How to Plan Your Beach Vacation

I am a self proclaimed "navy brat." What that means is that my dad has been in the Navy my entire life. We have moved all up and down the east coast of the United States and even did a three year stint in Bermuda. Because of where I was brought up, the only constant in my life was the beach. We were always within a few miles of that beautiful blue Atlantic Ocean. Based on my years of growing up and practically living at the beach I have designed some tips for planning a beach vacation.

The first decision you have to make when traveling to the beach is if you want to stay on the ocean front or a few blocks off of it. Staying on the oceanfront is going to be quite a bit more expensive but if you have the money and only get to go once a year or less I suggest staying that close. If you're looking to save a little more and don't mind a shirt drive to the ocean, then find a place off of the oceanfront and you'll save.

Food is going to be your next biggest expense. Seafood, of course, is the biggest attraction of a beach community and will cost much more than other cuisines. Meals, in general, right on the oceanfront are going to be more expensive as they price for tourists. Look for places in town that offer cheaper food that still tastes just as good if not better. To save some money I suggest eating out for lunch and having either leftovers or easy sandwich stuff for dinner that can be stored back in your hotel room. Lunches are generally much cheaper and offer a good alternative to shelling out money on expensive dinners. Here are two restaurants in Virginia Beach that offer great prices and great food. One is on the oceanfront and one is not.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/257938/murphys_irish_pub_on_the_virginia_beach.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/254529/lendys_cafe_and_raw_bar_the_best_hot.html

Before leaving for your beach vacation, buy the products you will need in your home town. If you wait to buy them at the beach the prices will be marked up pretty high. Buy beach towels, sunscreen, swimsuits, all of those necessities before you leave. If you're driving and can pack all of this stuff make sure to bring beach chairs, umbrellas, toys for the kids and a cooler for drinks. If you're flying and can't haul all of your things with you many beaches offer rentals of beach chairs and umbrellas. They often do a discount if you rent hem for more than one day.

Always make sure to check the forecast before you leave. Check it a day or two before you're due to leave and see what temperatures and conditions are like. Hurricanes are a given in the summer so be prepared to change your trip if needed. Make sure to pack clothes according to the weather. There's nothing wore than being caught in a cold front when you're at the ocean with only tank tops in your luggage. Sweatshirts and other warm items are pretty expensive at the oceanfront especially on those cooler days.

The best thing to remember is that it's vacation. Relax and have a good time, you can't be prepared for everything. Just make sure to have a camera handy to catch all of those fun moments during your vacation.