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Vacation

Your Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Swimsuit

ith endless categories being used to define women’s bodies, swimsuit shopping has become an impossible task—especially as clothing tags don’t tend to say: “buy this if you’re an inverted triangle.” This season is all about body positivity and feeling good in your own skin, so let’s leave the apples and pears in the fruit bowl and get back to soaking up the sun. Baring all in a string bikini is easier said than done, however. If you feel more confident drawing eyes away from a certain area or giving yourself a little more support, our swimsuit guide for different body types has— literally—got you covered.

Small chest

If you’re looking for a suit that flatters a smaller bust, go for an embellished or ruffled design up top to help give the illusion of a larger chest. Alternatively, there are many styles on the market that have sewn-in padding to give you a little extra boost.

Big chest

A triangle bikini may not be your friend, but cup sizes, underwire and thicker straps are. Choose a stretchy material that won’t dig in, don’t be afraid to get coverage by going up a cup size, and consider flattering your décolletage with a deep V-neck. Halter straps may place pressure on your neck, but halter-top suits that sit higher up on your chest can provide great support.

Swimsuits for broad shoulders

If you’ve got wider shoulders, you can balance them by going for suits with an asymmetrical neckline that will draw the eye up and away. Similarly, patterned bottoms with a plain top, or a solid-colored suit with paneling details, will give the illusion of an hourglass figure.

Broad hips

Solid bottoms and printed tops will draw the eye away from broader hips and balance out your body. Off-the- shoulder numbers will also serve to elongate your clavicle and give you a curvy silhouette.

Complimenting a short torso

If your waistline is closer to your chest than it is to your hips, you have a small torso. By lifting the bust line with a bikini and donning low-rise bottoms, you can serve up an elongated mid-section. Adding halter straps will also work by showing off your neck and shoulders, instead of your short torso.

The ideal swimsuit for a long torso

Long torso girls can really rock a one-piece. Bikinis with high-waisted bottoms will also work to give the impression of a shorter mid section.

Flatter your back

If love handles are getting you down, tuck them away with a one-piece or high-waisted bikini bottoms that cover the belly button (to prevent a muffin top). If your problem area is higher up, go for pieces with a high back and thick straps that—instead of digging in and creating depressions—flatter and smooth your profile.

Swimsuits for short legs

To elongate shorter legs, go for high-cut suits that sit further up on the hips, creating a V-shape. If you’re feeling brave, thong-style bottoms will work to generate an optimum limb-length.

Straight figure

If you have an athletic or narrower figure you don’t need to worry about balancing proportions. To create a curvier silhouette, you can add dimension with cutouts, shirring and bold prints.

Tummy

To hide a tummy or the liters of seawater you accidentally swallowed, sport a peplum style one-piece or a tankini for a cute cover-up. Ruching will also work to conceal a stomach and a plunging neckline will draw eyes away from your mid-section. Tummy control suits are revolutionary—offering easy curves and ample stability.

For the guys

Boys: will you be bold in briefs or opt for comfort in board shorts? These are longer than swim trunks and are perfect for adventurous-types that plan to surf or skate whilst catching rays (hence the word “board”). More options include square leg swimsuits, which are the equivalent of boxer underwear, and swim jammers, which hug the legs and are ideal for endurance pros.

Wear what you want

Swimsuit shopping, harsh dressing-room lights and friends with mile-high legs can be more-than-enough to ruin a beach day. Remember that nobody is looking at you. In fact, everyone feels this way—we’re just all built differently. Try to focus on emphasizing your favorite feature when choosing a suit, not covering up your least favorite. If you’re comfortable, protected and having fun, swimsuit season can’t get you down.

See Also:
Bon Voyage! Staying Safe on Vacation

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Get Ready for Your Summer Vacation

Jetting off for summer vacation is a rite of passage for college students all over the world. Consider our favorite destinations offering the best sun, fun and sand of 2019.

