Minimalist beach vacation packing list

What clothes to pack for a beach vacation?

Since you’ll spend most of your time on the beach, wearing the same bathing suits and beach covers, you can get minimalistic with your wardrobe. Still, keep in mind the sightseeing days or hikes you plan to do. (Some of the best and most unspoilt beaches often require hiking!)

Choose light-colored clothing that repels the sun, and breathable materials like cotton, linen or viscose. For sport activities moisture-wicking and quick drying materials are better, usually a polyester or nylon blend. And there’s merino wool, an expensive but smart material which keeps you warm when it’s chilly, and keeps you cool when it’s hot. Also, it doesn’t smell.

Nights can be chilly even at warm destinations, so you’ll be happy to have warmer clothes not only for staying outdoors, but indoors, too. Often houses are not isolated well, and the blankets you get for the night are super light, because, you know, it’s so hot – except when it’s not. There were times when we needed our hoodies over our pijamas during the night, like on our beach vacation in Portugal, Spain or Croatia. We usually wore light jackets on our sunset walks in Hawaii. Not to mention the flights that are air-conditioned, and you’d freeze without a sweater. But if you wear your heaviest items (sneakers, sweater or jacket, jeans) on your travel day, your basic wardrobe will take up very little space.

And here it is:

• underwear and bras: if you choose quick-drying underwear like this nylon-spandex ExOfficio bikini brief or boxer brief, you’re good with only a few that you can rinse while showering
• a few pair of socks: keep travel days, chilly nights and outdoor activities in mind
• 3-4 T-shirts or tops: we actually prefer T-shirts, because they cover our shoulders which easily get sunburnt otherwise, but this is the time for tank tops, too, if you like them
• 1-2 shorts (or skirts)
• 1 pair of jeans or capris
• 1 light jacket, sweater or hoodie
• 1 pair of sneakers or sandals: if you prefer sandals, choose one that’s comfortable for longer walks and rugged terrain, too; TEVA Hurricane (both for women and men) is a good option as a lightweight adventure sandal
• pijamas

The swimsuit

This is undoubtedly the most important item, so pack two for everyone in the family. Also, make sure they actually fit, and they’re really comfortable.

Is finding the right swimsuit is a pain in the *ss for you? Try SwimsuitsForAll. Their name says it all: they offer swimwear for women in a range of sizes (including plus size), and you can browse by the type of swimwear (one piece, bikini, swimdress, tankini etc.) or by your body type.

Do I need to write about men? Comparing the time Csaba and I usually spend on buying our swimwear, I think even asking this question was too much. 

Babies and toddlers are fine in swim diapers (unless you’ll use the hotel pool, and they have a policy to wear swimsuits), you can choose disposable or reusable ones. But in any case pack rash guards with SPF sun protection for the kids – and yourselves, too, if you have sensitive skin. For older kids, you can choose a swimsuit with a matching rash guard.

RuffleButts offers a huge variety of cute swimsuits for girls with long sleeve rash guards, from baby size up to 10 years. This rash guard set by Carter’s for boys from newborn to 5 years old comes with several fun patterns.

Other beachwear & beach gear

Even though we like minimalist packing (and minimalist parenting, and minimalist living), we allow some extra stuff when packing for a beach vacation, because they make things more fun.

Also, it’s important to consider whether you fly or drive to your destinations, because you might bring larger items on road trips that you’d never pack for a flight. Like a large cooler bag, a family size umbrella or beach chairs. However, squeeze your snorkeling set in even if you fly, because a good set is worth the space it takes, and the underwater world is fascinating, don’t miss out on that. Lightweight beach tents like this one are good options instead of a bulky umbrella, but you most likely can’t pack them into your carry-on, because their steel stakes are considered a weapon. (I’d have never thought of it, if it hadn’t been pointed out to me by an airport security personnel. Yeah, we traveled with a carry-on only, with a beach tent…)

So here’s your beach packing checklist (which you can quickly run through each morning during your vacation, as well):

• swimsuit cover, romper or light dress: pick one that you can use as a swimsuit cover on the beach, and also wear it when sightseeing or dining out (like this romper or this breezy, lightweight swimsuit cover that can function as an outfit when paired with jeans or leggings)
• flip-flops
• water shoes: not all beaches are comfortable barefoot, water shoes both for kids and adults make the pebbly and rocky beaches much more comfortable; plus they’re safer to wear than flip-flops, and you can use them for snorkeling, too
• swim vest, puddle jumper or arm floaties for the younger kids: some find swim vests bulky, some finds them the safest, some prefer puddle jumpers for toddlers, because it allows free movement, but keeps their head out of water, and some prefer the most lightweight and easily packable arm floaties; whichever you choose, don’t forget to keep your eyes on your kid at all times! – these devices help the little ones enjoy the water safely, but don’t get a false sense of security, they can’t be left alone while wearing them

