Travel blog by web-hotels.com

One of my pet peeves is arriving at a hotel or resort and discovering that I’ve forgotten my sunglasses, or packed a pair that doesn’t fit the type of activities I’ll be participating in while on my vacation. I used to do this all the time, but I’ve learned to plan ahead and pack the appropriate pair of sunglasses for each trip. Here are some hints on how to know which sunglasses to pack (or buy) for your next vacation.

Prescription Sunglasses

If you wear glasses and don’t own a pair of clip-on sunglasses, then it is pretty much a given that you’ll want prescription sunglasses for your vacation. In fact, you may want to consider investing in a pair that you can use when you’re at home too-they are very handy to have. If you don’t want to buy a pair of prescription sunglasses, there is always the option of wearing contacts and using a pair of regular sunglasses.

Sunglasses for Recreation

If you plan to go backpacking, skiing, whitewater rafting or to participate in other outdoorsy activities, a cheap pair of sunglasses from the local drugstore is not going to cut it. You want something that will protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and something that is durable enough to hold up through rough treatment. The best type of lens material for athletic sunglasses is NXT polyurethane. Lenses made from NXT polyurethane are lightweight, durable and have superior optical quality. Unfortunately, these sunglasses are also extremely expensive, so only buy them if you plan to use them on a regular basis. Otherwise, a good alternative is polycarbonate or acrylic lenses.

Depending on the type of activity you participate in, you’ll want to use the right lens color. Color neutral lenses that are grey, brown or green in color cut through glare and are great for rock climbing. On the other hand, yellow and amber tinted lenses enhance depth perception and are ideal for skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports.

If you are involved in water sports such as canoeing or whitewater rafting, your best bet is to get sunglasses with polarized lenses. They are wonderful for reducing glare. You will also want to invest in sunglasses straps in order to avoid losing your sunglasses in the water.

Fashionable Sunglasses

If you plan on spending more of your vacation time shopping or visiting various tourist destinations, you should get a pair of sunglasses in a style that will fit in with that worn by natives of the place you’re visiting. You may also want to keep up on eyewear trends so that you don’t end up wearing an overly dated pair. Sunglasses serve as a fashion accessory and can make or break an outfit, so be sure to keep your current wardrobe, and personal style, in mind when choosing a pair of sunglasses. And remember, you don’t need to break the bank to find a stylish pair of shades.

Sara Roberts is a content contributor for Just Eyewear, an online glasses retailer. Learn how you can buy glasses online and save hundreds off your next pair.