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Universal Orlando Resort: Where to Stay & Play for a Few Days

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My recent stay at Universal Orlando Resort was so much fun and I’m going to share and highlight my favorite moments with you. First and foremost, I stayed at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort on the property which allowed me early access (one hour) to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™. It was my first time experiencing Diagon Alley™. I took advantage of the complimentary shuttle service to Universal Studios Florida and was able to … [Read More...]

Life & Style

Navigating Disney World During a Pandemic

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Strike a pose at Pose Selfie Studio

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Taste the Flavors of St. Thomas USVI

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Navigating Disney World During a Pandemic

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I recently had an opportunity to visit Walt Disney World as part of my Goofy Getaways FAM Training. It was exciting and I was a bit anxious because even though some restrictions are being lifted, guidelines are more relaxed, and travel is starting to … [Read More...]

Taste the Flavors of St. Thomas USVI

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I am excited to be collaborating with my fellow foodie lover Hannah Victoria on this listing of places to eat in St. Thomas USVI whether you are visiting or local to the island. We are giving you our personal opinions based on our dining experiences … [Read More...]

Food

Rosé All Day at Seasons 52

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How I avoided sunburn at Trunk Bay without constant reapplication

How I avoided sunburn during a full day at Trunk Bay without reapplying too often came down to preparation, clothing and shade, not one miraculous sunscreen. We spent hours swimming, snorkelling and walking along the sand on St. John in the US Virgin Islands, so I planned for prolonged exposure instead of treating the day like a quick dip.

Trunk Bay is a beautiful palm-lined crescent, but its open water and pale sand can make the location feel hotter and more exposed than it is. Even with mountains rising behind the beach, there are stretches where there is little shade and nowhere to escape the glare reflected from the shoreline.

As an Australian, I am used to taking the sun seriously. The UV can be fierce in Sydney and Melbourne, particularly around Bondi or St Kilda, and SPF 50+ sunscreen is such a familiar sight on Australian chemist shelves that anything lower feels unusual.

My plan was to cover up, use broad-spectrum SPF 50+, seek shade around the middle of the day and refresh my sunscreen at sensible intervals. I still wore makeup occasionally, but I never let a smooth layer of foundation convince me that my skin was protected.

Why Trunk Bay sun exposure catches people out

Trunk Bay’s open water and broad stretch of sand reflect sunlight towards exposed skin. That makes the beach surprisingly effective at heating both the front and back of the body, particularly around the shoulders, upper chest and back of the legs.

The timing mattered as well. We arrived shortly after seven in the morning, but the sun climbed quickly and the strongest UV came during the late morning and early afternoon. A long swim in the morning did not make me feel invincible by noon, even though I was no longer sitting directly in the sun.

Cumulative exposure is the quiet danger. I could feel each period of sun separately without noticing how much had added up. Treating the day as a sequence of manageable stretches helped me avoid the unpleasant discovery of a pink back on the ferry ride home.

What I packed from Australia

Before leaving home, I bought a broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 50+ sunscreen from my local chemist. This was familiar territory for me because SPF 50+ is the standard strength many Australian families keep beside the beach towels and barbecue gear.

I also packed a long-sleeved rash top with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor rating, lightweight leggings, a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses with good UV coverage. Together, those items protected more skin than any amount of sunscreen alone could manage.

The beach bag followed familiar Australian conventions. My swimwear was officially a pair of togs, my rubber footwear were thongs, and I packed an esky for cold drinks and snacks. These small Australian habits made the day feel normal even though the beach itself was nearly halfway around the world.

Getting the first sunscreen layer right

I applied sunscreen before leaving the guesthouse rather than waiting until we reached the sand. I used a generous, even layer over dry skin and gave it around fifteen minutes to settle before putting on my rash top or getting into the water.

Quantity mattered more than speed. I covered the edges of my ears, the back of my neck, my shoulders, the tops of my feet and the areas around my swimsuit where fabric often shifts. These are easy places to miss when you are rushing towards the ocean with friends.

I also treated water resistance as helpful but temporary. It gives a sunscreen more chance to stay on during a swim or a damp walk, but it does not mean one morning application can cover an entire day in the tropical sun.

Making shade and clothing do some of the work

The palms around Trunk Bay provided useful pockets of shade, although the shade became less protective as the sun moved higher. I used a light cover-up or sarong over my shoulders when we sat in an exposed section, then moved back beneath the trees for lunch.

Around the hottest part of the day, I stayed dressed in my rash top and kept my hat on. I also drank water regularly and kept the esky shaded inside the bag. Feeling cool made it much easier to remain covered instead of stripping off every layer the moment the temperature rose.

My reapplication rhythm across the day

Australian sun-safety guidance recommends applying sunscreen every two hours and again after swimming or towelling. I planned my day around that advice rather than pretending a single layer would last until sunset. We were there from about 7:15 a.m. until half past four, so I refreshed at planned intervals instead of giving myself an unnecessary touch-up every few minutes.

My first careful application went on at the guesthouse. I topped it up around 9:30, used a measured layer after we had snorkelled and dried ourselves, and repeated the process through the early afternoon. The swim-related application was important because water and rubbing from a towel can remove the original layer.

The clothing made the difference between genuinely reapplying and constantly fussing. Exposed skin needed attention, while covered areas did not. This was not about stretching one application beyond its useful life; it was about reducing the amount of skin left entirely dependent on sunscreen.

My practical Trunk Bay protection kit

Before leaving Sydney, I packed the items I knew would remain useful rather than relying on a last-minute purchase in the Virgin Islands.

I kept a smaller selection within reach during the day, and I recorded the same practical combinations in my Trunk Bay notes for easy reference.

What the full day actually felt like

I finished the day without the tight, tender feeling that usually follows an accidental sunburn. I did not have red patches across my shoulders or the strip of irritated skin that appears when a swimsuit has been rubbing against unprotected shoulders.

The unexpected benefit was freedom. I could snorkel, paddle, sit on the sand and walk back towards the changing facilities without constantly checking whether my skin had become hot. The hat and rash top felt more comfortable than trying to cover myself with sunscreen after every hour in the water.

What worked for me was a deliberate combination rather than a secret product: proper clothing, reliable shade, regular protection and sunscreen applied carefully. The result was a full day at Trunk Bay spent enjoying the beach rather than monitoring how red I was becoming.