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What Are Some Things I Should Include on a Beach Vacation Packing List?
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
A beach vacation may take place at many different beaches with lots of different climates. Some vacations are taken at beautiful resorts on white sandy beaches, and you may need very little in the way of accessories, beach toys, or even towels. Other people vacation at beaches that are more changeable in weather and where they’ll have to bring pretty much everything they need to make several days stay at the beach fun. Thus a beach vacation packing list can be variable and depend on where you’re traveling.
There are a few things a your packing list should include no matter where you’re going. They include the following:
- Hats
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Swimsuits
- Coverup clothing for changes in temperature
- Small first aid kit
- Tote bag for carrying essentials
- Water
- Cellphone
- Two pairs of shoes for each person
- Camera
Other things in a beach vacation packing list that you probably should include are:
- Several pairs of extra underwear
- Waterproof shoes
- Entertainment, like books, crossword puzzles or Sudoku puzzles
- Two to three pairs of shorts for each person, and several days’ changes of clothing
- A light or heavy jacket depending upon weather expectations
- Radio or MP3 player
- Extra Towels
- Beach blanket or chairs
- Beach toys like buckets or beach balls
- Good shoes for long walks on beaches
- Snacks
- Life jackets for uncertain swimmers
- Snorkel or scuba gear
- Boogie boards or surf boards
When you figure out what clothing should make your beach vacation packing list, consider the kind of options you’ll have to wash dirty clothing. If you’re flying, you naturally want to keep packing to a minimum, but be sure you’ll have access to a Laundromat or laundry services when you decide what to bring. Remember that beaches are notoriously dirty, and you can expect to have wet and dirty clothes as a result. This means you may need up to two changes of clothing per day, unless you want to spend part of every day washing clothes or arranging to get them cleaned.
Depending on where you’re going, certain things may be widely available. If you can rent or have access to things like life jackets or boogie boards, there’s no reason to pack them. If your hotel provides towels, don’t bother bringing them. Some beaches have snack bars, which means you can omit bringing water or snacks unless you want to save a little money.
You can summarize what you might need to include in a beach vacation packing list by looking at your needs on the beach. You will need sun protection, something to do some of the time, adequate clothing for weather and beach activities, proper foot attire so you minimize potential foot injuries, proper clothing for weather and dirty beach conditions, and some emergency supplies in case anyone gets injured. It also helps to have things like cameras since it’s great to get candid shots of family or take fantastic pictures of ocean views and you should bring a beach blanket or towels to sit on, at the minimum. Also consider bringing a Swiss knife, because you never really know when you'll need one. It's better to be prepared regardless where you are.
Don’t forget you may not be on the beach exclusively. If you’re staying at a resort, plan to bring some nice clothing for dinners out or evening entertainment. You might want to bring one or two “nice” changes of clothes for special events and depending on the length of your stay. Don’t forget to bring other needed things like identification, insurance information, and some money for spending. For your security and also in case of an emergency, make sure you bring something like a hunting knife with you. It could be a regular sharpened pocket knife, as long as it's something that can cut in the off chance that you need it.
Tricia Christensen
Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseTour contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.
Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseTour contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.