Sun-kissed vacation at Daytona Beach, Florida

Daytona Beach lies in Volusia County and is an easily accessible party spot that is perfect for students on a budget. If you’re looking to spend sunny days relaxing on a 23-mile stretch of sun- kissed sand before stepping out to the hottest club scenes in Florida, head to Daytona Beach for amazing surf and headlining DJs. Explore the uniquely drivable beach by renting a motorcycle or bicycle, and maybe even plan a trip to Walt Disney World, Sea World or Universal Studios in Orlando—it isn’t far. Student friendly and one your parents may even approve of—get the sun, surf and nightlife without breaking the bank.

Non-stop pool parties’ vacation at Cancún, Mexico

One of the most-visited student destinations on the planet, Cancún is the ultimate, unforgettable experience. Situated on the northeast coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, this convenient location is easy to fly to and is known for its breath-taking tropical beaches, turquoise waters and unrivalled nightlife. If you somehow get bored of white sands, non-stop pool parties and world- class DJs, you won’t have to look far to encounter water sports, island shopping, authentic Mexican cuisine and huge whale sharks to swim with. One of the most sensational attractions in Cancún is the Museo Subacuático de Arte, an underwater museum that features more than 400 life-sized sculptures. The sun, sea, food and swarms of party-lovers are all accounted for in a summer vacation at Cancún.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam is high on most students’ lists of places to visit and is one of the most multicultural places in Europe. If you’re looking to swap crowded beaches for the relaxed way of life this year, you can actually do so on a tight budget. Traveling with a group will secure you cheaper rates, and Amsterdam’s free tours, afternoon concerts and countless other cheap tourist attractions will keep you busy without emptying your wallet. From the world class Van Gogh Museum to the famous Anne Frank House, with this vacation you’ll be enjoying the city’s never-ending selection of attractions, festivals, food and nightlife.

Resort Experience at Nassau, The Bahamas

The city of Nassau can be found on New Providences Island – the 11th largest of 700 islands in The Bahamas. With low cost flights from much of the East Coast, the Island offers students sun-drenched beaches, clear blue waters, foam parties, dance clubs and casinos (think Las Vegas meets tropical paradise).  The whole island is set up like a resort, so a break from the sun can offer world class snorkelling and diving, ever water sport imaginable, an assortment of shops and restaurants, boat-renting and even an authentic pirate museum. Tracing its heritage to the shipwrecking days of Blackbeard, the locals will tell you that Nassau is where rum originated. Whether you’re relaxing in paradise or enjoying the wild nightlife, you can expect to do it with a rum punch in hand.
When traveling, make sure to:

• Check any rules or restrictions in an area before booking your vacation
• Stay close to friends, making sure everyone is accounted for • Always check the credentials of your taxi driver
• Lock valuables away
• Keep your drink with you at all times
• Never go to an ATM alone or flash your cash in public
• Never swim alone or enter the water if you’ve been drinking • Watch the weather for storms that can move in fast

See Also: 

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Staying Safe on Vacation

Bon Voyage! Staying Safe on Vacation

With nature beginning to bloom and the sun bright in the sky, summer is quickly approaching. Summer fills our minds with dreams of vacation on the crystal-clear, white beaches of Cancun, in the snow-peaked mountains of Switzerland or in the mind-blowing skyscrapers of New York. Many people have already planned vacations or are beginning to do so, but in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, many forget the most crucial ways to stay safe on vacation and traveling. For those of you lucky enough to turn those vacation dreams into reality, here are our top tips for staying safe on vacation:

Before arriving at your destination

Before heading out on that trip you’ve been planning for months, don’t forget to pack all of your important documents like passports or IDs in a waterproof container (especially if you’re headed to those crystal-clear beaches in Cancun!) or somewhere they won’t get lost or left behind.

Do some research before you book that cheaper hotel. Read the reviews online and ask around about the area where the hotel is located before making a decision.