• sun hat: make sure it has a wide brim and offers UV sun protection for both kids and adults
  • this model from i play is great for babies and toddlers (both boys and girls!) as it has chin-strap and a neck cover for maximum protection, and it’s also machine washable
  • this JAN & JUL hat is from newborn to 10 years old, made of 100% cotton and with an easily adjustable chin-strap
• wet and dry bag: you can store wet clothes separated from the dry ones in this bag, and unlike plastic bags it’s washable and reusable
• sunglasses
• sunscreen (a whole long section is about sun protection if you scroll down further)
• after sun lotion or aloe vera
• beach tent or beach umbrella: pick your preference; or don’t pick any of them, and find shade under trees or rent umbrellas if necessary

• beach towel: choose lightweight, easily packable ones, and it doesn’t hurt if it has stunning, vibrant colors and patterns, because, you know, the beach is a happy place
• beach blanket (or an extra beach towel to lie down on): if you choose a beach blanket, make sure it’s water resistant, sandproof and large enough for the whole family, like this one
• collapsible, portable cooler bag: something like this which is big enough but packs small enough when you don’t need it
• folding beach chairs: forget them if you fly, but pack them for some extra comfort on road trips
• insulated water bottles: you can pack a simple reusable water bottle, too, but an insulated one actually keeps your drink cold, so you don’t need to use space for that in your compact cooler

• day bag or beach bag: we like backpacks, and we usually pack our beach stuff in a day pack, too (and we often go to beaches where we need to hike, so it’s handy), but I know, beach bags are much more stylish and match your pretty beach cover better
• inflatables: they’re definitely not necessary, but still a mandatory family beach gear; they’re fun and don’t take up much space, moreover, everyone surely needs a magic rainbow unicorn, don’t they? or at least a shark
• beach toys (more on that soon)
• snorkeling set: ZEEPORTE has a great set with adjustable fins, a two window tempered glass lens dive mask and a valve that seals the breathing tube while underwater; also, use a small bottle of anti-fog spray before snorkeling, it’ll enhance your experience so much! (and apply the spray correctly: spray the front and back of your dive mask, rinse the mask in water, then simply shake the water off)
• GoPro: optional, but you can do quite cool underwater videos with a GoPro
• waterproof bag for mobile phones: it keeps your phone, a few cards and a few small keys safe and dry, and you can have it with you all the time on the beach
• portable lock box: it’s not an absolute necessity, but gives you a peace of mind if there’s something solid where you can attach a lock box like this (however, we usually don’t take anything valuable to the beach, except our phone, the car keys and one debit card which fits into a small waterproof bag)
• travel clothesline: in case there’s no proper place to hang your wet swimsuit and towels in your hotel room, you can put this to work

Hygiene

Check if your accommodation offers free toiletries. Many of them have hairdryers, too. Then reduce this list accordingly:

• soap or body wash
• shampoo
• conditioner
• toothpaste
• toothbrush
• floss
• body lotion
• chapstick
• deodorant
• disinfecting wipes or hand sanitizer
• hairbrushes
• hair elastics
• hairdryer
• travel-size toiletry bottles: these come handy if you travel with a carry-on only, because you don’t have to buy travel-size toiletries, and also, you can continue to use the same products that you use at home
• travel toiletry organizer: you can hang it up in any bathroom, and it packs up into the perfect travel size
• travel towel: if we fly with a carry-on only, we only pack beach towels, and book accommodation where sheets and towels are provided; however, a travel towel that dries quickly and folds up to be tiny can be useful on longer trips, and we definitely pack them for road trips, because the towels provided at hotels are often sooo tiny

Small, but essential accessories

• safety pins
• mini sewing kit: if you’re minimalist about your travel clothes, pack this; even though I’m terrible at sewing in general, I’m capable of quick mends that make a torn swimsuit usable for a few more days for example, and a sewing kit like this saved us from going shopping clothes instead of enjoying the beach several times
• medicine
• chargers
• insect repellent (if you travel to a tropical destination): when you need both insect repellent and sunscreen, apply sunscreen first, wait 15-20 minutes, then apply insect repellent. Combination products exist, but they are not recommended, because you need to reapply sunscreen more frequently than insect repellent.
• first-aid kit: buy a prepared one or make your own

How to protect your skin from the sun?

UV rays are very strong between 10 am and 3 pm, especially in the summer and in the tropics. Yet you probably don’t want to spend half of your beach day in the hotel room (we certainly don’t), so let’s see what you can do to reduce the harm.

First of all, make sure you’re in the shade as much as possible. If there’s natural shade on the beach, make use of it, and pack your beach blanket under the tree or in the shade of a rock wall. Otherwise use a beach tent, or rent one of those large umbrellas that are good enough for the whole family. We loved our compact beach tent, and Tomi often had his daytime naps there. It was a blessing on those breathtakingly beautiful beaches with zero shade.

