HI- planning a trip for 4-5 days next month around mid month...and all I want to do is lay on the beach and get a decent tan. What are the odds of getting a good tan this time of the year? When it rains, does it go away in 10 minutes or will it rain all day?

1. Very good. In fact, you better bring a good sunscreen because the sun is so strong here! I once got badly burned in February because I didn't put enough sunscreen.

2. Yes. No. Maybe. It all depends on what the weather system is like as a whole at that time.

I got back last night and that is exactly what we did for 7 days...lay on the beach. I have a pretty nice tan. It rained/drizzled a couple times... guess I'd call it more than "10 minutes" but less than "all day". Most days were sunny and dry. Temps were 79-84 degrees F.

The amount of people, type of sand, and ammenities depends which stretch of the beach you choose to lay out on. Some places you can rent chairs and umbrellas, some not, some have outdoors showers, snack bars, and bathrooms, shade and grass, some not. Crowds vary from young to old, gay to straight, sports (boogie boards or surfing) to lazy.

And by contrast....today it's POURING. Yesterday, it poured buckets on us as we tried to jog in the morning, then cleared up and was hot & sunny the rest of the day till about 5 p.m, when it started pouring again. The skies were clear & blue all day!

hi Melissa yup we'd read in the paper there was a storm blowing in just as we were leaving... only that helped us be willing to go to the airport and get on the plane home
;-)