Before leaving home for your trip, notify your bank that you will be vacationing in another state or country. Save yourself the anguish of trying to make a purchase while abroad before realizing the bank froze your debit card due to “fraud”.

Arriving at your destination

When you travel somewhere unknown, stay together with the people you are traveling with to ensure you are staying safe on vacation. Getting lost is way easier than it sounds, even with our modern GPS in hand. The number of times a phone dies exactly when you most need it is astounding.

While you may be itching to explore your holiday spot’s nightlife, remember: You’re in a strange, unfamiliar place, so think twice before hopping into whatever taxi appears first. Tourists tend to stick out to natives, making you an easy target for theft. Only use well-known transportation methods like Uber or Lyft. These companies perform background checks on their drivers, making them a safer option.

If you are traveling in your own vehicle, make sure to complete a full inspection on the car before heading to your vacation destination. There’s nothing worse than getting a flat tire 200 miles from home and realizing you don’t have a spare.

While out & about

Nothing goes better together than drinks and fun while on vacation. Remember to watch those drinks like you would with any other outing with friends. Don’t accept drinks from strangers if they’re open or if you didn’t watch them pour it.

If you’re in a sunny climate, don’t pass on the sunscreen. Those UV rays are hitting you hard even though you’re having too much fun to feel it. If, on the other hand, you traveled to those beautiful mountains in Switzerland, remember to keep Chapstick and lotion handy so your skin doesn’t dry up from the cold.

Watch out for pickpockets in big cities by keeping your phone and wallet in your front pockets. With the old habit of putting your phone in your back pocket, you may think someone is squeezing past you, but they might be taking your phone or cash.

Wherever life takes you this summer, make sure to enjoy yourself by staying safe on vacation. You want to make safe, happy memories—not an experience you’ll regret!

Further reading: 6 Surprising Travel Destinations for 2018

 

Sand-Free Beach Towel

How This Australian Company Created the Sand-free Beach Towel

School is out, and summer is finally here! Many are headed to the beach for sure.

Time to pack the essentials like sunscreen, sunglasses and a beach towel.

Speaking of towels, there’s an amazing sand-free beach towel that’s changing the whole beach game—because yes, it truly repels sand!

How did it come about? Well, it all started with a hike a couple of years ago. Two friends, along with some buddies, trooped to Sydney’s Royal National Park for a beach outing.

It was a day well spent. But having to carry wet and heavy sand-laden beach towels dampened what would have otherwise been a perfect day. However, as the saying goes, “Everything begins with an idea”.

These college buddies—Volkan and Jacky—thought about making a towel that not only functioned better but looked terrific, too. Hence, the concept for Tesalate was born.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing at first. These young visionaries fondly recall those early days full of sleepless nights researching and designing. It was a rollercoaster ride of stressing out, crying and laughing.

Tesalate finally launched at Bondi Beach Markets 18 months after that fateful beach outing. From humble beginnings, this Australian company rapidly expanded to 70 countries.

Tesalate is making a big splash for a lot of reasons. Apart from being a sand-free beach towel, it’s also incredibly innovative. Now here’s where it gets technical.

Tesalate is made from AbsorbLite™ microfiber. That’s why sand easily slides off, instead of getting stuck in the looped fibers like regular towels.

No matter how drenched one gets from swimming all day, Tesalate is capable of absorbing as much as one liter (33 ounces) of water. Despite that, it dries up pretty fast!

The towel is so lightweight and compact, it fits into a small tote, too.

So, say goodbye to the days of going home from the beach drenched. Say goodbye to messing up your car seats with water and sand. Goodbye to packing smelly, wet, bulky beach towels. Tesalate is genuinely a heaven-send for every beach lover.

But hey, just because it’s a hardworking towel doesn’t mean it looks boring.

Tesalate sand-free beach towels are very much head turners. There are over 20 mouth-watering, vibrant designs catering to guys and gals’ distinct tastes.