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AS FEATURED ON:
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![Vacationers should pack sunglasses if they intend to visit a beach.]()
By: Darren BakerVacationers should pack sunglasses if they intend to visit a beach. -
![You should pack a life jacket for any young people or people who aren't comfortable swimming.]()
By: RobYou should pack a life jacket for any young people or people who aren't comfortable swimming. -
![It's important to remember the sunglasses when vacationing on the beach.]()
By: ThorstenIt's important to remember the sunglasses when vacationing on the beach. -
![Crossword puzzles and books are great items to pack for a beach vacation.]()
By: Margaret M StewartCrossword puzzles and books are great items to pack for a beach vacation. -
![People flying to a beach vacation should try to pack light and find access to a laundromat near the vacation destination.]()
By: Anatoly TiplyashinPeople flying to a beach vacation should try to pack light and find access to a laundromat near the vacation destination. -
![A bathing suit, cap and towel might be essentials for a beach vacation.]()
By: DirimaA bathing suit, cap and towel might be essentials for a beach vacation. -
![A vacation check list may help travellers remember essential items.]()
By: Arman ZhenikeyevA vacation check list may help travellers remember essential items. -
![Scuba gear might be part of a beach vacation packing list.]()
By: Rostislav AgeevScuba gear might be part of a beach vacation packing list. -
![For those traveling with children, important items to pack include sunscreen, hats, and protective shirts.]()
By: Karen RoachFor those traveling with children, important items to pack include sunscreen, hats, and protective shirts. -
![An MP3 player may be handy for listening to music privately while on the beach.]()
By: lionel VALENTIAn MP3 player may be handy for listening to music privately while on the beach. -
![Appropriate footwear should be taken on a beach vacation.]()
By: Mikael DamkierAppropriate footwear should be taken on a beach vacation. -
![Using resealable bags can keep things organized when packing for a vacation.]()
By: koosenUsing resealable bags can keep things organized when packing for a vacation. -
![Must-haves for beach vacations include hats, sunglasses, sunscreen and swimsuits.]()
By: ellensmileMust-haves for beach vacations include hats, sunglasses, sunscreen and swimsuits. -
![A comfortable chair is essential for any beach vacation.]()
By: christingasnerA comfortable chair is essential for any beach vacation. -
![An alarm clock is always handy on trips.]()
By: HalfpointAn alarm clock is always handy on trips. -
![It's important to pack plenty of sunscreen when going on a beach vacation.]()
By: iroto123It's important to pack plenty of sunscreen when going on a beach vacation. -
![Bringing bottled water can help a person stay hydrated at the beach.]()
By: beerfanBringing bottled water can help a person stay hydrated at the beach. -
![Sun hats are important to wear at the pitch to help protect you from harmful UV rays.]()
By: Christian SchwierSun hats are important to wear at the pitch to help protect you from harmful UV rays.
Discussion Comments
Sunshine31- That's a good idea. I wanted to add that although you could rent a boogie board and other beach toys like that, I would rather bring my own when packing for a trip.
I usually have a separate bag just for beach toys. If you're traveling in your car to your beach destination than it might not be a problem to bring additional toys with you.
It is also a good idea to pack a few of your children's favorite toys because no matter how fun-filled a vacation is, the child will experience periods of boredom from time to time. This can help you avoid sibling fighting that results when kids get bored.
Cafe41-When I do my suitcase packing, I start with the toiletries first. There's always something I forge,t which is why I go there first.
I have a small bag where I include all of the razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, first aid kit, conditioner, hair styling products, and a brush.
I start by listing everything that I need and checking it off as I pack the item. I've had too many trips where I have forgotten some of these items, so I don’t want that to happen again.
SurfNturf- One of the most important things on a family beach vacation packing list is sunscreen. Sunscreen is essential because the sun is very strong in the summer. Consider buying rash guard swimsuits to pack for your vacation.
These swimsuits are light and airy and provide a sun protection factor of 50. They can also double for casual attire too as many of these swimsuits have long sleeves with long shorts. This can save you space in your suitcase, if you want to pack lighter.
ValleyFiah- I would love to go to Hawaii. It really sounds like a lot of fun. A great travel packing tip is to pack a week before your vacation.
This allows ample time to get everything that you need in a suitcase without forgetting the last-minute items.
You should create a packing list for the trip and on your travel packing list you should include at least two outfits per day based on the activities. For example, you might want to pack beach clothing for the morning and a more casual outfit for the afternoon. A second set of outfits per day is suggested in case the other outfit get soiled or dirty.
If you’re going to camp on a beach you may want to bring a tent; unless you're staying in a lean-to. You should also consider bringing food appropriate for your trip. Fishing poles and tackle are also good things to consider bringing.
I have camped on the beaches of Hawaii many times, and some of the things that we brought were plenty of shorts, a few of coolers full of drinks, a couple boxes of dry goods, and water for cooking and drinking (if it isn't readily available at the beach). We would also bring a couple of tarps to make shade, a camp stove if we weren't building a fire pit, and appropriate cutlery and silverware. We would stay for a few days to a week; surfing all day, and eating mostly fresh seafood that we caught ourselves. A camping trip to the beach can be the best cheap vacations you will ever take. Just be sure to leave the beaches cleaner than when you arrived.
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