After watching my Mom suffer since the first squamous cell skin cancer was removed and then came back aggressively and metastisized (sp) into the lymph nodes in her neck and saliva glands, chemo, radiation, two major surgeries later only to find out there is nothing more that can be done but wait...

I vote big floppy hat and the highest sunscreen you can find applied very generously...

Well, aside from the cancer issue....

I am pretty white to, and when I know I am going to go somewhere where I am going to be in the sun a lot (basically your situation) I go tanning.

I usually start off at 4 maybe 5 minute and gradually, gradually go up. Like I will do 4 minutes for like 4 days and then take two days of and then do 5 minutes for 4 days and then take two days off etc. I always by expensive (ugh) tanning lotion, I feel that that really helps. and Make sure that you stay moisturized, I usually put cocoa butter on twice a day. When I do this it prevents me from burning at the beach. BUT make sure that you wear sunscreen once you do get on your vacation. Even if I'm a little tan I still burn at the beach.

Never, ever ever ever ever set foot in a tanning bed.

Ever.

Especially since you're very fair, you have the highest risk for skin cancer.

If you have a family history of it, avoid tanning beds with a 100-ft pole, and when in Mexico, slather on the sunscreen, wear hats, chapstick with SPF, sunglasses, and cover up.

I've had cancer and it sucks (not skin cancer). I know someone who had skin cancer (and the ironic thing is that his dad is a dermatologist, and the same man who helped me when I had cancer).

Don't do a spray tan either, it'll look too fake on you.

If you go with the spray on tan instead of the tanning bed (which I hope you do) don't forget you still need to apply lots of high spf sunscreen regularly. I am very pale and I got sun poinsoning while vacationing at the beach. You don't want sun poinsoning, ever, let alone while on vacation. I wish I could recomend a good spray tanning place, but I'm overseas, so I haven't a clue about who is good and who isn't. Good Luck.

Jules- I am so very sorry to hear about your mom.. Thank you for your sincere and honest advice. That definitely puts things into perspective. My aunt had melanoma and was fortunate enough to have gotten it all removed with no remissions. That is why it is a huge concern for me since i have a family history of it.

Thank you all for your advice, I think I've made my decision. Looks like embracing my paleness with some high SPF!!

Tanning at Humphreys
 

I am at Humphreys also. Is there a place here to get spray tanning? If so, PLEASE fill me in. It would be greatly appreciated.:D