After the long confinement COVID-19 had imposed on the world, it’s now time to get out and enjoy that overdue seaside vacay. As you make your travel arrangements and plan what activities you will indulge in, you also need to consider what you will pack.
You want to avoid the temptation to carry more stuff than you will need. But you also don’t want to be caught wishing you had brought this or that when it’s too late to do anything about it.
There are many calculations that you need to factor into your packing considerations to avoid either of those holiday-ruining scenarios. Where will you be staying? What will you be doing? These are just two of the questions you need to ask yourself as you pack.
Clothing
This is probably the item that will take the most real estate in your travel bags, so you need to be deliberate about what you include and what to leave out. You need to bear in mind the time that packing itself consumes.
You don’t want to remember your holiday for the amount of time you took packing up your clothes. And you will need space to carry the beautiful trinkets you will want to take back home as physical memories.
Two changes of clothes besides the one you travel should be enough to see you through a week-long sun and sand retreat. You will be spending most of the daytime in your swimsuit, and you may not find the occasion to wear all the shorts and skirts you think you can’t leave behind.
Unless you’re an Instagram influencer with a need to create content for your thousands of followers, you also don’t need to carry a swimsuit for every day of the week. That should suffice if you have one to wear while another is drying out.
Before you get to packing your clothes for play, you need to ensure you have all the essentials you need. You need to pack enough bras and underwear to see you through your entire stay. Also, make sure you don’t forget your pajamas. These can easily get forgotten in the excitement of deciding which bikini you’ll pack.
Shoes
You won’t need to spare too much room for shoes on a beach holiday unless you’ve planned special activities that warrant something more than comfy sandals. And you won’t need more than two pairs of these.
If you’re a fitness buff and plan on maintaining your workout schedule while on vacation, you need to spare some room for your gym shoes. Better still, you can wear them on the flight to save on space.
Should you have some inland hiking as part of your itinerary, you may need to pack appropriate shoes if your gym shoes can serve the purpose, all the better for your luggage space.
Sun Protection
The whole point of a beach vacation is to soak up some much-needed sunshine and return with an enviable tan. But too much of the sun’s UV rays can be bad for your health, so you need to ensure you’re adequately protected.
To this end, your tube of sunscreen should be among the first items you pack. You will need to pack at least two if you are away for a week. Lip balm with the right SPF will also keep your Instagram moments from being ruined by chapped lips.
Your sun protection arsenal should also include eyewear to shield your eyes from the glare as light bounces off the surface of the ocean. Prescription sports sunglasses are a good idea as they will keep away the glare as you lounge by the beach and also protect your eyes as you do your beachside run.
A wide-brimmed hat will serve to protect your eyes and skin from the sun’s extremes. And you can include a light scarf in your luggage to cover your neck and shoulders.
Other Accessories
Depending on where you’ll be staying, you might need to pack extra gear for your hours of seaside lounging. Things like towels and toiletries won’t be provided if you’re heading to a hired cottage or Airbnb rental.
You may also need to carry your own parasol, although you’re likely to find one for hire at your destination. If you need a distraction during your hours of sun worship, feel free to pack your favorite novel and a pair of headphones.
At this particular time, you will also want to think about your covid-safety. There are a few important things you might need for that. You’ll certainly want to pack a mask, for instance, as even in outdoor spaces this can prove useful for ensuring that you are able to keep from spreading the virus.
You might also want to pack some tests, so you can keep on top of whether or not you are carrying the virus, and then act accordingly. Grab some approved rapid antigen test kits before you travel and be sure to take them with you. You will feel a lot better about traveling if you have done that.
As long as you’ve got all that in the bag, you should feel so much more prepared and ready for your beach vacation.
Sweet Spot
The key to finding that sweet spot between over-packing and under-packing is planning well, factoring in all aspects of your holiday. Think about how long you’ll be staying and all the activities you will engage in. Have an honest discussion with yourself about how many changes of clothes you really need. You will be surprised at how light you can travel with a little foresight.