Retailing at USD$59 each, the company offers free shipping worldwide and free returns.

Thousands of beach lovers have snapped up this fantastic beach essential. The sand-free beach towel has, in fact, earned thousands of positive reviews from all over the world since it’s launch.

Check out the towels exclusively at www.tesalate.com. Go ahead and indulge.

Because Tesalate, no doubt, will make beach days better.

 

one-of-a-kind beach accessory

One-of-a-kind Beach Accessory

As you head to the beach this summer, do you find yourself irritated at times by the thought of the sand? Have you ever wondered what freedom from the sand would look like? Well, why get frustrated by the sand when, now, you can have freedom from it!

With finals over, so are the days of hiding your drink under your chair, placing your phone under your towel or storing your reading material behind your head. A seamless solution in the form of a one-of-a-kind beach accessory has arrived to resolve a common problem we all experience when we’re at the beach—where to keep your essentials on the beach?

Shore Shelf, an award-winning, one-of-a-kind beach accessory, is here to enhance your beach, pool or outdoor experience by keeping your essentials (drink, phone, book, suntan lotion, etc.) in one central place, within reach and never touching the ground.

Founded on frustration and built for relaxation, Shore Shelf will have you ready to relax in minutes. In three simple steps, the dual-position clamp of this one-of-a-kind beach accessory allows you to securely attach and position Shore Shelf to any side of your lounge chair. Regardless of where you vacation, this carefully crafted, patent-pending clamp connection accommodates most round or rectangular chair frames.

Most importantly, whether you’re right or left-handed, you’ll be able to find the perfect tray position to reach your beverage, sunglasses or phone. This extension of space will instantly provide comfort and convenience at your fingertips.

The exceptionally high standard of engineering along with the durable construction allows you to place up to five pounds of your key essentials (phone, sunglasses, beverage, suntan lotion, book, etc) on the tray. Fun fact: the weight limit for this one-of-a-kind beach accessory was intended to hold your essentials, not your body weight so please do not lean, sit or use as a lift to get out of your seat.

On a tropical note, Shore Shelf’s eye-catching signature look is a perfect complement with your beach towel, water bottle and necessities. As your day heats up and you soak up the sun, their reflective, vibrant yellow tray easily withstands the intensity of the sun’s rays allowing Shore Shelf to remain cool to the touch. Who knew?!

What’s never cool though, are your phones overheating. So, did you know that Shore Shelf’s drink koozies are just the right size for you to store your phones and keep them safe from the sun? Interesting and even better is that the lightweight, compact design effortlessly folds-up to store in your travel bag—they’ve made it so light, you won’t even notice it’s there. With functionality like this, it makes you wonder how you ever managed without it.

Shore Shelf are family-owned, proud to be American-made and recently recognized with a Gold Medal in the outdoor category for new product invention at the prestigious INPEX show in Pittsburgh, PA.  Shore Shelf will modernize the way you deserve to be pampered at the beach and is guaranteed to transform your next outdoor experience.

This summer, take Shore Shelf with you on your next vacation getaway or outdoor adventure.  Although Shore Shelf was built for the beach, it is also great to take on cruise ships, to the pool, on boats, camping, sporting events, and wherever your imagination takes you! Take it with you anywhere, at any time to any destination.

Before you head to your next getaway, treat yourself and make a vacation statement with Shore Shelf. This must-have beach accessory is only available at ShoreShelf.com.

Free yourself from the sand and order Shore Shelf today!

Spring Break 2018

Spring Break Destinations

After a strenuous academic term, get some much-needed R&R—check out our top destinations for your next spring break.

During the academic year, most of us dream about our next exhilarating travel excursion. Be inspired by our collection of destinations that incorporate fun, sun and adventure—perfect for a spring or summer getaway.

