Inuvik - It's a tropical travellers worst nightmare;: arrive at the beach and look like a plucked goose.

Thanks to the people at Rapid Travel, you can get a head start on your bronzed complexion. Peggy Howard and Kyle Taylor both work at the travel agency.

Rapid Travel employees Peggy Howard and Kyle Taylor pose with the new tanning bed that is in their office. The bed is to promote sunny destinations and is included in sales packages. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

They agree that a nice glow can help during the long winter months.

"It's good to have options, because with the sun gone, there isn't much to do about getting a tan," said Howard.

The bed, which arrived in Inuvik a few weeks ago, was ordered from a distributor in Vancouver.

"We got it going last week," said Howard.

"It's been a bit slow, but word is getting around."

The agency wants to be the one-stop-shop for all your tanning needs, so they equipped themselves with a cluster of lotions, creams and other products.

Howard said that bringing in the bed will have two purposes: to promote hot spot destinations and to assist those who just aren't bronzed enough.

"We're offering packages that include tanning hours and reduced fares," said Howard.

"It's also a good way to get people in the office."

The rates are sold by the session, with a single tan being $10 and 10 being sold for $85. Howard said that a session is only as long as you'd like it to be.

"The maximum time is 20 minutes," she said.

Howard said she is slowly working on her tan, with four- or five-minute sessions every few days.

"I'm starting slowly and working up from there," she said.

"I'll add on minutes as I get darker and as my skin is better with it."

Howard said the bed is an enjoyable experience.

"It's comfortable and warm in there, to lay down for a few minutes is relaxing."

Taylor, who has been at the firm for less than a year, said the bed will do good for outgoing tourists because it helps ease them into beaches in sunny locations.

"People don't think they'll get sunburn when they're on vacation, but it happens and it hurts," he said.

"If you get a base tan before the holiday, it's safer and much more enjoyable."

Taylor said that there are many packages available for people going to the hot spot locations, like the southern United States, or Caribbean destinations.

"You can save a few hundred dollars on airfare, which is done to promote flying outside of Canada," explained Taylor.