If you’ve been reading my articles here and in print magazines for the last ten years, you’ll know that I’ve been on a quest to find the most beautiful beach in the world for about all of my adult life. After visiting some of the most amazing tropical paradise beaches such as Bora Bora, Seychelles, Zanzibar, Koh Phi Phi (Thailand), Whitsunday, Tulum, Maldives, Mauritius, Bali, Bahamas, Caribbean, and many others, I’ve become somewhat of an expert on beach items to pack and what to leave at home.

Of course, there are variables, such as if you’re in a country that is very conservative, on a road trip, just a weekend with limited luggage space, etc. The list below is designed so that you can pick and choose what is right to pack for any kind of beach trip.

This beach packing list is functional, yet fun and stylish. I accept no less.

Be sure to bookmark this post so you can use as a checklist in the future!

LUGGAGE

Packing Cubes

I never go on a trip without using these packing cubes. Never. They allow me to keep my clothing organized by color, type, day/night, etc. And don’t forget to tightly roll your clothes to save room and avoid wrinkling.

Daypack

In lieu of or in addition to a beach bag, is a daypack (small, lightweight backpack), especially if you plan to do some walking, hiking, or exploring in addition to time on the beach. In it, you can easily stash your camera, reusable water bottle, smartphone, sunblock, mosquito repellent wipes, camera lens wipe, snacks, and other necessities. My daypack can also fit inside my beach bag if needed, and it’s theft-proof.

Dry Bag

If are planning to do any snorkeling or scuba diving, a dry bag is something in which you can protect and keep dry your technical equipment and other items.

Cross-body Purse

I always bring a small, lightweight crossbody purse that I can stick in my daypack, my beach bag, or over my shoulder at night. It contains such things as my phone, medications, reading glasses and cash.

CLOTHING

Bottoms

For a beach vacation, I usually bring one pair of white jeans/pants (that I wear on the plane), two pairs of white shorts, and one pair of white capris. By choosing one neutral color, I don’t have to pack a lot of different shoes, jewelry, or accessories. And it gives me an opportunity to pack a lot of colorful tops that I can mix and match.

Silky Tank Tops

My silky tops are a must-have! Mine are mostly 95% polyester 5% spandex. You can get them in an infinite variety of colors and prints, but the best thing is that unlike tee-shirts or knit tops, they roll up teeny-tiny you can fit them in the palm of your hand! I can pack a bunch of them without taking up much space so I never have to wash them or wear the same one twice. However, if you have to wash them in the sink, they dry very fast – much faster than a t-shirt.

Flowy Dresses

Beach destinations are the perfect place for those showy, flowy Instagram dresses! I love wearing them in the evening, and when exploring markets, historic sites, museums, etc., during the day. They’re easy to pack and I generally take a few. I have a lot of bodyform dresses but never bring them to hot climates — they’re too uncomfortable and absorb sweat. Lightweight, brighly colored, loose dresses are much better for beach travel.

Swimsuit

This item essential has a lot of variation with consideration of personal style as well as the customs where you are traveling. Even if you’re visiting inland, the hotel may have a pool or you may hike to a waterfall or cenote. If you are going to a Mexican beach resort, you’ll probably want to pack more than one. I also like to wear different styles – one piece, tankini, and bikini.

Sarong

I never travel without a sarong. It’s the essential go-to item that I’ve used as a beach cover-up, sundress, head covering for religious sites or conservative destinations, scarf, wind shawl, towel, pillow or seat covers, makeshift purse, privacy curtain, window shade, and packing padding.

God forbid, but it could also be used as a bandage, sling, tourniquet, or to tie a splint until you can get proper medical attention.

I love these so much I probably have at least 20, with no regrets.

Raincoat

Rain can break out at any random, unplanned time, but it doesn’t have to ruin your trip. I pack a compact plastic travel rain jacket into my daypack. It doesn’t take up much room at all, and I have several that are cute and photograph well.

Pajamas

Perhaps you prefer to sleep in the buff, but on the occasions where you’re traveling with friends, you’ll need summer pajamas. I often pack pajamas with longer pants because I get cold easily and my idea of comfortable air conditioning is not always shared by roommates. You’ll also need a pair of PJ’s to slip into quickly if room service knocks on your door!

Sandals

I usually bring two pairs of sandals for a warm-weather trip– one pair of white Clarks that are more dressy, and a pair of good walking sandals for exploring and light hiking. I swear by my Teva’s which I’ve had for at least 10 years and are still as comfortable and look as good as the day I bought them.

Undergarments

My Ex-Officio travel undies are a lifesaver. I pack several of these breathable, quick-dry undies which can be washed by hand at night and are dry and ready to wear the next day.

Caftan/Kimono

My caftan has multiple uses. I use it at the beach, at night walking around the resort, and for exploring in town. They are extremely airy and comfy and fit right in with tropical island dress.

ACCESSORIES

Sunhat

You’ll need a hat as protection from the strong sun. I’m not a baseball cap kind of girl at all, but I love wide-brim sunhats. My favorite is a stylish UPF50+ neutral wide brim hat that I can add flowers to or wrap a scarf around to coordinate with my outfits.

Sunglasses

No matter where you are in Mexico, you’ll likely have lots of sunshine, so protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays is very important. I always make sure I have stylish sunglasses since you can see them in basically every photo that I’m in.

Beach Tote

You’ll definitely need a tote when off to the beach. When necessary, I can always use my daypack but prefer to have a large beach tote with lots of pockets to store my towel, phone and/or camera, sunglasses, snacks, and sunscreen.

