The Blue Board

Dont listen to this guy. They just found 75 headless infants on that island. As far as the tan goes, tanning is bad for the skin. Just pick up some solid white primer at a paint store. Cover you body in it each day and you should be good to go.

Keep a c-note in your sock in case you meet one of Mexico's fine police officers...It doesn't matter if you were walking down the street or killed a hooker, cops don't care they just want a c-note from your gringo ass.

I am basically in the same predicament that you are in because I'm fair skinned (red head) and going on a 7 day cruise in the Western Carribean at the end of May. I decided against the whole tanning bit, but have been working outside in my garden with my shirt off on the weekends. The problem is that it only gets my face and back some color.

I will probably have to break down and lay out with a couple beers and try to get my chest and legs tanned up the next two weekends so that I won't have to wear so much block. I will be wearing Block anyway... probably spf30 when I'm going to be in the water (snorkeling, swimming, etc.). Thankfully as redheads go... I can actually get tan and don't only turn pink. But I can burn pretty easily too if over-exposed.

Could explain all the beheadings....

BORN TO BE RED IS GOING TO THE BEACH

The whole "base tan" thing is a total myth. Getting some tanning in beforehand is not going to stop your pale a$$ from getting fried.

I laff'd. Some solid answers in this thread.