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

Melia Cayo Santa Maria

We have booked our next vacation!  We won a trip to Melia Cayo Santa Maria courtesy of Air Transat Vacations and Sol Melia Cuba last year and we finally decided to book it.  This will be our second time in Santa Clara, Cuba.  The beaches in this part of Cuba are absolutely beautiful and we can't wait to go!  Stay tuned for our review.

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

ADVICE: Burrito method of packing

{via}

Packing for vacations can be time-consuming and such an exhausting task. Us, Beach Junkies have a customized packing list that we created four or five years ago and it makes packing simple. Probably about two weeks before our trip, we start putting away clothes that we want to take. If we are traveling in the summer, we put clothes aside so we won't wear them and have to launder before our departure. If it's winter, we pull out those summer clothes that have been tucked away for the season. I think the toughest part is figuring out what to bring. In terms of clothing, the easiest thing is to do is choose a colour scheme and bring clothes that have a dual purpose (scarf/sarong or cover up/evening dress). Once you have figured out what you are bringing, packing everything in your luggage is a piece of cake. Check out this method:

BURRITO STYLE

{via}

I have started this style of packing a year ago. I just considered it "rolling up my clothes so it fits nicely in my luggage" but a couple of months ago, I came across a blog who called it the Burrito Method of Packing. So instead of piling up all your clothes in two separate piles, you simply roll up all your clothes and arrange it nicely in your luggage. You can definitely fit more in your luggage and nothing gets wrinkled.

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