"Your summer vacation plans are all set. You've made the reservations, you've set up the details with your house sitter and you've even gotten yourself down to your swimsuit weight so you can be comfortable on the beach. Now you're just counting down the days and hoping that you didn't miss anything. Oh, wait. You had an appointment scheduled at the tanning salon. Maybe you should cancel it since you're going to be going to the beach soon anyway. Or maybe not.

Many people wonder whether or not to tan before going on vacation. For some, tanning is a part of their regularly salon routine and they don't know if they should break (or maintain) that routine when vacation time rolls around. And for others, tanning is a rarity (or even a thing they've never tried before) but they'd like to look beach-ready when they arrive at vacation. At the same time, no one wants to waste their time or money and they wonder whether it might make more sense to just tan on vacation and forget about the salon. But tanning before your vacation might be the best use of your time and money.

Here are some things to consider about tanning before your vacation begins:

&bull A base tan can help to prevent the sunburn that comes from uncommon exposure to the sun. If you don't normally spend time in the sun, you'll find that you rapidly burn on vacation (which tends to ruin the whole experience). A base tan obtained before vacation minimizes that problem. Those who tan regularly may already have this base tan but those who don't might want to make a few appointments at the indoor tanning salon before vacation begins.

&bull Tanning before vacation will give you information about tanning that will be useful on the trip. When you go to a tanning salon, you learn about the different types of tanning lotions, exposure levels and other details that are right for your skin. Familiarity with this information can help to improve the results that you achieve from a tan on the beach and will also minimize the damage that the skin can do to your sun.

&bull Gradual tans often have the best appearance. If you go straight to vacation and tan for several days, you might look nice. But if you gradually obtain a tan by tanning both before and during vacation, your skin will likely have a smoother, healthier look.

&bull Arriving with a tan will give you confidence. Let's face it, it's always a little intimidating to slip into a swimsuit and get out there in public. Even with the best bod you've got, you can feel a little embarrassed about wearing so little in public. Tanning ahead of time will give you the confidence that you need to make the most out of your vacation. Whether you're rekindling romance, enjoy a trip on your own or just having some fun, that confidence can make or break the vacation experience.

You've already set your other plans in place so why not make an appointment with your local tanning salon? They'll teach about the right tanning lotions to use indoors and outdoors, help you get that base tan that will prevent damage to your skin during the vacation and get you looking your best so that you'll have the confidence to enjoy every moment of your trip."