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 it as a checklist in the future!

TOP 10 PACKING/TRAVEL HACKS

1. Use compression packing cubes (link below)
2. Wear your heaviest clothing and shoes on the plane, e.g., jacket with pockets (stuffed), pants, scarf, hiking boots or sneakers.
3. Use a Tile luggage tracker or similar.
4. Refillable water bottle (link below)
5. Mini phone power bank (link below)
6. Anti-theft daypack (link below)
7. Take photos of all your documents on your phone, and also email them to yourself before leaving home.
8. Download airline apps before you leave.
9. Ziplock plastic bags (gallon size) have multiple uses.
10. Keep anything you do not want to get lost in your personal item bag (under the seat).

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, an anti-theft 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 you 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. I also use it for going out at night instead of my day pack.

Tip: Make sure you have one with a zipper to discourage pickpockets! I had my smartphone lifted while in Ukraine. Here are more tips on how to avoid pickpocketing and what to do if it happens.

Neck Pillow

Some people consider these obsolete, but for me, it’s essential. Don’t skimp and get a cheap one. My neck pillow is soft memory foam that can be worn in different positions and works like a brace to keep my head from falling forward and waking me up when sleeping. (Comes in different colors).

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, a cute white skort, 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.

Tank Tops

My lightweight tank tops are a must-have! Mine have UPF sun protection and are quick-dry, so you can wash them in your room in a pinch. You can get them in an infinite variety of colors and prints. I can pack a few of them without taking up much space.

Flowy Dresses

Beach destinations are the perfect place for those showy, flowy Instagram dresses! I love wearing ones like this,  this, or this 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 some bodyform dresses, but I never bring them to hot climates — they’re too uncomfortable and absorb sweat. Lightweight, brightly colored, loose dresses are much better for beach travel.

Swimsuit

This item is essential and 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 2-piece (sorry, my bikini days are long past).

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 only one pair of sandals for a warm-weather trip– these white Clarks that are a little more dressy (I’ve literally bought these 3 times, that’s how much I love them), but are also good walking sandals for exploring and walking.

Undergarments

Quick-dry 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 can use it at the beach, at night for walking around the resort, and for exploring in town. They are extremely airy and comfy and fit right in with a 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

A tote is very handy when going to the beach. If I don’t have room in my suitcase, I can always just use my daypack, but I 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. I also bring one pair of neutral earrings that are the same neutral color as my bottoms (see above) that will match any outfit.

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 want 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 are unlikely to 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 a vision correction mask to read your scuba diving gauges. 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 my scuba diving gauges.

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!

Insider Tip: If you hate getting your hair tangled in the scuba strap, like me, here’s a fabulous solution. This mask strap wrapper will save your hair!

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.

Refillable Water Bottle

Instead of buying plastic water bottles every day, I use either my insulated water bottle, collapsible water bottle, or filtered water bottle above. It depends on my destination and how much room I have in my 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 having recommended this!

Guide Book

It’s a great idea to bring a guidebook for your destination with you in case you don’t have access to WiFi. Alternatively, you can download a guidebook onto your Kindle.

TECH GEAR

360 Camera

I love my 360 video camera! It’s a lifesaver when I’m traveling alone. It is capable of capturing all sorts of unique images and videos. With the included editing program, the artistic possibilities are almost endless, including tiny planet.

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.

Mini Portable Charger for Phone

This phone charger an essential item that I use all the time to make sure I always have access to my phone for photos, wifi, Google Maps, etc. It’s so light and small that I can still use my phone with it attached, and it fits easily in my daypack.

SD Cards

I always have an SD card with high capacity in my camera (when I bring it, which is less and less each year), 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 guidebooks to educate yourself about your surroundings and/or favorite fiction all on one device.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Sunscreen

I love the beach, but I 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 crimped in the morning and looks good worn 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 a good night’s 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

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 Emerald nuts snack packs, sweet & hot beef jerky, cookies & cream clusters, 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)

Click on the images below to PIN so you can find these beach items again:

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About the Author

Patti Morrow is a travel influencer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick. TripAdvisor called her one of the “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials,” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.

She is also the star of the upcoming TV series “Destination Takeover,” which is scheduled to premiere in the near future.

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. Her blog articles are consistently featured on Google’s AI search, as well as appearing on page one of Google search for specific keywords.

She has traveled extensively through six continents and more than 100 countries and island territories – putting her in an elite club of having traveled more than 99.99% of people! She is always looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.