Cancún, Mexico

Cancún is a vibrant city that lies on the Yucatán Peninsula, bordering the Caribbean Sea. Best known for its turquoise lagoons, magnificent beaches and buzzing nightlife, it makes for an ideal de-stress vacation. Days can be spent sampling the local cuisine; street food vendors serve up delectable soups and tacos that are easy on the wallet and packed with flavor. Diving is another popular pursuit in Cancún, with the Museo Subacuático de Arte being the main attraction. This one-of-a-kind underwater display was built as a way of diverting divers from the area’s deteriorating coral reefs—it features more than 500 intricate life-size sculptures. In the evening, visitors can head down to the notorious hotel zone: where the tequila is poured freely and the parties don’t end until sunrise.

Ko Pha-Ngan, Thailand

Ko Pha-Ngan is an island positioned off the Central Gulf Coast of southern Thailand and is characterised by its luscious coconut trees and stunning seashores. While Ko Pha-Ngan is unquestionably idyllic, it is not necessarily a place of rest. Made famous by its monthly full moon parties, Ko Pha-Ngan is the perfect place to let your hair down during spring break. Flamethrowers, authentic dancers and world-class DJs are the biggest draws that beckon crowds of young tourists each year. Most boisterous festivities are centered on Sunrise Beach, while the northern coast is comparatively more peaceful. The island also offers an intriguing night market, spectacular waterfall hikes and secluded viewpoints to enjoy the ebbing sunset. Crystal clear waters also make snorkeling and scuba diving a popular pastime for visitors.

New Orleans, USA

There is a gritty, palpable and unmistakable air that flows through streets of New Orleans: this indescribable charisma solidifies it as an unmissable destination. Thriving food joints offer indulgent delicacies: gumbo, biegnets and po’ boy sandwiches are all must-try dishes. New Orleans also has an interesting history that dates back hundreds of years, which is demonstrated by the French-inspired architecture and colonial builds of the area. The supernatural also plays a major role in the culture; voodoo preachers and tarot card readers offer their expertise to fascinated newcomers. Above all, the locals know how to throw a damn good party. While Mardi Gras is the main festival to draw in the crowds, parades and celebrations occur practically every week of the year. With hometown jazz flowing from the cafés and bars, we compel you not to get swept up in the magic of it all this spring break.

 Utila, Honduras

Located near the south end of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef system, Utila is the smallest of Honduras’ major Bay Islands. But what Utila lacks in size, it certainly makes up for in character. With very few roads, Utila is only accessible by boat, making it the perfect retreat for city dwellers. This picturesque island is crawling with dive-obsessed backpackers in search of a good time. While recent diving taxes mean that courses aren’t quite as cheap as they once were, visitors often jump at the chance to see the juvenile whale sharks that frequent these waters. Otherwise, days can be spent soaking up the rays from a hammock or strolling along the white sands of the curving bay. As darkness falls, the island suddenly springs to life; exotic beach bars and clubs resonate with lively music and a distinctly youthful vibe.

South Padre Island, USA

South Padre Island—which is nestled at the southernmost tip of Texas—undoubtedly has the “school’s out” feeling. Throughout the summer months, the coast’s Gulf breeze poses a welcome reprieve from the scorching heat of the mainland. During which time, the local bars buzz with a hive of fun-seeking visitors throughout the day and night. Live events often take place on the beachfront, with stages drawing considerable crowds. Meanwhile, regular party cruises set sail each day, allowing voyagers to mingle and meet new faces. Apart from its energetic party scene, South Padre Island makes a point of contributing to animal conservation. The Sea Turtle, Inc. center facilitates the recovery of injured animals and organizes educational programs for tourists. The island is especially suited to adventure junkies; the tranquil water conditions enable a wealth of watersports such as jet skiing, parasailing and kiteboarding.

Travel responsibly

Before selecting your spring break destination, always be sure to read up on the culture of the natives—respecting local customs can help tourism to prosper. Try to use the native tongue where possible, recite some key expressions and bring a phrasebook for reference.

Further reading: 6 Surprising Travel Destinations for 2018