Beach holiday packing list: what to bring and what to skip

Beaches are easy on clothes and hard on small things. The sunscreen, the hat and the second swimsuit matter more than a third pair of shorts.

Here is a beach holiday packing list built around that idea. It works for a week at the sea, with counts you can adjust.

The swimwear formula

2 swimsuits, so one is always dry. 1 cover-up. 1 pair of flat sandals.

Worked example for 7 days (round numbers):

• Swimwear: 2. Wear one while the other dries.
• Cover-up or loose shirt: 1.
• Light tops: 4 (7 days / 2, rounded up).
• Shorts or a light skirt: 3.
• One "nicer" outfit for dinner: 1.
• Underwear: 7 plus 1.

A sink wash every second day means you do not need more. See laundry on the road for how.

Sun and skin come first

• Sunscreen. Pack it in the size your airline allows, or buy it when you land.
• A hat with a brim
• Sunglasses
• After-sun lotion or plain moisturiser
• Lip balm with sun protection

Ask a doctor or your health service about sun care if you burn easily or take medication that affects skin. Check the forecast for UV levels on your dates.

Ruling: if you only bring one thing for the beach, bring sun protection.

The beach bag

A small bag goes to the sand each day. Keep it the same each time so you stop thinking about it.

• A quick-dry towel (thin travel towels dry fast and fold small)
• A water bottle
• A dry bag or zip bag for phone and cards
• A book or e-reader, not three

Wear on the plane

Fly in the heaviest items. Beach trips are light, so this is easier than most: wear your trainers or closed shoes, jeans or long trousers, and a light jacket. Pack sandals and swimwear. Hotel rooms and airports can be cold, so keep one layer on hand.

What to leave at home

• A full-size hairdryer
• Heavy cotton beach towels
• Jeans, unless the evenings are cool
• Three pairs of "just in case" shoes
• Jewellery you would be sad to lose in the sand

If it goes wrong

Burned on day two? Stay in the shade, cover up and drink water. Sand in the bag? Shake it out outside and do not bring it into the room. Wet swimsuit and a flight home? Use a zip bag and wash it when you land.

Per-trip-length table for a beach trip

Counts are a starting point. Adjust for how often you will swim and how much you plan to wash.

Beach clothes are light, so you can carry more of them than city clothes. The limit is not weight. It is the hassle of sorting a big pile each morning.

Packing wet things

You will go home with a wet swimsuit and sandy shoes. Plan for it.

1. Bring one zip bag or small waterproof bag for wet items.
2. Rinse the swimsuit in fresh water, then wring it out and roll it in a towel.
3. Keep sandy shoes in a separate bag at the bottom.
4. Shake out the beach towel outside the room.

Ruling: one wet bag, packed last and opened first.

Heat, health and common sense

Beach days are long. Drink water, take breaks in shade and re-apply sunscreen as the label says. If you take medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether it affects sun or heat. If you are going somewhere with health advice for travellers, check your national health service or the destination's health authority before you go.