Travel Towel

Check to see if your hotel allows you to take towels to the beach. If not, this sand-free Bohemian microfiber travel towel by Tesalate is a great lightweight option. They’re thinner than standard terrycloth beach towels, but have a quick-drying profile.

Jewelry

Many women go to the beach without jewelry; I’m not one of those! Naturally, I never bring expensive jewelry on any trip, but I always bring a few pairs of fun, colorful earrings to match my outfits which do not take up a lot of room.

Also, if you have the option of visiting local markets during your trip you can buy some of the hand-crafted jewelry to wear on your trip as well as a keepsake of your visit.

I also bring a large-faced inexpensive watch daily, so I don’t have to dig out my cell phone (or put on my reading glasses) every time I wanted to check the time.

Reusable Shopping Bags

These large, nearly weightless, eco-friendly shopping bags are great for shopping at local outdoor markets where vendors will unlikely not have plastic bags. They are inexpensive, strong, can hold heavy items, and come in fun, colorful prints!

Snorkel Mask/Goggles

Some resorts provide these and others allow you to rent them – which I’d recommend unless, like me, you need vision correction to read your scuba diving gages. As a certified scuba diver, this is one of my most important beach items to bring with me because I need a vision correction mask to read your scuba diving gages.

If you are not snorkeling but want either protection or to open your eyes underwater, these are my favorite goggles. I will not put my head underwater without them!

Filtered Water Bottle

Water is questionable in many remote places so don’t risk contracting traveler’s diarrhea. But rather than buying plastic water bottles everywhere, filtered bottles are great for purifying unsafe water when you are away from your resort. I love this one because when empty, it can be folded up and doesn’t take up precious room in your luggage.

Alcohol Flask

Most beaches don’t allow alcohol, but if you feel like you need a little nip, you can camouflage your vice in a sunscreen lookalike flask. Of course, if you get caught, I’ll deny ever have recommended this!

Guide Book

It’s a great idea to bring a guide book for your destination with you in case you don’t have access to WiFi.

TECH GEAR

GoPro

We love our tiny GoPro video camera! It takes underwater pictures and all sorts of action adventures. There are also a host of hand-free accessories where you can mount the camera on your head, chest, surfboard, bike, etc. to get unique footage without putting yourself in harm’s way.

Lightweight Tripod/Selfie Stick

If you’re traveling with someone else, a combination selfie stick/tripod is a great way to capture memories with both of you (and perhaps your guide) in it.

Universal Adapter/Converter

A universal adapter/converter that has options to work in any country is a must-have. This should come with you every time you leave your home country, so just buy one that has worldwide options.

SD Cards

I always have an SD card with high capacity in my camera, and one extra one in case the first gets filled or damaged.

Insider’s Tip:  I download the photos from both my camera and my phone to my laptop’s hard drive every night. You never know when your equipment will malfunction or get stolen and you’ll lose precious photos. You can also download to the cloud if you prefer.

Lens Cloth

Outdoor elements are bad for your phone or camera lens. To obtain the best-quality photos, clean your camera and phone lenses intermittently throughout the day. I love this Klimt artsy cloth!

Kindle

For lazy days at the beach, poolside, or mountain getaway, a kindle is a good gadget to have. With a kindle, you don’t have to worry about the weight and space that multiple books would take up in your luggage. You can load your guide books to educate yourself about your surroundings and/or favorite fiction all on one device.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Sunscreen

I love the beach but do not like staying in direct sunlight for long periods of time. During my sun exposure, I use an eco-friendly sunscreen that does not pollute the water or harm marine life. Win/win scenario.

Mosquito Repellent

Malaria is a problem is a lot of tropical destinations. It helps to wear long sleeves and pants or long dresses at night and pack at least 30% DEET spray or wipes. I prefer the wipes on my skin because the scent is not as strong as an involuntary inhalant. It’s easier to get full coverage with the wipes. Alternatively, the spray works well on clothing. I brought both with me.

Diarrhea Medication

Have you heard of Montezuma’s Revenge? Even a savvy traveler like me falls victim to it occasionally. If you’ve ever had Traveler’s Diarrhea, you know it’s terrible and can lay you up for a day or more. Over-the-counter medications like Imodium and Trioral can help with the symptoms, but I always travel with a prescription of Cipro, an antibiotic that stops the root cause.

Misc. First Aid

First Aid Kit with Band-Aids, antibiotic cream, ibuprofen, cream for bites, and any medications you normally take.

Hair

Most hotels and resorts provide their own hairdryers, so no need to ever bring these. As far as curlers, straighteners, etc., while on a beach vacation, I just do without. The vibe is casual anyway, so I just put my hair in a ponytail. I also often braid it at night so that it’s crimpy in the morning and looks good long.

Sleep Mask

I can’t sleep unless it’s pitch black, and a lot of hotels have lights on their ceiling sprinklers, some light that seeps beneath the door, and night lights outside around the resort. I can only enjoy good nights’ sleep while wearing my sleep mask which blocks all light as well as coaxes my eyes to stay closed. They’re also great for blocking out light if you want to take a nap on a plane.

KETO SNACKS

I’m a grazer and like to snack every couple of hours, so bringing food to the beach is a must for me. Naturally, anything that melts is not appropriate, but for me, it’s even more complicated because I follow a ketogenic lifestyle. My favorite packable snacks are Diamond’s seasoned nuts (Sweet Chili Thai, Soy Wasabi, Sirocha) which come in single-serving packets, teriyaki beef jerky, sugar-free peanut butter crisps, and keto cookies.

Please note: it’s important to take only what you need and resist the temptation to overpack. When in doubt, take this advice

“When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.” (~Susan Heller)

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About the Author

Patti Morrow is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials.”  Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled six continents looking for fabulous places and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer (and Gen X!) tribe.