This can depend on the types of bed/booth. There are the regular bulb ones, and then the high pressure. The high pressure beds allow you to go longer, get a better tan, and tan you in a different way that it is much harder to actually burn/get red, even tanning extending periods of time. The downside is they aren't available everywhere and also cost more. (it best to get a package deal). Everyone is different, but my wife is German and very light skinned. She would need like 3+ weeks at 4 times a week to get a tan(and still applies a light oil/sunblock when in cancun) . If she used the high pressure beds, it would be about 4-5 times in 1.5-2 weeks to get a tan.
We spray tanned for a last minute trip and I would not recommend it, we got sun burnt and by sun burnt I mean blistered. Yes, we used sun block it didn't seem to help. Just go white lol its not worth the pain. Just drink lots and you wont care about the glare...lol
I have tried spray tanning the last two years, and it looks good the first couple days, but ends up kind of peeling off and looks patchy in places if you spend a lot of time in the water. It also rained the first 5 days last year, and by the time the sun came out I was almost totally white again anyway.
I always tanned in a bed before a trip, except our last one last March I spray tanned. I spray tanned at home at a place called Sun Tan City (don't know if you have those by you-their spray tan is called Versa Spa) regularly and I loved it so I thought I'd be ok...NOPE. If you are in the water a lot it will start to come off, especially on your hands and feet...you could pretty much rub it off your hands the first day of being in the pool all day. Then it just looks weird. I would forego the spray tan all together for your trip, and just either suck it up and be white or tan in a bed for at least 2 weeks before your trip to get a halfway decent base. I really wanted the spray tan to work but I would not do it again before a Cancun trip.
So it's settled...no spray tan. Went to beach this past weekend and got a lil burn. Going to moisturize it then try a bed. If I have a panic attack like I did when I went 10 years ago then I will just go white.
Yep, save spray tans for when you aren't going to be in water a lot. I love to tan in beds before a trip, you get a quick little nap and daydream about being at the pool!
If you do get burned steal some white vinegar from the buffet. It takes away the redness and sting really well when applied early. - Brit (certified ginger)
