A beach vacation packing list is the difference between a trip that feels like a vacation and one that feels like you forgot half your life at home. I pack for beach trips constantly, so I have the list down to what you actually use. I’m Zoey, and here is what goes in my bag every time.
I put together one of my favorite beach trips this way and caught a little of it on video. Here is a taste of why I never skip the planning.
The gear you actually need
Start with the non-negotiables: sunscreen that does not sting your eyes, a hat, sunglasses, and a towel that dries fast. Beyond that, a cover-up and a light layer for when the sun goes down. People overpack swimsuits, you really only need two. Two swimsuits, one hat, one pair of sunglasses, and good sandals cover almost every beach day. Pack light and you will thank yourself at the airport.
What most people forget
The stuff everyone forgets always comes back to the same few things. A reusable water bottle, because beach trips are thirsty. A waterproof pouch for your phone and keys so nothing gets salt-damaged. A ziplock for wet swimsuits on the way home. And a power bank, because the sun and the camera and the maps drain your phone faster than you expect.
How to keep the bag from becoming a black hole
Use the pouches. One bag for the beach stuff, one for toiletries, one for electronics. That way you are not digging through everything to find the sunscreen. Keep the beach kit separate from your clothes so you can grab it and go. A little organization on the front end saves a lot of frantic searching on day one.
The trip I do not post in full
That is the packed, public version of the trip. The longer side of the beach vacation, the parts that stay behind the members area, is 18+ only and it is where the real fun lives. Come see the rest of the trip.