beach is Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos (see pics).  The water is the bluest I have ever scene with sugar white sand.  This beach has spoiled me and I always compare back to the beach in Turks.

Worst resort. Any all-inclusive with bad food.

Tropical cocktail of choice. Miami Vice.  Half Pina Colada and half Strawberry Daquiri when you can't decide which one you want.

Favorite sunblock. Hawaiian Tropic with the coconut scent.  Always makes me think of being on vacation.  The Neutrogena Sheer Touch collection is a close second because you don't feel it.

Beach tunes. Wipeout by the Surfaris, In the Summertime by Mungo Jerry

One magazine to bring. A very thick In Style Magazine.  I once made the mistake of bringing Shape Magazine and felt guilty my whole vacay.

Best tour operator. Westjet Vacations

Go-to travel agent/company. I check everything on iTravel 2000 for best pricing.  I then cross-reference with Expedia and Kayak.

Travel essentials. Pepto Bismol - it's the pill that solves everything!  I just really need a bikini, sunglasses, sunscreen, a magazine and that's it.

Lisa
www.hipurbangirl.com - The Hip & Urban Girl's Guide

I ♥ the beach by Kathy

{Palm Beach, Aruba}

Best resort. I have to say the Holiday Inn at Aruba. It was by no means a 5-star (maybe a 3.5star?) but it was the best because the rooms were spacious, clean and the whole vacation was just so awesome.

Worst resort. The one we stayed in mexico. although it was a 5-star resort and really nice, the fact that we had to stay IN the resort after hours sucked. we're a 'choose your own adventure' type people and didn't like being confined in the hotel.

Tropical cocktail of choice. strawberry daiquiri and/or pina coloda

Favorite sunblock. australian gold.  smells like orange popsicles!

Beach tunes. anything 80s and regular top 40 stuff.

One magazine to bring. anything trashy - people, OK!, US weekly

Best tour operator. damn, i forgot the name. It starts with an "S" and has the word "Sun" in it (I think).  When the airline lost our luggage in Antigua, the lady who was our tour operator main contact/person went above and beyond to track our luggage down so that we got them about 2 or 3 days into our vacation. The airline told us "it'll get here when it gets here".  She was so awesome I tipped her $100US for doing that because she would spend hours on the phone arguing with these people when she went home!

Go-to travel agent/company. don't have one. We always do our own booking and research.

Travel essentials. sun block, books, mags, music, water, face cream, vaseline.  i've also learned to carry an extra set of clothes and toothbrush with me in my carry-on.

I ♥ the beach by Lori

{7 Mile beach in Grand Cayman}



Best resort. El Dorado Maroma

Worst resort. Grand Palladium in the Mayan

Tropical cocktail of choice. Mojito!

Favorite sunblock. Neutrogena Ultra sheer body mist spray

Beach tunes. Taylor Swift, Marianis Trench, 50 first dates soundtrack, Glee

One magazine to bring. Cosmo

Best tour operator. Sunwing

Go-to travel agent/company. Myself! Lori Green at The Travel Network

Travel essentials. Sunglasses (extra pair too!), beach bag, headband, big straw hat, iPod, LOTS of books, aloe, moisturizer

Lori Green
Spiritoftravel.tumblr.com

I ♥ the beach series by Leesh

{Playa Megano in Cayo Ensenachos}

Best Resort. NH Real Arena, Punta Cana, DR (best all around - food, service, room, entertainment, pools and beach)

Worst resort. Barcelo Solymar in Varadero, Cuba

Tropical cocktail of choice. Mojitos

Favorite sunblock. Hawaiian Tropics Sheer Touch

Beach tunes. Robin Thicke

One magazine to bring. Us Weekly

Best tour operator. Transat Holidays

My go-to travel agent/company. Lori at The Travel Network

Travel essentials. iPhone, tinted lip balm with SPF, sunblock, sunglasses and jelly bellies

I ♥ the beach series

It's been three months since we last posted on here. We are going to start a little series called, I ♥ the beach. If you would like to participate, send us an email at beachjunkies@gmail.com and complete the following:

First, attach your favorite beach photo (and let us know where the photo was taken).

Next, answer these:
Best resort.
Worst resort.
Tropical cocktail of choice.
Favorite sunblock.
Beach tunes.
One magazine to bring.
Best tour operator.
Go-to travel agent/company.
Travel essentials.

And lastly, don't forget to include your name and blog if you have one.

Every week, we will post the answers we receive and hopefully, you, our readers, will find some inspiration for your next vacation.