Javafreek, sorry, but doing the tanning bed thing is just going to age your skin. I also live in the frozen north, and will be going to Tahiti in the spring. The first time I went, at the same time of year, when I got back everybody said, "where's your tan?". There was a subtle warm glow, but that's all. I blocked the sun so effectively.

I'm with Karen, that the self-tanning products are the way to go if you want some colour, although I haven't done this myself. I've been waiting for someone to recommend the perfect product, and one that does away with the need to exfoliate first, and doesn't streak and smell.

Myself, I'll mostly likely just be white when I go. And probably wheat coloured when I come home.