But when it comes to playing in the water and splashing in the waves, you can’t avoid the direct sun rays. Our protection is twofold: covering our skin and regularly applying sunscreen. 

Cover your skin as much as possible

Seriously, rash guards are not only for kids, adults can just as well take advantage of them. Having a skin that’s either pale or red, we certainly do. Actually, a simple, light-colored T-shirt protects your skin quite effectively from sun damage, a rash guard is only better because it’s designed to be used in saltwater, and it dries very quickly.

In Queensland we used full-body stinger suits to make sure we’re safe from box jellyfish stingers, but they also gave excellent protection against the harsh Australian sun. This full body suit by OMGear is available for both women and men, and it mainly offers UV protection, but also protects you from jellyfish and other skin irritation. It’s best if you spend a lot of time snorkeling in the water, especially in the tropics. You don’t want to get your butt burnt while you’re gazing at rainbow colored fish.

If you already have a rash guard top, you can match it with a pair of swim leggings to accomplish full body protection. Again, it’s similar to regular leggings, just designed for saltwater.

Don’t forget about your sun hat either. While you surely can’t wear it while snorkeling, you can while playing in the water or building a sandcastle.

How to choose the best sunscreen?

The more skin you cover, the less sunscreen you need to use. But when you use it, choose at least an SPF of 30, and apply it 15 minutes before going out in the sun, then reapply every 2-3 hours. Choose a chapstick with sun protection, too. And don’t forget, clouds won’t protect you from UV rays, you need sun protection on cloudy days.

Overall, lotions provide the best coverage, sprays are not that effective and hard to use on the face. Mineral sunscreen is the most eco-friendly choice, and apparently the most human-friendly, too, because it doesn’t soak into your skin, just sits on top of it, reflecting away the UV rays. If you’ll have an oceanside vacation, choose reef-safe sunscreen. Reef-safe sunscreens are mineral sunscreens, but not all mineral sunscreens are reef-safe. Goddess Garden offers a variety of mineral, reef-safe sunscreens.

But wait, here’s an important question to ask first: do kids need different sunscreen than adults? The only reason we never actually pondered on this was that we’ve used sunscreens made for babies since forever. Because they usually have an SPF of 50, they’re made for sensitive skin and are less likely to cause irritation. So our whole family uses the same sunscreen: the one for babies.

Will we give a real answer? Yes, the answer is no. It’s not a must that kids need to use a different sunscreen than their parents, but it’s the SPF and the ingredients that really matter, not how the product is labeled. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are said to be the best ingredient according to many dermatologists. Here’s a mineral sunscreen by Neutrogena that’s 100% zinc oxide, and this Thinkbaby SPF 50+ is also free of harmful chemicals.

Also, keep in mind that it’s not recommended to use any sunscreen on the very sensitive skin of infants (babies under six months). Keeping them in the shade and covering their skin with clothing is the recommended way to protect them from the sun.

Sunscreens expire, so check the expiration date.

What to do if you get sunburnt?

Use aloe vera. Preferably the gel from the leaves of the plant, or a 100% aloe vera gel, not an aloe-based lotion. It reduces inflammation, moisturizes your skin and prevents peeling.

Stay hydrated. Yes, drink lots of water!

Bath or shower with cool water. Because it feels good and helps soothe your skin. And you couldn’t bear hot water, anyway. But don’t apply ice directly on your sunburnt skin, it can damage it even more.

Wear loose, protective clothing. Cover as much of your sunburnt skin as possible. Wear clothes that don’t stick to your skin, and choose natural fibers like cotton, because they let your skin breathe.

Chamomile tea. Chamomile tea is the magic we often use to soothe irritated skin, and it can be used on a sunburnt skin, too. Just make the tea, let it cool, then soak a washcloth in it and apply it gently to the affected skin.

If your sunburn blisters, you are dehydrated, have nausea, headache or fever, or feel dizzy, check with a doctor.

Beach toys

When it comes to beach toys, there’sAny family beach trip packing list should have some toys included, but not nearly the amount people usually imagine. When it comes to beach toys, there’s two general truths. “You know your kid the best.” “The more simple, the better.”

For babies and toddlers you barely need anything. Give them a basic kit of sandbox toys, and they’ll play with water and sand all day long. Pebbly beaches are not a problem either, because they can endlessly play with pebbles, too. (It’s more stressful for the parent if you’re in that era when your little one puts everything into their mouth.) If you pack any bath toys, that will do on the beach, as well.

For older kids inflatables, kites or frisbees are great for having fun together. You can also play badminton or pickleball, or have a deck of cards to play with in the shade during the hottest hours of the day. Boogie boards are popular for a reason, though you need a beach with at least some larger waves.

Balls of different sizes are great at any age.

That’s it. Bring your beach mood, that’s actually the most essential item on your beach packing list.