With the paid-ahead umbrella setup, there's another bonus. No need to stake a primo spot on the sand. Already done for you. WIN.

The cost for an all-week setup of, say, five chairs and two umbrellas will vary by beach. It is a lot more than the cost of chairs and umbrellas but, given the number of umbrellas going tumbleweed down the Rehoboth beach in a breezy June week? Totally worth the $20 or so a day.

The umbrella rental staff seem to be a race of teen boys, which means they can get distracted by various things ( namely teen girls ), so things aren't always as you asked for them. Keeping it nice, but reminding them that you are a return, weekly customer helps. Tipping does too if you can swing it.

Another thing we do to make beach time go smoothly is bringing a napping tent. It is SPF 50 and big enough to fit a couple of kids. Though doing so rarely results in a nap.

We bring a cooler with drinks and sammiches too. What we save on hotdogs, burgers, and drinks helps offset the daily cost of the umbrellas and chairs. A good trade.